UPDATE on travelling the older horse

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poodle20

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Hi,

Didn't know how to edit my post- so I have done a new one.

Having read the comments on here yesterday, got to say I was very upset, but I did ask for opinions.

Anyway, I had my vet out last night, she is actually an Equine Specialist so I do think she knows what she is on about and she does know my old boy.

The 'box walking' appears to be just that, he doesn't do it in the field, so we are going to stop standing him in the stable for his tea, he can have it in the field where he is happiest. Think I panicked about that because it is something he has only just started doing. We were in a paddock with him for 1 1/2 hours and it was -8, so you can tell she did spend a long time with him. She did all sorts of balance tests and other things, listened to his heart and lungs and declared him fit to travel. She is very aware of the arthritis in his front leg, but said he is not in obvious pain, he is not sick in any other way, he is remarkably well in himself.

As long as we can get him in the trailer/wagon he should be fine, it isn't too a long a journey, and she is coming out on the morning we are travelling him as back up. She is a star.

I know some people thought it was his time to go, but the vet disagreed. She did say if he was a horse that was having to be kept in because of the weather it would be a different story but because he lives out and can do so at our new yard, she doesn't have a problem. He is happy enough in the field with our other horses. She also said that just be because he is old doesn't make him more prone to colic. Any horse can get colic at any age.

I know some of you probably won't agree, but we are going to try.
Please keep your fingers crossed for us because we love this old boy so much, he is such a star.

I notice a poster on here says they know me, sorry I don't know who you are, but thank you for your support.
 
I am very happy for you, I am sorry you were upset by some posts in the original thread, however from your original story the arthritis did sound much worse than this one sounds like. I am glad you got a full health check done on him as you probably now feel much happier also giving you piece of mind! It does help so much if they can be out and keep moving that was my worry about mine this year as the bad weather has put him inside for about 23hrs/day but so far he is still free moving and seems happier in the warm!
Good luck with the move, and I hope your boy continues to enjoy a happy painfree life for as long as he is comfy!! Enjoy your new yard x
 
Thanks for the replies. I do think I was panicking.
Yes, in the stable he looks horrendous, but there again I have never seen box walking before.
His arthritis is bad, we struggle to get his feet trimmed, in fact he hasn't had them done for 3 months, but at the moment the vet said that is the least of his worries.
We can worry about his feet when we have moved. His feet aren't really overgrown, think he is wearing them down on the hard frozen ground.
He has had a very hard life, before I took him 5 years ago, his original owner moved to London and if we hadn't take him he would probably have been PTS then, he has hunted, done cross country, been in a riding school etc., etc., and I think it has taken its toll.
I do my very best for this horse, he is a joy to own, and we love him to bits.
I know that travelling him is not ideal, that is why I asked for other opinions, unfortunately not moving isn't an option.
The weather is against us as well.
I will do my utmost for this boy and hopefully his retirement will continue for a good while yet. If ever horse deserved it, this boy certainly does.
Thanks again for all the replies.
 
I think sometimes it's difficult for people to tell the extent of a situation purely from a post on here. When we're worried about things we often make them worse in our own minds, then we type up a post and it is more about how we feel than the facts of the situation.

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be as bad a situaton as it looked on the other post. Hope it goes ok.
 
Hope it all goes well........... and that he settles and is happy in his new place.

Did you decide what to travel him in? As others said the trailer ramp would be easier for the old chap....
 
Hi,
Thanks for the update.
It seems from this post that the boy is indeed much weller (is that a word!) than we had all thought, which is GREAT news.:)
Glad your vet is of the opinion the boy can travel, it must really have put your mind at ease, and may I just suggest loads of bedding and no partition.
Best of luck with the move.
Bryndu:)
 
Hi Lexi,

We haven't really decided yet. We do have a nice newish trailer, which we were going to use, but some people have said that the 'cushioning' in a wagon is better, it is just a question of getting him up the ramp, if not he will probably go in the trailer.
Still have a few days to decide, just wish this weather was better.
We may have to stay where we are for another week, if the weather doesn't improve, don't really want to, but safety of the horses comes first.

