Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I have decided to retire my horse and not ride him again and I am very sad about it. I dreamt about riding him last night.
He is an old boy, but had been fine all through the summer until about a month ago, then he developed a strange new habit. I consulted the vet and the physio who has been seeing him for years and discussed the symptoms. The vet suggested a chiropractor, but I don't think I will after the physio's input who says it is the symptom of arthritis, and I have also seen him take a lame step sometimes on a sharp turn, so its not right to keep riding him and possibly not safe for either of us either.
The last time I rode him was last Wednesday. I was going on one route, but decided to cut it short and turned right instead of left.
As it happens, that was exactly the same route I took him the very first time I went out on him by myself, and I remember agonising for ages about which way round to do the ride. The longer main road bit first or last? In the end I did it last, so if he was frightened at least we were pointing in the direction of home and it was the next left turn. Of course he was absolutely fine and all my worries were pointless. I suppose he was about 3 and a half, having been broken to ride a couple of months before.
So we did the same route, inspected all the gardens, looked at the flock of goats and was frightened by the pig in the wood - which he must have passed dozens of times. Took no notice of the cars that went past on the main road and arrived home safely. I have been wondering for nearly a year if each time I took him for a ride if it was going to be the last time. Well, it was the last time last week.
He is an old boy, but had been fine all through the summer until about a month ago, then he developed a strange new habit. I consulted the vet and the physio who has been seeing him for years and discussed the symptoms. The vet suggested a chiropractor, but I don't think I will after the physio's input who says it is the symptom of arthritis, and I have also seen him take a lame step sometimes on a sharp turn, so its not right to keep riding him and possibly not safe for either of us either.
The last time I rode him was last Wednesday. I was going on one route, but decided to cut it short and turned right instead of left.
As it happens, that was exactly the same route I took him the very first time I went out on him by myself, and I remember agonising for ages about which way round to do the ride. The longer main road bit first or last? In the end I did it last, so if he was frightened at least we were pointing in the direction of home and it was the next left turn. Of course he was absolutely fine and all my worries were pointless. I suppose he was about 3 and a half, having been broken to ride a couple of months before.
So we did the same route, inspected all the gardens, looked at the flock of goats and was frightened by the pig in the wood - which he must have passed dozens of times. Took no notice of the cars that went past on the main road and arrived home safely. I have been wondering for nearly a year if each time I took him for a ride if it was going to be the last time. Well, it was the last time last week.
