Please PLEASE need some advice RE possibly retiring horse

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3BayGeldings

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(Also in NL)

Right.. where to start Thanks in advance for reading this and any advice you offer. I'd really like to hear what you would do in this situation.

17 year old gelding, diagnosed with bone spavin in both hocks about 2 years ago now. The vets said that one was already starting to fuse, but the other was at a much earlier stage, but hopefully would begin to fuse as well. Advised to give him as much turn out as possible (without letting him gain excess weight), and lots of walking out is best for him. Limited jumping and schooling. This has worked out fine, he's occasionally jumped over small show jumps, on a good surface, every few months and never schooled as myself nor the people that have loaned him were interested in doing so. Only trotted and cantered on good ground whilst out hacking, no trotting on hard ground. He's been loaned out over the last year to a couple of people as i am away studying.

I'm going back to study next month, and one of the loanees has her own horse now so decided to find someone else. I have someone who wants him on full loan to hack. Now - my predicament is that i don't think he's happy being ridden any more
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I know i might sound like a total molly coddler, but that's the thing - i'm not really! Other people say 'wow, isn't he being good at the minute, hacking out everywhere, not spooking or being a bit naughty like he used too' - and i used to think the same, But recently i ride him and it's like all his spark has gone. His ears are always back even when just walking, and especially if you ask him to trot. I've taken him in the school a couple of times recently to show people who have been interested in loaning him, and he hates it and his ears go flat back. Also, a couple of times with me and his loaner he was refused to go forward on a hack. Admittedly when by himself (he's a clingy horse so would never dream of not following another horse he was out with!) and he's never liked hacking out by himself as much as with company, but he's usually such a good horse who will go forward if you ask enough! However the time he did it with me a few weeks ago really shocked me, as he felt so unhappy and just wanted to get home. Even when i try trotting him when going towards home, since he's a bit more willing to go forward then, he's still obviously uncomfortable to do so and therefore i've left it.

(Apologies for the length of this post!! Ridiculous.
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I should say, i've had the vet out a few times when he has felt a bit stiff or unwilling but they always just kind of shrug and say he's a light hack, there's not much else for him, or that we can offer to do for him (Especially because of his age, i imagine). And they say he is stiff behind, which is obvious as he doesn't track up well, but he doesn't feel lame to ride or anything.

Now - i have the option of sending him away on full loan, which i'm really having 2nd thoughts about, partly because i'm not sure if the person wanting him is a confident enough rider, and because i'd rather he didn't move out of the area. At this home he'd be hacked and do occasionaly riding club walk+trot tests etc.

Or - he can go and live at my Dads' friend's farm and live out and effectively be retired. He loves his field, and i dont think he's miss his stable at all. He's be unclipped (he's very hairy) and have rugs. If we was sound enough i'd probably walk him out whenever i'm back for holidays.

OR - he can have the winter off to live out at the farm, and then i can bring him back into work in the Summer and see if he's any better??

I'm reluctant to get the vet out again, as they will no doubt just say 'if he's lame, dont ride him and if he isn't walk him out' like they always do..

I guess i just feel he's very unhappy being ridden at the minute
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By the way he's living out at the minute and is hacked out 6 out of 7 days. He used to be on synequin when the insurance covered it (110 quid a tub ) and is currently on oil and cortaflex. Cortaflex has just finished and im debating whether to buy more as i'm not sure it's making any difference
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Congratulations if you made it through all that
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I'm so sorry for the length. Love to hear your thoughts/opinions?!?!

X

ETA: He's happy in himself, still goes daft for his tea, eager to turn out etc. Teeth were done a few months back, back is fine and saddle made to measure. No obvious symptoms of other medical issues.
 
Been in a similar position with Jesper. He has collateral and suspensory ligament damage and was 10yrs old. He wasn't truly lame but definitely not comfortable when ridden - crabbed downhill and wasn't going forward. We'd already treated both injuries and turned him away previously so when he started to be reluctant to go forward we called it a day.
I retired him this February and it was the best thing I've ever done for him. He's put on lots of condition and is far happier and brighter. Even the vets agreed with hind sight it was the right thing to do. They've advised I could try bring him back in to work next Spring but I doubt I'll bother.
If you have doubts about your boy I wouldn't send him away to someone who doesn't know him or his quirks and history. I'd send him back to your parents and see how he winters, it's probably better for both of you in the long run. Hugs.
 
When our old mare was 21 she made it very clear that she no longer wanted to be riden. She was reluctant to go forward, became a bit bolshy when pushed and looked unhappy.
She was, at this point, only hacking and had been since she was 19.

