Ludo has gone

ycbm

ycbm

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Clodagh said:
That’s so awfully sad.
I hope you can look back one day and be grateful that you had a horse like him, and that you made his life fabulous as well.
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I will, I think, never stop feeling guilty that I had to take him away from a perfect management system and put him in livery stables for his last year. He was well looked after and looked well, but it didn't compare with ten acres and a "stable" big enough to canter around in with his friends.

He was the loveliest creature and everyone, even the vet, said how lovely he was. I can't regret knowing him, but I'm never going to let myself love another horse like I loved him, it's just too painful to lose them.
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BallyJ

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I’m so sorry Ycbm, what an incredibly lucky boy he was to have you as an owner!
It’s clear to see from this thread alone how much you thought of him and loved him. Sending lots of hugs, look after yourself x
 
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ycbm said:
I am worried that people on the forum will put what I have written about retirement and believe I've done this to get rid of him. I don't want the forum's last memory of him to be what mine is but if anyone doubts me please PM me and I will send you the photos.

The measure of my love for him was that he is the only horse I have ever offered a retirement, but he was the one who couldn't have one.

Life sucks sometimes.


ETA also happy to provide the photos to anyone who thinks their horse is dealing with a soft tissue myopathy. I've seen what I think this as yet unnamed disease is in 2 other horses and neither made it past 8 years old.
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I’m not saying this because you and I have similar views on many things.

I’m saying it because I believe so strongly in this and I hope that it will help at least one owner torn about their decision.

Owning any animal is a privilege, especially so when they are as beautiful, intelligent and wonderful as our beloved friends. As owners out final duty to them is to let them go peacefully and mercifully.

You fulfilled that duty courageously no matter the emotional cost to you. Virtual hugs.

Sleep well Ludo, you have been one of my favourite HHO horses.
 
splashgirl45

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Don’t worry about keyboard warriors, most of us have been through this horrible decision and from your posts on here it came across how much you loved him and wanted to do the best for him.. so sorry , he was such a lovely horse.. make sure you look after yourself and know you have done the right thing … the forum has been a sad place recently with loved horses having problems…. Let’s hope you can find another to love
 
LadyGascoyne

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I am so unbelievably sorry to hear this and so, so sad for you. He was an absolutely breathtaking horse, and life is so unbelievably unfair.

When you look at a young horse with a fundamental, incurable structural fault which is presently affecting soundness (and therefore quality of life), you’re never going to get away from the fact that you are only ever buying more, poorer quality years for them.

And when you factor in the effects of compensation on other limbs and limitations on fitness, the negative effect on quality of life is compounded year-on-year.

Regardless of whether you had all the time, money and effort in the world, you’re never changing the outcome.

I’m having similar issues myself, and I hope I’m as selfless as you if it comes to it.
 
meleeka

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ycbm said:
I am worried that people on the forum will put what I have written about retirement and believe I've done this to get rid of him. I don't want the forum's last memory of him to be what mine is but if anyone doubts me please PM me and I will send you the photos.

The measure of my love for him was that he is the only horse I have ever offered a retirement, but he was the one who couldn't have one.

Life sucks sometimes.


ETA also happy to provide the photos to anyone who thinks their horse is dealing with a soft tissue myopathy. I've seen what I think this as yet unnamed disease is in 2 other horses and neither made it past 8 years old.
.
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I don’t think there’s many on here that would dream of judging anyone who’s faced with this decision. It would take a hard heart to PTS out of pure convenience and I’m certain that isn’t you.

My first thought when I read your update was I’m just pleased there’s been a conclusion and you aren’t stuck in the misery merry-go-round that having a broken horse brings. Of course a nice retirement would have been great, but that wasn’t to be and he was lucky enough to have an owner brave enough to make the decision in his best interests.

Run free Ludo x
 
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ycbm said:
We got caught in a doom loop. He needed to be box rested to cure his injuries. Resting caused him to become so weak that he looked like an old brood mare. It was shocking how quickly he fell apart physically. In his last days, his face was a mask of misery. His only future was to injure himself again every time he felt well enough to run about, because he wasn't strong enough to hold his wonky bones together. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I have never loved any creature as much as I did him. Of all the horses I've ever had, why did it have to be him?
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I am so so sorry.I lost a much loved little dog a couple of years ago and it still hurts sometimes.Take care of yourself.Give yourself time to grieve.You know you did the right thing.He was lucky to have had you.
 
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Pearlsasinger

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ycbm said:
I will, I think, never stop feeling guilty that I had to take him away from a perfect management system and put him in livery stables for his last year. He was well looked after and looked well, but it didn't compare with ten acres and a "stable" big enough to canter around in with his friends.

He was the loveliest creature and everyone, even the vet, said how lovely he was. I can't regret knowing him, but I'm never going to let myself love another horse like I loved him, it's just too painful to lose them.
.
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You made the decisions that you did for all the right reasons, taking into account all the information that was available at the time. There is nothing to feel guilty about. It is very sad that other info came to light afterwards but hindsight is just that.
However in your position I would be very wary of taking on a ROR which has been started very young. That could easily be storing up.more trouble.
 
Hepsibah

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I can't find the words. I'm so sad for you. I know my own misery when I lost the love of my horsey life and wish you weren't going through it. Be kind to yourself, you know you did your best for him. xxxxxx
 
AandK

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I’m so very sorry to read this, he was such a beautiful boy. It was so clear from your posts about him how much he meant to you. As above, be kind to yourself. We’re all thinking of you.
 
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