Little Old Pony - Decision Time?

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Boodle

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Bit of a depressing post... that i've been putting off since yesterday.

Most of you will know of my beautiful little old pony... Trixie. On the 25th of May i will have had her 9 years. She was my first pony and has been my best friend.

We brought all the ponies in together for the farrier yesterday, and it was a stark realisation for us to look at her. There is nothing of her still. Her coat is thick, and not coming out as she is so old, and she is unbearably thin.
It really doesen't come across on photos, as her coat is so thick. But I can feel every rib, and her back bone. Her hips are protruding and her neck is scrawny as they come.

I know she is very old, from previously talking about her to those who knew her, and from EDT we have decided that though she was thought to be 18 when we got her, that would make her 27, she is probably more like 37. And that's being generous apparently.

When all ponies were in, the 3, Shadow, Boo and Joey were arguing and bickering among themselves and Trix was stood dozing as per... but she just looks so old.

I'm posting this, because I want opinions. I had a long talk with my Mum about it. She has aged more this winter than she has in the past 2 years. She is still relatively spritely, eg trotting over to get fed in the field. She is pretty much sound, though obviously abit stiff.

This was Trixie last April.
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Early April
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Bit later in the month With Rocco in the field, being a little minx. lol.

And this is her.... yesterday.

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Now, I know this Spring hasn't been as warm as last was. But I took this into consideration, showing pics of her earlier in the year last year.
This year she wore a very cosy full neck rug, she is/was fed 4 times a day and has been on adlib hay (tho cant eat it well if at all) and has been in a field with grass (not just a mud pit.)

Last year she was rugless, she was fed minimally due to the issue of choke, was provided with adlib hay, and spent about 4 months (Nov to Feb) in a very bare field with Joey as Boo was lame. She then went into the field she was in all year this year and looked as seen in the first pics in April.

Taking all this into consideration, what are everyone's opinions?
We have decided... to seriously consider her quality of life come the winter. And whether (as much as it pains me to say this), whether she would be better to have a lovely summer... and then let her rest.

Now, the problem being is, I don't want to keep her all summer and become all round and jolly agian (As she did last year), and for it to cloud my vision of whether she will cope with another winter.

I really do want honest opinions. We have done everything in our power to keep her happy and healthy. She cannot be stabled. partially due to severe COPD and partially as she hates it.

I think I rambled... I don't know what else to put here. I have posted a post like this before.. but it seems all the more real now, as I thought she would look better by now. Which deep down I know she doesen't. That thick coat hides so much of her true condition.

Please be honest.
I have pondered over I want to post this for 20 minutes. Oh dear.
 
VERY hard decision for you.
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If it helps at all, a great horseman once told me "Better a month too early than a day too late."

It doesn't make the decision any easier for you, but I get the feeling from your post that you will make the right choice for your faithful equine friend.

((((Hugs))))
 
I get to this stage sometimes with our oldies.
Firstly I look at their quality of life.
Is she still keen to eat, does she get up and down ok, does she socialise with the others or has she been going off on her own?
If the answer to all the above is good, then look at her management.
You say she was in a bald field, well I suspect that more than anything else has caused her loss of condition. Oldies need to have access to decent grazing or forage 24/7.
I would have her teeth checked, put her on some conditioning feed like preparation 14 from Saracen and see how she goes through the summer.
If she doesn't gain any weight, it's likely her stomach wall may have thickened and she isn't absorbing the nutrients.
She will need specialised care next winter which means rugs and a good supply of forage, if she can't chew then softer feeds.
I find the old horses usually let me know when they have had enough.
They wander off away from the others and spend a lot of time on their own, and a certain spark leaves their eyes.
Your little mare sounds as if she isn't really ready yet to be honest, she just needs some extra tlc. Here we tend to have them pts at this point because the way they live isn't feasible to give them extra care like feeds. Sometimes their owners insist we bring them in away from the herd but the horses loathe that, I truly think they would rather be euthanised than stressed out.
I wouldn't make any decisions until the autumn, let her eat and see how she looks.
A supplement like Propell wouldn't do any harm either.
pm me is you would rather..
 
Oh Boodle..............
I'm not going to say let her go when she is full of life for a pony of her age. OK, not fat, yet, but not moping about. Her (lack of) weight has probably saved her life. Feed her up, see how she goes and don't make any firm plans today.

She may well make the decision for you. I certainly can't.
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I can, however, well appreciate how painful it will be to make this post. Just don't be too hasty; you will know when the time comes, I promise. Here's a really big (((hug))) for both of you to share from Aunty b. Please make sure Trixie gets her bit xx

She's a little treasure.............
 
Thank you Diggerdog.

The saying is very true, and something to bear in mind, thanks for your reply.
It's much appreciated.
x
 
As you say, she's still happy, so there's no hurry.

As HH said, she will let you know when she's ready, she'll maybe not want her feed, or will separate herself from the herd.

