Sound honest advice needed

[9tails]

I understand your motivation, though I think £500 is pretty steep for his wardrobe. I've seen owners struggle with horses that have gone wrong while they've owned them or accidentally bought one that is already broken. One with navicular that had a partially successful recovery has gone barefoot, everything he does is monitored closely including time in the field and the right footing to be ridden. It's not an easy carefree horse ownership arrangement. I wouldn't want to take on one that is only going to be comfortable with expensive farriery every 4-6 weeks.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

What a difficult position those owners have put you in ?

Don't let them "guilt" you into taking him on - as others have said there lies the path to heartbreak - I really feel for you ?

 

[HeyMich]

If you're thinking of taking him on LWVTB, how long is the loan period? Will you have a contact? Do you have it in writing that the horse is still their responsibility until you agree to buy? If you send him back within the loan period, are you sure that they won't guilt-trip you into contributing to vets bills and possibly PTS costs?

I wouldn't take him on personally - you did ask for opinions, and that's mine.

 

[Leah3horses]

From a more positive, but still realistic experience, I also fell for a lovely horse who had a navicular diagnosis and was in egg bar shoes. I took Dolly on LWVTB with a plan to enable barefoot rehabilitation , which was an outstanding success after 8 months. However, I'm a very experienced Equine Vet Nurse so it was more of a calculated risk, after studying her x rays, movement, and having professional experience in barefoot rehab etc...and there were still no guarantees. Dolly became my go anywhere, do anything horse, we had many years together , she became and remained sound for 10 years,with constant vigilance, she even wanted to jump but it wouldn't have been ethical, for me, to allow her to. Her death was nothing to do with lameness/ unsoundness in any way, she died of cardiac arrest at age 26. But Rockley Farm have even rehabbed navicular cases back to jumping careers, it can be done but with lots of conditions, the main one probably being realistic interpretation of x rays and scans initially. Without seeing this horse you care about, their x rays etc, nobody can tell you either way if rehab would be possible/ probable or not...you need a good, progressive barefoot rehab experts' professional opinion, only they can tell you if this horse may be a good candidate or not. Of all the vets I've worked with, none had confidence my horse could become sound, because, with all respect to them, some vets are not keeping their education up to date with more progressive ,proven techniques...eggbar and heartbeat shoes are antiquated , out dated , sticking plasters that only address symptoms of navicular etc, they do absolutely nothing to address the underlying pathologies, if it was a horse you already had shared history with and responsibility for barefoot rehab would be your only ethical recourse anyway, lto try to treat the problem and extend the horse's pain free lifespan, not just mask the pain for a limited time. Nick Hill is worth contacting, he has success in barefoot rehab and his partner is a progressive vet, her name is Ralitsa Grancharova DVM , they may be able to give you a prognosis from the x rays, then at least you have a progressive, experienced professional opinion on which to base any decisions.

 

[Clodagh]

If you can afford his running costs, accept you need to put him first and are prepared to PTS when it is time I'd go for it.
My OH's first wife had a horse with navicular, he was an amazing hunter and she got him for peanuts. She had I think five seasons hunting with him.

 

[Donkeyslave]

My first horse (45 yrs. ago!) had navicular. I bought her from a dealer and was well and truly "caught". She became lame soon after I got her home to a livery yard and I received lots of advice to take her back. My vet was great and offered to help me get my money back but I just kept wondering what would happen to her. By now she was calling to me whenever I arrived at the yard and would nicker to me if I helped with other horses. She was the kindest most obedient and willing soul with the most beautiful face and conformation that I had ever seen.

I ended up keeping her for 15 years and don't regret a single minute. She was my teacher and my friend . I loved her and she loved me. It was simple.
I rode many horses on the yard and made lasting friendships with people that I would never have met if I had given up on her. The yard owner allowed her to wander around the land and would open the gates to let her have plenty of space. We spent hours devising ways to keep her mentally happy. Toys for horses were unheard of then and so we made our own and I had hours of enjoyment with her. I did ride her occasionally in the indoor school and discovered the joys of riding in a bosal.

