Ludo has gone

Pearlsasinger said:
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.
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They are all storing up more trouble PaS. We have bred them bigger than they can cope with for the unnatural stuff we want to do with them.

The only way I can reconcile giving a horse a life that is going to be spent in a stable a lot of the time (which is the only livery I can get where I can do the things that make it worth paying to keep a horse in livery) is to take on one who wasn't bred for the leisure market, and one who I can give a better life than what it had before, available for money I can afford to lose.

The only thing that fits that is a horse off the track. As it happens, their narrowness and sporting ability also "do it" for my restless body and mind and narrow hips, so if I do have another I think it's likely to be one.

I appreciate your concern, though.
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I am so sorry
The sad truth is that sometimes there can be no good outcome; some horses just can't be fixed or even made comfortable, no matter how much time or money we are willing to invest
You have done the brave and selfless thing and put Ludo's needs before your own
As for moving him into livery - it wasn't done on a whim, iirc you had no choice
Don't judge yourself harshly. I know you would have compassion for anyone else in this situation
xxx
 
Your posts about him reflected how very fond you were of him - what a shame his body couldn't cope with life. You've prevented him from being constantly uncomfortable and not being able to live a full life, so have done the kindest thing for him even though it was the hardest for you
 
I am so sorry. I echo that there is nothing to feel guilty about with moving him. I saw him late summer, when I suspect he was at the top of his game. I remember his looseness, his enthusiasm, hacking out with BH and I.

It was my top summer memory, riding into the river, sun playing on the water, both brave boys enjoying time together. How polite he was when he wanted to dash up the hill, whilst BH was lazy and wanted to trot. He was amazing. His quality and character (and his spots!).

I do think that it is the good ones who die young, burning bright. Very sad for those they leave behind. He was such a huge character, I can only imagine the hole he has left.

Sending love. X
 
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ycbm said:
........ 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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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
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....but please remember....you didn't "cause" the issue by putting him in livery....you may (or may not) have exposed it a fraction earlier by doing so, but from all we know about these myopathies, this is the age at which they so often deteriorate, despite the best of management systems. Even though they have not got to the bottom of the causes, there is undoubtedly a genetic basis which you could not have reversed.

Don't feel guilty ...remember the good times.
 
I’m so sorry it’s honestly the hardest yet kindest thing we can do. Sending massive hugs to you. RIP xx
 
Beautiful, special boy.I touched him briefly in my own way..it was a privilege.
I am so sorry he is gone,but you must never doubt that you gave him the best of all possibilities.We move through this life loving,losing and must treasure the joy they bring us,even if brief .What a lightning bolt he was!One of a kind. Hugs to you C. and move on in peace.
 
So sorry. The decision never gets any easier or the pain any more bearable no matter how many times you go through it. Know that we understand and support your decision 100% Retirement is definitely not suitable for every horse.

Good luck with not loving your next horse as much! I feel that we should love them enough to give them the best life possible and for that reason losing them will always cause us pain. It’s the price we pay for having the privilege of riding and caring for horses.
 
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 sorry. I know you absolutely adored him, seeing him like that must have been devastating.

Letting him go before he suffered, while knowing it would break your heart, is such a brave and selfless thing to do. The last kindness we can do for our animals.
Xx
 
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.
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I don't think that anyone who has hung around here for a while, will have any doubt that you ALWAYS have the horses best interest at heart.

Sorry for your heartache, brave lady x
 
Absolutely awful I’m so sorry! They’re just not designed to be long term broken. It goes without saying you did your best for him.
 
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 anyone would think that of you ycbm. Your knowledge and love shine through. He will remembered as a loved horse gone too soon with potential left unfulfilled. Sending real sympathy for you, it hurts so much x
 
I am so so sorry. Ludo has been one of my very favourite horses on here and I vividly remember the first pics you shared with his stonking shoulder and glorious spots.

You've done everything you could for him. You knew him inside out and fought for him when no one else could see there was something wrong. You tried to find a way for him to have a retirement. And you made the call when it was needed. You can't ask for more in an owner. He was lucky you were his person.

I hope, when you are ready, you can let another one in.
Many hugs and much sympathy. xxxx
 
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