TB mare rehome or PTS???

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mcavity55

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Hi, i took on a 3 yr old filly a few months back, racer that didint make the grade. Was planning to breed with her and get her riding after. Anyway she locked her stifle about a month ago. We managed to 'unlock' and she has been fine since, breeder then told me she had done it once before. Spoke to vet and said it was common in young unfit horses and she should grow out of it. But i now dont feel confident breeding from her. And was planning to have her put down. Other half said sell her, but dont want her to end up some where horrible?? Lovely nature but still a chestnut TB mare!!
what should i do?
 
I would get her riding and if she turns out good and stays sound then breed her , better to have some history to give potential buyers
of her ofspring or you some hope for what you are breeding being ok , I can understand and respect your resposible attitude..so if you decide she dosent have a future then have her PTS...
 
Personally I would get her into work too. See how she is coping with work, mentally and physically and then you can decide whether to breed or not. There is absolutely no point breeding from her if she is unsuitable mentally or physically, but you decided to take her on, now give her the chance to prove herself.

Good Luck
 
That's a bit dramatic wanting to PTS your filly just because of a problem that can usually be fixed or sorts it's self out!

If you offer her for sale at a sensible price I'm sure you'll get some takers. Give her a chance.
 
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Spoke to vet and said it was common in young unfit horses and she should grow out of it.

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Surely if she will grow out of it through maturing and/or becoming fitter there is absolutely no reason to PTS
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There are plenty of foals about already. Unless this is a quality, proven mare with perfect temperament, don't add to an already flooded market. Also, if you have such a black and white and not very accomodating attitude (even I know locking stifles are a work/age/fitness-improved condition and likely to be a hereditary one) I don't think adding a foal, which may be equally unsuitable for your needs, to the 'mix' is a sensible idea. To PTS an otherwise potentially sound and useful horse is criminal.

What is it with people who want to breed for no apparent reason?
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That, in case you are wondering, is a rant.
 
I agree (although it pains me
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) with Brighteyes.
Firstly, the market is flooded with horses at the moment - so there is no real prospect of a sale for your future foal which would even cover your costs (try adding up covering fees, vet fees, keep of mare, keep of mare and weanling, farrier care, etc and you'll see).
Secondly, if you are going to breed, you want to breed something decent - if you have doubts about whether your 3yo is even worth keeping alive, clearly she is not breeding material.
Personally, in your position I'd either sell her as she is, and explain to the buyer about the locking stifles, or start her myself and sell her when ridden away.
And don't buy/breed any more, please, unless you are prepared to look after them regardless of what happens.
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Locking stifles usually put them selves right with exercise lots of hill walking in hand was what my vet recomended for one of mine.
And if like mine it does not get any better the op to have it put right is easier than a castration, it's done while the horse is sedated and still standing.
My youngster was sold on after breaking and is enjoying a full riden life, and is now 13/14.
I would never dream of having a youngster pts just because of a locking stifle why would someone not buy her because she is a chesnut mare, after all you did.
 
locking stifles are easily operated on if the working them to develop muscle and fitness doesn't cure the problem. Most horses do grow out of it and once they are in regular work and have some muscle the problem disappears. I wouldn't be considering pts for a horse with this problem. If you do decide to sell her then you need to make sure she goes to someone who is fully aware of her problem and is willing to take her on and obviously the price will be lower than if she had no problem. Alternatively could you not put her on loan to an experienced home where she could be worked in an attempt to overcome the problem.
 
have you asked a vet on whether the locked stiffle could be hereditary? if it isnt then there is no reson why you couldnt breed a nice foal which will not inherit the problem
 
I certainly would not have a 3 year old PTS because of locking stifles. I've known a few TBs with this who have 'grown' out of it with appropriate exercise.

However, I would think carefully about breeding. She has already not made the grade as a racehorse so I would want to see her to proven herself in another field before breeding.
 
100% agree with not breeding from her but PTS?!!! I don't understand why this is even an option
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Sell her to someone who cares...
Locking stifle is easily fixed in 'most' cases. If your mare has only done it once while with you I wouldn't consider this a huge problem.
My daughters pony will do this occasionally when out of work.
 
My daughters first pony had a problem with locking stifles, started when she was a youngster. Was fine whilst she was in work but does occur now and again as she is retired, however she is 18 years old and has never really bothered her.
As others have said, work should hopefully sort out the problem with your mare OP, but please don't breed from her for the sake of it.
 
So let me get this straight, you purchased a horse, probably very cheaply, and now it's not what you want, you are just going to discard it??

There are plenty of people out there who would take on a youngster with a locking stifle, she'll probably grow out of it with work. She certainly deserves a chance with someone, if she is sound in other ways, has no nasty tendencies and would make someone a nice riding horse.

To put to sleep a young animal just because it doesn't suit YOUR purpose is totally wrong in my eyes.
 
locking stiffle is quick op to do vet does it in the field they walk away sound if you thinking of pts for this reason maybee you should consider not owning a horse at all as locking stiffle if minor off to other illnesses they could have
 
Most vets recommend gentle fittening work for horses with locking stifles. And then keep them fit and in work.

To think that you are considering having her PTS is very sad. There really is no need. Read up lots about this condition, talk to your vet and other experienced people. There are far worse things could be wrong with a horse than a locking stifle.
 
I used to work with racehorses i remember we had one that used to lock his stifle at least twice when he was ridden. As he got fit it did stop. The trainer told us that when it locked to jump off and push him back a stride or 2 to unlock it. It dont know why to be honest but it always seemed to solve the problem. This horse still went on to win many races so it obviously did not effect any of his ability.
If you dont want the horse anymore phone the british racing school in newmarket (or there is a place in doncaster and a place in edinburgh)and see if they would like her so students could maybe use the filly to learn how to exercise raehorses. I personally think that there would be plenty of other jobs for this filly
 
My friend has a horse that used to lock its stifles really badly as a 4/5 year old ( far worse than your filly sounds) and she just hacked it out for ages up hills ( in walk)

Its now perfectly sound and eventing happily at Novice B.E level with many double clears. Its stifles have not locked for two years now.

Give the filly some time and work her- locking stifles is very common and EASY to get rid off with some patience.
 
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I think what you see here is what happens when owners/breeders/trainers give away tbs without thought or consequences for their future. The OP obviously knows very little about horses. I see they haven't been game enough to come back and answer!
 
Oh dear! Its a very good job you don't own a horse like mine with far more problems than a locking stifle to deal with.
He would have been dead and buried a long time ago if your views are anything to go by!
Time, money and patience have brought him sound after 10 months of hard work and perserverance!
Honestly, far too many people see PTS as an easy option!
 
I know I'm just re-iterating what everyone else has said here but why the hell would you have a horse with a locking stifle pts - especially as she is a 3 year old & still developing. Do you not realise that this is a condition which the majority of horses grow out of as they mature and get worked, or have you been given mis-information?? What vet in their right mind is going to pts a horse just becasue of a locking stifle? Do you think you should really have a horse at all?
 
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