I would give her a fabulous summer then see how things are from there. if she's still happy then invest in some good thick rugs and perhaps modernise your field shelter so she can keep warm (she'll go in and use it if she needs to). Have her teeth done, make sure her worming is up to date and keep an eye on her.
 
Its difficult I know cos we have just been through this in our yard with one of the oldies. I think if she is not in pain, able to get around - even if she is stiff, eating and drinking and in good form in herself I see no reason to PTS. I wouldn't worry about condition so much as long as the other boxes are ticked e.g no pain and eating well etc. I would get her teeth checked although at that age, she probably doesnt have many left! You will know when the time is right. If you are worried about not noticing her change in condition, why don't you make a point if taking maybe a weekly or forthnightly picture or video clip of her and then you have a record of her.
 
Oh dear, really feel for you
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I'm in the same situation and was planning to get my old girl through spring and then do the deed in summer, when the heat makes her uncomfortable. The vet advice I have been given is that while she has some body fat (between her thighs) and doesn't seem overly depressed - i.e they should be allowed to be old :-) then not to worry too much. It's horrible to be the one to make this decision, but you know her best, go with your gut instinct.
((((Hugs))))
 
If she is still enjoying life and you can afford to keep her, plus you can give her the care she needs then i would not PTS. If she was miserable and lame etc it would be different but she is just a bit poor. She is an old lady. I'm in the same boat and dont know whether to take my boy through another winter. But I have decided to wait and see how he picks up.
 
I think for a pony her age she looks greaqt, well done you.
Fair enough shes not like last year but the grass has only just started coming through so I would do what your thinking and see how she goes this summer and as the others said if she ails or loses her appertite then think about the dreaded.
 
She is still keen to eat, though some days she will leave her feed and wander off.
She does get up and down fine, thankfully. Something i'm always aware of.
She does socialise, yes, however I do notice that sometimes she will just wander off, stand somewhere distant, and appear to go off into a different world. It's times like that that I think "is this right?".

Sorry, should've made it clearer, she's been in a field with decent/good grazing since February 2007.
It was before this that she was on poor grazing and she coped fine.
So the grazing has not been a problem.

She has had her teeth checked and EDT says that he doesen't want to touch her teeth, he has had a good look and there is no problem except she has lost quite a few and others are so loose that he fears if he does touch them they will come out. They do not need anything done though.

We have been giving her hifi as she can almost cope with this though even that she sometimes struggles to keep down. She copes well with Sugar beet and has been getting that aswell as some build up cubes soaked into a mush which she gets pretty constantly and can eat that ok.
She has had 3 rugs, LW, MW and HW and has had one on since October to now.

It feels like we've been doing so much, yet she still looks worse than last year. Leading me to think "how's she gonna look next year?".

I will try look up Saracen feeds, and Propell.

I might well drop you a PM if you don't mind. Maybe not tonight as i'm abit of an emotional twit.

Thank you for your reply.
xx
 
Thank you brighteyes for your ongoing support with Trixie.

I feel that from the last time we spoke over PM she has infact got worse as opposed to better, and got more reserved than she was even a few months ago. Which I find strange and very disheartening.

I don't want to be hasty, but as seen in post above.. don't want to be too late.
Thank you.
x
 
I read your post twice and feel really moved by your care for your pony - she is such a sweet little lady and must be part of your life.

I can't add anything to what Henryhorn has said - her advice sounds spot on. I have experience of very old dogs and cats and it is very true that the life goes out of their eyes at a certain point and a weariness sets in. You know your pony better than anyone and I am sure she will let you know when her time has come and you will do well by her.
 
The problem being she has all this already.
She has lovely cosy rugs, 3 of. One that she has worn predominantly is a HW full neck, along with her natural exmoor pony type coat which is several inches thick. lol.
She has access to a field shelter/stable which is open at all times with a thick bed in it and hay and haylage available within it. Though she never chooses to use it.
She is wormed with equest and equitape and is up to date.

Yet she is still very thin.
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Thanks for you reply.
 
As said above go with your gut and you will know when the time is right. Its a horrid situation to be in.

We have an old arab he is about 30, has very little fat on him, but is so alert and so full of energy, still very happy to gallop around field. He lives out all year round with a double rug.

We feed him soaked fibre nuts as obviously with them being soaked he finds them easier to eat, sugarbeet and also gets Dengie senior as good alternative to hay, he does still get a bit of hay though he isn't that great at eating!

If she still seems happy and seems to be in no pain i would wait a while before making any decisons.
 
Thank you moocow (love the name!)
I am a bit of a maniac when it comes to taking pictures so have many of her from week to week (day to day sometimes!).

As said above, she has had teeth checked but EDT said she didn't have many and those she did were very loose. But nothing that he could do, unless they made falsies. lol.

Thank you for your reply.
xx
 
Ahh
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I'm sorry to hear you're having to have this done.
Up here the heat doesen't tend to phase her too much, though occasionally she is bothered and she really thrives in the Autumn when it's cool but there is grass.

