Lari is injured

[Birker2020]

Just had a message from the retirement yard to say that the horses have broken into the summer grazing and have been galloping about and Lari is really lame on his leg in trot and isn't great today either, he's not hopping but is noticeably lame.

So he's on 2 bute and I'm going to have to go and see how he is Saturday. I've not been today as partner had physio, and I'm going to have to see Mum in hospital tomorrow and partner has GP in the afternoon so are taking him to that.

Have no idea if he's redone his tendon, the y.o doesn't know but will look tomorrow. The staff have reported all this to her.

I start my new job on Monday, I just can't imagine how I can do that right now, how the hell can i work with all this going on?? .

I just don't need this, what with my partner, my Mum and the house sale too. Just how many more things can go wrong??

Sorry, don't know what the point of this post is, I just need to offload I think. And scream. AAARGGGHHHH!

 

[ycbm]

Oh heavens B you didn't need this on top of everything else.

You've gone above and beyond to give him a retirement, please don't feel pressure to spend your horse fund on getting him through this when he looks likely to be an ongoing problem.

I hope you are OK.
.

 

[humblepie]

Don’t want to read and run so wishing you the best. Hope your partner, mum and Lari are all doing better soon and of course you.

 

[nagblagger]

I agree with ycbm, depending how serious it is.

He seems to have many abscesses, injuries while being at this retirement livery, is there another yard more suitable for his needs, nearby? Have they stabled him tonight so he can't do further damage if it is tendon?

 

[Birker2020]

I agree with ycbm, depending how serious it is.

He seems to have many abscesses, injuries while being at this retirement livery, is there another yard more suitable for his needs, nearby? Have they stabled him tonight so he can't do further damage if it is tendon?

They are on the hard standing overnight eating hay out of the feeders so the y.o will look tomorrow morning before they go out to the fields and report back.

I won't be moving him, apart from the point there is no where else suitable, if he's reinjured his leg on his tendon I will have to make a hard decision. He had enough trouble reintegrating back into the herd after I rehabbed him from his tendon injury. It wouldn't be fair to repeat that again. I could take him home for good but not sure that would be fair either, although I don't think he'd care, he relished the one to one with me and loved the attention. Bite the bullet and pay for two on livery, Mum's already paying for Lari's rent at retirement so I could just swap it to the yard where my stable is held. Could do it cheaper than what I'm paying now. Hopefully a spare stable would come up for a new horse. Probably jumping the gun anyway.

Most of them got abscesses/mud fever last year because it was exceptionally wet everywhere, it wasn't just a problem exclusive to Lari or even that yard.

I just don't have the head space at the moment to contemplate Lari not being around, I will have to see how he is on Saturday afternoon and make a decision then. I'm just so tired with everything. The big black cloud that used to be with me feels like it's surfacing a little bit again. I can feel my anxiety rising, the fluoxetine is very effective at masking it but I'm starting to feel it creeping in under the surface, wobbly legs, heart racing, teary.

I need a kick up the ar*e!

 

[TPO]

Should YO not call the vet? I don't understand leaving a horse with an undiagnosed lameness.

There's a difference in management depending on what it is eg in with cold hosing if he's redone the tendon.

Also shouldn't be giving bute for undiagnosed lameness as it gives a false narrative when the vet does attend.

So this happened yesterday and YO only just let you know that Lari is *still* lame?! So YO waiting for you to visit on day 4 meaning that vet would be day 6 at the earliest?

You're paying for a full livery service. YOwhoulf be contacting you immediately when there's an incident. If he's lame enough that he's still lame on 2 bute he's very sore and should have been seen by a vet already.

I'd be looking for a yard run by someone better asap after I called the vet.

 

[Birker2020]

Should YO not call the vet? I don't understand leaving a horse with an undiagnosed lameness.

There's a difference in management depending on what it is eg in with cold hosing if he's redone the tendon.

Also shouldn't be giving bute for undiagnosed lameness as it gives a false narrative when the vet does attend.

So this happened yesterday and YO only just let you know that Lari is *still* lame?! So YO waiting for you to visit on day 4 meaning that vet would be day 6 at the earliest?

