uninsured.... WWYD??

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Arniebear

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ok i dont want this thread to be be hijacked about why you should/ shouldnt insure a horse. whats done is done in my case anyway. and please if u have something horrible to say bugger off and say its somewhere else ive spent the last 12 hrs crying, i cant be doing with it.

ok here goes i have a horse whom i brought from a dealer, was sold to me as something hes not (a whole other story) i dont regret buying him, i havnt over horsed myself and i love him dearly. but he was brought as a competition horse

horse is lame maybe 2/10ths when landing from a fence, he doesnt bring his back end underneath him when cantering he kind of skips merrily along with his back end, subsequently he swings his quaters all over the place and struggles with straightness.

what would you do? he is uninsured so a full lameness work up is out of the question. box rest would be pointless he a complete stress head and is only lame when landing from a fence. he has hardly any weight on him atm (not from lack of trying, you wouldnt believe the amount of food i throw down him) he is what i would class as a high maintence horse! he's bl00dy lucky i love him!

i havnt described this very well at all feel free to ask any questions, and anyone with something horrible to say... do one and find another thread thanks
 
Whether or not he is uninsured is irrelevant/ if the horse is lame and you have just (ie within the past fortnight) bought him then I would send him back to the dealer. Alternatively you will need to pay for the vet to come out and treat the animal. Unfortunately horses are expensive and do go lame and getting proper veterinary treatment is the responsibility of the owner regardless of whether they have insurance. There also may be something else going on in regards to him having hardly any weight despite proper feeding which ideally you'd want a vet to look into. I don't mean to be harsh but it's a fact that horses do tend to go along with expensive vet bills hence why most horse owners are skint! Good luck in finding out what is wrong, or sending him back to the dealer pronto.
 
What I would do: Turn him away for a few months. Nice big field, on a slope if possible. Ad-lib hay or haylage and good rugging will keep the weight on. Save up any money you would have spent e.g. on lessons, competitions, bedding, etc in the meantime. If he's still lame when you bring him back into work then you have the money to do some investigating.

Good luck with whatever you decide. :)
 
Sorry I only just read that you'd had him for 9 months. Maybe a full lameness workup won't be necessary but what about calling the vet out for their thoughts on the situation - it could be something easily identified and managed.
 
Oh dear, well these things happen and all you can do is whats best by him now. When you say he's lame... is it his legs or does he just string himself out?
He sounds very much like my last horse but she had problems with her pelvis, a mctimmony man soon sorted that out tho, but like you ive never seen a horse eat so much and gain so little (never did find out why)
Sooo id get someone out to check his back, then have the vet out to check his legs to see if its anything obvious, maybe discuss a few tests to check his metabolism etc. Failing that id try and turn him away for 6 months and see if it helps, as a last resort if he's sound as a happy hacker, then maybe thats what hes resigned to be.
 
SpottyFalula said:
Could you turn him away for some field rest and let him build up his weight?

How long has he been showing the lameness? xx
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i can turn him out during the day, but cant at night, he doesnt stay put anyway just jumps the fence and brings himself in! the lameness is since yesterday but the canter work has been for a week or so, he moves correctly if he is doing what he is built for... race i.e when he is moving forward at a decent pace he then brings his back end underneath him
 
If hes lame, he needs assessing by a vet.

Whats the point of turning him away, when you dont know whats wrong, you could just be wasting time and leaving him for months in pain. Particularly if he has a thing for jumping out of his paddock !!
 
If it was me I'd give up dreams of competing, bute it, ride it and PTS when the drugs no longer work. Or ride but not jump, if that means its sound and doesn't need bute. I don't have any issue with people who don't insure, can't afford vet fees but buy a horse anyway. But you can't leave an animal in pain. Buying a horse is always a gamble and sadly this time you lost. If giving up your competition dreams will leave you resenting this horse or feeling your life is ruined, then PTS and try again with another horse.
 
celia said:
What I would do: Turn him away for a few months. Nice big field, on a slope if possible. Ad-lib hay or haylage and good rugging will keep the weight on. Save up any money you would have spent e.g. on lessons, competitions, bedding, etc in the meantime. If he's still lame when you bring him back into work then you have the money to do some investigating.