I really am sorry to hear of aothe rhaving to make this decision.
Thank you for your advice though, it's appreciated.
xx
 
Thanks for replying dozziesmummy.
Would you maybe let me know if/when/what you decide with regards to your boy?
I do hope he picks up well and is ok for another year.
She is probably the most sound of all my ponies at the moment. Sad thought!

I hope your boy does sprite up now its spring.
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xx
 
Don't write the old girl off yet. Sugarbeet, flaked barley and some other build up pick me ups will get her going - a little at a time to start, plus some nice grass! Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Thanks Louby. I had considered that last April was so warm that she would look better. But overall her face/activity just seem alot less "Trixieish" and more old ladyish.
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Thanks for your reply.
x
 
Thank you inmydreams.
She is my best friend, and the one that started it all off ( the adopting of invalid ponies!)... so you could say shes something super special.

I really hope I can do the right thing by her. Terrified that my judgement will be clouded.

Thank you.
x
 
Thanks Jay89. Have cared for an old Arab gelding who is late 30's, for the past 11 years and he is an absolute star still! Arthritic but very alert and very happy and though isn't carrying much weight, still doesen't look that bad!
Hope you're boy can continue on as he is.

Thanks for your advice.
xx
 
She looks like she is still a happy pony. This is a big deciding factor for me.
Has she seen the vet at all?
What is her worming programme?
Is she on good grass? Is she on any feed? Is she happy with the company she has.
She does not look to me like she is ready to go yet.
 
Try Simple Systems Luccie nuts soaked so she can just drink them.

She does look well, and happy and quite content in your pictures although lacking a little condition but at her age, you cant blame her.

The summer sun always does wonder, maybe reassess the situation with how she is looking and coping come autumn.

A credit to you, she looks so good, it is true what others have said, she will tell you when she has had enough, and I think you will realise the signs as you are obviously more than looking out for her wellbeing.
 
She has seen vet, he's basically said "you'll know."
She is wormed using equest and equitape programme.
She is ion good grass ( in recent pictures she's on the bare grazing as these pictures were taken straight after farrier, she was turned out here for a few hours and then I took her back to 'yard' to the grassy field.).
She is fed 4 times daily on sugar beet, alfa and soaked build up cubes. This feed she has not yet choked on (she suffers severe choke).

She has two oldies for company at 'yard' and she has my 3 when she is back home. All of which she gets on with well and has known for a very long time. She is very settled with all of them.

Thank you for your reply. It means alot to hear someone say that they think she seems ok.
 
Thank you Mags Mum.
I will look into this. Just abit wary of changing her diet as she does have a sensitive tum now she's older.

I hope that now the sun is out she will become spritely, but abit worried about what next winter will bring.

Thank you for your reply.
xx
 
Well, I appreciate she is thin but she still has a ;full of life; expression.
I would do a worm count, as she could have built up resistance, possibly blood test, did the vet do any investigation at all?
You presumeably don't want to stress her too much, but those are two simple things that would tell you if there is something simple that can be remedied.
Otherwise, I would let her go through the summer and see how she goes, if she gets fat and shiney, liklihood is she is pootling along just grand, if she doesn't put on weight I would worry.
There are however others on here much more qualified than I to give advice!
If you look at her last april she also looks reasonably under condition, although it is more pronounced this year,w hich may be a sign her time is getting near.
Whilst she is happy and not in pain, I think let her continue. But I would definitely get those tests done.
 
I would be very very carefull with the worming; one wormer can just knock the life out of a pony like this- I have seen this in my delicate TB's- it literally would take them a good two months to recover their normal gut flora and vitality after having a wormer, nearly all of them would drop off and look poor immediately after being wormed, and their droppings would loose their regular consistency.

As you've been so diligent with the worming up to now, and all the others in the paddock are wormed, I would not worry all that much about worms, just keep sending her droppings off to do a worm count and then worm according to that. Maybe get the vet to bloodtest for tape worm; and then worm according to that if needed;

Sorry to bang on about wormers but they are soooo chemically toxic and have just knocked my TB's for six every time- and they are young healthy horses,but admitedly extremely delicate like all TB's are! Hence why I only worm as above now and drop the regular worming routine.

I would also try feeding a high class probiotic to get her gut flora working properly because any thin horse is bound to have a lack of gut flora.
I think winergy horse feed would work really well for her- this feed is very high in oil and high in fibre, but no starch. Try the winergy growth which is their highest calorie feed.. I would aim for feeding her high oil ( full of calories) high fibre ( probably the only thing she can now digest properly and low/nil starch ( like no sugar beet or cereals, because I reckon an old horse's gut can't digest high level of starch any more )

I would ring Winergy horse feeds for advice..their feeds would be the very best option for old ponies/horses like this.
 
My rule of thumb is that as long as they are happy they are fine. We all look a bit more tatty when we get older!
I am sure if you email Equine Market Watch they would be happy to share experiences with you. They have some real oldies there (and have lost some as well), and seem to have the feeding etc completely sorted out.
The vet is right, you do know. The light goes out of their eyes, they become obviously unhappy around the other horses, and just lose something.
 
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