SavvyAngel
New User
I've not used the forum yet, so to give you a little background, my horse is a 10 year old ex racehorse TB, I've had him for 4 years. We have had a fantastic time together, he is worth his weight in gold to me. He's one of those horses that everyone is attracted to, he loves people, is lovely to be around and anyone can sit on him.
A couple of years ago he mysteriously went lame on his off hind, the vet suspected he'd damaged his suspensory ligament so he was on box rest for 12 weeks with bute etc. When the time was up he was sound so vet decided rest was all he needed so we started bringing him back into work slowly. We managed to get him back to ridden work within a few months, although i was always a little more careful with him than before.
Everything went well, then last spring he went lame again (same leg). It was a LOT worse this time and when I trotted him up for the vet he actually held his toe up to his belly the whole time
Vet did a more thorough investigation and found that the problem was coming from his stifle. Had him x-rayed and to our surprise we hardly found anything, only thing was some excess cartilidge in the stifle joint. Vet suspected he'd had an old injury racing while still growing, it hadn't been properly treated and it kind of fixed itself temporarily, but not correctly. She wasn't convinced this wasnt the whole problem though, because his degree of lameness was so severe. She wanted to do ultra sound on the stifle, but problem is, my money ran out! He is not insured for vets bills. I couldn't afford ultrasound at the time and like my vet said, the outcome would only give an idea of what to do next, as in surgery, more rest, steroid injections, retirement, or pts. There's no way I could afford surgery, not keen on steroid injections, so we mutually decided our best option for now was to rest him again and re-evaulate the situation in a month or so. After the month he was still lame but not so bad. I had to turn him out in a small paddock after a while, as he was getting very agitated in the stable. He did very well the first time round, but this time wasn't so happy. hated seeing him so stressed so put him out in our shetland paddock where he was much happier. It didn't last long though and after a while he started to become difficult to handle, biting, rearing, kicking out, being difficult to catch, attacking other horses... all stuff that just isnt like him at all. It was really upsetting and I knew he was just bored out of his brains. We put him back in his big field but it didn't help, he was just trashing fences and jumping out. I called the vet to explain what was happening, and she said if he's doing all that then he's probably comfortable enough to do some light work, just gentle ground work and walks in hand. So I started doing that and instantly he changed back to his old self, he's just a horse that needs a job to do! He is so intelligent and if his brain isnt put to use he starts to get evil thoughts! 
Strangely enough, the more i did with him, the better he looked. In fact after a while he came completely sound. I don't mean just a bit better, I mean better than he's ever looked! Had the vet back out and she did a full assessment and it completely baffled her, but she said without ultrasound etc we still don't know whats going on, but looking at him now there's no obvious reason not to start riding again. So I did, and up until about February we have been consistantly riding and having fun again
Ok, not jumping 4ft fences and galloping around, but doing all the basic stuff. Then... you guessed it.. he went lame. And then he came sound, then he went lame, and on.. and on..
I have not had the vet back out. The answer will be the same as last time, and I am still not in a position to be able to pay for ultrasound or surgery. Since his original lameness, he's had other issue come up, countless problems with his feet ending up with having to take his shoes off as nothing left to nail to, been through the whole transition period to barefoot, but still cant cope when ground gets too hard, he had a blow to his knee in the field and that's always swelling up and causing problems, he has stomach ulcers meaning his diet is very strict, and he's always had problems with his back that I always used to keep ticking over by riding lots and keeping muscle tone but since he's been inconsistant this is now causing problems again! He's a walking disaster bless him! So I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment. I can't go through box rest etc again, it isnt fair on him. He is not coming sound now, although not hopping lame, his stifle is now locking everytime he so much as trots around in the field, and god forbid he tries a canter.
Logically I would retire him now properly, for good. But as I said before, he just can't cope with it mentally. I considered just chucking him out 24/7 but he is also a big fattie atm due to no exercise and ridiculous grass... small paddock a no no as he'll just jump out again. I don't want to have to muzzle him as his turnout is now pretty much the only quality of life
The other thing, which is right at the bottom of importance because his happiness is 100% more important than mine, but still in consideration, I have a lot of ridden goals, my goal is to be a professional horse trainer and instructor. I have just recently had a lot of opportunities offered to me to go on courses and workshops etc with some top instructors and trainers, but I need a horse for these things and I'm having to turn them down. I can't afford to keep two horses.
I love this horse to bits, he owes me nothing, he's given me so much and we've built such a lovely relationship. I couldn't bare to pass him on, its not even an option, I cant be sure of his future and he's not just anyones horse. Plus with all his problems he's costly and would be a rubbish companion due to his boredom when not in work!
He's such a happy boy, full of life and energy, I'm trying not to think of the idea of having him pts It seems that his brain is still bouncing around like a 2 year old, when his body has taken on the life of a 32 year old.