Thanks again for everyone. I am trying not to panic about him.

To add to this, one of our mares is a very, very bad loader. Something else to stress about.
 
I keep reading these replies.

In himself he is O.K. The vet said he isn't depressed and he hasn't 'given up'. To see him pulling me round the paddock last night trying to get the grass sticking up through the snow was actually a joy. Yes, he doesn't charge around the field anymore, he strolls around at his own pace, but at the end of the day he is happy with that.
Thanks again to everyone who replied.
Please keep fingers crossed for us, I will update on how it goes.
 
That sounds good, and good on you for getting the vet out for a check-up. I haven't got any amazing advice on the journey itself to offer, but I hope your move goes smoothly:)
 
Hi, once again, many thanks for the all the replies.

A poster on my first post has come on saying she knows the circumstances of our move, but would reply anyway, she does not, she has only heard one side of the story because myself and my OH have kept quiet, and have not posted anything, and I notice she has only just joined.
I have enough on my plate worrying about moving these horses without people making snide comments.

Sorry for the rant.

A big thank you to all who have shown concern and tried to help.
I will post an update when we have safely moved.

Thanks again.
 
That's good news - well done for getting your vet's opinion on fitness to travel and great that she will be there on the morning.

Best of luck to you and your horses x.
 
poodle20 said:
We do have a nice newish trailer, which we were going to use, but some people have said that the 'cushioning' in a wagon is better, it is just a question of getting him up the ramp, if not he will probably go in the trailer.
Click to expand...

As I said in my post on the original thread the ramp was a big decider in my decision to use a trailer for my boy's move. For my old boy I wasn't worried about getting him *up* the ramp, it was getting him *down* it at the other end when he was liable to be tired and/or stressy.

Sounds like you have done exactly the right thing getting your vet out again and arranging to have her involved on the day of the move, good on you. Best of luck for the move.
 
Have read some more posts. Yet again - big thanks for all the good advice.
Stimpy - I know where you are coming from. I am worried about him getting down the ramp at the other end. Hoping he will be able to cope. The vet did say I can increase his bute the night before and of the morning we go. She did also mention giving him some sedolin just to take the edge of any stress, but she said that was entirely up to us. Will have to think about that. Sometimes it is hard knowing what to do for the best.

Anyway, thanks again to all those for nice replies.
 
Is he a stressy sort when travelling? I probabyl wouldn't want to give him any sedalin myself unless he gest really worked up (you know him so will know if he's likely to). If it's only a short journey then trailer or wagon should be ok really. It is possible to park wagons in ways that make the ramp less steep and also it depends on the wagon. Obviously a trailer has a much lower ramp but some horses do not like travelling in trailers full stop. If he can walk about the field ok then i would think he may well be able to negotiate a wagon ramp if he is already on bute and if you make sure you have him maybe in a bridle so he can't try pull you down the ramp as you unload. Keep him steady and it should be ok.

Whatever you decide I hope all goes well and the move to your new place goes smoothly!
 
I sincerely apologise if my comment on the other thread caused you upset. However, it did come across that your horse was in a lot of pain and was basically on his last legs (pardon the pun). I think it's great you had the vet out yesterday and got him checked so thoroughly.

I still think that the trailer ramp would be easier for him, loading and unloading. Can I also say that in my opinion, a sedative would just make him even wobblier on his old legs during the journey.

Will you have others there to help you load them?

Good luck, I really hope it goes smoothly. Sometimes when we dread something so much it turns out a lot easier than we expected.

Please let us know how it goes - do you know yet when you're travelling?
 
Once again thanks for the replies.