You're paying for a full livery service. YOwhoulf be contacting you immediately when there's an incident. If he's lame enough that he's still lame on 2 bute he's very sore and should have been seen by a vet already.

I'd be looking for a yard run by someone better asap after I called the vet.

She has asked me if I'm happy for him to have two bute a day about an hour ago. He's not started it yet.

I have been to visit Lari every Thursday and Saturday afternoon without fail for the past 18 months (after work) when I was working on Thursday. She obviously was going to speak to me tonight about him and we would have discussed him in detail when I visited. But I didn't go as I haven't had time, which is why she's just told me now.

She looks after him very well to be fair to her. Retired horses are always having episodes of lameness or abscesses, it comes with the territory. They already have orthopedic issues hence why they are retired. It's just a case of managing them. He's probably tweaked something galloping about like a nutter and he'll be OK in a day or two. I need to assess him on Saturday.

If he had done a tendon and was at home it would have been ice vibed and cold hosed within an inch of its life. Bandaged and box rested. Anti inflammatories. LW ultrasound. Hand walked. But I wouldn't expect that with the set up he has gone to and it was made clear from day one this isn't such a facility and I accepted it on that basis.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Being very honest and I hope you see it for what it is but he seems to be a money pit for you. He is essentially a very expensive and breakable pet and if it were me I would be taking a look at myself right now.

You have your mum who is in hospital, a partner with health issues and obviously your own work and home issues. You will burn out then be no use to yourself never mind others.

As sad as it is to say goodbye I honestly think that you have given this boy all the chances in the world but it might be time to say good night.

From someone who at one time had a serious money pit and between vet bills and treatments she cost me 12k in two years and I only spent about 6/7months riding her. So I know how hard it can be. I wish I’d had her PTS instead of sending her to be a broodmare who ended up being ridden and jumped again and reblowing the tendon I got field sound

 

[Red-1]

I'm sorry to hear about Lari, I think you have given him every opportunity. I hope it is something very minor that improves rapidly. If not, I think PTS would also be fair.

From your other threads, I would just take some advice re mum paying for Lari's rent. There is a limit as to what she can give with care home fees depleting her funds. I would just hate for something else to rear its head when you are already stressed.

From when mum was ill, as a POA I was fine to continue with her helping with horse expenses as she had done so historically and it was what she would have wanted. However, there was a limit even when it was out of her income, and the rules were even stricter once she was eating into her savings (as soon as she went into a home). I stopped taking the money so as to be crystal clear. I don't think you are doing anything that she wouldn't approve of, but I understand the rent for her house is to be delayed and she may run low on funds. Local authorities will aggressively chase money, so I am just saying to ensure that all rules have been followed by asking a financial professional. We had to see one who was a specialist in elder/dementia care.

In Lari's case, I see nothing wrong with a couple of bute as it is to make him comfortable until you have time and headspace to see him. He is a retired boy, it's not like you are buting him up to compete or anything. His comfort is everything, even more than a diagnosis at this stage, IMO, as you wouldn't follow a protracted treatment plan.

 

[Birker2020]

I'm sorry to hear about Lari, I think you have given him every opportunity. I hope it is something very minor that improves rapidly. If not, I think PTS would also be fair.

From your other threads, I would just take some advice re mum paying for Lari's rent. There is a limit as to what she can give with care home fees depleting her funds. I would just hate for something else to rear its head when you are already stressed.

From when mum was ill, as a POA I was fine to continue with her helping with horse expenses as she had done so historically and it was what she would have wanted. However, there was a limit even when it was out of her income, and the rules were even stricter once she was eating into her savings (as soon as she went into a home). I stopped taking the money so as to be crystal clear. I don't think you are doing anything that she wouldn't approve of, but I understand the rent for her house is to be delayed and she may run low on funds. Local authorities will aggressively chase money, so I am just saying to ensure that all rules have been followed by asking a financial professional. We had to see one who was a specialist in elder/dementia care.

In Lari's case, I see nothing wrong with a couple of bute as it is to make him comfortable until you have time and headspace to see him. He is a retired boy, it's not like you are buting him up to compete or anything. His comfort is everything, even more than a diagnosis at this stage, IMO, as you wouldn't follow a protracted treatment plan.

