Looking for some sensible support I think

[[118739]]

(Written on mobile so formatting may be grim)

Wasn’t sure how to title this but after what seems to be an endless string of bad luck - it continues and has Now become more serious

My lovely tbx mare had finally been back in work (light hacking w/ hills) for 2 months after a saga of: field rest to grow good hoof (successfully), a broken saddle, corona preventing saddle fitter and farrier attending, just by luck finding a good fit second hand saddle which would tide me over until fittings were up and running again & farrier coming out within a week of eachother!
Finally we were back on the move and she was loving it. Intending to hack to the beach one day she seemed off & so we turned back. Next day visibly lame in the front on tarmac - vet out, conclusion abcess. Just our luck another bloody temporary hold up on really getting going. So poulticed her but no improvement, farrier out to check on abcess & now not really sure that’s the real problem or a distraction.
vet out again by now she’s worsened to be lame on grass despite being off for 2 weeks. Flexion tests are dramatic and show up potential issues above the hoof (query suspensory ligament). So now in the process of getting referral to equine clinic for nerve blocks & x-ray.
No idea how she’s done it but I am gutted - she’s only 8 and I have a real gut feeling that she’s not ever going to come sound, even if this is fixable I really think the next thing is just around the corner with her. She’s the bad stereotype of a tb, clumsy w/ poor feet and always coming in from the field with another minor (now potentially major) scrape.
I just don’t know if I’m prepared to make the decision if I need to for an 8yo otherwise happy horse.. I do have a field with some older horses she could be turned out to retirement if needs be - But for that shed need to be at least field sound. Can’t keep a lame horse going can you - Even if she does seem otherwise happy in herself. I’m just so gutted, I’ve only ever put down one horse aged 20 due to grass sickness and that was hard enough, all others have gone through old age.
I know I’m getting ahead of myself but I feel like I need time to prepare for the worst & approach decision making sensibly. My gut says it’s coming and it’s very rarely wrong based on experience. Not sure what the point of this post is now I’ve written it...

 

[Emilieu]

Sometimes in the midst of a lot of problems it can begin to feel overwhelming, I have been there (with another TB unsurprising ?). Remember that you don’t need to decide everything right now, instead of trying to see the end just try to focus on the next step. I know you want to be prepared but don’t overthink it- you have a sensible plan for retirement if that turns out to be possible or necessary, and there is not much else you can do now but wait and see. Horses are the best teachers of patience I ever came across!

 

[[118739]]

Sometimes in the midst of a lot of problems it can begin to feel overwhelming, I have been there (with another TB unsurprising ?). Remember that you don’t need to decide everything right now, instead of trying to see the end just try to focus on the next step. I know you want to be prepared but don’t overthink it- you have a sensible plan for retirement if that turns out to be possible or necessary, and there is not much else you can do now but wait and see. Horses are the best teachers of patience I ever came across!

thanks, yes it’s true I do need to just wait and see. It’s just tough realising that best case scenario she probably won’t meet the potential I’d hoped for and at worst won’t come good at all.

 

[tristar]

if it was mine i would visit the vet find out more, then try and keep her with one quiet companion, i would feed her on fast fibre , mic linseed and oats, no shoes and use hoof boots easy boot gloves, and take it from there, this is how o keep mine, they are are great , and i am worn out from riding them all. its worth a try, cause i`ve been where you are and understand its a long road, it took me years to get my formula that works.

 

[[118739]]

if it was mine i would visit the vet find out more, then try and keep her with one quiet companion, i would feed her on fast fibre , mic linseed and oats, no shoes and use hoof boots easy boot gloves, and take it from there, this is how o keep mine, they are are great , and i am worn out from riding them all. its worth a try, cause i`ve been where you are and understand its a long road, it took me years to get my formula that works.

thanks for the advice - will be helpful when we’re in a position that we know what’s going on and whether it is treatable/how feasible recovery is. There’s just this feeling I get that if it’s not this it will be something else I can’t pinpoint why, I thought it would go as she got stronger in work but we’ve gone the opposite way instead ?

 

[tristar]

thanks for the advice - will be helpful when we’re in a position that we know what’s going on and whether it is treatable/how feasible recovery is. There’s just this feeling I get that if it’s not this it will be something else I can’t pinpoint why, I thought it would go as she got stronger in work but we’ve gone the opposite way instead ?

i know its so depressing, just hoping if you try, something will help things fall into place, its an odd balance finding what works, xxx

 

[[118739]]

i know its so depressing, just hoping if you try, something will help things fall into place, its an odd balance finding what works, xxx

Thanks for the help/confidence - its tough bc I don’t really have a close horsey network around me yet to soundboard off so responses are much appreciated ? sometimes you just need “out loud” reflection. I’ll keep up hope ?

 

[horselover11]

There are so many things out there that can help with lameness especially when you have pinpointed what the issue is. From cartrophen, Osphos, Amikin, Athramid, HY50, Adcortyl etc for joints. Is it’s a soft tissue there is PRP, IRAP, shockwave, stem cell treatments et. so don’t feel downhearted just yet!

