Update on Lari

[Birker2020]

Sorry to hear about this dilemma for you. re Roughing off, there is still Oct & Nov which are normally pretty mild months, so you might still get him suitably let down gradually for winter?

There is no rush. I don't see paying for him until the spring and not being able to ride is any different to what I've been doing for the past 11 months, with the 15 times I've ridden him.

I still adore him and always will. I will continue to give him the same love and attention as i always have done. If i could keep him forever I would, if i had my own place there would be no question as i could then afford another. We don't do turnout 24/7 at the yard he's on sadly and i would find it too hard to keep him whilst everyone else can ride anyway, its like rubbing salt into a sore wound, in someways the urge to ride has only intensified.

I did wonder if i could get my fix having a lesson once a week and still keeping him but I don't know if this would be enough for me if I'm being totally honest.

 

[Goldenstar]

Honestly this horrible situation you need some time to think it through .

 

[Caol Ila]

It totally sucks. I hoped you would have better news after everything you have put into this horse.

A friend of mine (who lives up here in Scotland) has a warmblood-type horse at a retirement yard in Devon. He did a suspensory at six years old, and her attempts to rehab him were to no avail. Horse seems very happy now. I don't know if you are thinking of places more on your doorstep or if you've thought that far at all, but if you are interested, I could ask my friend for more information about her boy's yard.

 

[Barton Bounty]

What a rubbish situation! Been there with a mare I bought years ago. Ended up with SI problem after she started to gain weight, apparently she had been drugged and starved for me to try her , hate liars!!
If you feel you can try this one last thing then , do it .

 

[Birker2020]

It totally sucks. I hoped you would have better news after everything you have put into this horse.

A friend of mine (who lives up here in Scotland) has a warmblood-type horse at a retirement yard in Devon. He did a suspensory at six years old, and her attempts to rehab him were to no avail. Horse seems very happy now. I don't know if you are thinking of places more on your doorstep or if you've thought that far at all, but if you are interested, I could ask my friend for more information about her boy's yard.

Thank you that is kind but if i retire to a yard I want to be able to visit. I need to make sure he's ok going into the winter, this is an out 24/7 yard I'd like him to go to.

If i can get him in the bloodbank you can't ever visit which is a bit sad but i understand why.

 

[Birker2020]

Honestly this horrible situation you need some time to think it through .

It doesn't sit right with me working a horse through it (sore back) that's the thing. and i believe that was what the vet was intumating I do. Maybe I am rushing it. My decision making is all over the place but i remember being like this about the decision to pts Bailey.

 

[Flyermc]

Thank you that is kind but if i retire to a yard I want to be able to visit. I need to make sure he's ok going into the winter, this is an out 24/7 yard I'd like him to go to.

If i can get him in the bloodbank you can't ever visit which is a bit sad but i understand why.

Do you get updates on your horse at the bloodbank and an option to have them back if its not suitable?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Do you get updates on your horse at the bloodbank and an option to have them back if its not suitable?

No updates etc ?

 

[Birker2020]

Do you get updates on your horse at the bloodbank and an option to have them back if its not suitable?

Someone on the forum said they'd had an update when the topic was discussed years ago, they rang, gave their horses name and the person on the phone knew the full details of the horse and said "oh I know ***" and went on to describe him in detail. I personally know of four that have gone over the years. Its a good option if your horse can live medication free, is relatively young, is of the right size and is okay with vets/ needles.

Someone on the forum wrote that they saw their horse from the road after dropping it off months before, gave him the usual whistle, he stuck his head up, acknowledged her and put his head back down and carried on grazing.

I think we miss them more than they miss us.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Someone on the forum said they'd had an update when the topic was discussed years ago, they rang, gave their horses name and the person on the phone knew the full details of the horse and said "oh I know ***" and went on to describe him in detail. I personally know of four that have gone over the years. Its a good option if your horse can live medication free, is relatively young, is of the right size and is okay with vets/ needles.

Someone on the forum wrote that they saw their horse from the road after dropping it off months before, gave him the usual whistle, he stuck his head up, acknowledged her and put his head back down and carried on grazing.

I think we miss them more than they miss us.

I think whatever you decide will be what’s best for you and him. You have had a very raw deal.

 

[Boulty]

Sorry to hear this but I think you have honestly done everything to try & make him right & some horses are just too broken to be able to continue with ridden life.

