To retire, or not to retire

[Jaie1029]

Hi all, first post!

I was hoping to get peoples opinions on an issue facing my horse and I...

I have a lovely 8 year old gelding who sadly following a mystery incident in the field is looking like retirement is going to be the outcome. We have medicating his fetlock left to try, but I have done everything I can to explore what might be wrong (there are no obvious causes, ligaments all look ok etc). He’s 1-2/10 lame which doesn’t get any worse with turnout and if medicating doesn’t bring him sound, my vet thinks he will still hack happily.

The problem is that he is quite spicy unless he is worked regularly - out hacking especially. He does settle down if he’s regularly taken out, but my job is extremely busy so I know I won’t be able to keep on top of that.

I really don’t feel like he’s ready to fully retire and think it wouldn’t be great for him mentally, but I can’t give him the hacking life that he might end up needing. I don’t want to sell/ give him away because I don’t want him to be passed around. This isn’t a matter of money, it’s about his health and happiness. What would you all look to do in this situation? Is there anyone out there who might like to regularly ride out on a spicy horse?

Tia for your thoughts!

 

[outdoor girl]

Have you thought about putting him out on loan? You could keep some control over what happens to him that way.

 

[milliepops]

have i misunderstood this, the vet thinks that if the medicating doesn't work, the horse will remain 1-2 tenths lame and that is OK to hack?

I wouldn't feel OK about that personally.

 

[Bellaboo18]

What's his current routine when not in work? Herd turnout? Individual? In at night? Etc.

I'd look at that first and see if there was a way to make retirement a feasible option for him. Look at retirement livery yards and you might be surprised how he takes to it.

I wouldnt ride a lame horse.

 

[throwawayaccount]

i'm not sure if there's any point hacking a horse that is lame, incase something else happens which exacerbates the problem

there's worse things than a horse not having a ridden career in any capacity, you can still do groundwork etc and keep things interesting for them

 

[SOS]

Have you MRI’d the foot? What other diagnostics have been done?

I don’t feel you’re at the stage of thinking about someone to ride the horse, he’s not sound yet.

 

[LEC]

have i misunderstood this, the vet thinks that if the medicating doesn't work, the horse will remain 1-2 tenths lame and that is OK to hack?

I wouldn't feel OK about that personally.

I think we have this obsession now with perfection vs what is fit to do a job and making sure its the right job. I would have no issue with 2/10 lame depending on what was causing it.
What Ever Happened to "Serviceably" Sound? - David Ramey, DVMDavid Ramey, DVM (doctorramey.com)

 

[milliepops]

i understand the concept of sound for purpose but if the suggestion is to get other riders in, sell or loan out it just doesn't sit well with me. each to their own.

 

[sportsmansB]

If he was let down, living out full time, would he still be 'spicy'?
I ask because I have one who would be, but have had one who settled into a much queter life and unfit and living out turned into a much more sensible beast.
AND - do you want a horse just to hack? I'm not sure I'd have massive issues with 1/10 to 2/10 lame for myself to hack, but its not a horse you can responsibly pass on to someone else.
If he definitely won't come sound (definitely get a full lameness work up including MRI if possible) its down to whether he can do any job, if you want to do whatever he can do, and whether he can retire comfortably into a herd. Again, many settle in retirement livery who seem like unlikely candidates, seems worth a try if thats the only option.

 

[Pinkvboots]

If you haven't had an mri i would get one done and if all diagnostic investigations have been exhausted I would turn him away for at least a year and have a look at him then, you might end up with a sound horse sometimes that is all they need.

I wouldn't personally get other riders or loan how he currently is.

 

[j1ffy]

I'd go for retirement livery, unless you can loan to someone you know extremely well who is nearby so you can keep an eye out (thankfully I have this situation with two of mine, but I had a bad experience 20 years ago with a 'companion' horse sold on so I would never loan to someone I don't know well).

Turning out with a retirement herd also gives you the option of taking a look in a year / 18 months to see if the injury has resolved itself.

 

[LEC]

i understand the concept of sound for purpose but if the suggestion is to get other riders in, sell or loan out it just doesn't sit well with me. each to their own.

