asommerville
Well-Known Member
Well at the start if the summer my mare (19) was diagnosed with advanced arthritis in her hocks and spine, had injections into her hocks - made no difference. The vet wanted me to change her shoes but after speaking to the blacksmith we decided not to as she wasn't really ridden - in fact was miserable in work and I didn't want to mess about with her feet anymore (after years of trying all sorts for her crap feet). As long as she was sound and happy to go out in the field I was happy. But now she's not sound, goes out stiff as a board in the morning and comes in stiff as a board at night, seems quiet and miserable unless she's in her stable, I said at the beginning I'd see how she was at the end of the summer and she's getting worse now it's colder. I'm not happy to fill her with painkillers to keep her for me, I think I knew I'd need to make a decision but its so bloody hard!! I think indeed someone to say that I'm not killing her!! I can't talk to anyone at the yard, they don't get it.