See how he goes this winter with a view to finding him a retirement livery but if he keeps making himself sore through hooning around/ being a horse in the field then I would think very carefully about what future he has even as a lawnmower.

I've put 2 horses to sleep because charging around & doing normal horse things made them lame even on Bute & I don't see that as any life for a horse (2nd one was a bit more complicated than that but his continual going lame just from normal horse activities was one factor in not giving him a long retirement). Fingers crossed Larri copes a little better than that

 

[Roxylola]

It doesn't sit right with me working a horse through it (sore back) that's the thing.

I see both sides of this, if the sore back can be improved by working and will get worse without then it's for the good of the horse.
If the vet thinks he's going to have a sore back regardless of work but the work will help with other issues again maybe it's worth it.
If it's a case that he has a sore back anyway so you might as well ride I'd feel uncomfortable with that too.

 

[Birker2020]

UPDATE ON LARI:

For those of you who have followed our journey. I caught up with the vet this morning. Unfortunately, it was between my doctor’s appointment and shooting to work and because he was later than I’d envisaged I didn’t have time to Lari trotted up or anything, but I did manage to have an in depth conversation with him about the operation on his hind suspensories and where we go from here, if anywhere.

The two vets that have treated him have conferred with each other and have concluded that they don’t think Lari is a good candidate for the operation on his hind suspensories, partly due to his conformation which I what I thought from googling it and partly because he has so many other issues going on, so this is now off the table.

I asked about what the vet had meant about ‘his back is always going to be sore’ when he last visited and he said he was referring to the kissing spine and the fact that it looks like he’s going to need his back medicated less than every six months – he had it medicated in April and again in June/July and he’s still sore.

But because we can’t rule out that his back is sore because he reinjured his SI again and its had a knock on effect and because we can’t rule out that his SI was injured from honing in the field (I actually saw him pull up lame after galloping around like a looney in the field which was around the time he started objecting to the rider when she bent him to the right) we decided that we would re-medicate both the SI and the hocks. Whether it was 5 weeks of riding from a feather light rider or the fact he hooned in the field that made him sore again, neither is ideal and neither should matter in a 'normal horse'.

I said that I was will to build up his core and do all the in- hand stuff again over the winter before getting a rider on board again in the Spring but the vet said to just crack on with a rider again. So, we agreed that I’d find a rider (hopefully the last rider would do this again) and start riding him twice a week for two or three weeks and see how we get on. We can start this in 2 weeks.

But I honestly feel we’ve come to the end of the road and are putting off the inevitable, but its like 'we've come this far why give up now?'. Trouble is you could say that forever.

I asked the vet if he would think it was appropriate to consider euthanasia given his age (he is only 11) as I am finding it hard to contemplate paying out £250 a month for the next 10 to 15 years on a horse I might only see once a month and if I were to have another horse the fact is that with my salary, I would end up in considerable debt. He said he would be open to pts, he doesn’t think this is unreasonable given the circumstances. We both know I would get no recompense but its not about that, its about securing his future, coming to terms with the fact he is too broken to fix, being able to secure his future. And lets face it, being able to afford to have another horse, I hate that this has to be a reason, but it is and I can't help that.

I did say that if I could, I would try and get him at the blood bank, so he said he would try and find me the number of the one at Milton Keynes so I can see if I can get him in for April next year. But I need to have a very honest conversation with David if I do this. And need to get some of the rumours about the blood bank put to bed too.

I’ve managed to speak to a lovely doctor this morning and explained that I was really struggling both with my MH due to both the issues with my Mum and Lari and he has agreed to put me on Prozac for a month and has given me a number for self- referral for counselling. He said there is no shame in admitting that I need help. I am hoping that this might make me see a clearer way forward because all this indecision and procrastinating is making me ill.

Thank you for all your kindness and suggestions over these last few months. Its been helpful to write down how I feel and to know there is someone there to listen. Anne. x

 

[Barton Bounty]

Awwww not good anne , so sorry ?

 

[ycbm]

I support whatever decision you make, including an economic one to allow you to ride again. At your age, riding was vital to my own mental health, and a dead horse can never be unhappy or in pain. Look after yourself Anne.
.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I am also sorry that you are in this position. However you decide to proceed will be in his and your best interests I’m sure. I’d be is never going to be right and always needing medicated it wouldn’t be ethical to me to keep going. That is only my take on it.

