Time to call it a day

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kickonchaps

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Took the horse to our Area ODE today and was entered in the 1m, basically run over the same BE100 course we did earlier in the year. Due to his rubbish SJ at the moment, and the fact that his dressage isn't quite good enough to be really competitive at this level, I decided to just have a fun day out. The aim was 35ish dressage, 3 or less in the SJ (which would be an improvement on current form :eek:) and a nice fast clear XC - last time out we were clear with lots of TPs.

Dressage felt lovely, he was quite sharp so a bit tense but moving better than he has been and transitions were super. The marking was fairly harsh and we ended up with 37.2, but as the class leader was on 32.something I was pretty pleased with that!

SJ he warmed up well, had a few poles down in the collecting ring but I pulled my socks up and got him sharper, and he jumped much better, so in we went. Started off really well, then I made a mistake on a stride and put him underneath a fence so that fell, in the double I got a great jump in, big kick in the middle and he flattened and had part B down, then we got ever so slightly close to something again and down it came (only the slightest touch), and the same thing happened again on the last fence, so the total was 16 penalties. Very annoying but everyone watching agreed it was a much better round, his canter was better, I just needed to get him to take off further back and get him even more engaged behind.

XC was as expected, only jump that worried me slightly was a pipe followed by a step into water which is usually a BE Novice combination, but we've done it before so I figured I'd get a showjumping canter and kick like heck!! He set off like the clappers and promptly got right underneath fence 1 so I gave him a slap on the shoulder to say WAKE UP and 2 was nicer, though he backed off a bit. Up the steep hill to 3 and for the first time ever he lost steam near the top and started to back off (usually he pricks his ears and tows me up!) 3 was a spread, which again he backed off but okay, then he tried to duck out of the angled chairs at 4 and 5. I kept to my line and we jumped them but with an extra stride in between. Next jump was great, followed by a step and log which last time he wasn't expecting as it was a new fence, but which he locked onto and jumped well. Today he jumped in boldly then did a fairly dirty run out at the log, jumped it 2nd time. He did a massive leap over the trakenher after that, knees up to his ears, and chipped in an extra stride to the coffin. On the double of steps down the approach was wobbly (last time out he towed me down) but jumped confidently once we got there.

Then the water... I set him up, sent him forwards, felt him start to drift and gave him 2 firm slaps on the shoulder he was drifting out through, but he wasn't having it and we had another run out. At this point I retired him.

Usually XC we might get the odd run out if I've not set up properly, and he might back off the odd fence if it's particularly spooky, but today he just wasn't there. He's been stiff on his off hind in the last couple of months, though not lame, and I've come to the very sad conclusion that for whatever reason he's just not loving it like he used to. I used to have to hold him in front of fences, now I have to drive him. He wants to jump, but it's like he gets there and loses his confidence.

He's 15 this year and I think his legs just aren't up to the job for affiliated eventing, and while he's still keen as mustard to get out the start box, and a better rider than me could probably hold him together enough to get a clear, I've always promised him I'll listen to him and let him tell me when he's not enjoying himself, and I think he's telling me :( I'd kick myself so much if we ever got to the stage where he started napping again because he was dreading the XC, so his BE career is officially over and we'll withdraw our MK entry.

I'm gutted we didn't achieve what we could have, and that he's retiring from BE on such a low point, but he can now look forward to a nice chilled out life of hacking, a bit of schooling, and if he feels up to it I'll take him out to his favourite unaff 2'9 courses every now and then for a bit of a play.

Homemade chocolate cookies to anyone who made it this far!
 
Sounds very sensible-have you had a vet work up? As he sounds like he is eiteher sore somehwere or really lacking in confidence (hence the having poles down/backing off, chipping strides in etc.)
 
Very sad but your doing the best for him. From somone else slowing their horse down due to age and stiffness issues it hurts but you get more joy out of the other things and the fact that they are happy and healthy
 
Aw hard luck but congratulations on doing the right thing for him. Dressage sounds good I know you were aiming for sub 35 but with harsh marking and leader on 32 it was obviously a competitive test you did. Would you consider some unaff dressage or showing with him to keep him active?
 
i actually agree wholeheartedly that you shouldn't force a horse to do a job it's no longer enjoying/suited for but in this case, if you DO want to continue with the horse, have you had his soundness investigated, specifically his hocks? I'm more asking for interests sake (checking my own intuition, really ;) ) rather than because I think you should go any particular way.
 
Hi, my mare is 15 this time and we used to do BSJA, and some unafil HT, but since I decided that she is getting older and so am I, we have been doing some dressage, and some arena eventing and show jumping at around the 3ft height and we are now both enjoying ourselves as there is no pressure. There are many horses out there who are still jumping around ODEs at 18+ with no issues but you know your horse. Perhaps his stiffness needs sorting or resting and possibly after a rest he will be on top form? I would just have some fun on him and see how he goes. :)
 
Thanks for the messages everyone, it helps to know the outside POV is that I'm doing the right thing!

