Loan horse dilemma

[El22]

So my family (parents) own the horse which is a 17 year old warmblood cross, previously competed/hunted etc. She has been on loan with a lovely girl for 6/7 years, and all was fine the horse was happy/healthy and competing successfully, about 3-4 years ago the mare injured her check ligament, rehabbed fine and was back competing. About 2 weeks ago I got a phone call saying that the horse had been lame for a couple of months, had been to the vet for X-rays which showed discolouration of the Navicular bone. The lameness was shifting limbs and while bute made her sounder she still wasn't 100%, so they wanted to do some more investigations (MRI of the lower limbs), then we would see what could be done to help her. The mare has also developed sarcoids, which will need to be treated since one keeps getting bigger and popping.

When they tried to take the mare for the MRI she fell down in the trailer (has never done this before that I know of, and was always relatively good to travel), they were waiting for a lorry to transport at a later date... But the girl has decided that she cannot keep her anymore (which TBH is fair enough).

So I/my family have a tough decision to make.

I don't have the money/time to take the horse back and make an attempt to rehab her neither do my family. Personality wise the mare can bite and isn't really novice to handle/ride. She could not be left alone in a field 4 white legs = very bad mud fever.

I am relatively certain where this is going to end... But open to any suggestions?

 

[Equi]

I would ask the loaner If they are happy for her to be pts where she is, this where she knows and less travel etc. most likely they will say no and in that case you have to take her back to pts OR gift her to them and they can decide - but personally I would rather know what her future is than gift her and then find they've put her in a field to retire knowing she's in a great deal of pain

 

[El22]

I would ask the loaner If they are happy for her to be pts where she is, this where she knows and less travel etc. most likely they will say no and in that case you have to take her back to pts OR gift her to them and they can decide - but personally I would rather know what her future is than gift her and then find they've put her in a field to retire knowing she's in a great deal of pain

Yes this is along the lines of what I thinking... I think the girl is hoping she can be a happy hacker, but I don't think that anyone would want a horse that isn't sound and has sarcoids...

 

[Equi]

The sarcoidosis would be the less worry many horses function perfectly well with them. If the lameness had been going on this Long it's likely to be a continuing issue.

 

[Shay]

Equi's suggestion is good. Can she be PTS where she is to avoid the stress of further transport etc? If you can't keep a field ornament - and absolutely no criticism of you not to! - then this can only end one way. Its the responsible thing to do.

 

[El22]

Equi's suggestion is good. Can she be PTS where she is to avoid the stress of further transport etc? If you can't keep a field ornament - and absolutely no criticism of you not to! - then this can only end one way. Its the responsible thing to do.

We have sent a honest message about what we think the best option is, we will see what the loaner says now. If we do end up PTS then hopefully it can be done there I really don't want to travel anywhere with the risk of her going down in the trailer and injuring herself/someone else.