Ringbone experiances with it? selling horse whats he worth?

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emmieatheart

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Hi All

So a bit of discussion would be interested to hear your thoughts.

I bought a 10yr gelding Irish Draught 16.3hh approx. 9 months ago very quiet safe all rounder I mean perfect horse point and kick no need to worry about anything EVER bombproof, shoe, box,clip, lead handle jumping 1.15m, and working to prelim level dressage paid £4000

Anyway he had gone lame he has had xrays etc and has lower ringbone which to point out isn't in the joint yet. He had treatment and is now sound.

Basically YO/trainer have suggested sell him as if I keep riding him at level I will basically run him into the ground. (which I do not want to do)

I love him to bits and don't want to part with him, but equally I love riding I ride 6 days a week he's given me so much confidence and he has really brought my riding on I don't really want to slow down,

I am now considering selling but if im honest about his condition would anyone want to buy him? If so what do you think he's worth?

Please no nasty comments this is an awful situation and haven't made a decision. I bought him planning to have him for life but did not expect this!

Thanks
 
emmieatheart said:
Hi All

So a bit of discussion would be interested to hear your thoughts.

I bought a 10yr gelding Irish Draught 16.3hh approx. 9 months ago very quiet safe all rounder I mean perfect horse point and kick no need to worry about anything EVER bombproof, shoe, box,clip, lead handle jumping 1.15m, and working to prelim level dressage paid £4000

Anyway he had gone lame he has had xrays etc and has lower ringbone which to point out isn't in the joint yet. He had treatment and is now sound.

Basically YO/trainer have suggested sell him as if I keep riding him at level I will basically run him into the ground. (which I do not want to do)

I love him to bits and don't want to part with him, but equally I love riding I ride 6 days a week he's given me so much confidence and he has really brought my riding on I don't really want to slow down,

I am now considering selling but if im honest about his condition would anyone want to buy him? If so what do you think he's worth?

Please no nasty comments this is an awful situation and haven't made a decision. I bought him planning to have him for life but did not expect this!

Thanks
Click to expand...

Anyone?
 
Hi

Thanks for reply!

Vet has suggested a supplement so looking to use Cortaflex and cod liver oil can also look at bute, Vet hasn't said much re work load is very reluctant to do so he's more of the opinion of take it slow build him up and see how far we can take him. I just feel a bit uncomfortable with giving him painkillers to enable him to keep up I know a lot of people do this just doesn't sit right with me for some reason?

Thanks!
 
The horse effectively has arthritis - and I would say his value is now questionable, and certainly no more than a few hundred pounds.
 
Hi Amymay

My understanding is no arthritis is present this is only present once the bony changes are in the joint which is not the case at the moment. He has been given treatment to stop/slow down any further changes however I suppose this is likely to happen in the future. However it is felt he will have around another 5 years working life if he isn't pushed to hard and is looked after i.e. not flogged, ridden on decent surfaces doesn't do too much road work etc.

Thanks
 
My horse has high ringbone, she is 16 and to be honest it doesn't bother her all that much! From the day I bought her I said I would never sell but to be honest I have adjusted to her needs as in we don't jump anymore, no fast work on hard ground, and I am just more careful with her than if she was a horse that was completely sound. She has 99% glucosamine daily as well as linseed oil and that's it.
Personally I would say a horse with ringbone wouldn't be worth very much at all, it is degenerative and any potential buyer would know with some research that over time the problem will get worse and will cost money in treatment whether it be bute or something along the lines of steroids or Tildren and chances are the horse would eventually be retired.

I personally don't see a problem with working a horse which needs a bit of bute to keep him/her comfortable. I wont hesitate to do this when the time comes for my mare as she is happier while working so to me it is quality over quantity. And like my vet said, chances are the ringbone will be the end of her sooner than a bit of bute each day anyway!
 
emmieatheart said:
ridden on decent surfaces doesn't do too much road work etc.
Click to expand...

Just to add, my mare very rarely does any school work (more due to both of our personal preference- we much prefer hacking!) and she happily does a 10 mile charity ride on all types of ground! She is barefoot and occasionally wears hoof boots when needed but that's more due to being a tad footy on certain ground.
 
