Think that time is approaching...

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0310Star

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My horse has various leg issues. In January she was diagnosed with high ringbone, side bones and DJD in her RF. She stayed unbelievably sound even though the vet was very bleak about her future. She went back to the vets 2 weeks ago for a follow up and the RF was completely sound but found 1/10 lameness in the LF. After X-rays we found side bones and the starting of navicular. She had Tildren and vet was very happy she could carry on as she is and continue improving.
Fast forward to this week, and she hasn't seemed right. Today I took her into the school and she was fine in walk, asked for trot and she felt horribly lame. Took her saddle off and asked her to trot loose and she was hopping lame and very uncomfortable in the RF.
I always knew this day would come that she would go down hill, tbf she should have been a lot worse with all of her problems, but I thought after how well she has done she would be with me for a long while yet.
The dilemma I have with her is that she isn't the type of horse that can retire, she is a big TB and she had 4 months off over last winter and was totally unmanageable without work, to the point the yard were unsure she should stay as she just has too much energy not to work and have something to put her mind on.
Back then I made the decision that when the time came she couldn't be worked any longer I would not sell as i would not want her to be passed around for people and i love her far too much, so I would pts so she could at least go out happy and I would know she had a very happy life before that time came.
Call it a gut feeling, but after today I think that time will be sooner rather than later but thinking about it I feel terrible even considering such a thing if she does not come sound.
Has anybody ever been in this position, and am I a total b*tch for even considering this once she can no longer be worked?
I know this could just be a momentary blip and she could come right again but it has made me think about what I will do when the time comes....
Very sad post about a horse I love very much :(
 
I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. I have no experience with things like this , thankfully , but you know her best. If you're sure she'd be unmanageable without work and shes not going to get any better then I'd perhaps pick the time for her and Bute her up until then. I'm sorry you have to make a decision sooner that you expected :(
 
The thing is that it will get worse, there is no doubt about that! I have had her almost 3 years and she is such a kind, lovely, beautiful animal that is worth her weight in gold but I would rather not wait until she is totally crippled and miserable... She copes about 2 months out of work but anymore and she is a danger to herself and her handlers, not nastily but she just doesn't cope! She runs around the field like an idiot and throws me around all over the place because her energy takes over!
I love her dearly and would be absolutely devastated, she came to me in a bad way and is now healthy and happy and I just think that at least she would have had a good few years with me and I would feel much happier with that than keeping her for my benefit with her in pain :(
 
If it was the case, I'd do it before she becomes too energetic and while she's happiest. Does she get worse in cold weather?
 
Also probably unlikely but not sure if there's any feed out there that would calm her right down , but then you'd have to keep her pain free too.
 
You can certainly help relieve (if not cure) the navicular by doing a proper barefoot rehab. OK she will still have the other problems, but maybe it's the navicular pushing her over the edge?

Vets are unfortunately still not up to speed on the benefits of taking the shoes off navicular horses. :(
 
dumpling said:
Also probably unlikely but not sure if there's any feed out there that would calm her right down , but then you'd have to keep her pain free too.
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Magnesium. Good for calming and great for hooves. :)

ETA. I know it's not a painkiller, but it does sound like something that would help.
 
Dumpling, I am unsure as to whether the weather makes her worse as it was over last winter the problems were found (although they were no doubt there a long while before this though as very advanced on X-rays) but the cold could well contribute I guess?
 
She has fantastic feet, she has been barefoot over a year and that is one thing the vet has said has done a lot of good!
Problem is that lameness is is the ringbone leg, not navicular leg...
 
Also to add the vet wants her in natural balance with pads and wedges, something I has said will not be happening as I think barefoot is definitely a good thing for her
 
She has been all summer but is now in at night with the rest of the yard. She coped well with this last winter after diagnosis as she is out for 7am until 6pm. She also doesn't do living out in winter... High maintenance is not the word for this horse! Lol I still love her dearly though...
 
you know when the time is right.

Do the right thing for your horse.

Just be warned about insurance companies.
I had to have my 20 year old gelding put down in June due to various leg issuers plus eye problem.
He was on too much bute for long term use and still wasn't happy.

Putting him down was the honest thing.
But nfu don't agree.
Im still fighting them, going to the ombusman next.
 
I fell awful thinking about it now when she has been absolutely fine other than this lameness but is it the best time when she is fine? I worry it is too early, but then think its better than it being too late? I feel like a cow :(
 
It does take more than four months for a horse to 'let down'. If they are used to working then fitness can be a problem when retiring. However, if you ride it through, they are usually better and have lower energy as time goes on. My TB was like yours and just as I thought I couldn't cope any longer, he got better to handle.
 
She has never been in consistent work due to various problems so wasn't fit when she had 4 months off. She is just utterly miserable doing nothing
 
baker190 said:
Even if it is just a blip it is only going to get worse in the long run, this is my concern...
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If your horse is miserable, then PTS.

However, I always find it hard to reconcile a horse that is in work one day and then PTS the next without trying turn away first. My own mare was a hopeless case. Vets said she would never even be paddock sound. I managed to get her paddock sound and now three years after her catestrophic injury I am back riding her! :)
 
baker190 said:
She is just utterly miserable doing nothing
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Why does she need to do nothing? I did all sorts with my mare when I couldn't ride her as she missed working so much. Clicker training was a godsend and gave her a new lease of life. Later, as she became sounder we did some long reining.
 
Unfortunately her problems are degenerative :( I wouldn't ride one day then PTS the next, I would give her a few months of being spoilt rotten
 
Is it side bone or ring bone? If the latter, and she is in pain that cannot be managed so she is comfortable on 1 - 2 sachets of bute, then PTS. If side bone then it often flares up but then can settle down so that the horse is comfortable and can even do some light hacking, sometimes more.
 
Well she's three years younger than my girl. But still a good age. If she is in pain and suffering, then I would PTS sooner rather than later. No point in keeping her alive and spoilt if she is not going to be happy. She either needs putting to sleep because she is suffering, or she doesn't. If she would be happy and comfortable whilst being spoilt then she doesn't need putting to sleep. You know her best. I am sure you will make the right decision by her. If she is comfortable in a field without pain killers, but you can't afford to keep an unridable horse, then you could consider the blood bank?
 
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