Tough decision needs to be made...

[Jerroboam]

Well my husbands horse, an ex national hunt racehorse, did his suspensory three years ago, following a year off he resumed normal service 100%. He is mostly used for hunting and hacking about the farm, with the whole of the summer off. However this summer he has not put on the condition he should have, we are very lucky to have fantastic pasture and he has been supplemented with a hard feed and fibre also. He is now lame in the other front leg, the vets can not honestly find the source of the problem, he has become rather arthiritic but they don't think this alone is the cause of his lameness. He is rising 17 and will never be able to be sold, he is very naughty in the wrong hands, and I think my family and I have to come to the conclussion to put him down. Is this unfair for a horse who has given us so much pleasure or is it the kindest thing for him? He will never be able to muddle along in the field, he is a 17hh power house who when bored nips over the hedge! I really want to make the right decision for him and not leave him for another winter when the situation is bound to worsen due to the cold and poor weather. This is a very sensetive subject as my husband adores him, so anyone who has been in a similar position please do get in touch!

 

[Pat10]

If he were mine, and if I couldn't keep him pain-free and happy, I would have him pts. I certainly wouldn't 'move him on' and risk him ending up in a bad place.

I HAVE been in this situation, and made that awful decision. Yes it's heart-breaking, but I firmly believe that this is something a responsible horse owner owes to their horse - to know and act when it's time to pull the plug.

 

[*hic*]

I would support your decision totally and applaud you for making it. Leaving a horse in pain and worried in a field has never been my idea of a good quality of life.

 

[misst]

If he is not painfree and not going to be happy and he is losing condition are you keeping him for your sake or his? Having waited too long once I would never do so again. This was a youngish lame TB who hated box rest. When I look at his pictures 8 years later I feel guilty as he looks very poor in the last few, and miserable. I know you are not resting yours but if what you have written is true then I think you have probably already made your mind up. (((hugs))) it is so painful I know x

 

[Jerroboam]

bizzarely I am remaining rather detached from the situation but my husband, who this is very unlike, it really quite upset. His pain is being managed, the vets advised that due to arthiritis he remains out on bute so as not to stiffen up to much. I think we will take the step and arrange for tomorrow. Thank you for your kind comments

 

[Mrs B]

I am sorry you have this to face, but I guess you already know the answer. And if that IS your decision, it is made for the very best of reasons: it's in his best interest. It sounds like you gave him a fabulous home and did your best for him - no horse could ask for more. x

 

[Wagtail]

I disagree with having him PTS if you can afford to keep him and he is not suffering. If he is comfortable in the paddock, then I do believe you owe it to him to retire him. However, the weight loss despite good pasture is a concern. That would worry me more than the lameness and could indicate something wrong with him inside. If this is the case then it could be that he is suffering and should be PTS.

I have heard quite a few people on here saying that their horse would not be happy just being in the field. I do not agree with this as all horses will adapt to this kind of life. After all it is more natural for them. I think it is the people and not the horses that are unhappy. My own field ornament found it hard to adapt as she loved being ridden. I have to do things with her occasionally, such as clicker training, to give her some variety. Though again, that may be me transferring my emotions on to her. One thing I am certain of, is that she is a very happy horse and absolutely full of life and spark.

If he were mine I would have the vet to him to investigate the reason for his weight loss and go from there.

 

[Wagtail]

no horse could ask for more. x

If the horse IS suffering, no. But I don't agree that horses have to be totally pain free in order to escape being PTS. This horse can 'nip over the hedge'. That doesn't sound as though he has given up on life or lacks spark. He is a bit arthritic, aren't we all as we start to get older? But he is only 16. That is still young in my book. I think he has possibly come to the end of his ridden career as a hunter. That is all. UNLESS there is something seriously wrong with him that is the reason for his weight loss. I think he could certainly ask for more than being shot. Such as having his weight loss fully investigated, and such as being given a chance of retirement.

 

[Jerroboam]

The problem lies in the fact that he can 'nip over the hedge'. He can not resist himself from galloping around like a wally when the mood takes him, he is a very stereotypical TB. He is a horse that has been worked since being a 2year old, he won the Foxhunter around Aintree, succesfully point to pointed and has hunted with the Heythrop and the Warwickshire. I agree with you regarding the weight loss, he has had blood tests and worm counts over the last 4 weeks, along with treatment for lameness but as of yet nothing seems to be showing anything. I am concerned that he is not only going to be very unhappy in the field but he is also a danger to himself, I could not bear waking up to find him needing to be put down within a matter of minutes because he decided to try and jump out of retirement.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I agree with Wagtail if he is happy why PTS . Is he on a joint supplement?? Recently a member here was worried about moving her arthritic mare 5 miles as she was lame and on bute . I told her about flexi joint and here is her replay ( name withheld)

Hi there,
A couple weeks ago you recommended equimins flexijoint to me for my arthritic mare.
Just wanted to say thanks!! It has made a massive difference. Way more so than the 2 sachets a day of danilon did! She started on the danilon when the devils relief she was on seemed to stop having much effect and tbh it hasn't really made much difference, she was still totally lame just in the field, and I have been debating THAT decision.
But!! She has been on the flexijoint about 2 weeks now and she's gone from trotting like a cripple to only just noticeably lame which is fine for her, she's retired and I just want her to be comfortable to potter round the field.

She travelled to her new home like a beaut and of course had a hooley round in the field so she's probably sore from that, but she looked ok doing it and didn't seem in pain. When she's settled I'm thinking of taking the danilon down to 1 a day and see if it makes any difference, I doubt it will and there's no point pumping her with stuff she doesn't need.

So... Sorry for the essay!! The short story is thanks tons for the recommendation! Xxxx

This stuff is amazing I think you should get some and try it for a month give him a chance this girl did and now she has a happy horse who can potter about in less pain.

 

[Wagtail]

The problem lies in the fact that he can 'nip over the hedge'. He can not resist himself from galloping around like a wally when the mood takes him, he is a very stereotypical TB. He is a horse that has been worked since being a 2year old, he won the Foxhunter around Aintree, succesfully point to pointed and has hunted with the Heythrop and the Warwickshire. I agree with you regarding the weight loss, he has had blood tests and worm counts over the last 4 weeks, along with treatment for lameness but as of yet nothing seems to be showing anything. I am concerned that he is not only going to be very unhappy in the field but he is also a danger to himself, I could not bear waking up to find him needing to be put down within a matter of minutes because he decided to try and jump out of retirement.

Totally understand where you are coming from regarding the hedge hopping. We had an 18hh TB here a few years ago. I've never come across one so big. He'd been to livery after livery and I soon found out why. On the second day he had cleared three post and rails and come running into the yard. After that, I just couldn't keep him in. I told the livery she would have to keep him in the stable or only turn him out supervised, but inevitably would have to leave as I didn't want a horse kept in 24/7. Then my non horsey hubby suggested putting electric tape a metre in from the fence and the problem was solved. He stayed with us until his owner went to uni two years later, and we had no further escape problems. Have you tried this?