Good point, however I specifically asked the solicitor at the time she carried out a home visit to us to discuss taking Mum off the trustee status on her trust in respect of Mum continuing to pay for Lari and she was fine with this as Mum had been paying it for some time prior.

There is no way at this moment in time I can consider having Lari pts as an elective decision, it would totally destroy me.

I'm due to start work next week, my new manager agreed for me to delay my start by a week because I wanted to be around to help my partner get over his operation. There is no way I could start work if I lost my boy, he's literally all I have left in what is a very boring, mundane and at times what feels like a pretty pointless existence.

I was ringing around trying to make an appointment to see an IFA on Monday but following Mum's fall it has all had to be put on hold for the time being.

I'd just like to add to TPO's point about bute. The vet practice is absolutely 100% with the y.o giving bute to any horse that needs it. The bute is Lari's own bute that was prescribed to him and a couple of other horses also have their own bute/prascend/antibiotic,etc supply as a when in need scenario. The vet and the retirement yard along with the barefoot farrier all work in tandem with each other. They know that she is sensible enough after doing retirement livery for 14 yrs to be trusted with medication.

They also know she is sensible enough to refer to them when necessary. I can't fault her care, she has been fantastic with him as she is with them all.

 

[Baywonder]

Oh god I'm so sorry @Birker2020

It never rains but it blooming well pours sometimes.

We're all here if you need to vent or offload about everything you are having to juggle at the moment.

Please look after yourself too. X

 

[TheOldTrout]

It never rains but it pours... So sorry you have this to deal with on top of everything else. My old mare sends you a nuzzle.

 

[Red-1]

Good point, however I specifically asked the solicitor at the time she carried out a home visit to us to discuss taking Mum off the trustee status on her trust in respect of Mum continuing to pay for Lari and she was fine with this as Mum had been paying it for some time prior.

There is no way at this moment in time I can consider having Lari pts as an elective decision, it would totally destroy me.

I'm due to start work next week, my new manager agreed for me to delay my start by a week because I wanted to be around to help my partner get over his operation. There is no way I could start work if I lost my boy, he's literally all I have left in what is a very boring, mundane and at times what feels like a pretty pointless existence.

I was ringing around trying to make an appointment to see an IFA on Monday but following Mum's fall it has all had to be put on hold for the time being.

I'm glad you took advice on that. I had no worries about mum helping with a 'horse allowance' even after her dementia diagnosis. It was what she wanted before she had her fall and dementia, and I knew that she would have wanted it to continue. I even tried to give value afterwards, by having horses do visits to her care facility.

I only stopped it when she started ripping through her money at a fast rate. There were rules regarding a gift being out of money she could afford from income, and we fell foul of that. I never told her that she'd stopped paying and, of course, the visits continued with the horse. Even though, on the last one, she didn't even raise her head. The other residents enjoyed it though. I felt like The Queen, with them all lined up outside.

I am so sorry you are going through this hard time. A friend said something that helped me, about me becoming more a manager of her life and a guardian, rather than be able to take a full daughter role. It helped, at the time, when I felt that I was 'failing' somehow.

 

[Birker2020]

Oh god I'm so sorry @Birker2020

It never rains but it blooming well pours sometimes.

We're all here if you need to vent or offload about everything you are having to juggle at the moment.

Please look after yourself too. X

Thanks.

It's just never ending at the moment.

We'd only just got over Lari's kick injury, which required two vet visits, then the dog went terribly lame for no reason we or the vet could find. After a few days Metacam and a few more days on the lead walks she's galloping around the house and garden like a two year old again.

Then my partner's knee op and helping him recover from that and taking him to various appointments.

And now Mum's fall with the potential for her to end up bed bound with a possible operation looming.

Then the issues with our house sale which is incredibly frustrating.

And now Lari again.

I just want to jump on a plane and run away from it all. I know that's incredibly selfish bit it's how I feel.

I've cancelled my spin class this morning after finally getting through to the gym and I'm going to go and visit Lari after rush hour this morning and then visit Mum in hospital which in the other direction, but it's a rush because partner has a doctors appointment at 3pm.

