What do you think? Older lame pony....

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Mongoose11

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Olive's field companion and next door neighbour is a sweet little 13hh'ish Palamino pony. Pony is 22 and lame. Owner clearly 'loves' her and comes twice a day to see to her which involves mucking and turning out and then bringing in. Basic needs met and pony is happy with plenty of grass.

Here's the issue. Pony is lame and has been for some time, as in years. Pony bunny hops in canter in the field as the two back legs don't seem to work together, she is very stiff when coming out of the stable and rests her hind legs in some very awkward positions when in at night. Obviously she is completely retired.

I would just like to see her on some pain relief. She must be in pain, right?

Edited to add, owner knows she is lame and remarks on it, calling her an 'old gal' and then says that she can't be that lame because she will still 'canter' in the field (very uncomfortable to watch). When I go down for late hay visit I always stop to see the pony and she has to almost rock herself to get going to come over to see me.

I am seriously considering whether it would be right for me to administer pain relief without the owner knowing.... Eeeeeek :(
 
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I would imagine so. Sounds like arthritis essentially so why does she bring her in? It's about the worst thing you can do for a horse that is suffering with stiffness, they need to be able to move about.

If it is her back legs that are affected as well then this has probably resulted in her getting a sore back as a result of compensating. Getting a decent physio/chiro can do them the world of could. I had an old pony who had spavin and had a lady come see him twice to treat him (this was following a fall he'd had XC from which he appeared quite crippled a week or so after). After two treatments that pony was better than he'd ever been even before the fall. It was quite remarkable.

If that doesn't help and if the pony seems happy in the main then she realy should look at getting some form of pain relief for her. That would also show if the pony is in pain or whether it is just more mechanical.
 
The fact she canters about would make me think she isn't all that bad. Pain relief could have implications for her organs long term, so perhaps the owner/vet has already weighed this up.

How is Olive's leg?
 
Don't administer drugs Billie. I'm assuming you're on livery, so what does YO say about the situation?
 
FfionWinnie said:
The fact she canters about would make me think she isn't all that bad. Pain relief could have implications for her organs long term, so perhaps the owner/vet has already weighed this up.

How is Olive's leg?
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:p as we all well knew Olive's leg turned out fine :rolleyes: have cleaned it each day and used some anti septic but the old bird is still stomping around sound so no issues there.

Owner hasn't investigated pain and pony hasn't seen a vet since an original injury two years ago. Yes, I knew there would be a catch to administering anything so thought about offering a Devils alternative type supplement? I just hate seeing her like that. Owner is lovely but IMHO not doing right by her :(
 
amymay said:
Don't administer drugs Billie. I'm assuming you're on livery, so what does YO say about the situation?
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We stood and spoke about the pony yesterday as we do think she is getting worse and we did remark that the pony needs a good groom. She is still very thick with winter woollies and has been trying to itch a lot of it out. I asked if we thought owner would mind if I gave her a good groom and she said she didn't think she would mind so I will tomorrow. I often bring the pony in or put her out etc so it wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary for me to have decided to give her a bit of a fuss.

The owner is lovely but pony just gets put in and out and mucked out. Very little else which I know really isn't that bad!
YO agrees that she may well need some pain relief. I know realistically that I can't give anything to her but it doesn't stop me wanting to!
 
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Spoke to YO and she has advised owner that pony might need pain relief support.

On Friday owner started hosing pony's leg and said to me 'her legs gone again, can you see it?' 'yes, I can, her hock is the size of a melon! That must be painful bless her', owner replied with 'well she will go careering around up there'.

Pony can't career around. When Olive tried to see her off the other day she couldn't get going and her back legs wouldn't 'separate', so she bunny hopped along.

The cold hosing lasted less than a minute and then pony was put in her box where she stayed for the next 16 hours :(
 
AM, what would you think the YO should do at this stage? Simply be firmer in her recommendations and insist that pony is supported? Or something more? Because I haven't come across this before...