Also there is the herbal root - the latest craze I’ve heard of bozmerix it’s a herbal supplement that my vets say is very good for pain?

 

[ycbm]

Also there is the herbal root - the latest craze I’ve heard of bozmerix it’s a herbal supplement that my vets say is very good for pain?

It's not a craze, its based on boswellia (frankincense) , it's got a powerful anti inflammatory in it, and it's clinically proven to help with arthritis in humans and horses.

You can just feed boswellia, though.

 

[Regandal]

Don’t be too downhearted. I acquired an ISH who was a failed eventer due to psd. We do hacking and light schooling, no tight circles. He is barefoot and fed a low starch diet, looks like a completely different horse.
He gets daily boswellia, love the stuff.

He does have straight hocks, there is a recognised correlation unfortunately.

 

[[118739]]

Thanks for the info - never heard of half of these remedies (never really had a reason to before now) so will definitely look into them once I know what the issue is. She’s got a specialist appointment beginning of next week so on Bute until then. The irony is she’s the only horse I’ve ever insured so there must have been something in the back of my mind from the beginning. I am kicking myself slightly that I didn’t take more time as a buyer - but her personality/safeness out on the roads got me so I guess I’m a sucker!!
cant live with em can’t live without them. Feeling slightly less downcast now thank you ?

 

[brighteyes]

(Written on mobile so formatting may be grim)

Wasn’t sure how to title this but after what seems to be an endless string of bad luck - it continues and has Now become more serious

Did you write this at night? I feel I get more overwhelmed in the late evenings. You can't move forward until you have a firm diagnosis. I also believe in the old saying 'If they aren't right after a year in the field...'

I hope things turn around soon. Get another one and she is SURE to come round!

 

[emmmilythinks]

Feeling like I need support for something similar too :-( I don't have any advice but hugs to you and your pony xxx

 

[[118739]]

hello just back from the clinic and the news is not good. Navicular issue which is being MRI’d this afternoon to see to what extent the tendon has been damaged. My understanding is that even with treatment the goal is getting her field sound to be comfortable, and being ridden again is very unlikely - which i had kind of accepted already. The thought that even getting her field sound could be difficult fills me with dread. She has deteriorated a lot in the last week to two weeks & the level of lameness she has now would not be acceptable even as a field ornament. Going to have to make sure i quiz the vet better when he phones back after the MRI as i was too emotional there and then After looking at the x rays.

 

[ester]

Is she shod? I kind of presumed not re. the growing good hoof bit but re-read and not 100% sure.

 

[[118739]]

Feeling like I need support for something similar too :-( I don't have any advice but hugs to you and your pony xxx

sorry to hear you’re going through it too - the waiting game is tough. I haven’t had great news today at the clinic so I can’t offer much in the way of a good news story. Good luck with yours & hope you and your horse get a nice efficient vet as I did today. It helped a lot: I stayed for the nerve blocks and x rays, he talked me through those and then immedtiately she was prepped for MRI this afternoon. I chose to leave her there for that so they can start any treatment/ do surgery this week if its appropriate and she wont have to travel the whole way again. Definitely felt like she was in the best hands so that’s one thing. Good luck! X

 

[[118739]]

Is she shod? I kind of presumed not re. the growing good hoof bit but re-read and not 100% sure.

was shod during may/June removed when we had the abcess distraction, unshod since mid June & deterioration continued in paddock.

 

[brighteyes]

Sorry it's not the news you had hoped for and I hope a decision can reached that is bearable.

 

[emmmilythinks]

sorry to hear you’re going through it too - the waiting game is tough. I haven’t had great news today at the clinic so I can’t offer much in the way of a good news story. Good luck with yours & hope you and your horse get a nice efficient vet as I did today. It helped a lot: I stayed for the nerve blocks and x rays, he talked me through those and then immedtiately she was prepped for MRI this afternoon. I chose to leave her there for that so they can start any treatment/ do surgery this week if its appropriate and she wont have to travel the whole way again. Definitely felt like she was in the best hands so that’s one thing. Good luck! X

I've had better news about mine, I'm really sorry about your pony ! I hope you can get her sorted with some treatment after the MRI. You'll have to let us know how it goes, good luck to you too! xx

 

[[118739]]

Sorry it's not the news you had hoped for and I hope a decision can reached that is bearable.

Thanks - we have a few things to try over the next month or so to try and get her field sound. Given we have insurance and space to keep her I want to try and see if she can be a happy field ornament ?

 

[[118739]]

I've had better news about mine, I'm really sorry about your pony ! I hope you can get her sorted with some treatment after the MRI. You'll have to let us know how it goes, good luck to you too! xx

MRI conclusion was she won’t be ridden again and there are a couple of things to try and get her field sound. So in the next few months I guess I’ll know if they have worked and we’ll go from there. When the vet asked if I would be paying for livery on her return etc. I realised how lucky I am that she is kept at home and I have the option of keeping her around just for her happy face so trying not to feel too doom and gloom about it now until we’ve tried all the reasonable options. ?