laryngeal paralysis

dizzydonkeys

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Sorry if this is long and waffly.
Friend has 5 yr ol TB ex racer, just been diagnosed with grade 5 laryngeal paralysis, also suffering with a sore back due to ill fitting saddle.
Vet has recommended he is ridden bareback until strength built back up in back and she can afford proper fitted saddle.
Now the owner has very little money so can't see the saddle getting sorted, first time horse owner (she was told ex racer = bad idea) she is terrified of him so been lunging for an hour everyday as too scared to ride it (also been told an hours lunging is very hard work and not best idea) and this is where the breathing problems became apparent.

So she can't afford op for laryngeal paralysis (or much else for that matter) and is now looking that she will prob have him PTS.

Has anyone experianced this problem - the paralysis I mean, what level of work can they/can't they do?

Horse is a lovely thing very sweet nature and prob make someone a nice hack or summat.

So would you try find someone willing to give him a chance or just push for her to get him PTS ASAP?

Thanks
 
Hi

My horse had the paralysis, she had a Hobday operation done, and hasnt had any problems with it at all. Its a shame that she hasnt got the money to give him a chance.
 
Mine has a mild paralysis and it didn't stop me from buying him. However, it's about as mild as it gets and I was told I could 3-day event on him if I'd wanted (not that I do mind you!). I was advised it might get worse as he gets older but that it would be about £1k for the op. I don't know if this is correct or not, but you might be lucky enough to be able to sell him on to someone prepared to put the money in if he was priced appropriately at the start. The bigger issue for me would be sorting out the sore back - until that's sorted you don't really know what he's going to be like as a ride and (personally speaking) I'd not want to take one on with back issues to start with.

She could try selling him as a companion to someone prepared to take on a project which may or may not come right in the long run, but given the number of ex-racers out there desperate for homes she's likely not to get her money back. I think I'd personally still try this route first, then consider PTS if that was the only option left.
 
Thanks guys, TBH I think she would happily give him away. the back is really not a major issue (have just spoke to vet myself) his back is caused by ill fitting saddle - novice owner/rider who is not exactly small and prob about 10 x heavier due to lack of balance etc.
Horse is actually a very nice responsive ride and a sweety to handle she's just terrified of him.
I will suggest she tries to advertise him as a companion or something for someone, vet has said he'd be fine as a light hack. Problem is that he could go to someone who then passes him on without him having been fixed to some other unsuspecting person and i find that very unfair.
 
I sold one with full paralysis on one side who could not be operated on because of an old strangles abscess near the operation site. He has been a happy hacker and dressage horse for ten years since, and is perfectly happy. He can't gallop but his owners don't want him to, so there is no problem.

Tell this person that there is no need to put him to sleep, just give him to someone who doesn't want to go too fast for too long.

He'll fail any vetting and if someone buys him without a vetting and without working him hard enough to hear the noise for themselves, then that's their lookout really.
 
He could be sold/loaned as a hack. My horse recently went to have this op done but had laser surgery instead of tieback. Anyway they said if she was just being used as a hack then there would be no need to do operation.
 
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