I'm just at a complete standstill.... no idea what to do......... anyone been through similar? Or any ideas/advice.shoulders to cry on?
A couple of years ago he mysteriously went lame on his off hind, the vet suspected he'd damaged his suspensory ligament so he was on box rest for 12 weeks with bute etc. When the time was up he was sound so vet decided rest was all he needed so we started bringing him back into work slowly. We managed to get him back to ridden work within a few months, although i was always a little more careful with him than before.
Everything went well, then last spring he went lame again (same leg). It was a LOT worse this time and when I trotted him up for the vet he actually held his toe up to his belly the whole time
Vet did a more thorough investigation and found that the problem was coming from his stifle. Had him x-rayed and to our surprise we hardly found anything, only thing was some excess cartilidge in the stifle joint. Vet suspected he'd had an old injury racing while still growing, it hadn't been properly treated and it kind of fixed itself temporarily, but not correctly. She wasn't convinced this wasnt the whole problem though, because his degree of lameness was so severe. She wanted to do ultra sound on the stifle, but problem is, my money ran out! He is not insured for vets bills. I couldn't afford ultrasound at the time and like my vet said, the outcome would only give an idea of what to do next, as in surgery, more rest, steroid injections, retirement, or pts. There's no way I could afford surgery, not keen on steroid injections, so we mutually decided our best option for now was to rest him again and re-evaulate the situation in a month or so. After the month he was still lame but not so bad. I had to turn him out in a small paddock after a while, as he was getting very agitated in the stable. He did very well the first time round, but this time wasn't so happy. hated seeing him so stressed so put him out in our shetland paddock where he was much happier. It didn't last long though and after a while he started to become difficult to handle, biting, rearing, kicking out, being difficult to catch, attacking other horses... all stuff that just isnt like him at all. It was really upsetting and I knew he was just bored out of his brains. We put him back in his big field but it didn't help, he was just trashing fences and jumping out. I called the vet to explain what was happening, and she said if he's doing all that then he's probably comfortable enough to do some light work, just gentle ground work and walks in hand. So I started doing that and instantly he changed back to his old self, he's just a horse that needs a job to do! He is so intelligent and if his brain isnt put to use he starts to get evil thoughts! Strangely enough, the more i did with him, the better he looked. In fact after a while he came completely sound. I don't mean just a bit better, I mean better than he's ever looked! Had the vet back out and she did a full assessment and it completely baffled her, but she said without ultrasound etc we still don't know whats going on, but looking at him now there's no obvious reason not to start riding again. So I did, and up until about February we have been consistantly riding and having fun again
Ok, not jumping 4ft fences and galloping around, but doing all the basic stuff. Then... you guessed it.. he went lame. And then he came sound, then he went lame, and on.. and on..I have not had the vet back out. The answer will be the same as last time, and I am still not in a position to be able to pay for ultrasound or surgery. Since his original lameness, he's had other issue come up, countless problems with his feet ending up with having to take his shoes off as nothing left to nail to, been through the whole transition period to barefoot, but still cant cope when ground gets too hard, he had a blow to his knee in the field and that's always swelling up and causing problems, he has stomach ulcers meaning his diet is very strict, and he's always had problems with his back that I always used to keep ticking over by riding lots and keeping muscle tone but since he's been inconsistant this is now causing problems again! He's a walking disaster bless him! So I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment. I can't go through box rest etc again, it isnt fair on him. He is not coming sound now, although not hopping lame, his stifle is now locking everytime he so much as trots around in the field, and god forbid he tries a canter.
Logically I would retire him now properly, for good. But as I said before, he just can't cope with it mentally. I considered just chucking him out 24/7 but he is also a big fattie atm due to no exercise and ridiculous grass... small paddock a no no as he'll just jump out again. I don't want to have to muzzle him as his turnout is now pretty much the only quality of life
The other thing, which is right at the bottom of importance because his happiness is 100% more important than mine, but still in consideration, I have a lot of ridden goals, my goal is to be a professional horse trainer and instructor. I have just recently had a lot of opportunities offered to me to go on courses and workshops etc with some top instructors and trainers, but I need a horse for these things and I'm having to turn them down. I can't afford to keep two horses.
I love this horse to bits, he owes me nothing, he's given me so much and we've built such a lovely relationship. I couldn't bare to pass him on, its not even an option, I cant be sure of his future and he's not just anyones horse. Plus with all his problems he's costly and would be a rubbish companion due to his boredom when not in work!
He's such a happy boy, full of life and energy, I'm trying not to think of the idea of having him pts
It seems that his brain is still bouncing around like a 2 year old, when his body has taken on the life of a 32 year old. I'm just at a complete standstill.... no idea what to do......... anyone been through similar? Or any ideas/advice.shoulders to cry on?
