What do I do? Where to go from here? Sorry - LONG!!

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Christmas Crumpet

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I have posted many times on here about my ups and downs about Happy - my 16.3hh exracehorse I got in May last year to turn into a hunter. We hunted until Christmas then he went lame in front. Got that sorted out and then he slipped in the field in the snow and hasn't been right since. We seem to keep making progress and then going 10 steps backwards. He's been into the vets about 10 times so far and his vets bills are over £2,000 already. He was only bought for £2,000 himself. I'm waiting to hear if NFU will cover them.

We were given go ahead to start trotting last week but he did something again to his back and it felt as though we were back to square one. I turned him out in the field on Friday and left him to it.

I went to see Mum on Sat because I was so upset and fed up of constantly having setbacks and all these vets visits etc and not getting anywhere. She said she had a proposal for me and so when I got there she said she'd like to get me a new horse and for us to give up on Happy. My father died in Feb and we've had a really crap year with various other family deaths, animal deaths, Mum being burgled etc and she said its time we had some fun and I'm just getting more and more low about Happy. I am all for turning him away for a year (he's only 8) and then seeing what's what next year and either moving him on as a hack etc. I've got a really healthy budget to get something fantastic for OH and I to both hunt and hunter trial/team chase etc which is all we love doing. My mum wants to do this because it would mean she would have an interest (she'd own the horse) and it would be my father's present (from the grave as it were) to me.

The vet just rang and said he wasn't happy with turning him away and wants me to take H in for more shockwave and an ultrasound on his back etc. This is not what I want to hear. I made the point that there is a limit to how much we can spend on him and he's not going to stand up to hunting which is what I do and I have had enough. What has made me cross is that why are they talking about an ultrasound now? Why wasn't it done before after all Happy has been broken since February!! The vet doesn't think I should give up on the horse and I feel has put me in a difficult situation. The thing is - I could take him in this time for shockwave etc, ride him for another 2 weeks only for him to go wrong again and the vets could say again, bring him in again and it keep on going yet I don't actually get a horse that I can take hunting, just one that costs an absolute fortune as a field ornament. He's got scoliosis - curved spine which doesn't help his back problems, and they think he might be on the verge of having kissing spines already (not to mention he has broken down in front in the past and been fired). He is not happy going any faster than a walk at present.

I have only got room for one horse and I want a horse that I can ride and have fun on (and preferably a sane one at that). Surely turning him away for a year and letting nature take its course is giving him the chance to mend himself at his leisure and if he's still not right then we know we've done the best for him.

I'm so confused and could do with some advice!! They say better the devil you know than the devil you don't but the devil I know in this case is not going to take me hunting!!

Anyone got any advice for me?
 
Not any real advice but you know your horse better than anyone else, so if you think turning him away might help the go for it. I completely agree with you, and just wait and see what next year brings. As long as Happy is err.. happy with being left in the field, I know some horses aren't, then just go for it.
 
Do you have any sort of diagnosis on what is actually wrong with the horse?

In your position I would firstly ensure that NFU are going to pay vets bills, if they are then you have another 3K to spend.

I would spend that insurance money if there is some treatment that will benefit the horse.

I would then turn horse away for a year to fully recover.

In the interim buy a nice new horse

Then look to loan Happy as a hack once he has had a decent break. If for what ever reason NFU don't cover vets fees then just skip that section and turn Happy away now.
 
Ok, well I really feel for you - it's a difficult situation. I don't know your vet but I am a firm believer that not all vets are equal in their ability to diagnose and treat a problem. It is now July and you are not much closer to having a definitive answer as to what is wrong with Happy and what you can do about it. Vets are private businesses - I should know, my father was an equine vet - and they are often under pressure to make the most of their cases (my dad's boss used to ask him to do far more investigations than necessary). My father always used to say that horses are designed to get better, the ones that aren't got eaten! If you can find somewhere for him to live out 24/7, turn him away for a year, let him be a horse and then see how he is. He's your horse, NOT your vets, and I would be quite irritated that I was being constantly called back for more work up at this late stage. Either that or I would take him to one of the good Newmarket vets for a full work-up where I had total confidence that they would find whatever was wrong and that would give me answers.
 
Ditto kit279 - I would also be quite annoyed if my vets behaved in this way.
I would firstly see what NFU say about the claim - if they are willing to pay then I would get a 2nd opinion from a suitable referral practice. If they will not then I would turn him away for the year to re-assess later on. Meanwhile buy something you will enjoy.
 
