Potential new horse & DDFT etc

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wilkinson1

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Hi, I wonder if I could ask some advice please? I need honest opinions as I am struggling to not be emotional about this!

I have the opportunity to have a lovely horse who used to compete at 1* but unfortunately he obtained 2 x tears to his DDFT & 2 x chips to his navicular bone - this happened approx 4 years ago. He was only ever 2/10ths lame and it has never got worse. In fact a lot of the time he looks sound to me (he has been barefoot on and off for the last 5 years) although an equine physiotherapist looked at him last year briefly and wasn't impressed.

He is a 10yr old 16.3hh warmblood type if that is relevant at all.

Anyway, fast forward to now, when you first get on he walks funny whilst he is warming up (I don't mean lame, I mean like he is wading if that makes sense) Once warmed up he tends to feel much better, although sometimes it doesn't change.

I really like this horse - he is safe, fun, sensible (ish!) and I feel really comfortable when riding him (as you can see my heart wants him) but my head says its too much of a risk.

Please could I have your thoughts? (I wont be offended as I need to get a grip!)

Thanks :)
 
So the horse evented until it broke as a 6 year old, since then it is sometimes sound but sometimes 2/10ths lame, it has been seen by a physio who was not impressed, by the feet or the horse in general? the owners want to pass it on, sell? and you love him and want to know whether it is a stupid idea?

Put your sensible head on, the horse is lame, he may be "sound" sometimes but in reality he is not a sound horse and probably should not be working, if you are being gifted him then you need to have a clear plan, if he does not stand up to whatever you want to do with him can you afford to finance treatment, keep him in retirement if he is sound enough or be brave enough to have him pts if that is the best option.

The injuries themselves would not have bothered me so much if he was genuinely sound at all times but he sounds as if he has not recovered fully, have xrays been done to see if the navicular bone has healed, obviously an MRI would be required to see what has happened to the tendon and that is expensive but if the bone has been damaged it may still be unstable and causing some discomfort, it seems a shame but there are sound horses out there, or even previously unsound ones that are fully recovered, that would be a better investment for you emotionally as well as financially.
 
That's kind of what my head is saying supagran. But part of me thinks well at least I know what is wrong with him and his history etc, whereas its a complete minefield out there with an unknown horse. They have said I can continue to ride him this summer but ultimately I think they want to sell (although they have been advised that no one will want to buy him bless hiss heart). He is such a nice person :(
 
Thanks be positive. I need this kind of reality check. I would be gifted him. They mentioned a couple of hundred quid but I have said I would not be willing to do that as it is a risk. I'm not afraid of putting to sleep if necessary (I had to make the decision with my last 2 x horses a couple of years back as they had various long term issues and had been in retirement for 5+ years) and I am able to keep in retirement if necessary but I didn't really want to get myself into that situation again if I could help it (not intentionally anyway).

The physio said his movement was not good. Funny enough, his feet appear ok, it appears to present higher up the legs / below the chest almost.

I should walk away shouldn't I. damn my emotions.
 
I am not a great example as I was gifted a horse who was not totally sound, he was not something I would choose for myself but having had him in my yard for a few years I just had to give him a chance as he is a lovely horse who was let down by the vets who "treated" him and his then owners ran out of options, it was me or pts so I took him on.

If you are really fond of the horse and think he will suit you then if I were you I would do as I did, just in a different order, before you commit to him get a vet out to give him a check up and if appropriate to xray his feet, stick to a strict budget it should be under £200 for a trot up, general once over and a couple of xrays to look at, if they have the originals they will have them to compare. Then if all is well get a good physio to do an assessment, treatment, again limit how much you spend but it should require no more than 2 to see an improvement if he is ever going to be right. Finally, but probably the most important, get the feet sorted, a really good barefoot diet, whether he is shod or not, and seriously consider taking him barefoot once everything else is checked out if you go ahead and he becomes yours.

Yes you should walk away but it can be difficult once they get under your skin, we all enjoy a challenge even if the odds are not great, if you can get a clearer picture before you make a decision either way it may make that decision easier.
 
Thank you. I am very fond of him, we just click. I just don't want to end up as before - with a field ornament! Will speak to my vets about assessing him - good plan. x
 
Don't do it. You will have a life time of heartache & financial pain. And you won't get insurance. He will only get worse. There are plenty of sound suitable horses out there.
 
wilkinson1 said:
That's kind of what my head is saying supagran. But part of me thinks well at least I know what is wrong with him and his history etc, whereas its a complete minefield out there with an unknown horse. They have said I can continue to ride him this summer but ultimately I think they want to sell (although they have been advised that no one will want to buy him bless hiss heart). He is such a nice person :(
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you know the horse is broken and has been for 4yrs, I am guessing you want somethig to ride? why would you want to ride something that is not right as the 'not right' (lame) bit will be due to pain. It sounds to me like this horse needs someone to buy it and put it down to prevent people riding it.
 
What was the physio not impressed with?

It sounds like the feet could be the least of his worries.

However the sometimes you get on and he improves makes me wonder if he could also have a muscle myopathy. Google PSSM and see if any of the symptoms match, if you know the horse well enough to decide.

If he is free, I might take the chance, do you have your own land or would he be at livery?

If he came right you will have got a school master type (assuming he is one!) for the cost of getting him right. You could cap that cost to a reasonable limit which you won't cross.

If he doesn't come right then PTS and disposal will cost around 2-300 depending on who does it and what area you are in. Plus the keeping of the horse and the emotional distress on yourself.
 
Walk away hun. You will spend more time rehabbing him than you will do riding him. If a physio looked at him and said he wasn't good then that is all you need to know. They have the experience and the degrees!

I would see if you could loan him.
 
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