Good luck with whatever you decide. :)
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^^^ This although if you could afford it I would have a scan done first of forelegs from knees downwards. It might show something that is easily/cheaply sorted or not but either way you will know what you're dealing with and will have that for comparison the following year.
With winter coming, it's an ideal time to turn away until March as he'll acclimatise easily so shouldn't lose weight if well rugged and ad lib forage etc.; you might find he becomes far less stressy with long term turnout too.

PS; has your farrier had a very good inspection of him, it could be something as simple as corns or an abscess brewing?

Hope he comes right for you but do have patience.
 
Asha said:
If hes lame, he needs assessing by a vet.

Whats the point of turning him away, when you dont know whats wrong, you could just be wasting time and leaving him for months in pain. Particularly if he has a thing for jumping out of his paddock !!
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ok but hes only lame if he is jumped and then he is lame for nor more than 3 strides after the fence, then he is sound again, he is more than happy to gallop around his field and have a buck and a kick. i know because ive just put him out!! im not getting a vet out on a weekend call out for a horse who is sound in walk trot and canter! dont get me wrong if he was hopping on 3 legs the vet would be here asap. my horses want/need for nothing he is happy in himself and sound apart from when jumped if that makes sense.

again i agree with the turning him away bit, basically all i can really do is do what i do know with him but not ride, as the silly bugger wont stay out!!
 
Maesfen said:
^^^ This although if you could afford it I would have a scan done first of forelegs from knees downwards. It might show something that is easily/cheaply sorted or not but either way you will know what you're dealing with and will have that for comparison the following year.
With winter coming, it's an ideal time to turn away until March as he'll acclimatise easily so shouldn't lose weight if well rugged and ad lib forage etc.; you might find he becomes far less stressy with long term turnout too.

PS; has your farrier had a very good inspection of him, it could be something as simple as corns or an abscess brewing?

Hope he comes right for you but do have patience.
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its his hind not his forelegs, he is lame on his nearhind when landing from a fence, and its higher up than his feet, its more hip area and he has had his back checked
 
I would get a vet to lcome and look at the problem and discuss options for treatment and cost at the visit. I would put the cost of that visit on a card and pay it off as I could.
 
alex2601 said:
ok but hes only lame if he is jumped and then he is lame for nor more than 3 strides after the fence, then he is sound again, he is more than happy to gallop around his field and have a buck and a kick. i know because ive just put him out!! im not getting a vet out on a weekend call out for a horse who is sound in walk trot and canter! dont get me wrong if he was hopping on 3 legs the vet would be here asap. my horses want/need for nothing he is happy in himself and sound apart from when jumped if that makes sense.

again i agree with the turning him away bit, basically all i can really do is do what i do know with him but not ride, as the silly bugger wont stay out!!
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I wasnt suggesting get the vet out today, personally id box him up and take him to the vets next week, then your saving on call out.

Our pony started like this, and it ended up as the start of arthritis, so she had some injections in her hocks, turned away for a bit( cant remember how long, it was a while ago) she was much better for a while after that.

Hope it works out for you.
 
Well as you are in Cambs - I would send him to Donna Blinman a most excellent Holistic vet at Higham also osteopath and acupuncture trained. She sorted out my WB who had chronic SI dysfunction. If you send him there to stay her livery is inexpensive and the weekly charge very affordable. Take a look at her website and I would give her a call no hesitation. Treatment at her yard is just £300 per week. My boy spent 2 weeks there and benefitted so much. I have recommended her to many and they have all hailed how brilliant she has been for them.

A normal vet is going to be charging you minimum £200 just to investigate briefly, so you cannot lose in my opinion going to a holistic one who can immediately treat the problem with her set of skills. She is very refreshing indeed and will source the root problem.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/
 
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If it were my horse, I'd rest him over the weekend and get the vet up next week.
Explain what is going on and if necessary demonstate.

It could be something relatively minor, could he have messed around in the field and pulled something?

When was his back and saddle last checked?

I wouldn't panic, if it has only been going on for the last week or so it is probably something that he has done to himself.

I wouldn't turn away, I'd get it checked out. A visit from the vet isn't going to cost much anyway. Once you have more of an idea of what you are dealing with you can manage it.
 
I do think that you'd be better off speaking to a vet, before deciding your next course of action. I've been there with an uninsured foal (due to age) and the cost of things can be frightening, but our horses need us to do the best for them.

If you are honest straight away about what you can/ can't afford and being uninsured, you may find they will be willing to help you out- ie setting a limit and/ or allowing monthly payments.
 