SusieT and TarrSteps, I've not had the vet out, but because he's been stiff on one leg in particular I do think it's something in his hind legs, and worse on the off hind, he's always been reluctant to use his bum properly which suggests if there was ever going to be a problem it would start there! He's usually very vocal (ahem) when there's a specific problem (as in he bucks and naps like a ****** :rolleyes:) so I suspect that he's just feeling stiff and finding it harder than usual, rather than there being an underlying injury. I think I'm right in saying with TBs it's usually the joints that go first? If he ever starts to look unsound and doesn't improve with work I'll definitely get the vet out though.

His SJ deteriorated so much this year that while my instructor's able to get him jumping properly, something HAS to have changed for it to get so bad so quickly, and require so much work to get him jumping cleanly.

Amage, will definitely do unaff dressage, and my aunt thinks I should show him in veteran classes because he's so handsome (if I say so myself :D) He's so chilled at competitions, he literally falls asleep before XC, so he won't be banned from parties just yet :)
 
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply he has an injury or lameness you'd ignored! More that he's of an age and doing a job where you'd almost expect to see changes in his hocks or similar which can be a very easy thing to manage - your description of the situation sounds almost classic.

Anyway, it sounds like an easier life would suit him and you're happy and prepared to offer it, which is great. :)
 
I think you know your horse best BUT dont let one bad day make your mind up for him.

We also had a nightmare today (same event). 3 weeks ago he rocketted around that XC course. Today he went off beautifully, then seemed to loose all momentum up the sandy bank. He climbed onto fence 6, dropping his rider and moving the whole fence off of its ground pegs.

We have no idea went went wrong on that sandy hill.. can only think that he lacked fitness and it just sapped him. Going to take him schooling next weekend and see if there is a true problem.

The course seemed to be causing a lot of problems today. Makes me wonder if the lack of places to do any fast work these last few weeks has had a bigger impact than we think.
 
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Well done for doing what you feel is right for your horse.

I know you say he will do it for your instructor BUT he knows you and he is hoping you will listen to him (which you have done)

Hope you have lots of fun doing the simpler stuff together and just enjoying each other

I know its not easy I had to retire my lad at 13 two years ago
 
TarrSteps said:
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply he has an injury or lameness you'd ignored! More that he's of an age and doing a job where you'd almost expect to see changes in his hocks or similar which can be a very easy thing to manage - your description of the situation sounds almost classic.

Anyway, it sounds like an easier life would suit him and you're happy and prepared to offer it, which is great. :)
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Ah no dw I didn't take it that way at all!! It's actually kind of reassuring to know I'm not just being paranoid, and it DOES sound to other people as well like there's a physical reason behind what's happening
 
mrussell said:
I think you know your horse best BUT dont let one bad day make your mind up for him.

We also had a nightmare today (same event). 3 weeks ago he rocketted around that XC course. Today he went off beautifully, then seemed to loose all momentum up the sandy bank. He climbed onto fence 6, dropping his rider and moving the whole fence off of its ground pegs.

We have no idea went went wrong on that sandy hill.. can only think that he lacked fitness and it just sapped him. Going to take him schooling next weekend and see if there is a true problem.

The course seemed to be causing a lot of problems today. Makes me wonder if the lack of places to do any fast work these last few weeks has had a bigger impact than we think.
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Sorry to hear you had a cr*p day :( I think that hill was much deeper and heavier than usual, it really sapped the energy out of us today! This is unfortunately the third event in a row where he's just felt off form, like he's not thinking properly in front of fences, it's kind of hard to explain! I will take him xc schooling again at some point, if anything just for fun over baby jumps, and if he feels like he's enjoying it at a lower height we can always do the odd HT for our adrenaline fix!!!
 
Just before you throw the towel in can I just enquire if you have had his saddle checked ? I know this sounds silly but my lad was having probs with his showjumping a couple of years ago, it was suggested to me to get his saddle checked and we have not looked back ! I get it checked yearly and he is back on form with his jumping and his mojo returned for the XC.
If the saddle restricts his shoulder or pinches him usually where the stirrup points are then this will cause the above x Just thought it was worth a mention cause at 15 he is still relatively young ! Most horses don't come into their prime until 12-13yrs ! Albeit people think anything over 9 is an old horse !!
 
