MrFoxtrot
New User
We have a 23 year horse, he’s been with us for ever. He’s my husbands but a real family favourite. He’s huge - 17.2 an Irish draft. A massive, massive horse, big feet and big limbs. My husband retired him early last year as he felt he’d become weak and stumbled a few times. He was only ever used for hacking, he’s had a lovely, easy life just ambling around the lanes so never any hard work or jumping bar the odd log. But even light hacking became hard as he was much weaker and then his shoes were removed as he could no longer stand on 3 legs to be shod (even with bute) he has arthritis in his hocks. last year in the summer he got stuck (sort of cast but managed to get himself up on his own) on the hard ground and seemed to become frightened to lie down, although he does still roll, not as often as he did though.
His rolling is a slow process, he goes down shoulder first and his back legs shake a lot. He seems to only roll if really desperate. You could set your watch by his nap in the past, he loved a long flat out, snoring sleep of a morning and it became noticeable that he wasn’t doing that. He had a bute trial that didn’t make any difference although he does have bute just to take the edge off things, he does much better turned out 24/7 with shelter but despite a huge amount of hard feed and being well rugged up has lost lots of weight and muscle very noticeable on his large frame, especially as in all the years we’ve had him he’s come out of winter ‘well’. he was cushings tested but it was in the grey area but we put him on pracsend on the vets advice. Last weekend he went to roll and it took him 4 attempts to get up and my husband was very distressed and cried (he really loves his horse, we all do) and said it’s time but I wonder if we should give him the summer but my husband says he thinks he’s lost his sparkle and is exhausted not being able to lie down. He is very slow and takes his time turning around and sometimes rests his head on his haynet. We keep him at home so I do see him a lot and unless he’s lying down at night (no evidence) he hadn’t lay down for months, however he’s still fairly bright eyed, often trots in for tea, mutual grooming his buddy etc. I think my husband is probably right - he knows him best. But someone we know made a passing comment about spring grass and sunshine and they would give him one last summer (but he doesn’t like hard ground) and now I’m in pieces wondering if he’s called it too early and feeling judged but equally with children who also love the horse we have to be united when we tell them, it’s hanging over our heads and just feels awful. And I don’t want it to become an issue or there to be any resentment on either side
my husband said he had mentally given him winter and he didn’t come out at all well so he’s absolutely not giving him summer. Also he said if he had to get his jcb out to get him up if couldn’t he’d never forgive himself, I KNOW he’s right but why am I still questioning it
His rolling is a slow process, he goes down shoulder first and his back legs shake a lot. He seems to only roll if really desperate. You could set your watch by his nap in the past, he loved a long flat out, snoring sleep of a morning and it became noticeable that he wasn’t doing that. He had a bute trial that didn’t make any difference although he does have bute just to take the edge off things, he does much better turned out 24/7 with shelter but despite a huge amount of hard feed and being well rugged up has lost lots of weight and muscle very noticeable on his large frame, especially as in all the years we’ve had him he’s come out of winter ‘well’. he was cushings tested but it was in the grey area but we put him on pracsend on the vets advice. Last weekend he went to roll and it took him 4 attempts to get up and my husband was very distressed and cried (he really loves his horse, we all do) and said it’s time but I wonder if we should give him the summer but my husband says he thinks he’s lost his sparkle and is exhausted not being able to lie down. He is very slow and takes his time turning around and sometimes rests his head on his haynet. We keep him at home so I do see him a lot and unless he’s lying down at night (no evidence) he hadn’t lay down for months, however he’s still fairly bright eyed, often trots in for tea, mutual grooming his buddy etc. I think my husband is probably right - he knows him best. But someone we know made a passing comment about spring grass and sunshine and they would give him one last summer (but he doesn’t like hard ground) and now I’m in pieces wondering if he’s called it too early and feeling judged but equally with children who also love the horse we have to be united when we tell them, it’s hanging over our heads and just feels awful. And I don’t want it to become an issue or there to be any resentment on either side
my husband said he had mentally given him winter and he didn’t come out at all well so he’s absolutely not giving him summer. Also he said if he had to get his jcb out to get him up if couldn’t he’d never forgive himself, I KNOW he’s right but why am I still questioning it 
