Evie7
New User
I think I've sort of already made the decision but wanted to ask for some other views.
I have 2 horses, both TBs, a mare 19yo, owned from 3 - basically a big labrador, easy to do but a very sensitive ride. I then have an 18yo gelding, had for 12yrs, came fresh out of racing having suffered tendon issues and a fractured pelvis.
He's always been a poor doer, she hasn't, they've never really done much asides from hacking, the odd show, a day out hunting - they were essentially my life before I met OH.
5 years ago we moved away, really struggled to find livery, then ended up at the most fab retirement/full grass livery, both did really well - they were in a herd living like wild ponies.
About a year ago I finally found somewhere close to home where they could be out 24/7 and was more affordable (neither do well stabled). The gelding at this point was beginning to show signs of arthritis but field sound 90% of the time. The winter was bl**dy awful, the mare did ok, but he really struggled despite ad lib hay, rugs and obv hard feed. By spring he'd picked up a little but he just seemed to be so much older than his years. Had a vet out for the lameness, and the long and short - couldn't find any obv issues, suggested if I just wanted to hack to get on with it - could go down scan/xray route but could be a can of worms. I should say that in hindsight, they have major separation anxiety so throughout the entire visit they were both being absolute idiots and I realise now that the adrenaline was probably masking things. Anyways, I decided to go ahead and cancel their insurance as it was extortionate and I don't see the point of veteran cover.
Fast forward a few months and the situation hasn't improved, he's def not sound, I have no insurance cover and no savings - were about to remortgage and I'm scraping by each month. The mare has also recently started jumping my 5ft electric tape in my very carefully managed field so while she looks like a house, he does not. She spends her day eating the lovely grass that I am trying to save while he paces up and down the fence. He just looks quite miserable and we're about to go into winter and he is not looking great as is (he drops weight if it rains I swear). I could get myself into more debt to try and fix him, or I could go down the pts route before winter while he's happier and focus on the mare. I should add, they haven't been ridden for around 6 years as I didn't have time or inclination and now I've lost what confidence I did have. If I was only funding one I feel like I could do a better job of being a decent owner and get back into actually riding again. In my heart I feel like it's the right thing to do, but feel awful about the financial aspect, even though I know its a biggie and it's only going to get worse. I had been keeping an eye out for a companion type loan for him but ultimately no one really wants a poor doer TB that has soundness issues.
I have 2 horses, both TBs, a mare 19yo, owned from 3 - basically a big labrador, easy to do but a very sensitive ride. I then have an 18yo gelding, had for 12yrs, came fresh out of racing having suffered tendon issues and a fractured pelvis.
He's always been a poor doer, she hasn't, they've never really done much asides from hacking, the odd show, a day out hunting - they were essentially my life before I met OH.
5 years ago we moved away, really struggled to find livery, then ended up at the most fab retirement/full grass livery, both did really well - they were in a herd living like wild ponies.
About a year ago I finally found somewhere close to home where they could be out 24/7 and was more affordable (neither do well stabled). The gelding at this point was beginning to show signs of arthritis but field sound 90% of the time. The winter was bl**dy awful, the mare did ok, but he really struggled despite ad lib hay, rugs and obv hard feed. By spring he'd picked up a little but he just seemed to be so much older than his years. Had a vet out for the lameness, and the long and short - couldn't find any obv issues, suggested if I just wanted to hack to get on with it - could go down scan/xray route but could be a can of worms. I should say that in hindsight, they have major separation anxiety so throughout the entire visit they were both being absolute idiots and I realise now that the adrenaline was probably masking things. Anyways, I decided to go ahead and cancel their insurance as it was extortionate and I don't see the point of veteran cover.
Fast forward a few months and the situation hasn't improved, he's def not sound, I have no insurance cover and no savings - were about to remortgage and I'm scraping by each month. The mare has also recently started jumping my 5ft electric tape in my very carefully managed field so while she looks like a house, he does not. She spends her day eating the lovely grass that I am trying to save while he paces up and down the fence. He just looks quite miserable and we're about to go into winter and he is not looking great as is (he drops weight if it rains I swear). I could get myself into more debt to try and fix him, or I could go down the pts route before winter while he's happier and focus on the mare. I should add, they haven't been ridden for around 6 years as I didn't have time or inclination and now I've lost what confidence I did have. If I was only funding one I feel like I could do a better job of being a decent owner and get back into actually riding again. In my heart I feel like it's the right thing to do, but feel awful about the financial aspect, even though I know its a biggie and it's only going to get worse. I had been keeping an eye out for a companion type loan for him but ultimately no one really wants a poor doer TB that has soundness issues.