chestnutcob said:
Just before you throw the towel in can I just enquire if you have had his saddle checked ? I know this sounds silly but my lad was having probs with his showjumping a couple of years ago, it was suggested to me to get his saddle checked and we have not looked back ! I get it checked yearly and he is back on form with his jumping and his mojo returned for the XC.
If the saddle restricts his shoulder or pinches him usually where the stirrup points are then this will cause the above x Just thought it was worth a mention cause at 15 he is still relatively young ! Most horses don't come into their prime until 12-13yrs ! Albeit people think anything over 9 is an old horse !!
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Thanks for the suggestion, it is actually due a check! The thing that makes me suspect it's legs rather than back is that on the lunge in just a headcollar you can still sometimes see stiffness, usually it disappears when he's fit but it's crept back in the last couple of months (though improves after 10 minutes work) He didn't do all that much before I got him (aged 12) and had mainly worked in a school, whereas I hack and school/jump on grass a lot as well as in an arena. My mum suspects that because he was quite late to start working on unprepared ground, he's probably not terribly well equipped to deal with that much variety. But I will take your advice and get someone out to check the saddle :)
 
To be totally honest the fact you can identify him as being 'stiff' on one leg/ a hindleg means that there is pain there, until you have it investigated there is not way of knowing if it is a suspensory ligament, arthritis, ringbone (some treatable) etc. At 15 he is still young enough to have several more years BE100 in him, why not use the money you've saved from entries and get him a lameness check, just to see as the 'stiffness' couple with the dramatic decrease in performance indicates something going on.
 
Can I recommend a lovely man called Larry Bensusan who is based in Lavenham (Suffolk) but travels all over. He does the most amazing physio work on horses and can find all sorts of tightnesses that arent showing as lameness yet. He does the Met Police horses..and Piggy French !! Just amazing. Ive got him popping out to look at our GG this week just to make sure theres nothing unforeseen going on.

http://www.larry-bensusan.co.uk/equine_shiatsu.html
 
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SusieT said:
To be totally honest the fact you can identify him as being 'stiff' on one leg/ a hindleg means that there is pain there, until you have it investigated there is not way of knowing if it is a suspensory ligament, arthritis, ringbone (some treatable) etc. At 15 he is still young enough to have several more years BE100 in him, why not use the money you've saved from entries and get him a lameness check, just to see as the 'stiffness' couple with the dramatic decrease in performance indicates something going on.
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See I've had the same thoughts myself, but wouldn't a tendon/ligament injury deteriorate with work? He always improves as the session goes on - if I asked him to go into a forward, active trot soon after he'd come out the stable he'd get pretty angry but if I give him plenty of walking-in time, he's then fine to work properly. It's the same with this hind leg (and this isn't every session), to begin with he doesn't want to step through with it, but give him time to loosen up and he's fine! I don't know what the prognosis would be with ringbone or arthritis - are they better if kept in work? He had 3 months off over winter and he just hasn't come back the same, which I guess says joints...

I have a 6 week residential training course in a fortnight so he's got to be let down a bit during that time anyway, I'm inclined to see how he is when I get back, if there's been any improvement, and then think about where to go from there, which could of course be a lameness work up.
 
mrussell said:
Can I recommend a lovely man called Larry Bensusan who is based in Lavenham (Suffolk) but travels all over. He does the most amazing physio work on horses and can find all sorts of tightnesses that arent showing as lameness yet. He does the Met Police horses..and Piggy French !! Just amazing. Ive got him popping out to look at our GG this week just to make sure theres nothing unforeseen going on.

http://www.larry-bensusan.co.uk/equine_shiatsu.html
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Ah wicked thank you for that! His website looks really interesting, it'd be good to see what he makes of the boy!!
 
Aw, I'm sorry to hear you had a bad day and are feeling a decrease in performance/enthusiasm. However, 15 is not ancient nowadays and it would definitely be worth getting him checked out with a performance work up at a good equine vet? May be early onset of hock spavins or similar that could be treated and give you some more fun at intro level or something for a few more years?

Best of luck, sounds like you have his best interests at heart which is what matters. :)
 
Ligaments would not neccessarily deteriorate, many horses with suspensory damage campaign for a fair while before breaking down, besides which you say you have noticed increased stiffness over last 6months or so-i.e increased discomfort.
Ringbone you would have a possible either guarded or fair to good prognosis of bringing him back to eventing at BE100, dependant on the type/location, he migth ebenfit from some injections.
Seriously, if he is lame, get him worked up now rather than wasting time. Then if he needs box rest etc. your 6 week period would be perfect, definitely work him up with vet before going down physio route.
Even if its just a trot up for vet to establish a base line that vet says 'I think we could be looking at x, y or ,z' then you knwo where yous tand rather than from reading it on a forum or (please take no offence) from your own non veterinary knowledge. It would be in the horses best interest and promote his best long term survival chance.
 
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