So what do I do now?????

[Bert&Maud]

My lovely horse was diagnosed lst year with kissing spines. Vet didn't want to operate, and I agreed with her for various reasons, mainly because of the area affected (5 vertebrae just behind his withers), his age (14 at the time so 15 before he was fully back in work with possibly only another year or two of competition), and also because I work full time and have help from my elderly mother with caring for him so aftercare would have been very difficult. So he was treated with Tildren unsuccesfully. The period of insurance for vets claims expired at the end of June, so just before that he had cortisone injections in his spine to see if that would make him more comfortable. Sadly, although he's on Bute, he's still unwilling to work on the school, although he's fine for hacking out - loose rein at walk, normal trot and off his back at canter. So my quandry is - do I commit myself to a few more years of hacking about the countryside on the horse I adore and never do anymore schooling, lessons and competitions, see if I can find someone to give him to who will understand his limitations, or have him put to sleep? This would not be anything like such a difficult decision if he wasn't the nicest horse I have ever owned, and I know that anything else I look at will always be measured against him. Sorry this is such a long post!

 

[cariadssogreat]

I think you either need to keep him as a hack yourself or have him pts. TBH if it was me, and if he is the nicest horse you have ever owned then I would settle for the hacking out. I am afraid I certainly would not pass him on.

 

[Muddywellies]

Been there - done that - t-shirt now v shabby! My beutiful mare was not a competition horse but a rather ugly dobbin. (but absolutely gorgeous to me). She simply became old. Her joints packed up and she would end up on the ground and not able to get back up again. I used to enjoy really long and fun hacks with her and over the years they got shorter, and I would sometimes get off when she got tired. Many people would have put her to sleep long before I did but i knew my horse better than anyone. She ended up on about a sachet of bute per day, and joint supplement at £80 a pot from the vet. HOWEVER, I could still get on her and take her for a gently plod down the road which she loved, and it really perked her up. I read up an euthanasia and the general consensus was, that she would tell me when enough was enough. So we carried on, with medication, and ropes and muscle power to heave her back on her feet, until one day, i knew enough was enough. She was on the floor, and I knew it would be cruel to get her back up again, so i showed her one last example of my love for her and put her to sleep. Only the day before she had been tearing around the field like a filly, so she was certainly enjoying life, but this final incident (on the floor) told me she could not carry on. My advice is forget the competitions, schooling etc, and if he can do it without pain , and HE enjoys it, then gently hack him out. Do everything you can to make him comfortable (he deserves it) and the autumn of his life happy, but prepare for the day when you have to do the kindest thing. It will break your heart as it did mine (I had a blubber whilst writing this) but you will know that you did everything to make him happy, whilst not prolonging the pain or unhappiness, and he will take with him when he goes, the knowledge of how loved he was, as my mare did. Sniff sniff. wheres my hanky! p.s don't give to anyone else. its not fair on him.

 

[Happy Bird]

IMHO, he has given you so much over the years (and you, him). I would hack him gently all the while he enjoys it. You know your horse well enough to know when enough is enough and it's time to say good bye. In the meantime, could you buy another horse or a part share/loan in order to school/compete ????

 

[Skhosu]

I would keep him indefinitely, I wouldn't pass him on. Possibly loan out as a companion to a trusted home,

 

[henryhorn]

I think I would attempt to find him a home first as a companion or loan him to someone with a solid agreement he can only be hacked.
If you can't do that have him PTS.
We have a couple of retired ones here with kissing spines and their quality of life provided they aren't ridden is excellent (no I'm not touting for business we have stopped accepting any more horses!).
I would find him a lovely loan home and get yourself another (unless you have to have the insurence money to buy another, which means no real option...

)

 

[derricks]

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