Vets being wrong a good thing.

[pistolpete]

My pony was diagnosed with an inoperable stifle fracture at Christmas and I’ve been told he’s no longer rideable. Only 1-2/10ths lame in trot but I’ve retired him. I’m happy for him to live out his says in as much as he remains comfortable. I’d like to hear stories of horses that have been retired that have defied the vets prognosis and gone on for a good few years. My bit seems so happy I just want him to be ok.

 

[pistolpete]

 

[Ceriann]

My mare left horsepital with a report that in its final para said that the likelihood of her recovering to be 100% sound and returning to full work was low. She had an injury to medial branch (hind), suspensory damage in same side front and lameness in front feet. My own vet told me to take it as slow as I could with her and supported a rehab with shoes off (with farrier also supportive). Two years later with repeat scans she’s back to normal work and feeling/looking great. I reduced my schooling (frequency and time) but she loves her arena sessions and the last element to come good, her canter, is better than ever!

 

[pistolpete]

That’s so lovely be to hear.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My Arab was diagnosed with arthritis in his elbow at 5 vet said it was quite advanced for a young horse, I was devastated I thought that was it he would never be ridden he also had a foot issue on the same leg and to be honest I never had much faith in the vet at the time.

I got a second opinion from a good vet recommended to me he helped me sort his feet out and he thought it was unlikely he had arthritis at all and said it was his feet, changed farrier different shoes sound pony never had a problem since his 17 now so vets can be wrong.

 

[brighteyes]

The pony in my avatar was diagnosed with guttural pouch empyema which has guarded to poor prognosis (or did at the time). Vet said she was unlikely to be successfully treated and referred her to Liverpool. Got there and found no sign of empyema - just one tiny chondroid! Vet and students were mystified as this was as-near-as-certain impossible and miraculous.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

My retired mare was written off 2 years ago for any riding at age 19 and probably limited time as a field ornament after a long battle with Lyme's disease that took nearly 18 months to eventually get a correct diagnosis.... very guarded long term prognosis. I have to say she didn't look great and had lost all her oomph and the fact she also has SI quite badly I was not expecting to enjoy her for too much longer.

She can still look a bit away with the fairies from time to time and very quiet and slow, another day she is flying around like a two year old and can be unexpectedly quite reactive and explosive but that does not worry me too much, but never safe to ride again. Health wise, she is in fact better now than she has ever been, due to stumbling across a 'treatment' for her Sweet Itch whilst treating the effects of the Lyme's we have found a regime that works to even keep her rugless for most of the summer. I may never ride her again but I get as much pleasure from her as a beautiful field ornament so I am just very, very happy to still have her with me. Here is a picture of her just the other day, far from the 'not long to go' dying horse we thought we had been left with. Stay positive I hope you have as much and more extra time with your horse as I have been blessed with.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Our yearling was born a dummy foal. The vet refused to come out to see him and said he would die within 24 hours unless we took him into their surgery for a minimum of 3days intensive care at a minimum of £1k a night. Claiming covid restrictions meant they couldn't come out to him. He wasn't a bad dummy but he wasn't 100%. Needless to say we didn't take him in as no offence but a black shedland colt foal isn't worth £30 let alone £3k plus at less than 24 hours old. He improved every day and I would say by day 6 he was 100% normal and caught up on where he should be. Day 7 he went outside for the first time.

That yearling went to his first ever show yesterday and stood 3rd at the Royal Highland Showcase. I no longer use those money grabbing vets funnily enough after everything that went on in 2020.

Vets can only tell you what they think at the time and in cases like yours they will be happy they were wrong. But they have to give the more doom and gloom option for fear of telling someone their horse will live forever and it dies the following week kind of thing.

 

[skint1]

This year I actually rode my gelding that I retired in 2018 and did not expect to still have at this point. He has been in rude health the last year or so and in fact still managed to sod off with me, which I didn't think would be very good for him with his issues, I wouldn't rule out going for the odd ponder on him again in the future.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Our yearling was born a dummy foal. The vet refused to come out to see him and said he would die within 24 hours unless we took him into their surgery for a minimum of 3days intensive care at a minimum of £1k a night. Claiming covid restrictions meant they couldn't come out to him. He wasn't a bad dummy but he wasn't 100%. Needless to say we didn't take him in as no offence but a black shedland colt foal isn't worth £30 let alone £3k plus at less than 24 hours old. He improved every day and I would say by day 6 he was 100% normal and caught up on where he should be. Day 7 he went outside for the first time.

That yearling went to his first ever show yesterday and stood 3rd at the Royal Highland Showcase. I no longer use those money grabbing vets funnily enough after everything that went on in 2020.

Vets can only tell you what they think at the time and in cases like yours they will be happy they were wrong. But they have to give the more doom and gloom option for fear of telling someone their horse will live forever and it dies the following week kind of thing.

That is terrible that's why I always try to form my own opinion and question everything no matter who the professional is, my horse was 5 some people would have pts on that prognosis

 

[janietee_5]

Our old boy had a freak horsewalker accident and opened his TMJ down to the bone at the age of 17. Spent months in horspital only to be sent home with a poor prognosis as it refused to heal without becoming infected. The following year he did the last ever Milton Keynes 3 day event and actually lived for another 7 years, final 2 being semi retired. His teeth got him in the end - chewing in a certain way made them wear awkwardly. He finally went to heaven last autumn aged 24 and looking a million dollars. I miss him so much but know he had 7 years more than expected of high quality life.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The pony in my avatar was diagnosed with guttural pouch empyema which has guarded to poor prognosis (or did at the time). Vet said she was unlikely to be successfully treated and referred her to Liverpool. Got there and found no sign of empyema - just one tiny chondroid! Vet and students were mystified as this was as-near-as-certain impossible and miraculous.

The same Arab I still have one day had the most terrible snotty nose and he had 80 chondroids in his guttural pouch, they had to be removed individually as flushing wouldn't get rid of them, it took a month of him going to the vets for 2 days a week so they could take them out, bloody awful and I think he now has nerve damage in in face because if it, it's an awful condition he has had it return about 5 years ago and scoping his had his fair share of it and I would seriously think twice about repeat scoping

 

[sbloom]

"That horse will never go barefoot"

 

[HobleytheTB]

Pony went dramatically lame on a hack, turned out to be tendon injury from age related wear and tear. Vet said she wouldn't be sound enough to ride without bute. Ended up turning her away for a while and bringing back into work. That was 2010, she retired at the end of the summer in 2018. Didn't jump her 'properly' again, but we did low level riding club dressage and hacked lots. Never needed to use bute again, never had a further issue with that hind. Retirement was due to mild arthritis elsewhere, and wanting her to enjoy some time doing nothing in her twilight years ? still with us today at 29 years old.