She had had a busy life with us competing most weekends with pony club etc with my daughter, she had then gone on loan to a pony club home and then come back when she became difficult there. For a year or so she enjoyed her hacks but then like yours seemed to no longer want to go.

We decided to retire her. Not everyone agreed as although a little stiff she was pretty sound. She loved it!!
She now has a new "job" as surrogate mum to our yearling, teaching him his manners (not that she has any!).

Not all horses enjoy retirement but our girlie has and we have never regretted it. She owes us nothing and earned every day of her retirement. She has not lost weight, got bored,depressed or had any ill effects. She lives out 24/7 and has never looked better.

You know your horse - listen to him and you will know what to do.
Sorry that was nearly as long as your post!!
 
Thanks March. Does sound similar, the not comfortable being ridden, crabbing downhill, not going forward. I think my lad would retire happily. He adores being out in his field, is really good with his weight - never loses to much yet never puts to much on! He's not accident prone and gets nice and hairy, so i think he'd be fine to live out over the winter. Does yours live out?

x
 
Mine is like yours - stiff but not lame. I don't doubt some people will think i'm soft or stupid for even thinking about retiring him (big livery yard, lots of opinons!
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And nothing could be as long as my post
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if he's acting differently now, ears back and miserable when ridden, that sounds to me as if he's in a bit of pain, and you're doing the right thing to listen to him. it's no fun riding a miserable unwilling horse, for him or the rider.
if he'd be happy with it, i'd definitely retire him to your dad's friend's farm, but obv only if he's going to get the necessary grub, shelter, etc, a companion if he needs it etc.
 
Thanks for replying Kerelli. You don't know it, but i always take notice of what you say on here as you always make an awful lot of sense
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I haven't been to see the field yet. Well, i used to live next to it when i was a kid so have a hazy memory! But i've heard all about it. He'll have company and automatic water and they've just built stables so they're available when needed. If there isn't a shelter then i'll buy one myself. The Farmer's girlfriend is just moving in with her horses, hence the new stables. And it'll be good having her around as she's pretty knowlegable and can keep an eye on him alongside my Mam.

It sounds so perfect, but i'm still adjusting to the thought of retiring my horse of a lifetime
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Thanks again. X
 
Many horses are perfectly happy retired so if you think he is unhappy ridden why not give it a go? Sounds like you have a nice retirement home for him with your dad's friend, and you can always reconsider after the winter.
 
ta! years of bitter experience = a bit of sense now, maybe!
i've had old horses that still loved being ridden, still went out with pricked ears and a slightly naughty spring in their step in their mid-20s.... they tell us how they feel, if we're listening. hope the field is as good as you remember, sounds perfect. good luck!
 
I agree with Kerrilli. You've listened to your horse which I think is a great thing to be able to do, not everyone can or is even willing to listen when the horse isn't saying what they want to hear. but you have and I'm sure he'll be a lot happier if he can put his feet up now in what sounds a great retirement home.
Well done for listening.
 
Booboos - Thanks very much

MFH - Thank you for saying that. At the end of the day i just want to do what's right by him. He's put a smile on my face for 6 years so now i get to return the favour. *wells up*. I'm too soft for these hard decisions you know
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Until a few months ago my old boy was happy to be hacked out despite being semi-retired for 4 years due to navicular. He was always a very forward-going horse, keen to see what was round the next bend or over the hill. Suddenly he became reluctant, not exactly nappy but not forward-going, and snapped at me one day when I was walking close to him with my other horse's saddle. I got the message and decided to fully retire him there and then.

It sounds as though you too are listening to your old boy and that he'd be happy out on the farm. You can always discuss being ridden with him next spring!
 
Is he on any medication at all i.e. bute, or danilion - now i know it is an emotive subject but sometimes this may be the answer. Low grade pain can be extreamly deliberating for both animals and humans. I certainly cant function all day every day without some kind of pain killer (i had a very serious riding accident and thought i would never walk again - let alone ride) and my old horse would have spells on bute.
 
Hussar thank you, sounds like you're a good owner who can read your horse.. hopefully i'm understanding mine as well!

Gingerwitch he has bute when noticebly lame, rather than just stiff... I'm looking into all the medications suggested in this thread and the on in NL. I might try him on a natural pain relief, an alternative to bute, or maybe wait and see how he is once winter comes around and then see if he needs constant pain relief. Thanks for your help!
 
my 25 yr old is still goin and bucking up hills and enjoying herself she never was she wouldn't even walk 6 month ago i turned her out with a stupid young mare to keep on at her to run round an now 4 month later she a different pony! i dernt let my daughter on it now ... but if he was mine i would retire him i found cortaflex dont work as well as said it shud if he not happy stop the things he not happy with give him a few months off then try again he mite jus want time off!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!
 
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