Umming and ahhing what would you do?

blitznbobs

blitznbobs

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As some of you may know, I have an old horse who I've had forever and know better than any other horse I have ever known... One thing I know about this horse is he gets depressed if he's not working. But he's not a spring chicken any more and over the last 6 months he's been lame more than he's been sound and over the last 4 weeks he's been lame on 3 different legs! for 3 different reasons. I just can't keep him sound for longer than a couple of weeks at a time.

I'm considering retiring him, (he's going nowhere, he's my very big baby and there's no way I'm PTS until he's suffering... He's given me so much over the past 15 years that he deserves a wonderful retirement) but I keep coming back to how much happier he is when he's working. So I can't decide what to do. Would you

a) Stop -- let him be a horse for the last few years let him mooch round the field etc

b) Give him the rest of the year off and bring him back into work in the spring

or

c) just keep trying - every time he's sound ride him every time he's lame dont...

I can't get my head round which is the best to do...

Blitz

PS this horse doesn't do 'just hacking out and about' I'd end up dead.... when he works he likes to WORK.
 
I think go for option B, let him have the rest of the year off and bring him back into work again in the Spring, if you are still having the same problems I would then go for option A.
 
If he really will not enjoy retirement then I think that is a type of suffering, sorry. Mind you didn't think my old girl would enjoy being retired and she did :D Had a good three years mooching round the field with her friends, eating rich mix as she got nothing from the grass or hay and having a whale of a time. We made the decision to PTS when she got tired looking and was speniding more time away from the herd than with it.
 
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