What sort of level are you riding at? Is this your first horse?

Unless you are planning to affiliate then I would sit tight for a while and see how he goes (also think about moving to a more supportive/educated yard perhaps?).

All horses can and will 'break'. If he suits you in every other way then I would think very carefully about selling him on. Many many people on here will offer you examples of having a horse that didn't quite make it due to injury or ill health. Some, after only a few weeks of ownership fall over and break their legs, others develop tumours, headshaking etc. The truth is that buying a horse is a risky business and a gamble. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.


Ringbone is and can be managed. It will eventually get worse, but with good management and shoeing plenty of horses still can lead a useful life. If you sell your horse now you will lose money, and you can't guarantee something else won't crop up with the next one that you weren't expecting. If you said to me, the horse is difficult, I hate it plus it's gone ringbone then that's a different matter... but you're telling us he's perfect. If he still puts a smile on your face go and enjoy him whilst you still can. Horses and partnerships like that are very very rare.

It is very hard to find the perfect horse. Don't be rushed into selling him if you think you might regret it.

Good luck.
 
Hi 0310star

That's really encouraging to hear! I'm very lucky where I am at we have 2 schools with good surface, in the summer we generally hack twice a week nothing massive normally 5 miles but can go up to (13 miles) but it is made up of 65% roadwork, we generally jump once a week and then school the remaining days 2-3 days and a day off. Winter we generally only get out once a fortnight hacking so maybe jump twice a week and school the other 4 days. We generally try and get out once a month to small local level competitions SJ/DR/ showing / pleasure ride just mix things up really. The vet has now taken him barefoot which he seems to be coping with ok has good strong feet but spoz that will just be a test of time if not might try and keep barefoot on the back and bar shoes on the front I don't think I could get boots big enough to fit his dinner plate hooves! Can I ask how long ago you found out she had ringbone?

Thanks
 
Hi Anvub

No he is my 2nd horse and I really do know how lucky I am with him my 1st horse was totally mis sold to me and was such a little S**T I persevered with him for over 2 years before releasing we were never going to be right for each other which makes me so gutted this has happened with current horse as he really is a once in a lifetime dream horse! hopefully above post gives you an idea of level we are at and would be happy to stay at prelim level dressage and reduce jumping down to around 75/80cm.

Sitting tight is what im doing at the moment and think your right! I don't know just needed some reassurance, some positive stories maybe! Agree any horse can break and you never know what's going to happen in the future!

He definitely puts a smile on my face and anyone he meets I trust him 2 million % hes only downfall is he doesn't like hacking up front/ on his own which we were working on but other than this I couldn't get a more perfect horse!

Think you've got it spot on to wait and see!

Thank you :)
 
The only thing my vet said to me was no tight circles, no lunging and no jumping. To start with I was pretty gutted and I will happily admit that but to be honest she is perfect for me in every other way and I soon got used to not doing those things and just enjoying what she can do quite happily!
She was diagnosed in January 2012. By the sounds of it hers is much worse than your horses case too as my vet actually said she would probably be a light hack/field ornament at best at diagnosis but she is doing just fine. I didn't want to shoe straight away as i figured once I started there would be no going back even though the vet suggested pads and wedges, so until she really needs them she will stay barefoot with boots when needed.

I would honestly just enjoy your horse! Do some research (I got a little obsessed once my horse was diagnosed!) and just see how he goes, it honestly isn't the end having ringbone, as said above it is all about management!
 
Hi 0310star

To be honest we've been very lucky to find it! The only reason we have is he fractured his pedal bone and found it because of this! So hopeful we've found it early enough to do something about it he's had steroid injections, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and a joint supplement put into both front feet he's also had an osteo drip which basically pumps cells in which kills' off/slows down the cells making the bony changes. Am now just bringing back into work and as I say vet has advised just to build him up and see how he goes. TBH think my post was a frantic panic write feeling much better after speaking with you guys!

Thanks
 
Just picked up my copy of H&H and there's an article on page 14-15 about maintaining performance that talks about musculoskeletal problems and treatment that might be interesting.
:-)
 
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