Pooey Day... a bit of a vent/ rant alert.

[blitznbobs]

My horse has had a intermittent lameness issue for A LONG time. She has seen 2 vets, 3 physios and a couple of professional riders, all who could not find a thing wrong with her... today I took her for a work up at a vet hospital... she has had lameness in both hind legs diagnosed which is from both her hips.... she is young and this has been there for at least 2 years...

I am so angry with myself for thinking her issues were all behavioural and not having the confidence in my own belief that there is something physically wrong with this horse... the vet seems confident that they can get her comfortable enough to be a field horse but she is unlikely to ever do her job as a high level dressage horse... She's bloody big to be a field ornament but I suppose as we have our own land this is not the end of the world, it's more the loss of the dream... i bought her as my 'last' youngster and wanted to go up the levels with her and this is never going to be... I just feel like screaming.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this, but at least you have a diagnosis now. All sympathy with the 'loss of the dream', many of us will identify with that. Horses can be heartbreakers.

Give yourself some time to consider the longer term options.

ETA Good on you for persevering to get an answer. It's so easy to get railroaded by the 'experts' who dismiss valid concerns from an owner.

 

[tashcat]

Don't be frustrated at yourself - its clear you were trying to do whats best for her and looking in lots of places for reasons why she wasn't right! That is evident in having three vets assess her!

How come its your last youngster? Things aren't always meant to be I guess.. but don't dismiss your dreams! Maybe later on the line could you get another?

Sorry about everything, horses can be such a challenge!

 

[SEL]

Well done for persevering to get a diagnosis. It's so frustrating to be told it isn't medical when your gut is telling you the opposite. I am sorry though that the news isn't better. No chance that with some rest she'll be able to gently hack?

 

[Amber905]

You deserve a pat on the back for persevering to get a diagnosis. My gelding was intermittently lame for 3 months before we chocked it up to navicular. Sometimes things just don't quite work out. Horses are defiantly heartbreakers when you put all the commitment in and you don't get the result you wish for.

 

[Polos Mum]

Horses can be heartbreakers.

This x 1000
I won't help much but you really aren't alone.

At least you know now - the what if can be worse.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It can be hard to get the professionals to take notice when they don't see the day to day behaviours of the horse and it can be difficult for the owner to put their finger on exactly why they think a particular thing is wrong. You do have to push hard and it takes time.

I sympathise with the 'last horse' disappointment, mine was meant to be 4 horses ago, admittedly when I bought the latest one to be pts, I knew she was older and I wouldn't have her for that long but the two previous ones were both pts aged 11. Fingers crossed the cob lasts longer!
My advice is to not make any decisions yet. If your mare can be turned out on your own land and kept comfortable, I would do that and when you've had some time to get used to that make a decision about what to do next. Have you room for another?

 

[JFTDWS]

Horses are heartbreakers.

This is so true. I'm sorry for you OP - I know what it feels like to give up on "the dream" with a horse. So many of us do. But well done for persevering and not accepting the "behavioural" diagnosis. Being a responsible, decent horse owner can be such a bitch

 

[oldie48]

Nothing to add except to say "keep ranting" until you feel a bit better and I really feel your pain, it's a complete bummer!

 

[blitznbobs]

Yes I’m getting another there is no doubt about that I’ve just built a house next to the stables and given up work so I can ride more and run a business from the farm ... but it won’t be a baby this time

 

[ozpoz]

Don't be angry with yourself. You have sought advice from many practitioners and still persevered because you didn't accept their diagnoses, luckily for your horse.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your dreams for her, and I hope things will be much clearer now you know. Too soon to say this, but keep following your dreams, start looking now. Your mare is in safe hands with you, and you can make a plan.

 

[Leo Walker]

Just been through this with the best horse I've ever owned. Absolutely broke my heart. Hes supposed to be going to his retirement home in the next couple of days and I'm stalling as I cant bear not to see his big stupid face every day.

All you can do is pick yourself up and start again

 

[DabDab]

So sorry you've got that diagnosis

Take some time, rant and feel frustrated...because feeling like that means that the dream isn't gone, just changing.

Hope you're able to fine a comfortable way forwards for your mare. Out of interest, what do they think is actually wrong with her hips?

 

[blitznbobs]

They don’t know exactly which is part of the problem ... she just seems to have pain there on both sides and they were talking about exploratory surgery to find out ... but that’s not going to happen

 

[MrsMozart]

Know the feeling lass.

Is she able to hack out or is it total retirement?

 

[DabDab]

They don’t know exactly which is part of the problem ... she just seems to have pain there on both sides and they were talking about exploratory surgery to find out ... but that’s not going to happen

Ergh, bless vets, I know it's only in their nature to want to find these things out, but dealing with that wouldn't be fun for horse or owner, particularly if it's unlikely to be a recoverable ailmemt anyway

 

[Orangehorse]

Gutting. Unless the vets can make a diagnosis I would find somewhere to turn her out for 12 months, keep an eye on her obviously, and see what Dr. Green and a year wandering round in a field can do. It often works wonders ………….