Empy&Treacle
Well-Known Member
I worked out the other day - probably shouldn't have - that since 2007 we had over 100 vets bills totaling more than £15,000 (thank god £10,000 was covered by insurance) and spent nearly £5,000 on saddles before even considering the monthly costs to keep both of them...
Now sadly all I have to show for this is a box of ashes and two sets of shoes as they were both PTS this summer
. I didn't give up though and got a new horse on loan. AND this is where the fun begins AGAIN....
So he arrives at the beginning of October; 36 hours after arrival he can't put any weight on his hind leg and then the poor boy gets stung by a hornet at the same time so can hardly stand up and doesn't know what to do to get away from the pain of the sting
So a week off for the abscess in his foot to drain and heal and to allow the hornet sting swelling to subside (saddle area so couldn't ride
). So that's all sorted and we get back on the road again and start working him again.
A month later he comes in lame from the field
- I think sod it, I'm not getting the vet, I'll just give him some danillon for a few days and then see how he is. 3 days later he was sound, but his fetlock still a bit swollen so I called the vet and made an appointment for that afternoon. Meanwhile that morning he was being shod. So I come home from work and whilst getting him ready for the vet I notice that he's crippled in front after shoeing 
...Vet comes, he's so lame in front he can't tell if he's sound behind. Takes shoe off and cannot find anything, but he's sounder on soft ground. Then I asked the vet to check his back as I wasn't convinced that was quite right - he nearly double-barreled the vet when he manipulated his back.
SOOOO, I get the physio to come out on the Tuesday following (Oh and he's sound in front by this point
). He is very sore especially in his shoulders due to the lameness. He is sore through his back - not saddle related - and basically I am now back on a regime of 3 weeks walking and then re-assessment by the physio.
OMG
, sorry but you have to be having a laugh! We do everything by the book and our horses have regular physio/massage to keep them in good shape, teeth done, vet checks, saddle checks every few months and basically the best care going; but still we get all this *****. He's only 4 - an old 4 as he is 5 in Feb - so should be strong enough to be exercised 3/4 times a week - once in the school for no more than 20mins at a time, and then longer hacks, but even that seems too much.
Rant over... I think it's time to give up - anyone else agree!??

PS, I hate hacking, love competing and schooling so 3 weeks hacking only - great!
So he arrives at the beginning of October; 36 hours after arrival he can't put any weight on his hind leg and then the poor boy gets stung by a hornet at the same time so can hardly stand up and doesn't know what to do to get away from the pain of the sting
A month later he comes in lame from the field
...Vet comes, he's so lame in front he can't tell if he's sound behind. Takes shoe off and cannot find anything, but he's sounder on soft ground. Then I asked the vet to check his back as I wasn't convinced that was quite right - he nearly double-barreled the vet when he manipulated his back.
SOOOO, I get the physio to come out on the Tuesday following (Oh and he's sound in front by this point
OMG
Rant over... I think it's time to give up - anyone else agree!??
PS, I hate hacking, love competing and schooling so 3 weeks hacking only - great!