old horses/ponies- when would you say goodbye?

charlie76

charlie76

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We have an old pony in the yard- he was BSJA registered in 1976, so he would have been at least 4 yrs old to compete which means he is at least 34yrs old if not older.
The pony has always been a forward going pony and would win most jumping classes,he is also well loved and looked after.
Yesterday both myself and a FBHS was watching the pony being ridden on a lesson( he is still competing both sj,xc and dressage) and the pony stopped a couple of times.
He is now starting to look old, he has a blank look in his eye, is pointing a foot when resting(although not lame) and he has lost a little muscle tone, also his coat is looking a bit 'stary'. However , he is still pretty forward going to ride and is happy to go out to the field.
The FBHS said that he would rather have the pony put to sleep whilst it was still looking fairly well and happy in itself then wait until it got really 'old'.
I am not sure how I feel about this, just wondered what othere opinions were?
 
Tricky one, would tend to kind of agree with the FBHS as the pony has had a good life and obviously is quite a character and its sometimes better to go out on a high. That said you may find mother nature makes her own decision about these things. The most important thing is that they are happy and not in pain and have a good qualitiy of life, the decision is then down to the owner or indeed mother nature. Mmmmm what a tricky question, am sure you'll get lots of replies! I lost my last boy in spring last year and had to wait for 3 weeks for tests and MRI etc to show there was nothing that could be done and seeing him like that even though he was on painkillers, was the hardest thing of all.
 
Generally I'd rather pts before the animal begins to be miserable. However in this pony's case I'd give him a couple of days off and perhaps get him checked by the vet, after all you are describing some symptoms that can happen to a young animal that's picked something up!
 
That's a tough one. My old mare was ridden till she was 32, and then spent 4 years in the paddock. In retrospect we should have said goodbye a year earlier than we did (but I couldn't let her go), as she didn't winter her last winter very well. We saw her through to the warmer weather, she had two weeks of april sunshine and then she went. If the pony is still keen to do light work, and is happy to eat and wander about, I'd be tempted to semi-retire - however some horses don't take well to a drop in work. It might be kinder to let him go when he's at his best, IYKWIM? How will be cope through this winter?
 
I'd be inclined to stop riding over jumps if he's stopping, or get him checked by the vet. Things like arthritis can come and go, so old ponies can have good and bad days.
S
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I'd probably retire or semi-retire at that age, tbh. If he coped well then fine, if he was unhappy not doing the work I'd consider pts. I'd never be able to bring myself to pts unless the horse was unhappy or unwell and not going to recover.
If it wasn't wintering well, fair enough, or if it was in pain or suffering from a degenerative disease etc, fine, but while it was still happily working or grazing out in the field in comfort I would leave well alone
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Bit of hacking etc at his age, but I wouldnt be doing a great deal more... esp if he is stopping etc now.... hes had his competeing years now time to pootle!

I would get a vet to check him, but wouldnt be planning on putting him down just yet if hes still happy and well enough to potter about!
 
I'd stick to maybe using him on the odd hack and see how it goes. He's more than earnt the right to chill out in the field, but if he's still enjoying life I wouldn't put him down.
 
Retire him? Or just have him as an odd hack, i dont see any sense in retiring him if hes quite happy to go out in the field and stuff his face, hes obviously worked hard all his life so why not let him spend the rest of it chilling out and doing what i imagine he will like best-----eating!
xxx
 
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