Perhaps I should give up wanting to ride?

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Happytohack

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Bit of background - I have two oldies (both retired through health problems). As I really want to ride, I bought a lovely big horse 18 months ago, 6 months later she went lame. Nerveblocks & xrays show arthritis of the coffin joint. After two lots of joint injections, she was still lame and my vet thought the best we could hope for was that she would be field-sound. But after 6 months rest, she was sound and I thought great I can start gently riding her again. What with the awful weather, I have hardly ridden her since Christmas and a couple of days ago thought she looked a bit iffy and sure enough, trotted her up and she is lame again. My vet does not advise any further joint injections. I am gutted as this mare is only 9. Just to confuse me further, a horse I have known for a couple of years and always, always liked has just come up for sale at a really reasonable price. I now feel totally confused - as I can't really get another horse as well as keep 3 "pets", but I would really like to be able to hack out. Am beginning to think I am destined not to ride. Thanks if you got this far - any advice on what to do?
 
I wouldn't keep 3 field ornaments at the expense of not riding I'm afraid. There are options such as Horseworld, near us, which is a nice place for retirement, though I wonder whether there are issues with capacity after Amersham
Alternatively could you have one or two of the others PTS. I know that I would.....
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Did you have the 3rd one insured for Loss of Use? Perhaps you can make a claim.

Also - did you have her vetted? Perhaps you can make some sort of claim there if she was vetted sound.

I would try and get your 2 oldies out on loan as companions - or if they're REALLy old perhaps PTS? I don't know what I would do as I have never go as far as having an oldie!
 
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Alternatively could you have one or two of the others PTS. I know that I would.....
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I couldnt get an old horse PTS just to make room for a new one, but for me once mine cant be ridden, as long as they are happy and healthy I would rather have them and not ride than end their lives just so I could ride something.

To the OP, if you dont have room for a few one what about loaning the 9yr old out as a companion if she is field sound?
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Alternatively could you have one or two of the others PTS. I know that I would.....
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I couldnt get an old horse PTS just to make room for a new one, but for me once mine cant be ridden, as long as they are happy and healthy I would rather have them and not ride than end their lives just so I could ride something.



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Im with you there. I would never have a horse PTS just to make room for another.
 
I have to be honest - I don't understand the obsession these days with having retired horses dotted all around the place. My old pony was pts when she could no longer be ridden and was in discomfort.
I can't help thinking that an unwillingness to bite the bullet and PTS old & infirm horses, and the continual suggestions which are made on threads like this to have the horse sent off as a companion...(WTF. when will people ever learn!!) are partially behind the vast numbers of horses ending up in places like Spindles Farm.....
 
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I have to be honest - I don't understand the obsession these days with having retired horses dotted all around the place. My old pony was pts when she could no longer be ridden and was in discomfort.
I can't help thinking that an unwillingness to bite the bullet and PTS old & infirm horses, and the continual suggestions which are made on threads like this to have the horse sent off as a companion...(WTF. when will people ever learn!!) are partially behind the vast numbers of horses ending up in places like Spindles Farm.....

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But Im not talking about horses in discomfort or infirm, my post said:
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as long as they are happy and healthy I would rather have them and not ride than end their lives just so I could ride something.


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If I had an elderly horse that was in discomfort even in the field then of course I would PTS, that is a whole different situation than putting a horse down just because you can no longer ride it, but it being otherwise healthy.
 
I agree with Siennamum, you cannot dedicate so much time and money to your horses and not get the enjoyment of riding in return. I had a lovely 12 year old horse put to sleep last year because he could no longer be ridden. He could have lived another 20 years in retirement but you have to think about yourself and why you have horses. We all know sometimes we need to be patient and many shows etc will always be missed and regarded as 'not meant to be' but once a horse's career is finished, its finished. You shouldn't feel bad about wanting to ride and if the only way to do this is to PTS one that can never return to work IMO thats the only thing to do. As long as you give your horses a great life and a quick, dignified end I think thats enough to ask of any owner, its unrealistic to collect retired horses.
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[ QUOTE ]
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Alternatively could you have one or two of the others PTS. I know that I would.....
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I couldnt get an old horse PTS just to make room for a new one, but for me once mine cant be ridden, as long as they are happy and healthy I would rather have them and not ride than end their lives just so I could ride something.

To the OP, if you dont have room for a few one what about loaning the 9yr old out as a companion if she is field sound?
smile.gif


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I currently have 4 'pets'...

A retired 16.2hh 24 year old TB
A 15hh gelding who can't find a rider (he's too small for me)
A 17.2hh Shire x TB mare who can't be ridden
A 19 month old cob

I don't ride at the moment...and to be fair, I'd sooner never ride again than have any of them PTS!! My veteran looked after me when he was in work, he always did his best for me, now he can enjoy his rest. my 15hh gelding was bought as a sympathy buy when he was a yearling...he taught me so much...so as long as he's happy, I don't mind that he's not ridden. My mare cost me a fortune, I broke my spine falling off her, she nearly injured another rider...and is accident prone...but she's such a sweet heart to handle and be around. My youngster is just for me to play with and maybe sell on in a few years.

My mare, who isn't good enough to be bred from herself, was recently sent to Beaufort Embryo transfer clinic to be a recipient mare.

To me, it's about being with horses, learning about them, developing an understanding...not making them cart us about for our own enjoyment. I've nothing against riding horses...but I don't believe a horses life should be ended just because it can't be ridden.
 
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I agree with Siennamum, you cannot dedicate so much time and money to your horses and not get the enjoyment of riding in return. I had a lovely 12 year old horse put to sleep last year because he could no longer be ridden. He could have lived another 20 years in retirement but you have to think about yourself and why you have horses. We all know sometimes we need to be patient and many shows etc will always be missed and regarded as 'not meant to be' but once a horse's career is finished, its finished. You shouldn't feel bad about wanting to ride and if the only way to do this is to PTS one that can never return to work IMO thats the only thing to do. As long as you give your horses a great life and a quick, dignified end I think thats enough to ask of any owner, its unrealistic to collect retired horses.
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What?? So, a horse is only to be ridden? Once they can't do that, they're just junk, a waste of time and space??

Horses are living beings, not machines that can be disgarded when it suits. You take the commitment to own a horse, you should stand by that and be there to the end of it's natural life, not at the end of it's 'career'.
 
sorry but horses are not like cars - you cant break one, flog it and get another.

this whole attitude of putting them down when they can no longer be ridden is alien to me??
its just like saying " thanks for all the years ive spent with you but now your useless i dont want you"

my 12yr old was diagnosed with navicular last may - had i had him pts i would of been paid out the 12k he was worth.
however he is field sound, one of the sweetest horses known to man and he has several more years of retired life ahead of him - so thats what he is - happily retired.
 
I think that is ridiculous, PTS a horse because it cant be ridden! How selfish, remember the horse wern't put on this earth for us to ride. Sorry if I offend anyone but I think that is completly and utterly selfish! I know of a girl who wanted a companion for her gelding, so got a nice little mare for free because she couldn't be ridden. The mare is now happy living out in a field with the gelding, and enjoying life! Don't PTS unless the horse isnt happy.
 
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