All of this helped me develop intuitively and when I acquired an ex racehorse and an Arabian later in life I only ever rode them in a lightweight bosal (including hunting the Arabian).

I too believe that animals are for life and have kept all of mine until they had to be PTS, luckily at a good age.
That is why, as you say, you have to think carefully before making a decision. Veterinary science has progressed fantastically since my time with my mare when the only thing to do was turn them out or put them down. Unfortunately this comes with a financial cost which you seem to have taken into consideration.

Believe me PTS hurts unbearably whenever you have to make the decision BUT you will unfortunately have to make it at some time when you let animals into your life.

I think everyone on here would agree that the pain is well worth the pleasure however short that may be

 

[paddi22]

500 quid for his stuff is a lot as well. I'd want to see and price exactly what I was getting for the 500 and what resale value would be if I needed to sell it off if horse went permanently unsound. is it a good quality saddle and tack, does it fit? how trustworthy are they? I've seen so many people buy tack off a selling and it's been totally unsuitable, badly fitting or just generally in awful condition.

 

[Red-1]

I'm not sure what you wanted people to say, and am surprised you seem upset when people are merely trying to prevent you from having your heart broken.

I just bought a sick-note horse, and if I had had a dither and asked on here, I am sure everyone would have told me not to buy. He is 15, was registered as a rig, just finished box rest for lami, has ems, doesn't load and isn't good in traffic My goal is that he is a happy companion with a bit of light hacking thrown in when he is able. I expect higher than average vets bills.

But I felt certain, and went and bought him; yes, paid money!

I didn't ask for people's opinions as I don't think I would have liked their answers

Crikey, I had all on with Mr Red's negativity over Rigsby without inviting everyone to have a comment

I stand with my first comment that if you feel uncertain, then this is not the horse for you, as you will kick yourself when he goes wrong (which he will at some point).

I do know a horse who had bad navic, had some time off, was barefoot rehabbed and became sound for hacking and even a bit of showing (unaffiliated veteran in hand and, amazingly, also ridden). The owner had a very relaxed attitude as to what she would achieve, the horse simply did what it was happy to do. Took 3 years to get to a show, but moved beautifully. It is possible.

 

[Tbird]

I think some people have probably had horses that have developed navicular problems and just know how traumatic it is. And I just meant that my worry is if you are thinking the money you are saving from not paying up front or paying for him full stop will help with the ongoing costs then it may be because they haven’t been honest about the amount it could add up to be just to keep him sound or even comfortable. If you care this much about him imagine how hard it will be to see him in pain, you will want to do anything to alleviate it but above and beyond remedial shoes those pain management costs will add up to so much...anyway good luck with the decision and make sure they are totally transparent and honest with you X

Thank you so much

 

[Tbird]

I'm not sure what you wanted people to say, and am surprised you seem upset when people are merely trying to prevent you from having your heart broken.

I just bought a sick-note horse, and if I had had a dither and asked on here, I am sure everyone would have told me not to buy. He is 15, was registered as a rig, just finished box rest for lami, has ems, doesn't load and isn't good in traffic My goal is that he is a happy companion with a bit of light hacking thrown in when he is able. I expect higher than average vets bills.

But I felt certain, and went and bought him; yes, paid money!

I didn't ask for people's opinions as I don't think I would have liked their answers

Crikey, I had all on with Mr Red's negativity over Rigsby without inviting everyone to have a comment

I stand with my first comment that if you feel uncertain, then this is not the horse for you, as you will kick yourself when he goes wrong (which he will at some point).

I do know a horse who had bad navic, had some time off, was barefoot rehabbed and became sound for hacking and even a bit of showing (unaffiliated veteran in hand and, amazingly, also ridden). The owner had a very relaxed attitude as to what she would achieve, the horse simply did what it was happy to do. Took 3 years to get to a show, but moved beautifully. It is possible.

