sarahann1
Well-Known Member
Said my final goodbye to my oldest lad today.
Went away on Friday for a long weekend, he was fine when I left, fine all weekend by all accounts, got to the yard on Monday to a hopping lame horse. First thought was abscess, but called vet anyway to double check, no obvious signs of trauma etc, but very sore. Vet had a good dig, nothing to find, other than pulses in all four feet pointing to laminitis. My vet reckons all factors considered, it was brought on by hormonal changes, possibly due to undiagnosed Cushings.
Smartie was in his 30s and whatever the cause, the prognosis of weeks, probably months of box rest to fix this, wasn't in my eyes fair to a field kept horse who didn't do at all well in.
Felt like the wicked witch this morning when I got to the yard as he whickered away at me. But he went well, with a belly full of food he'd normally never be allowed, and he went before he was depressed or unhappy.
I have no idea when this will seem real, despite holding him to the end, I looked for him in the field as I left this evening from seeing my other horses.
RIP old man, going to miss you.
Went away on Friday for a long weekend, he was fine when I left, fine all weekend by all accounts, got to the yard on Monday to a hopping lame horse. First thought was abscess, but called vet anyway to double check, no obvious signs of trauma etc, but very sore. Vet had a good dig, nothing to find, other than pulses in all four feet pointing to laminitis. My vet reckons all factors considered, it was brought on by hormonal changes, possibly due to undiagnosed Cushings.
Smartie was in his 30s and whatever the cause, the prognosis of weeks, probably months of box rest to fix this, wasn't in my eyes fair to a field kept horse who didn't do at all well in.
Felt like the wicked witch this morning when I got to the yard as he whickered away at me. But he went well, with a belly full of food he'd normally never be allowed, and he went before he was depressed or unhappy.
I have no idea when this will seem real, despite holding him to the end, I looked for him in the field as I left this evening from seeing my other horses.
RIP old man, going to miss you.