I will see what he's like this morning.

 

[Red-1]

Look after yourself.

 

[meleeka]

I'm sorry that it's all come at once. I think all you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other, dealing with today's problems as they arise and try not to worry about tomorrow's problems. This time will pass and it will all sort itself out, it doesn't sound like anything you do is going to make any difference.

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

If in doubt, do nothing. Sleep on it. Your partner is recovering, and will start to become independent very soon. My neighbour was driving herself to the yard six weeks after her knee replacement. Lari might be uncomfortable, but he won't drop dead, and he is being cared for. Think it through - moving him might be a good shout. Your mum is in capable hands, she is being looked after. Please look after yourself.

 

[Baywonder]

It's times like this when you just want to scream "Stop the world! I want to get off!"

Please take a bit of time for yourself too @Birker2020 x

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

You've gone above and beyond to give him a retirement, please don't feel pressure to spend your horse fund on getting him through this when he looks likely to be an ongoing problem.

I hope you are OK.
.

I said on another post of yours Birker that you're going through the ringer, and this is not what you needed at all - I'm so sorry!

I echo the above sentiment from YCBM that you really should not feel pressured to keep spending more and more money on a horse that is looking like he may just not come right even for retirement, you have done an admirable thing in trying to give him the best retirement you can, but there is a line, and you should feel no shame in drawing it. x

 

[SEL]

I know you all mean well saying Birker should consider having him PTS but I don't think it's a very compassionate response at this moment in time!! Emotional intelligence is a really good skill to engage at times.

Birker - I'm really sorry that everything has piled up at once. One of these situations would be tough enough but with everything you must feel totally overwhelmed. A poster above has said about sleeping on everything and just keep putting one foot in front of the other - it's awful when you feel like you are just wading through treacle but it will get better. Hang on in there xx

 

[paddy555]

. I could take him home for good but not sure that would be fair either, although I don't think he'd care, he relished the one to one with me and loved the attention. Bite the bullet and pay for two on livery, Mum's already paying for Lari's rent at retirement so I could just swap it to the yard where my stable is held. Could do it cheaper than what I'm paying now. Hopefully a spare stable would come up for a new horse. Probably jumping the gun anyway.

Most of them got abscesses/mud fever last year because it was exceptionally wet everywhere, it wasn't just a problem exclusive to Lari or even that yard.

I just don't have the head space at the moment to contemplate Lari not being around,

I know you all mean well saying Birker should consider having him PTS but I don't think it's a very compassionate response at this moment in time!! Emotional intelligence is a really good skill to engage at times.

Birker - I'm really sorry that everything has piled up at once. One of these situations would be tough enough but with everything you must feel totally overwhelmed. A poster above has said about sleeping on everything and just keep putting one foot in front of the other - it's awful when you feel like you are just wading through treacle but it will get better. Hang on in there xx

I agree with SEL. The last thing needed ATM is the loss of Lari (unless he is in too much pain etc) Larii has a job to do now which is to look after Birker.

I would do as in B's quote above, take him home, use him as your rock and fuss over him like mad. Come the summer things may well be very different in all areas and you can reconsider. As someone said "sleep on it", plod on and see what happens.

 

[maya2008]

Retired horses with known issues can go lane for a few days after playing too hard, and recover on their own. My TB used to. In her case it was that she’d done too much and her arthritis was acting up. It was a known thing, she was usually much better after a few days and would then remember not to run around like a youngster for a good month or two. We simply checked her over for anything new each time and monitored her to be sure she was recovering on schedule. I hope for you that’s the sort of thing Lari has done and that it’s not anything serious.

 

[Birker2020]

I couldn't rest this morning so I drive over to see him, and I've just got home. He was out in the field and he saw me and ambled over.

Didn't look sore in walk, bit slow but I think that's just him, he's normally a slow ambley walk with the usual deviations that horses make, never a straight line!

So when he got to me I felt all his legs and no tendons involved thank God! All legs down and normal. Felt them all for heat/swelling and palpated them. Found a large stone and tapped around his hooves, no pain indications (I realise that's not very BHS but it was all I could find.)