I’m not unhappy by comments I’m thankful ( I said some unwanted ) meaning that they were saying what I didn’t want hear that I was making a world of heartache for myself . I value ad take in everyone’s answers . Thank you .

 

[honetpot]

My first horse was on permanent loan with navicular, he was LOU insurance claim, and I had him for nearly ten years. This was the early days when there was really no treatment. I could never have afforded this level of horse, he was well schooled, well, behaved good in traffic and more to the point safe. I had many happy hours hacking and taking him hunting and I learnt so much about learning to spot a horse being unlevel, and I think it actually made me a better horse person, because you learn close observation and horse management. I have never had horse/pony that I have owned become long term lame because I think learned a lot about conditioning and managing work load.
We were newly married and short of money, so we had a conversation about what would happen if he was unridable, and in a way it's easier, you know what is wrong with them and the likely end, and you have to be prepared for that and set your self a limit.
The positives have to out way the negatives and you have to accept its limitations and possible future, money really should not be a deciding factor, because you could have a horse pass a 5 stage vetting and discover later it has a long term condition, which you may have to manage and pay for.

 

[Tbird]

My first horse was on permanent loan with navicular, he was LOU insurance claim, and I had him for nearly ten years. This was the early days when there was really no treatment. I could never have afforded this level of horse, he was well schooled, well, behaved good in traffic and more to the point safe. I had many happy hours hacking and taking him hunting and I learnt so much about learning to spot a horse being unlevel, and I think it actually made me a better horse person, because you learn close observation and horse management. I have never had horse/pony that I have owned become long term lame because I think learned a lot about conditioning and managing work load.
We were newly married and short of money, so we had a conversation about what would happen if he was unridable, and in a way it's easier, you know what is wrong with them and the likely end, and you have to be prepared for that and set your self a limit.
The positives have to out way the negatives and you have to accept its limitations and possible future, money really should not be a deciding factor, because you could have a horse pass a 5 stage vetting and discover later it has a long term condition, which you may have to manage and pay for.

What a post this is !
this is exactly the truth of it isn’t it , you are spot on . I could pay for the perfect horse and it has a underlying problem the vet couldn’t have seen . Or I invest a little in this lad and take it for what it is a few hacks out a week If he’s sound or as the years tick by ( god willing ) and he spends his time with his head down looking uncomfortable you make that tough decision.
it is awe inspiring to read you had many happy hacks on your horse for quite a few years . I hope to be as fortunate xx. Thank you

 

[Tbird]

I was going to say if you are prepared for an uncertain future with him and have the money to deal with his shoeing, additional needs, livery etc and can afford to keep him as a retired pet and be prepared to make that difficult decision when his quality of life is affected, then I was going to say go for it.
However, they owners now want you to pay for his tack? Knowing full well you are taking on a very expensive horse? They’re keen to stop having to pay for his livery and shoeing, so this is what, a month’s livery cost for them potentially?

If you adore the horse, can’t bear the thought of not having him and you are fully prepared and financially sound yourself then you could offer to take him on permanent loan/full loan. It is something that is very difficult to advise on, we don’t know the horse or the degree of issues he has, he could have a very short time left or like a horse my friend had, she had five very good years of hacking on her beloved horse before he had to be PTS.

Just don’t make any rash decisions and if you go into it, go into it with your eyes fully open.

He sounds a lucky horse to have someone considering taking him on. ?

Thank you

 

[Tbird]

If you're thinking of taking him on LWVTB, how long is the loan period? Will you have a contact? Do you have it in writing that the horse is still their responsibility until you agree to buy? If you send him back within the loan period, are you sure that they won't guilt-trip you into contributing to vets bills and possibly PTS costs?

I wouldn't take him on personally - you did ask for opinions, and that's mine.

Thank you , all options good and bad welcomed x