Mymare, it wasn't particularly you, a few said what they thought, I did ask for opinions, and that is was I got. I did not take offence at anyone, I was upset but the posts made me have a good think and that is why I got the vet, she was due to see him on the 27th but I asked her to come last night.

I did wonder about the sedolin making him wobbly, so might not go down that route.

Haven't set a date for moving yet, this weather is throwing everything into chaos.

Still unsure whether to use trailer or wagon.

We will have help, we have 2 friends coming over and also the vet.
 
Hope move goes well, I personally would go with the trailer as I had to move my 35 year old a couple of months ago and had a real worry/worry/fret about steepness of ramp for such an old lad. (In the end I walked him there (about an hour) so that he could lead his herd to their new field (he is The Boss).

I worried a lot about moving him and although he was tired the next day (due to cantering on spot most of way) he is loving his new home and looks the best he has ever done.

Best of luck.
 
Park the trailer/lorry uphill of the ramp so that the ramp is horizontal.
Make sure you put good quality knee pads on your horse so that if he falls/stumbles his kness are well protected.
 
So glad to hear your old boy has been given the all clear. I thought you took the comments yesterday really well, and constructively which makes a nice change on here!

Good luck with your move, I am sure he will be fine having read this update, and hope your bad loader doesn;t cause you too much stress - try (I know its hard) to keep calm and give yourself plenty of time.

I was actually sweating as we moved my old horse, I was that worried, but it was fine.

He might be a bit wobbly at the other end, so I would go with the trailer if you can - or do you want to move them all together?
 
Good I am glad you are getting it sorted out.
Ignore some of the people on here they like the sound of their own voices too much and at the first sign of trouble they think pts rather than giving the horse a fighting chance. I have my fingers crossed for you xxx
 
mollylolly said:
Good I am glad you are getting it sorted out.
Ignore some of the people on here they like the sound of their own voices too much and at the first sign of trouble they think pts rather than giving the horse a fighting chance. I have my fingers crossed for you xxx
Click to expand...

That's not the case at all. I explained exactly why I thought pts, been there, done that. If you read my comment on the other thread I think I explained it well enough. And it was hardly explained to us as "the first sign of trouble". I'm afraid I think of a horse's quality of life before an owner's happiness, just as I did with my own horse. Nobody was slating Poodle, she asked for our opinions and got them. I think everyone who mentioned pts was genuinely thinking of the horse.
 
Whether you decide on trailer or lorry is only a decision you can make as you are the only one who knows your horse. If it was me it woud depend on how far I was travelling and how the horse travel normally (or what he travelled in before if you've not travelled him for years). If a short journey then maybe a slow, careful trailer drive woud be easiest as less steep a ramp to get in an out. If a longer journey though i feel horses in general travel better in a lorry standing herringbone style as they find it easier to balance this way and the getting in and out is only a small part of the journey and, if you park the lorry cleverly you can lessen the angle of the ramp. A horse that is still capable of wandering round the field daily should be able to mange a slow, steady ascent and descent off a ramp.
 
Sorry yet another update. I don't know how to edit the original post.

Please I don't want anyone to feel bad about the PTS issue, I did ask for opinions and that was what I got. It did actually make me think about the whole issue and was I being selfish - that is why I got the vet.

Obviously,now things seems better, I do think I was panicking and stressing far too much.

I do appreciate all the help and advice given, most of it has been very helpful, so a BIG THANK you to all of you.

I am not looking forward to moving them, but heyho, people travel horses all the time, it is just something I have not done on a regular basis and particularly an older arthritic horse. Sure it will all be fine.

Once again - thanks
 
Thanks Nativety, good point about the straw on arrival.
I have never seen him go down, so hopefully he will be fine.
He lays down in the field for a sleep, and he can get up fine, he doesn't struggle at all.
We are still a bit undecided which way to travel - trailer or wagon.
Will speak to the transport company again and see what they think.
It does seem daft paying them when we have a trailer !!!!!
 
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