scatty_mare
Well-Known Member
Hi. I'm new, in need of advice, opinions and hugs! I'm sorry this is so long - it is a catalogue of events which have happened to my poor horse over the last year - and really, just the background to the dilemma which we are now facing. If anyone gets to the end I will be quite surprised but here goes!
Just over a year ago I (spending other half's money...) bought a 5 year old thoroughbred who had just stopped racing. He did not cost a lot, and was intended half as a bit of a rescue operation (he was in a poor state) and half as a summer project to play with while my eventer was recovering from fractured withers. We were planning to reschool him to do a bit of everything, and find him a lovely riding club home in the autumn, or maybe keep him if he turned out scopey enough to event and my mare did not recover.
So, we spent the first couple of months nursing him back to health, getting him used to being turned out, healing stomach ulcers and generally letting his body recover and giving his mind a chance to learn how to be a horse! During this time, once he had had his back and teeth checked, he was lightly hacked, long reined a bit and did the odd twenty minutes in the school, and he proved to be very quick to learn, eager and willing to please. He has beautiful paces, with unusual elevation and big hock movement for a thoroughbred. I thought he was really special, still do.
Most days he would be soft, supple and very willing to move forward off the leg, and would take on little cross poles boldly and neatly (he had been a flat horse so jumping was very new and fun!) but once in a while he would have a day where he just didn't want to know. When I put my leg on he would brace himself against me and do humpy bucks, swishing his tail - nothing very major - but it was very clear that something hurt. The more work he did, the more frequently this behaviour occurred so it became clear that we needed to fix this pretty quickly if we didn't want him to associate pain with work forever. The vet thought it might already be associated pain from his racing days - he had very bad stomach ulcers and his lack of form in his last races (plus the fact he was sold off so cheap) would indicate that the ulcers were very active while he was still in training. This would be enough by anyone's standards to make him a bit worried about working after that! However, the fact that he was getting WORSE with work and not better put paid to that theory.
I had his back checked again, by a different physio, and this time the physio recommended not riding for a month, but long reining every day to strengthen the muscles over his back. The dreaded 'ks' was mentioned as a possibility, but one of many possible causes and not worth worrying about too much just yet. I followed her advice religiously, but the day I was due to get back on him I found that a nasty devil horse (I know this cannot be true, but really this one is mean - I think he's a bit riggy) had broken into his field and attacked him. His fly rug in tatters and he had kick marks all over his ribs, and a lot of swelling. It being impossible to x-ray the ribs, my vet (who luckily is a close friend or I'd be bankrupt!) recommended 2 months rest. When the two months were nearly up, I got him in from the field one day to find that he had stuck his head in the hedge and got a stick in his eye, ulcerating his cornea. This, also being a very painful and slow-healing injury, required a bit too much box rest and loads of bute - which made the ulcers flair up again. By now we were into October...
He got his treatment for the ulcers which is effective immediately which was great, but in the meantime (do not ask me how when he was on boxrest) he developed the worst mud fever I have EVER seen. I wonder if it was to do with standing for too long and his leg swelling then weeping - sort of like cellulitis - weird it was only in one leg. But REALLY bad in that leg. So he was lame on that, and eventually it took 6 weeks of antibiotics to get rid of it! By now it was Christmas time and then it snowed, and I finally managed to get back going with him in February.
Because of his dire track record of soundness I took it very slowly - long-reining for a few weeks before I got a saddle anywhere near him. He was obviously feeling a lot better in himself because he was not the quiet horse of last summer - but still very sweet, willing and straightforward, just this time a little bit more exuberant! I loved it!
Unfortunately, the humpy 'don't want to do it' behaviour returned, and seemed worse than I remembered it. I had the saddle checked again, physio out again, teeth checked again. He also started to be intermittently lame - on both front legs, taking it in turns. I also noticed that he dishes with his near hind. After the physio had been he was better - but it was only a few weeks before the symptoms returned.
The next step is x-rays of everything and a full work up by the vet. However, this is going to have to wait another 6 months because the devil horse was turned out with him again and this time has kicked him on the stifle, chipped the bone and severely damaged the ligament. He is on boxrest and cross tied for 6 weeks then re-examine.
The prognosis for making a full recovery is 70%, but it will take 6 months before we can even START bringing him back into work and it is only once he is back in work that we can start to investigate his other mystery lamenesses and discomfort.
Realistically, we will not be able to sell him for at least a year, and then really only assuming he recovers from the kick. He will not pass a vetting, but perhaps somebody would like him as a hack. I'm not sure that his nature is very suited to being a hack.
If he recovers 'field sound' then what will he become? He is even sensitive for a thoroughbred (was a Godolphin horse and wintered in Dubai up till last year!), has rubbish feet, very prone to mud fever, needs loads of rugs which all rub him, costs a lot to feed - not really the most desirable companion pony.
Financially, we are not in a position to keep him longterm. We do not have our own land and the only way I can afford to have any horses at all is to work in return for livery. I get up at 5 every morning to muck out 6 stables and ride 2 horses before going to my full-time office job, and put them to bed in the evening afterwards, and ride another if light permits. In the summer it is fine, but the winter is a real struggle. We had planned to only have one horse by next winter, but we can't sell Ted with a broken leg. He deserves a special one to one forever home, but I'm not sure he will ever find one. We cannot afford to keep him as a pet.
The obvious and sensible conclusion is to have him put to sleep. But I just can't square it with myself morally. He is young and strong and so so shiny. Surely he deserves a chance to live and be a horse and not be in pain? He is so sweet and soppy, it's getting the better of my hardened nature.
