Please help - I've a very difficult decision to make... (sorry - long)

H

happihorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2006
Messages
1,563
Visit site
Following in depth vet investigation, my five year old gelding has just be diagnosed with a tendon problem. The vet says that it is due to a confirmation fault and that he is unlikely to stay sound for very long, even if we can get him sound now.
frown.gif

I had him broken last year and there was a problem with a tendon then but with another leg and this has not been a problem since. He was turned away over the winter and went lame with the recent problem as soon as he was brought back into work.
He is a very fine thoroughbred cross warmblood and is quite sharp and scatty. He is definately not a novice ride.
I am now faced with what to do.
I have had him since a foal and love him to bits. I have spent several thousands of pounds having him broken and schooled. As he is so sharp, I have never actually ridden him myself so he is still in schooling.
I can't afford to keep him in schooling and do not see a long term future in this as he will never be sound. At the moment I am paying for schooling livery and he can only be lunged. (He is fairly sound on the lunge.)
I have been offered a small amout for him to be sold unsound, but I know that the buyer will cover up the problem, sell him on and make some money on some poor unsuspecting sole. I just hate to think that he will be passed from dealer to dealer. The principle of putting a horse into that kind of life infuriates me.
I can't keep him in the field for the rest of his life as he is so fine and won't winter out. He would spend days in the stable in the winter which seems like a terrible life. If I did keep him as a pet, I would not be able to afford to buy another horse and I really want to compete.
I can't sell him as a hack as he is to sharp and is not safe in traffic.
One possible choice is to have him put down, but he is so young and he has lovely paces (before he was lame).
I really don't know what to do...
 
Really hard decision and I would hate to be you, but I would hate to know that he would be passed around as his life could be worst..try redwing centre or charity centres such as rspca etcc if not then I would havee him put down as you know that he had a good life and that he is safe now instead of wondering whatever happened to him..I know he is young but life is bloody unfair sometimes..try charity centres first though.
 
What exactly is the conformation problem?
I certainly wouldnt want to lunge a horse with a tendon problem, and wouldnt even consider lungeing one with wonky legs.
If you can give him a year off then do so, if not sell him, to someone who can.
 
I'm so sorry for your situation
frown.gif

I can't really help as don't as I don't know anything much about tendon problems........ but it kind of sounds as though you have decided what to do?
You know you can't sell him on; it would be cruel to him, and to the unsuspecting people who may eventualy buy him- and if you can't keep him as a pet, then prehaps having him PTS is the best decision.
confused.gif

Maybe some others on here might know more about tendon issues, or prehaps a second verinary opinion might help.
 
Tought decision, sorry to hear you are in such a predicament.

In answer to your question I guess, for me, it depends on what his quality of life would be like if you were able to find a permanent companion home for him?

If he could have a comfortable life as a companion horse (depending on how severe this lameness is pain wise etc) then in an ideal world I think if a permanent home could be found then that might be his best option, provided it was definitely someone you trusted not to sell him on.

Homes like that are not easy to find and IMHO, the only other option would be to PTS.

I just don't think you can risk him being passed from one home to the next.
frown.gif
 
What an awful dilemma and I feel so much for you as I too have had my baby horse since he was a foal. He was diagnosed with Kissing Spine last year, he had the op in Dec and strangly yesterday as I was lunging him I thought what would I do with him if something else appeared and he couldn't be ridden. He sounds exactly like your boy, very sharp, I know that as long as he's sound I'd keep him as a pet but if he was lame then I'd make the PTS decision, it would absolutley tear me apart but they are lame cos it hurts.
Unless your ned is ever going to come sound he will not be a happy fit horse and the decision is almost made for you, you just have to come to terms with the right decision. Be brave and know in your heart its the right thing to do.
 
If he was mine and at 5 he had no hope for a useful life be it hacking or light work I would PTS. Personally I think at 5 years old it is not realistic to keep as a companion. If there is any chance of some sort of useful life I'd give it every chance. I would certainly not sell on.
 
I have been in a similiar situation to you but it was a mare.Did try charities and finding companion/brood mare homes unsuccessfully.In the end I had her pts for simialar reasons.Must admit it felt bad as said to vet it would feel better if she was really in pain and I would feel more 'justified' in pts.But saying that it was the right decision for me.Know the ILPH up here will recommend pts if they feel it would not be easy to rehome and they usually are pretty full.Good luck with whatever decision you decide.
 
i agree with rafi on this one. i hate selling a horse on as you never know if its going to end up being passed from pillar to post.
as its sharp ect it may well end up endangering someone.
i really feel for you, hope you find a charity thats willing to help out.
 