OP stated that wasn't an option (sell or loan) - might just get someone to hack out.
I guess OP has to decide what they want to do. If they are busy and unable to provide the horse with what it needs to keep it safe out hacking (work) then it might just be better to retire. You can always reassess in 6 months if the horse is trotting round the field looking amazing.

 

[RachelFerd]

I'd probably 'retire' to the field and review in 12-24 months time. At this point, retirement doesn't have to be permanent.

 

[Jaie1029]

Hi all, first post!

I was hoping to get peoples opinions on an issue facing my horse and I...

I have a lovely 8 year old gelding who sadly following a mystery incident in the field is looking like retirement is going to be the outcome. We have medicating his fetlock left to try, but I have done everything I can to explore what might be wrong (there are no obvious causes, ligaments all look ok etc). He’s 1-2/10 lame which doesn’t get any worse with turnout and if medicating doesn’t bring him sound, my vet thinks he will still hack happily.

The problem is that he is quite spicy unless he is worked regularly - out hacking especially. He does settle down if he’s regularly taken out, but my job is extremely busy so I know I won’t be able to keep on top of that.

I really don’t feel like he’s ready to fully retire and think it wouldn’t be great for him mentally, but I can’t give him the hacking life that he might end up needing. I don’t want to sell/ give him away because I don’t want him to be passed around. This isn’t a matter of money, it’s about his health and happiness. What would you all look to do in this situation? Is there anyone out there who might like to regularly ride out on a spicy horse?

Tia for your thoughts!

Just clarifying as a couple of people have commented - we expect he will come sound with medication, but not

Hi all, first post!

I was hoping to get peoples opinions on an issue facing my horse and I...

I have a lovely 8 year old gelding who sadly following a mystery incident in the field is looking like retirement is going to be the outcome. We have medicating his fetlock left to try, but I have done everything I can to explore what might be wrong (there are no obvious causes, ligaments all look ok etc). He’s 1-2/10 lame which doesn’t get any worse with turnout and if medicating doesn’t bring him sound, my vet thinks he will still hack happily.

The problem is that he is quite spicy unless he is worked regularly - out hacking especially. He does settle down if he’s regularly taken out, but my job is extremely busy so I know I won’t be able to keep on top of that.

I really don’t feel like he’s ready to fully retire and think it wouldn’t be great for him mentally, but I can’t give him the hacking life that he might end up needing. I don’t want to sell/ give him away because I don’t want him to be passed around. This isn’t a matter of money, it’s about his health and happiness. What would you all look to do in this situation? Is there anyone out there who might like to regularly ride out on a spicy horse?

Tia for your thoughts![/QUOTE

*EDIT*

apologies all, just to clarify I don’t mean he will be hacking lame - I meant that depending on how he goes with the medication, he might only be good hacking/ might not be able to cope with schooling. Of course I am not suggesting he would be ridden in any fashion if he remains lame

(I did muck up the explanation though!!)

 

[Jaie1029]

have i misunderstood this, the vet thinks that if the medicating doesn't work, the horse will remain 1-2 tenths lame and that is OK to hack?

I wouldn't feel OK about that personally.

no sorry I made a mess of explaining it - if medicating isn’t enough to bring him fully back into work in the school/ if there is any intermittent issue. I wouldnt be happy with riding a lame horse either in any capacity.
It’s amazing how many people bute up and ride I am finding out...?

 

[Jaie1029]

If you haven't had an mri i would get one done and if all diagnostic investigations have been exhausted I would turn him away for at least a year and have a look at him then, you might end up with a sound horse sometimes that is all they need.

I wouldn't personally get other riders or loan how he currently is.

Thank you - he has had an MRI and I think we’re up to 6 ultrasound scan now as well as gait sensors etc. I assure you, I have not spared any expense in investigating what might be wrong. I think maybe just a year of rest is looking like a good idea.. hopefully with some time off, he comes right and enjoys his horsey holiday ??‍

 

[Jaie1029]

If he was let down, living out full time, would he still be 'spicy'?
I ask because I have one who would be, but have had one who settled into a much queter life and unfit and living out turned into a much more sensible beast.
AND - do you want a horse just to hack? I'm not sure I'd have massive issues with 1/10 to 2/10 lame for myself to hack, but its not a horse you can responsibly pass on to someone else.
If he definitely won't come sound (definitely get a full lameness work up including MRI if possible) its down to whether he can do any job, if you want to do whatever he can do, and whether he can retire comfortably into a herd. Again, many settle in retirement livery who seem like unlikely candidates, seems worth a try if thats the only option.