 

[Birker2020]

I’d be is never going to be right and always needing medicated it wouldn’t be ethical to me to keep going.

Yes that's what I am feeling at the moment. The vet felt that he would need medicating very frequently. Apart from the cost its not fair to be constantly jabbing him every five minutes. Hocks, back, SI, coffin joints. The list is endless.

I've just rung my old vets to try and get the number of the blood bank. If anyone has it I'd be most grateful if you could PM me, I had it for years but have lost it now and no one seems to know what it is. The Milton Keynes one.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

So sorry to hear your update. I too support whatever decision you have to make. All the best from one Ann to another.

 

[SEL]

Oh gosh I am sorry. Not surprised from what you've been feeding back to us, but that does leave you with some tough decisions. Poorly horses are stressful so whatever you decide is the best course of action be gentle on yourself and remember how hard you tried to get him right xx

 

[Horseysheepy]

Birker, am so sorry to hear, but whatever the outcome you've done all you can and more.
You deserve some good luck coming your way, you really do.

 

[Red-1]

I don't think anyone could say you haven't tried to help Lari and I hope you can make a decision that you are comfortable with after exhausting all the options.

Look after yourself, Anne.

 

[Xmasha]

So sorry to ready this update . You’ve really gone above and beyond to try to fix him . He’s lucky to have a found you

 

[BBP]

Oh Birker, I’m so sorry to read this. You have and continue to go above and beyond for him. He is very similar to BBP with his list of ailments but I am lucky that I have my own place. I’m still battling with what is in his best interests though. I think you will get support here whatever you choose.

 

[southerncomfort]

You've done so much and tried everything you can. I'm so sorry that you've reached this point but I hope you know that if you decide to PTS you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about and ultimately it may be the kindest thing you can do.

You so deserved at least a few months of fun with Lari and I'm so sad for you that it never happened.

 

[EventingMum]

So sorry, you have gone over and above for Lari. In your shoes, I think I would be considering pts very seriously.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

No one can say you haven’t tried your absolute best for Lari whatever you decide x

 

[scats]

Sorry to hear this Birker, but it does sound like you’ve tried everything and thrown a shed load of money at trying to fix him. I put one to sleep who has a range of ailments that it was too much trying to fix them all. He was another who went from being a dream to ride to dangerous.
Take care x

 

[Birker2020]

I have managed to get a rider who says she will ride him, she is a fellow livery so we will try in a fortnight combined with me doing some groundwork to help him along but I really don't think long term this will work. But I will do this because I went to the trouble of having the SIi and the hocks medicated again yesterday so I guess I owe him that much. But if he goes sore again then I have my answer, blood bank or pts.

I dared mention to my partner this morning that I think its inevitable that we may have to consider pts and he was very upset and very much in denial, he doesn't want me to consider this unless it's a very last resort. But its a real possibility if I can't get him in at the blood bank.

I got told last night by someone well meaning that if I do choose to have him pts I should give him one last Summer. But I am not going to consider this, he's already had 11 months of semi retirement and if he can't hoon in the field without getting injured then I don't really know if that is the answer.

 

[ycbm]

Summer isn't the fun for retired horses that some people think it is. Hot weather can make arthritis more painful, flies are a bother, heat waves are debilitating, ground has no give in it....

ETA all through winter i had no idea my TB had neck arthritis. When there was a heatwave in May, he started hanging his head on the door to take the weight off his neck. He couldn't have bute, he didnt respond to boswellia or devils claw. He wouldn't have appreciated "one last summer" in the slightest.
.

 

[Birker2020]

Summer isn't the fun for retired horses that some people think it is. Hot weather can make arthritis more painful, flies are a bother, heat waves are debilitating, ground has no give in it....

ETA all through winter i had no idea my TB had neck arthritis. When there was a heatwave in May, he started hanging his head on the door to take the weight off his neck. He couldn't have bute, he didnt respond to boswellia or devils claw. He wouldn't have appreciated "one last summer" in the slightest.
.

I know.

I stupidly mentioned about the blood bank this morning to our cleaner when she asked me about Lari. She is a bit of a snowflake, the type of person who has in the past let her cats die a slow lingering death because it was cruel to take them to the vets to pts etc and will cry because she saw a dead pigeon in the road. She said "how can you send him to a laboratory where they will do animal testing". GGRRRR.