If anyone has got to the bottom of this I am very surprised, but if such a rare person exists I would welcome your views.
Thanks, a teary scatty mare.
Just over a year ago I (spending other half's money...) bought a 5 year old thoroughbred who had just stopped racing. He did not cost a lot, and was intended half as a bit of a rescue operation (he was in a poor state) and half as a summer project to play with while my eventer was recovering from fractured withers. We were planning to reschool him to do a bit of everything, and find him a lovely riding club home in the autumn, or maybe keep him if he turned out scopey enough to event and my mare did not recover.
So, we spent the first couple of months nursing him back to health, getting him used to being turned out, healing stomach ulcers and generally letting his body recover and giving his mind a chance to learn how to be a horse! During this time, once he had had his back and teeth checked, he was lightly hacked, long reined a bit and did the odd twenty minutes in the school, and he proved to be very quick to learn, eager and willing to please. He has beautiful paces, with unusual elevation and big hock movement for a thoroughbred. I thought he was really special, still do.
Most days he would be soft, supple and very willing to move forward off the leg, and would take on little cross poles boldly and neatly (he had been a flat horse so jumping was very new and fun!) but once in a while he would have a day where he just didn't want to know. When I put my leg on he would brace himself against me and do humpy bucks, swishing his tail - nothing very major - but it was very clear that something hurt. The more work he did, the more frequently this behaviour occurred so it became clear that we needed to fix this pretty quickly if we didn't want him to associate pain with work forever. The vet thought it might already be associated pain from his racing days - he had very bad stomach ulcers and his lack of form in his last races (plus the fact he was sold off so cheap) would indicate that the ulcers were very active while he was still in training. This would be enough by anyone's standards to make him a bit worried about working after that! However, the fact that he was getting WORSE with work and not better put paid to that theory.
I had his back checked again, by a different physio, and this time the physio recommended not riding for a month, but long reining every day to strengthen the muscles over his back. The dreaded 'ks' was mentioned as a possibility, but one of many possible causes and not worth worrying about too much just yet. I followed her advice religiously, but the day I was due to get back on him I found that a nasty devil horse (I know this cannot be true, but really this one is mean - I think he's a bit riggy) had broken into his field and attacked him. His fly rug in tatters and he had kick marks all over his ribs, and a lot of swelling. It being impossible to x-ray the ribs, my vet (who luckily is a close friend or I'd be bankrupt!) recommended 2 months rest. When the two months were nearly up, I got him in from the field one day to find that he had stuck his head in the hedge and got a stick in his eye, ulcerating his cornea. This, also being a very painful and slow-healing injury, required a bit too much box rest and loads of bute - which made the ulcers flair up again. By now we were into October...
He got his treatment for the ulcers which is effective immediately which was great, but in the meantime (do not ask me how when he was on boxrest) he developed the worst mud fever I have EVER seen. I wonder if it was to do with standing for too long and his leg swelling then weeping - sort of like cellulitis - weird it was only in one leg. But REALLY bad in that leg. So he was lame on that, and eventually it took 6 weeks of antibiotics to get rid of it! By now it was Christmas time and then it snowed, and I finally managed to get back going with him in February.
Because of his dire track record of soundness I took it very slowly - long-reining for a few weeks before I got a saddle anywhere near him. He was obviously feeling a lot better in himself because he was not the quiet horse of last summer - but still very sweet, willing and straightforward, just this time a little bit more exuberant! I loved it!
Unfortunately, the humpy 'don't want to do it' behaviour returned, and seemed worse than I remembered it. I had the saddle checked again, physio out again, teeth checked again. He also started to be intermittently lame - on both front legs, taking it in turns. I also noticed that he dishes with his near hind. After the physio had been he was better - but it was only a few weeks before the symptoms returned.
The next step is x-rays of everything and a full work up by the vet. However, this is going to have to wait another 6 months because the devil horse was turned out with him again and this time has kicked him on the stifle, chipped the bone and severely damaged the ligament. He is on boxrest and cross tied for 6 weeks then re-examine.
The prognosis for making a full recovery is 70%, but it will take 6 months before we can even START bringing him back into work and it is only once he is back in work that we can start to investigate his other mystery lamenesses and discomfort.
Realistically, we will not be able to sell him for at least a year, and then really only assuming he recovers from the kick. He will not pass a vetting, but perhaps somebody would like him as a hack. I'm not sure that his nature is very suited to being a hack.
If he recovers 'field sound' then what will he become? He is even sensitive for a thoroughbred (was a Godolphin horse and wintered in Dubai up till last year!), has rubbish feet, very prone to mud fever, needs loads of rugs which all rub him, costs a lot to feed - not really the most desirable companion pony.
Financially, we are not in a position to keep him longterm. We do not have our own land and the only way I can afford to have any horses at all is to work in return for livery. I get up at 5 every morning to muck out 6 stables and ride 2 horses before going to my full-time office job, and put them to bed in the evening afterwards, and ride another if light permits. In the summer it is fine, but the winter is a real struggle. We had planned to only have one horse by next winter, but we can't sell Ted with a broken leg. He deserves a special one to one forever home, but I'm not sure he will ever find one. We cannot afford to keep him as a pet.
The obvious and sensible conclusion is to have him put to sleep. But I just can't square it with myself morally. He is young and strong and so so shiny. Surely he deserves a chance to live and be a horse and not be in pain? He is so sweet and soppy, it's getting the better of my hardened nature.
If anyone has got to the bottom of this I am very surprised, but if such a rare person exists I would welcome your views.
Thanks, a teary scatty mare.
