Struggling

[Oldernewbie]

I’m really struggling and need a handhold more thsn anything from others who have been through similar. After buying my first horse 18 months ago (I am middle aged so had waited a long time!) it was a dream come true. Unfortunately she was difficult and I struggled ++ with her, eventually after a huge amount of soul searching I decided to try to find a loaner for her who had the competence and riding ability to enjoy her. Then she sustained a serious injury putting paid to that idea and its looking unlikely she will cope with much work if any.
Then in the summer I decided to have one more shot, I found a perfect ‘beginners’ horse, easygoing, wiling and easy in and out of the stable. She started to build up my confidence again slowly and enjoy riding. Now she has gone severely lame on one leg in trot and the vet cannot identify the source if the problem. This has triggered off an awful emotional reaction in me and I feel devastated!!! Feel so dreadful for her she is such a sweet girl, and is truly perfect for me.
Now I potentially have two unridable horses and its out of the question to buy another. People keep saying I should have thr first horse pts and mahbe that is ghe right thing but its another thing tearing me up.
Just dont know what to do/ how to move forward.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Take a deep breath, before you do anything else. If your horses are insured, I would use the funds that you have paid for to investigate the problems. You might need to ask for a referral to a specialist vet practice. Unfortunately horses are extremely fragile, sometimes.
Even if they are not insured, I would ask for another vet opinion on the newer horse's lameness, if it is so obvious, 'I don't know' isn't a good enough diagnosis.

Good luck!

 

[jkitten]

Yeah you definitely need another vet. When my cat became spectacularly but confusingly ill over the summer, my old vet had no clue, tried a couple of different things seemingly at random, then pretty much shrugged their shoulders and gave up. Cat was so miserable I almost had her put to sleep, but decided to go for a second opinion first. Second opinion vet ordered MRI, which was not cheap but he was then able to prescribe treatment which worked. Cat is now back to normal.

Point being when vets (or doctors) shrug in the face if an obvious problem, it's time to find a more proactive practitioner!

 

[Leam_Carrie]

What awful luck you’ve had. I think I’d probably be going to a good cry as my next step.

What is wrong with the first horse? If they could be a light hack you maybe able to find a loan home. If they’ll never be sound are they in pain? Are they easy to keep / low maintenance as some people want horses as companions?

in terms of your new horse, how long have they been lame? Some things come right with time and rest. I’d want to know what was causing it -did they find which part of the leg / foot was causing it? Hopefully you’re insured and they can investigate.

I hope things get better for you. Horses can be heart breaking.

 

[Jellymoon]

I feel so sorry for you, that’s terrible luck. My first thought was to get a second opinion on the lame horse, def.
Also, what exactly did the first horse do? Is there no possibility she could come right with rest? Maybe enough just to hack?
When I think back to my first horses, I used to take what the vet said so literally. I’m not sure I do quite so much these days, and I’ve learnt the value of a good long rest. And also that horses don’t need to be 100% sound to enjoy a happy life doing very light work.

 

[Keira 8888]

Awful luck! This is just a woefully bad roll of the dice - absolutely no reflection on you or your management. So sorry you are going through all this. It could happen to any one of us.

Take time to breathe - you are coping with a lot.

What injury did your first horse have?

Tell us more...

Kxx

 

[brighteyes]

Don't despair - horses do things like this all the time. They are highly specialist at limping for both obvious and (more often) completely obscure reasons. You just have to be calm and patient and figure out what might be going on - and then what plan to set in motion. And then they'll come up with some other, completely unrelated problem for you to fret and cry over and spend millions on.

I doubt there's a thing one of us on here hasn't experienced or at least some pretty good inside track on. Can't find the source of a lameness? The hoof would be where I would look first.

 

[brighteyes]

Awful luck! This is just a woefully bad roll of the dice - absolutely no reflection on you or your management. So sorry you are going through all this. It could happen to any one of us.

Take time to breathe - you are coping with a lot.

What injury did your first horse have?

Tell us more...

Kxx

What do you mean 'could''? There's no 'could' about it. It's a given, 100% certainty! It never is pleasant, though, and usually expensive.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It's understandable that you feel bad about things but the ailments your horses have is not your fault. There is nothing you have done to cause these issues. If your vet doesn't know what is wrong with horse number 2 then seek a second opinion. I have 2 sets of vets, one I use for run of the mill things like jabs, sedation for clipping etc but I have another one who specialises in "loss of performance". This vet stayed at vet college for an extra year doing further studies & his knowledge now is brilliant. He's got loads of experience & he has horses flown in to see him from all over Europe. He's no more expensive that other vets but he knows how to find out what's wrong. Get another vet in, they can liase with your current vet & find out what's causing the lameness. Good Luck, don't dispair.

 

[Nudibranch]

How long has horse 2 been lame and what investigations has the vet done? Are they an equine specialist? It could turn out to be something as simple as an abscess brewing. Sometimes they are impossible to locate and yet can make them look like they're terminally lame!
If not, there are some simple things the vet can do before talking about hospital work ups. Nerve blocks and x rays can be done on site (if they have mobile x ray; lots of vets do now).

 

[Red-1]

I am another who would say to take a breath. In some ways, it is almost preferable if a horse suddenly goes lame, as usually it means something like an abscess, where they can be sound quite quickly too.

You can't see an abscess on the surface and the horse can be anything from mildly lame to looking like it has a broken leg!

An abscess can take an age to come out, did the vet X ray to see? If not, I too would change vet to one who will investigate further.

^^^ Ooops, cross posted!

 

[meleeka]

Have a virtual hug from me ((()))

If you look for positives, it’s winter which is the best time to have a lame horse (or two). You have a good few months to find the cause of horse No.2’s pain before you’ll really feel like you’re really missing out. Can you learn a new skill in the meantime? Things like groundwork (at walk, teaching her to move around you or back up), clicker training etc, doesn’t need a sound horse and time spent doing Thad is always time well spent.

If your current vet is stumped, ask another vet to investigate.

 

[Annagain]

Everybody's already given you the same advice I would. Just wanted to send a hug and say you're not alone. You will get through this one way or another.

 

[Trouper]

Been where you are and I know how heartbreaking it is. When it was all looking hopeless for my second horse I was pointed in the direction of Tom Beech (The Osteopathic Vet) who completely changed my view on how to assess a horse. Have a look at his FB page and you will see what I mean. It is worth getting him out - or going to one of his clinics if you can - you will know you have done everything you can.