If you like the horse and ok he isnt going to be what you wanted etc but anyhow that could happen with another etc.

I would personally either keep working without the jumping and see if you can fitten him up etc that way and keep him moving etc. If you introduce jumping again and it happens again then def the following.........

1.You could turn away too for the winter or few weeks to see if it happens again etc. Providing horse isnt in agony and they can hide it well.

2.Other options that I would do if it was me is my Farrier before vet(he is so good and would probably tell most vets whats wrong etc been around 100 years) and then vet call out to at least have a LOOK(I meant thats only going to be £100+ for peace of mind).

Vet may want to do xrays etc so when I got my old horse xrayed transport £90/xray and vet £400/ They took him to nerve block/scan but turned out that wasnt the problem, so this wasnt done. This was 2005 and he was insured with NFU and I thought it was going to cost thousands. But was suprised it wasnt as much. But I would call vet if you are concerned that something more sinister. Then decide.
 
moneys not a issue if he needs a vet he will get a vet.

his saddle was checked last wednesday and back less than a month ago.

he is very short in the back and even thou my saddle was professionally fitted by someone recommended to me by people on here, my instructor thinks it is sitting too far back and therefore resting on his loines (sp?) causing bruising, it cant be brought forward as he has massive shoulders which push it back, while the saddle fits him, she believes it doesnt fit me and him, and puts me in a position which is basically a hollow, his movement forces me into this position and balance is then a struggle.

can a horse be to short for a person? im not huge or fat (size 14) and 5ft4


im merely asking what other people would personally do? would you turn him away? sell him? or get him checked out by a vet no expense spared.

the issue with the vet is my mum pays the bill, she doesnt like my horse finds him too stressy and she says dangerous although he has never done anything to suggest this at all , he is sweet to handle and loves his cuddles. so yes while she will get the vet out, she wont throw £1000s into investigative work on him because in her eyes he should be sold (hes in my name and is my horse, so i shall be making this decision) i brought him to event, its what ive always wanted to do, but coupled with a few things about him (lameness aside) im not sure he will, he is a complete stress head so his dressage is constantly tense, theres no point eventing if you cant get the dressage right these days.

so back to my main question, what would you personally do? if he was insured there would be no question about it, i would do full investigative work on him, but he isnt so yes while i will get the vet out next week to give him a once over and see what he suggests, what would you do?
 
Maybe the tension in his flatwork is due pain ? Just a thought

Id get him pain free first, by seeing the vet.

Then, once hes ok, see if he will do the job for you. If not then sell him on and buy the eventer you want.
 
alex2601 said:
so back to my main question, what would you personally do? if he was insured there would be no question about it, i would do full investigative work on him, but he isnt so yes while i will get the vet out next week to give him a once over and see what he suggests, what would you do?
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i think you've just answered your own question and numerous posters have given you the same answer, exactly that, get the vet!

then you can make decisions on his care once you have the vet's findings.
 
I would get the vet out then if money isn't an issue, and while the vet was there I would ask about gastric ulcers if he is such a stress head, look up the symptoms as he fits them by your description.
Do you know any of his history at all ?? his passport might have names of previous owners who might be willing to shed some light on any old injury in his past???
Don't write him off yet if it has only been within the week he hasn't felt right.
 
I'd call the vets on monday. Use your budget that you would have spent to event to pay. Set a limit as to how much you are prepared to spend & make it clear at the start, plus how much you can afford to pay at a time. It might be something simple. But you can't make decisions till you know what's wrong. Turning a horse away does often work, but the fact its come on quickly would worry me.
 
As others have said, don't panic. Phone the vet & explain,possibly work out a payment plan or if that isn't possible consider paying for the vet treatment on a card. My boy had an accident a few months ago, he was also unisured, but he needed to see a vet. I was pleasently surprised at the vets fees,4 visits, 3 xrays, lameness work up, tons of Danilon & then Bute & 2 injections came to around £400 - I was expecting nearer £1000. Don't presume that vets fees = extortionate. You need to speak to your vet xxx
 
He only went lame yesterday? I'd give him a few days off and see what happens, personally, and be ready to call the vet if need be. I wouldn't start panicking about the future just yet, from what you're saying - to me it sounds like he's hurt his back and that's made him land funny and injure himself; hopefully very fixable.
 
Sorry, just seen that you said money is not an issue. In that case I would definately get the vet out & just see what he says. Make a decision to treat/pts after his diagnosis xx
 
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