Monty update and some more questions......

MontyandZoom

MontyandZoom

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Following on from my post concerning my old boy losing weight.....I have looked at all the feeds and discovered he is getting the most enery per bucket he can have so I will have to persevere with someone getting him out at lunchtime.

I am also hoping to get him into his own field so he can have hay at night but this won't be possible until the weather improves
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Anyhoo - I was discussing it with my mum and she had some interesting comments. My parents have bought a delapidated barn in France which they are doing up with a view to move in late summer. She has mentioned taking Monty there before but I always kind of dismissed it.

Now she is being more insistent
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I am applying to go to uni in September and she says that she doesn't think I will be able to look after Monty well enough in his golden years. I am there as much as possible but can only get there twice a day. I can't put him on full livery since I will be skint and it also would NOT suit him.

There is a lovely big field with horses next to the house and my mum has got to know the people there. If he was there, she would be able to provide 24/7 care and he would still enjoy his light hacks as my mum is learning on him and her and the lady who owns the other horses are of a similar age.

Apart from the obvious thing of being devastated at not seeing my darling boy every day I have a few concerns:

1) Monty is lovely to travel but HIDEOUS to load. The journey would be 7 hours. Is it possible to do it in one go? He is happy on the lorry munching hay but would go nuts if taken off and put back on again.
2) His age......he is around 30 years old
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He is extremely healthy and my vets are astonished at how young he acts but there is no escaping the fact that he is proper geriatric
3) Stress - he is a stressy boy so I do worry about moving him at all. He is going to have to move whatever happens as I can't keep him fat enough where he is. He will have the company of a trotter and a donkey called Nutella (
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) but would taking Zoom over for the initial period be a good idea? He loves Zoom but isn't fussed if he's got another horse to keep him company, I just thought it might ease the stress??

This is just a very far off idea at the moment. I do know how crazy it sounds to move a horse at his age, but anyone who knows him knows that he is much more like a 10 year old. I am going to discuss it with my vet when he comes on Monday but I just wanted some thoughts.

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I adore him but I want to do what's best for him.
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Sorry for the essay!
 
Hi,

We moved a 21 year old from Ireland to England in one go and I don't see why a trip to from England to France couldn't be done ine one fell swoop. I would have concerns about his age - does he have joint problems? Trying to balance in a swaying lorry for seven hours might do him harm but yu are doing the right thing getting the vets to check him out. Other than that, I think your Mum's plan sounds great. I know you will him but he will get loving care in his last years and you will get to concentrate on your studies - you don't want to be more stressed, exhuasted and worried about money than the average student, do you?!
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Sorry, forgot to reply about the stress thing. If Monty stresses anyway, would Zoom being there make a lot of difference? It just doesn't seem fair to put Zoom through all that traveling and you through all that expense, if it doesn't make a big difference to Monty.
 
Boo! I was hoping you would say 'don't move him' since I would miss him terribly, although it is all for his benefit and that's the most important thing to me.

I'm not sure what he'd be like without Zoom, I thought she may keep him calm since he adores her. I'm lucky since she is ex-polo so is really not fussed about travelling long distances. It wouldn't be much fun for her but if it could help old Monty i don't think she would be too put out.

He does get stiff in his back legs but doesn't take bute regularly, just devil's claw.
 
Sorry!
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But it really does sound like a wonderful retirement home for him and best of all, he stays in the family. You're going to have different priorities once you are in uni and you want to be able to enjoy the experience to.
 
Yes, sorry but I think it sounds like a great thing for him too!
My pony travelled from Germany, in one go, in a trailer without unloading. Customs didn't even check the trailer for illegals/horses or anything! 16 hours later she arrived in Yorkshire. She was 27 at the time.
 
I travel one of my veterans (23) regulary to compete - nothing special there you might say
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But typical travelling for mine would be on wagon two hours before departure, four hours on boat, minimum three hours once we arrive uk.

