MrsMozart
Just passing through...
Today my beautiful nine year old Dutch Warmblood mare Dizzy was put to sleep.
We made the decision on Thursday, when another bout of lameness had been going on for nearly two weeks. My vet, who attended Dizz in the four years and four months that I'd had her, said it was the worse she'd ever seen her.
Dizzy had bony irregularities on her pelvis, which came to light ten days after I'd bought her. There was secondary damage to her rear suspensory ligaments. Last year bilateral bone spavin was added to the list.
She's been to Rossdales, and the Animal Health Trust. The first said retire her, the second said see how it goes.
We kept on trying. She had physios, Bowen Therapist, massage, back people. Always had the saddle fitter out, at one stage on a fortnightly basis . The dentist every six months. Tried her shod and unshod.
I'd been working her to try and get enough muscle to help hold her together, but I'd put on weight due to a damaged knee and achilles so stopped riding last September. Vet and saddler said I was okay, but I didn't want to risk it. She'd already gone lame again, quite badly, and we suspected her SI. We thought the hilly terrain was a contributory factor, so moved to a yard with flat fields and hacking, and where she could be out 24/7 as she'd sieze up if stabled too long.
In the last six months she's been lame four times, including this bout. It seemed that in work or out of it made no difference to the lameness. We believe all the issues stemmed fron the damaged pelvis and there was no way to treat it, we couldn't fix her or even make her comfortable; the pain was making her grumpy, with some days worse than others.
Today my lovely friends who love the horse rallied round. Alwaysbroke came to the yard and stayed with us, for which we are all very thankful. My lovely vet, Lizzie Allen, ensured she could be the one and was so kind, I can only apologise for breaking down. The chap who took the Dizz away was quiet, respectful and patient, he has my eternal thanks. My family were, as ever, my rock.
We took each horse up to say goodbye. LC was quiet and just dropped his head to her, then turned away. Grey Mare was very upset, so D1 walked her around and away. Titch was heartbreaking. He didn't understand why Dizz didn't get up, nibbled on her lips and pushed her with his muzzle.
I can't believe she's gone. I've known for a long time that this was coming one day, I just didn't ever believe the day would arrive. There are some sad memories for sure, but there are so very many happy ones. She was calld the Dizzy Blonde as she used to spin and make me dizzy. She hated standing still. Loved hacking out and being nosey, with a stride that just ate up the ground. Jumping was exciting, but we had to stop as it wasn't doing her any good, though in my blind ignorance I'd hoped to get her fit and muscled enough to try again one day. We managed a couple of dressage tests at Eland, which was lovely, and three camps there, one with D1 (when I'd broken my back) and twice with me, which was an absolute hoot. She had an inordinate love of Polos and hated biscuits. She'd give me her last ounce of strength and I've given her mine.
Dizz was brave and strong and loving. She taught me a lot and made me smile.
I miss her.
We made the decision on Thursday, when another bout of lameness had been going on for nearly two weeks. My vet, who attended Dizz in the four years and four months that I'd had her, said it was the worse she'd ever seen her.
Dizzy had bony irregularities on her pelvis, which came to light ten days after I'd bought her. There was secondary damage to her rear suspensory ligaments. Last year bilateral bone spavin was added to the list.
She's been to Rossdales, and the Animal Health Trust. The first said retire her, the second said see how it goes.
We kept on trying. She had physios, Bowen Therapist, massage, back people. Always had the saddle fitter out, at one stage on a fortnightly basis . The dentist every six months. Tried her shod and unshod.
I'd been working her to try and get enough muscle to help hold her together, but I'd put on weight due to a damaged knee and achilles so stopped riding last September. Vet and saddler said I was okay, but I didn't want to risk it. She'd already gone lame again, quite badly, and we suspected her SI. We thought the hilly terrain was a contributory factor, so moved to a yard with flat fields and hacking, and where she could be out 24/7 as she'd sieze up if stabled too long.
In the last six months she's been lame four times, including this bout. It seemed that in work or out of it made no difference to the lameness. We believe all the issues stemmed fron the damaged pelvis and there was no way to treat it, we couldn't fix her or even make her comfortable; the pain was making her grumpy, with some days worse than others.
Today my lovely friends who love the horse rallied round. Alwaysbroke came to the yard and stayed with us, for which we are all very thankful. My lovely vet, Lizzie Allen, ensured she could be the one and was so kind, I can only apologise for breaking down. The chap who took the Dizz away was quiet, respectful and patient, he has my eternal thanks. My family were, as ever, my rock.
We took each horse up to say goodbye. LC was quiet and just dropped his head to her, then turned away. Grey Mare was very upset, so D1 walked her around and away. Titch was heartbreaking. He didn't understand why Dizz didn't get up, nibbled on her lips and pushed her with his muzzle.
I can't believe she's gone. I've known for a long time that this was coming one day, I just didn't ever believe the day would arrive. There are some sad memories for sure, but there are so very many happy ones. She was calld the Dizzy Blonde as she used to spin and make me dizzy. She hated standing still. Loved hacking out and being nosey, with a stride that just ate up the ground. Jumping was exciting, but we had to stop as it wasn't doing her any good, though in my blind ignorance I'd hoped to get her fit and muscled enough to try again one day. We managed a couple of dressage tests at Eland, which was lovely, and three camps there, one with D1 (when I'd broken my back) and twice with me, which was an absolute hoot. She had an inordinate love of Polos and hated biscuits. She'd give me her last ounce of strength and I've given her mine.
Dizz was brave and strong and loving. She taught me a lot and made me smile.
I miss her.
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