Question on old age!!

[fitzaud2]

i have a 25 year old mare that my dad owns, that until now was still riding happily, and is still riding happily, but is going lame intermitintly, so spelled wrong. she is still pulling the reins out of your hands at the thought of jumping, but my dad is saying, if she's not sound, she's being put to sleep. wrecks my head, as if i had my way, i'd have an animal farm, but even though i've done all the looking after, she's not mine. I know, at 25, she's coming to the end of her days, but i think, while she's happy, let her be!!! If you were silly enough to let her jump lame, she'd still do it, thats how much she loves jumping. Dont know what to do, I had to make the PTS decision for my best boy last november, dont know if i can do it again!! Aghhhhhh !!!!!!!! help!!!!

 

[floradora09]

Can you get a vet out to look? IMO, if she's not uncomfortable and still happy- keep her going! If she goes lame just rest her or light hack her, but the rest of the time keep riding, it's the best thing to do sometimes with older horses! xxx

 

[Dubsie]

I think you need to get the vet out to work out why she's lame and to advise treatment, suppliments or whatever that can help.
Just because she's intermitently lame doesn't necessarily mean she has to be put to sleep - our old dog loves going for a walk and if you open a car door he's in, despite the fact he's quite arthritic, his mind's willing and he's up for it although limps a little by the time you come back, he'll still run about and seems perfectly happy with the level of pain (if any) and his slight limp The only time I've seen him regret his actions was last summer when hay making he decided to jump down from a height rather than step down the bales the longer way and his leg crumpled more than he'd anticpated but he was fine other than slightly chinning himself which seemed to surprise him, but was off running round straight away. So as you say with the mare, if she still wants to jump it can't be that painful for her. Worth investigating and seeing if there's anything you can do for her.