Thanks so much - yes he’s had an MRI (as well as a battery of other tests and scans) I think I’ll rough him off for a bit as long as he handles it… I won’t pass him in whatever ends up happening. He’s lovely, I’m very attached and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he was passed around/ abused or whatever else happens to these poor souls. I’m really just interested in what makes him happy and knowing him as I do, I don’t think that retirement is it. But, I am really encouraged by the people who have kindly shared their experiences on how well their horses have settled to it and really hope that if ridden work isn’t in his future, he can have a lovely life with friends

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Have you just been looking at lower limb? It's surprising how often stifles and pelvis's are ignored over the more obvious knobbly lower joints.

I am another who would punt him in a field 24/7 for 12-16 months and then see what you have. Time is the biggest healer and you lose nothing for it.

 

[abbijay]

My instinct would be to fully turn away for a year and reevaluate then.
You have undergone extensive diagnostics and not got answers and medicating is not helping. Personally I wouldn't want a (possibly) less experienced/invested person hacking a horse that was lame. In a years time see how he looks and make a new set of decisions.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thank you - he has had an MRI and I think we’re up to 6 ultrasound scan now as well as gait sensors etc. I assure you, I have not spared any expense in investigating what might be wrong. I think maybe just a year of rest is looking like a good idea.. hopefully with some time off, he comes right and enjoys his horsey holiday ??‍

I think in your situation as you don't really have a definite diagnosis I would turn away to see if he will come right on his own.

I have known many horses that a good long spell of complete turnout has resulted in a sound horse fingers ?for you.

 

[The Irish Draft 2022]

I would turn away the horse for a few months .

 

[Fjord]

I agree with those who say turn him out for a year or so and reassess. You'll get an indication of whether he likes his retirement and if he comes sound with time you can decide what's best for him then. I'm with you on the dangers of passing him on, there are so many horror stories. Good luck.

 

[Birker2020]

It’s amazing how many people bute up and ride I am finding out...?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with buting up and riding an old horse (or indeed any horse) as long as you have carried out any diagnostic checks and the horse had been treated as appropriate by the vet. There are literally thousands of horses that are still ridden on bute in this country and quite rightly so.

My horse had 8 years on half a sachet of bute (after he received joint injections, tildren and then chemical arthrodesis) to reduce any stiffness, then he moved onto one and eventually one and a half sachets a day for about three years. During the last three years we were hacking out twice a week and having a couple of canters in a field in the summer once a week for about twelve strides each time on nice thick springy grass. Believe me, if my horse didn't want to do something due to pain she wouldn't have done it.

The vet said there is no reason not to ride if a horse requires bute and there are so many variations on why a horse would need bute that you couldn't possibly know them all. And of course the rules mean the horse has to be reassessed every 6 months so its not like the vet can't see how a horse responds.

Goodness I take 17 painkillers a day and manage to swim 22 lengths, spin for 40 mins, as well as cross trainer and treadmill most nights. The more you do with a horse with arthritis (within reason) the better. Steady 20 min hacks are hardly an issue and will keep a horse active and reduce its weight which also helps with arthritis.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I'd go for retirement livery, unless you can loan to someone you know extremely well who is nearby so you can keep an eye out (thankfully I have this situation with two of mine, but I had a bad experience 20 years ago with a 'companion' horse sold on so I would never loan to someone I don't know well).

Turning out with a retirement herd also gives you the option of taking a look in a year / 18 months to see if the injury has resolved itself.

I have done this with my TB who I wasn't sure would be able to retire as he needed a lot of riding to stay sensible. He's only 12. Anyway he took to retirement in a herd very well and he lived like that for 3 years. Then our circumstances changed and we now have 10 acres of our own and so he came home and has been living with our other 3 for a year now. He is sound and I have even started getting back on him, just walking though at the moment. Time is a great healer and I would recommend turning away if you can and see what happens.