Never had a problem - did discuss with vet whether to break up journeys as he gets older but vet was of the opinion that if he travels well better to do it all in one hit and have a relaxing second day than two days travelling.
 
Sounds like a great place for him to retire
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Although I do think that it would stress him more if you were to remove Zoom from him once he was in France. My TB is very clingy to my section A, if I take him away from her he is fine but if I was to remove her from him he would go nuts.

I think the fact that he is going into a field with others will keep him happy, if Zoom is with him he may feel the need to protect her and won't bond with the others so much and then when she leaves he will become upset.

Will you be making the journey with him?
 
I would feel unhappy about potentially causing so much stress to a very old horse (even though he is healthy as you say.) Obviously i dont know him but imho that is a big upheaval for any horse. Plus i would miss him wayyyyy to much if we were mine... but thats just my opinion... im sure he will be fine whatever you decide.. good luck with uni btw
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Definately!! It is still very much at the ideas stage but if he were to go, I would go with him and spend a few days there while he settles. I remember when he came down from Norfolk I made my OH drive next to the lorry so I could see his ears!

I want to go and meet the neighbour first since my mum is a novice so i will only let him go if I know there is someone knowledgable nearby.
 
I think you should let him go there, if the vet agrees.
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Sounds perfect to me - to have a nice place in the countryside where he can keep his weight on, still see other horses and can be in the care of somebody you trust. I think my parents will retire to France one day and I hope that when they do, they can take our retired horse and pony to a new life with them.
 
It's good to have at least one person with another opinion so thanks.

That is ultimately what I am worried about
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However, I know my mum is right when she says I will struggle to keep him well. The thought of him wasting away in front of my eyes is almost too much to bear
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I would miss him so terribly and I hate the idea that I might not be there at the end, but I'm trying to not let my heart rule my head as at the end of the day, his happiness and health is all that matters to me. If my mum can be there 24/7 to do mini-feeds etc, he would keep his weight better.

I have alot of thinking to do.
 
Sounds like you are really thinking this through
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If you are going with him then he will probably be fine without Zoom but obviously it's up to you and how you think he'll be.


Good Luck for whatever you decide, keep us posted as I would love to know how the journey goes if you decide on the move
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Eventually it is your desicion. He is your horse and your heart should be a contributing factor, your head will know when "contributing" turns to "sentimental and silly".

If it helps you should remember:

You would definately know he was well looked after with your Mum, who shouldn;t have any problems ringing you to ask for advice (after all she would see it as an excuse for a really good catch up)

You could see him as and when you liked.

He would be warmer and with constant care, if he is dropping weight like he is at the moment this might make ALL the difference, imagine if there is a winter like this next year!

Might it be worth seeing if you could find a companion (something small, read sheep, goat or shettie maybe?) to travel with him, it might be cheaper than bringing Zoom then taking her home, less stress on her too but he could keep it with him and have a tiny bit of regularity left.
 
FWIW I think you should let your Mum take him, he should be fine with the journey, maybe as someone said perhaps give him some sedative to take the edge off. I wouldnt bother taking Z with you - as she then has to make the trip back. Horses settle soon enough especially if he has other company and your Mum 24/7!

Lucky old Monty - not many horses get to have their retirement so nicely planned for them especially one where the weather may be a bit kinder for him

PS glad you settled your mind about his feed
 
Hmmm......I had thought about getting a companion here and taking them over too. It's another idea that's been buzzing around.

That way I could perhaps keep the pony for a few months and then take them over together. That way, it won't all be new to him so hopefully he'd settle better. Plus - I get to go shopping for a cute pony/donkey/mule/sheep!

Thanks for all the advice guys, it's just what I needed.
 
I'd say that him going to France would be a wonderful result all round really - as long as he is fit to go. Once he got there and settled in, all the 'trauma' of the move would soon be forgotten.

I don't know where you are based but would it be possible to stable him overnight somewhere to break the journey in two if that would be easier on him / you?

Hope it turns out well for you both. x
 
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