Mystery Nightmare Hacker *PLS READ EVERYTHING*

[Ellie Ruby]

Hi,
I need some advice...

My 14hh 19yr Welsh D x mare is awful to hack out.
3yrs ago I bought her as a happy hacker...
She definitely isn't!
She is a very moody and stroppy mare (bites,kicks,bolshy)
Also she is food aggressive.
I have had lots comments of yard members.
She has been checked by farrier,dentist,physio,etc and nothing wrong.
But out hacking she naps,kicks out ,bolts off,rears up out hacking.

When we got her she hadn't done much and she did nap.
I taught her to school in the arena as she had never been in one or had a very bad experience in one as her reaction wasn't the nicest.
But since doing some work with her she has been fine but of course we do have off days but nothing bad.
She has scars,missing bone and arthritis.
We know nothing about her past.She was born in 2001 and the only thing apart from our name is a name from 2011 in Ireland.
We got told she was a welsh d but all it says in her passport is "pony" (so that's why i put her as a cross)
Her name is Daisy!
So if you recognise pls let me know!!!

Anyway...
We had a bad accident last summer involving a dog.
So this obviously made her worse to the point i don't take her out anymore so we do mostly schooling.
At the beginning of lockdown i was hand walking her and she was fine.
So i decided to get back on her and take her into a field across from the road (our arena had been shut).
She kept trying to bolt off and when i got off she nearly knocked me over as she was so bolshy.
I have been on her since the arena has opened and she is very fizzy.

I just don't know what to do as i really wan't to hack out but i don't want to end up in a neck brace again!

She is fed...
1/2scoop of HoneyChop Original
1/4scoop of cool cubes
1scoop of Equine America Glucosamine xstrenght
1/2 scoop of NAF Veteran supplement
1/2scoop of Turmeric

She also has a treat ball.
She is ridden in a rubber pelham and i have bought a gag to try.

So please any advice!!!
Thanks E x

 

[Ellie Ruby]

So any advice for out hacking!

 

[bonny]

Do you have someone else that you can hack out with ?

 

[holeymoley]

Where’s the missing bone? And arthritis?

I’d scrap the cool cubes, there really isn’t any value in them. If you hack out with something that’s a saint does it make any difference?

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Do you have someone else that you can hack out with ?

Yes i do,
She isn't as bad but i still ended up in a neck brace.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Where’s the missing bone? And arthritis?

I’d scrap the cool cubes, there really isn’t any value in them. If you hack out with something that’s a saint does it make any difference?

Not really.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Where’s the missing bone? And arthritis?

I’d scrap the cool cubes, there really isn’t any value in them. If you hack out with something that’s a saint does it make any difference?

She has missing bone in between her front legs.
Serve arthritis in one of her front legs and getting it in her other front leg now.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

If I was in your position I'd get some expert help either a good instructor or a good trainer who will help you with the whole problem from ground manners through to building her confidence when hacking.

 

[teddypops]

Get the vet out for a thorough check over. If she has severe arthritis then maybe it’s time to retire her.

 

[AmyMay]

Cut the food, she doesn’t look as if she needs it.

Where is the missing bone?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Is she on any actual medication for her arthritis, not just the supplements?

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Where’s the missing bone? And arthritis?

I’d scrap the cool cubes, there really isn’t any value in them. If you hack out with something that’s a saint does it make any difference?

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Cut the food, she doesn’t look as if she needs it.

Where is the missing bone?

Between her front legs.She has the food for her joint supplements.

 

[HeyMich]

She's nearly 20 and arthritic. She may be telling you that she's wanting to take a step back and have an easier life...

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Is she on any actual medication for her arthritis, not just the supplements?

She has bute for the farrier but apart from that they haven't prescribed anything.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

She's nearly 20 and arthritic. She may be telling you that she's wanting to take a step back and have an easier life...

Yea! I had been thinking that. Just hard to except after 3yrs of working on her.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

BTW. I don't jump her or anything just light flatwork.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Get the vet out for a thorough check over. If she has severe arthritis then maybe it’s time to retire her.

I have been thinking about it

 

[holeymoley]

I think if she’s generally an unhappy and bolshy mare she may be trying to tell you something. Those knees look very far gone in terms of arthritis.

 

[[131452]]

I would consider retiring her. She isn't happy to be ridden and frankly is dangerous to hack out. It sounds like she's gone through a lot in her life so perhaps she deserves to retire in peace now.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

If I was in your position I'd get some expert help either a good instructor or a good trainer who will help you with the whole problem from ground manners through to building her confidence when hacking.

Yea i have been trying to find someone. But have been struggling. Any recommendations?

 

[Ellie Ruby]

I would consider retiring her. She isn't happy to be ridden and frankly is dangerous to hack out. It sounds like she's gone through a lot in her life so perhaps she deserves to retire in peace now.

Yea, i am really thinking about it.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

I think if she’s generally an unhappy and bolshy mare she may be trying to tell you something. Those knees look very far gone in terms of arthritis.

Yea, i am really thinking about it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Yea i have been trying to find someone. But have been struggling. Any recommendations?

Horse Help UK but he will want to confirm you have the ok from your vet to keep riding (it might be the best thing for an arthritic horse but vet to advise)

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would get the vet back to reassess her. Did you ask for bute for farrier visits or did the vet say 'only give her bute for the farrier'?

 

[doodle]

Get the vet to do a proper check. But I think as others have said it is probably time to retire.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

I would get the vet back to reassess her. Did you ask for bute for farrier visits or did the vet say 'only give her bute for the farrier'?

When we got her they said to give her bute for the farrier.Then we just ask the vet for more when we run out.

 

[Ellie Ruby]

Get the vet to do a proper check. But I think as others have said it is probably time to retire.

Yes i will as i have a vaccine appointment soon. When we saw the vet and physio last they don't reckon its that. Especially because she walks really well for horse with arthritis (doesn't hobble or anything). When she is in work the swelling goes down allot.

 

[Equi]

Take her off the feed and get a vet for a work up. She is an old lady with (sorry) terrible knees...she may just be ready to retire but sometimes retire is not in their best interest either...i would say slow to a hack but if they won't hack.......well you can in hand walk i guess.

My lad is 20 and i have had the "is it time" convo about 100 times with vet. So far he is going well, but its always a day away. We take every day as it comes. We no longer jump or even to raised poles ridden and canter has gotten less and less but he is still happy to do what we are doing. When he is not..we won't.

 

[IngramsRoughDiamond]

If she has severe arthritis, why are you riding? It sounds like she's trying to tell you she's in pain