Poor you, I feel so sorry at having to make a decision like this.. my older boy was diagnosed with arthritus and sed could not be ridden but he is hacked out most days and fairly ok with the help of no-bute - but this is more serious, I am so sorry honey - I like IZT idea of a companion horse - try a horse mag and local feed shops - we have one near us that is looking for one as last friend passed away. Good luck
frown.gif
 
A really sad and difficult position for anyone who really does care what happens to their beloved horse. I imagine he's pretty high maintenance already and you say you are not riding him. If a year off might do the trick, consider using his current budget to send him for R&R somewhere.

Or, a LOAN (with contract and unrestricted visits) as a companion or light hack if he can manage - soundness and sanity-wise. I say unrestricted visiting as anyone agreeing to that happily is likely to be straight!)

I would probably need therapy for a long time after, but I would think PTS is the next kindest option for this problem. If you have an understanding vet, discussing this with them should help and nobody on here would judge you as anything but a responsible and humane person if you choose to.

No way would I pass on a lame horse under any circumstances as he could so quickly end up somewhere terrible.

I wish you all the best and do let us know. Poor you and poor boy. He needs you now more than he has ever done.
 
Poor you and poor horse !!! Why don't you speak to some horse sanctuaries and see what they come up with. I would definitely not sell him if he was mine - too many unscrupulous people out there...... PTS would be a last resort, but possibly one I would choose before selling him. Sorry that's not very helpful. Very difficult decision. I don't envy you that one.
 
Sorry for your predicament - not a nice one I know.
frown.gif


If the horse was mine and I was told that he would never be sound again then I would have him put to sleep.....particularly as he is only 5 years old. I think I would make darned sure that there was no chance of him coming sound though, so 6 months off would be my first choice and if no difference in this time, then it would be time to say goodbye.

I am maybe missing something here, but are you saying you have NEVER ridden your horse? Even after he was broken and was sound? Would you have intentions of riding him if he were to become sound again?
 
I would find a long term companion home for him (With you keeping control) You might be surprised how he can winter out and certainly I know a woman who keeps two horses just as pets, brings them in at night etc.
IF he is sound when not it work I would not be working him.
 
If he is pasture sound you may consider a blood bank? Horses live in herds out at grass in summer and barned in winter. They are basically blood donors. I know it sounds a bit yeuk but its a very natural lifestyle for the hoses - they just have to give a bit of blood in exchange for board and lodgings...
 
If you can keep him at home as a companion, then I'd be inclined to turn him away. However, if you have to keep him at livery, and the prognosis is really that the horse will never be up to any work then I'd have him put down.

I would not sell him or give him away as a companion horse as we know how unscrupulous people can be - and it's just one way of avoiding a difficult decision in my mind.

And I would certainly NEVER send him to be a blood doner horse as another has suggested.
 
Hi
Hate to say that it drives me made when just because people cant ride an otherwise healthy horse due to leg issues they consider having there horse put down. Horses break thats a fact that we all know and take a chance on when we purchase them. As far as I'm concerned my horse is a valued member of my family who just because i cant ride her doesn't mean she's useless. In my time i have borrowed, begged and stolen rides to enable me to get out and about. So please dont give up on your chap just because things arent looking to bright right now. Young horse deserves a chance. Sorry if that seems harsh but i'm a softie. I'm seen coming and end up with all the lost cases. Somehow ended up with 3 legged cat that rules everything in our house and is more able than a 4 legged one!
 
Sorry but I disagree, having a horse grazing in a field is one of the most natural things in the world! Or so I thought!
 
Agree with wonkydonkey personally. There will be someone out there who will provide the horse with a home even if it cannot be ridden.
We've done it.
 
I had a similar problem with my last horse, i actually made my vet refer me to a specialist for a second opinion.

He had about £5,000 worth of tests done (insurance paid luckily). I made the decision that if the tests came back that he could never be ridden again then he would be PTS as he was only 5yo too.

I didn't have the money to look after an unriddable horse for another 20years and i didn't want him passed from pillar to post either. I tried every sanctury imaginable but no-one would take him as he was not a neglected case and all the blood banks were full!!

Luckily for me my first vets diagnosis was wrong and he is now back out jumping BSJA with another forum member.

My advise would be to get refered to a specialist or get a second opinion from another vet before you make any further decisions. They might come up with something to try that your vet hasn't. If the outcome is the same then i would seriously consider having the horse PTS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top