QR I would first establish if the Insurance is going to pay up - then, if it will, are you able to get a second opinion? I'm afraid a lot of vets will just keep running up the bills - and realistically do they have any evidence that a year of 'Doctor Green' will do him any harm?
I'm afraid if it were me, I'd be giving nature, rest and good grass the first crack of the whip, and maybe looking at further treatment if needed afterwards. But that's just me.
 
Like the others I would find out what the insurance are saying...if they will pay then have the treatment up the sum insured.

If not I would do exactly what you are saying, turn away for 12months give him every chance to mend naturally. Then see where you are from there.

I've been in a very similar postion to you with my ex racer(although different aliments) and did that, spent insurance money (and a fair amount of other) then turned away a brought the beast in my sig.

Big hugs though - only you know what is best for you and Happy!!
 
Sounds to me like you have already made up your mind?

If the horse is never going to be strong enough as a hunter, then you have got to think is it worth going on. Have you thought about him staying as a companion?

I have Scoliosis of my spine, and although it may be different in horses as in humans, the general issues it causes is probably the same... stiffness, cramp in the muscles, weakness.

Will the insurance company cover any treatment? Again if the answer is no, then I would seriously consider leaving him as a companion. Your not giving up, just realising he is just not made to be hunter!!
 
Agree with everyone. If insurance are paying then have the treatment. Whilst turning Happy away is probably the best thing you need a definite diagnosis first. Otherwise you could bring him back in to work next year only to find he still requires treatment. Not all injuries will heal in the field. I think you owe it to him to get a diagnosis before completely giving up. Yes he might not be able to do what you want him to do but he still deserves your time. I'm not saying spend endless money, I'm just saying give him a chance.
 
I know I owe it to him to get a diagnosis but you would have thought I would have had one by now. I've spoken to the NFU who said my claim is nearly top of the pile and they'll be in touch.

I guess I've got to wait for them to let me know then speak to vets again. And not even think about getting a new horse until we know what to do with Happy which is frustrating because if we are going to get a new one I'd like the summer to get to know it.

I just don't want to feel bullied by my vet's to do this and that etc when in the end I'm still not going to have a horse that I can do what I want to do with it. I guess if we can get him right then he could go on to do something else not as demanding but just not with me. I love this horse so much but its just not working out the right way!!!

I've now got doubt in my mind thinking perhaps his problems aren't as bad as I thought they were - well they've got to be pretty bad that we have only been able to walk since February. If he'd done a leg I'd know where we were at!!
 
You know your horse best and it sounds like he isn't going to fulfil your dreams of hunting etc.

So whatever happens, buy another horse if you can afford to. Sorry, it's not clear from your post why you couldn't have another horse now - is it time/space/money?

If the insurance are paying out (and I can't see why not) I would continue the investigations up to your limit, perhaps with another vet. If not turn him away for a year and see what happens. Either way you will have a better chance of finding him a new home.

I'm going through a similar thing though I know what's wrong with mine (Bone Spavin) and I have come to the conclusion this weekend that Chum is only ever going to be a light hack and the thought of not being able to do other things is just sinking in and I feel so low atm. I'm trying to find the funds for another horse..
 
I have only got one stable and one field at home which really means only having one horse.

Happy is a total liability if the horse he is a companion with is taken away which is why I'd like to find a home for him for the next year with say a broken down racehorse that will stay in the field doing nothing for a year. I couldn't keep Happy at home to be a companion with a new horse if the new horse was stabled at night, exercised on its own etc - he'd keep jumping out or running through the fence and no doubt causing more injury to himself!!

Chums Mum - I feel so sorry for you - I know how crap it feels and my thoughts really are with you.
 
As others have said, if he is insured then do full investigations now. He deserves to have a diagnosis.

He doesnt sound up to the job you want him for and you dont sound as though you are inclined to keep a retired horse, and he doesnt sound like good companion material, so that doesnt really leave a lot of options for you. You might be able to find him a good loan home, like Cellie did, where he could live in a herd. Perhaps he might be up to light hacking, but from your current description I doubt it.

To be honest he didnt sound completely sound last year what with all the problems you had finding him a saddle. A lot of difficult to fit horses are difficult to fit because of a pre-existing back or hind limb problem. I know that when I started having problems with my youngster his saddle fit was atrocious and had to be adjusted almost every 2 weeks. His unlevelness not only caused atrophy on one side of his back, but also caused the saddle to slip to the side. It was a nightmare. He is now fully retired (also arthritis) and much happier for it.
 
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