I then got a text from y.o which had been sent an hour before to say she thought it was the bone bruise from his previous kick. So I felt it, it wasn't warm, wasn't squishy, wasn't rock hard. In comparison with the other one it felt normal. No rection to pressure.

He was well away from the herd so I gave him treats and had him walk around me in a circle of his own free will which he did without missteps. By this time I was quite puzzled.

He walked over to the stile and just as I turned to go I caught a bramble with my coat, it shook the bush and he turned and spooked, trotted off and was quite lame on the kicked leg.

I think the running around yesterday has just aggravated it. Having received numerous bruises on my hip and S.I courtesy of Bailey and his jump filler fetish, I can testify how painful that is, the paramedic that came to Mum said sometimes bruises can be even more painful than fractures.

I'm so relieved. No decisions needed this week

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I know you all mean well saying Birker should consider having him PTS but I don't think it's a very compassionate response at this moment in time!! Emotional intelligence is a really good skill to engage at times.

Birker - I'm really sorry that everything has piled up at once. One of these situations would be tough enough but with everything you must feel totally overwhelmed. A poster above has said about sleeping on everything and just keep putting one foot in front of the other - it's awful when you feel like you are just wading through treacle but it will get better. Hang on in there xx

SEL normally I agree with you but not this time I’m afraid.

I get where Birker is coming from, my horses are my anchor and light in life, especially since my accident, god know where I would be without the drive I had to ride again, it was dark in my head.

However sometimes we think that me need something that is draining us enough and causing us more issues, it could be a person/partner, a pet or even a job. But clinging to something that is adding burden or hurt to us isn’t healthy and I honestly went through with Eowyn and also a bit with Kia. Took me a year to make the decision for Kia and stick to it, I regret what I did with Eowyn, she deserved better from me and that was again me not wanting to make a tough decision.

I know I’m not Birker but sometimes we do harm to ourselves trying to keep a hold of everything.

 

[Birker2020]

Ha. To top it all partner suggested I take his car to Lari to give it a run out as its stood idle for 8 days because of his knee op.

I'd only gone a mile or so when there was a massive bang from underneath (partner thinks it's the spring again) and every bump in the road it was groaning so had to come back and transfer everything over to Mum's car!

The spring has gone twice before. I'm going to take a look under the bonnet.

 

[Birker2020]

Just had a look, none of the front or rear springs thankfully. Phew!

Have no idea. Will take to garage when partner can drive again.

 

[Sanversera]

Hope it's not serious for lari

 

[Michen]

So sorry to read this, I know all to well how stressful it has having a retired horse that still needs a lot of... management.

Whilst I don't for one minute regret giving Boggle the longest (albiet no where near as long as I hoped) and absolute best retirement I could, and I'd have him back in a heartbeat and continue, I didn't realise at the time just how much it effected me.

Losing him was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. Harder than any other horse, harder than seeing someone die, harder than any relatives I've ever lost. But, I can't deny that I am mentally "lighter" for it. The cycle of trying to keep them happy, sound, content is just exhausting. The constant worry about what next.

I don't know if or when you'll get there with Lari but just wanted to share in case it helps.

 

[misst]

Birker I'm so sorry Lari is injured that's another load of rubbish heaped on you .
No advice but sending hugs.
I think Lari was just feeling left out and wanted attention xx

 

[Birker2020]

Birker I'm so sorry Lari is injured that's another load of rubbish heaped on you .
No advice but sending hugs.
I think Lari was just feeling left out and wanted attention xx

I agree! Same leg as partner. I was getting excited at the thought of him going back 'home' - I call it home, it's the livery yard where my stable is being held. It is home really, been there on and off twenty years nearly.

He'd be better off at 'home' physically because he'd be more 'pampered' as he'd be partly stabled, whereas at retirement he's out 24/7 but with his mates in the retirement place he's mentally better off I feel. It's a hard one.

If he was at home when i got my next horse it would be nice to keep two in the same paddock and save myself a fortune on turn out/bring in's when I could do it myself and they could keep each other company, but my paddock isn't really big enough for two big lads really.

My friend, whose horse I used to turn out & bring in so they'd have company next door to each other (to save us both costs) has left the yard.