YO is aware that the voice lies with her as when I mentioned it again she was quick to say 'I have told her' etc...
 
She should tell the owner that the pony needs to see the vet, and owner has 5 days in which to have the animal seen - or she (the yo) will call one and bill accordingly.

They also need to discuss the current management in terms of the hock, and time spent generally looking after the pony. It's simply not good enough.
 
Makes perfect sense. We are a very small yard and I'm not sure the YO has had to intervene like this before.

I will also see the owner this afternoon and I am going to labour the point that the pony must be in pain.
 
If the owner is lovely, could you approach it something along the lines of ' I don't want to interfere but each time I come down here I get a bit upset seeing your pony so sore. Have you considered some pain relief or supplements which might help?'. I can't see her taking offence at this and I don't think its fair on you to have to let this spoil your enjoyment of spending time with your horse.

I totally agree about the the YO's duty, but I don't think it would do any harm to let the owner of the pony know that ignoring her pony's pain has an impact on everyone around her, not just the poor pony.
 
Owner's helper is now moving house so won't be able to help on the two days that she did before (chuck her out, bring her in), so I wonder if this will prompt the owner into taking action of some sort. I did query the other night why she was about to put the pony out in a fly rug in the rain... She swapped it for a lightweight...

Today I was about to leave when pony came over to the door and lifted her head right up (in during the day now) and I could see some massive, weeping sores under her jaw, investigated further and found a smaller one on her chin and worked out it must be her muzzle. Cleaned her up and applied some antiseptic and then decided to give her a good groom, the scurf and muck was still coming off her and I am pleased to say that she now looks much more like the barbie pony that she is rather than the bog pony that she usually presents as :). She absolutely loved being groomed, thought her little lip was going to get sore from all the pointing and wiggling it was doing. Also discovered she has got some really big, bites so we saw to those as best we could, trimmed her mane and gave her a couple of mints.

I text the owner to say 'not sure if you have noticed but pony has huge sores blah blah...', got a reply saying 'yes I did know and have been putting wound powder on twice daily to toughen up the skin'. There wasn't a sniff of wound powder to be found and she had only been down half hour before I got there. Those sores were dirty and weepy... Then I got another text saying 'I'm happy that you are looking out for her welfare :)', Gggggrrrrrrrrrr!

Still no vet or Bute, haven't seen Yo today but will get her to look at the sores too.
 
I think you and the YO have to get tough with this owner, though that may be easier said than done.

At the age the pony is, they have lower immune systems and with the pain she is in from her stiff rear end, I'm not surprised that she reacted as she did when you groomed her. Probably completely astounded that someone was giving her some TLC and trying to help her with her problems. Poor little pony is very lucky to have you as a friend.

I really feel for this pony, having to cope with 3 oldies myself and another oldy before these three, I know just how difficult it can be at times. But these things have to be faced if you love your horse/pony and it could be that the owner is having a little trouble coming to terms with the fact that old age has finally crept up. So try a sympathetic approach when you talk to her, combined with some more forceful tactics, like the one about getting a vet and billing her back for it if she does nothing herself. Hopefully that will work.
 
amymay said:
She should tell the owner that the pony needs to see the vet, and owner has 5 days in which to have the animal seen - or she (the yo) will call one and bill accordingly.

They also need to discuss the current management in terms of the hock, and time spent generally looking after the pony. It's simply not good enough.
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Yup that's what the duty of care of the YO means .
The contract should say if a vet is needed the YOer will call one there's a line with oldies where it's simply not fair and it sounds like this ones over the line.
However it's not an easy situation for a yard owner to be in and getting the pony to a situation where the owner moves it may leave it worse off.
A good sensible vet that the YOer has a good relationship with may be the best person to tell the owner that the situation is not tenable.
 
We have no contract, this is a private home who let's out to fund her own. If I see the owner tonight I am going to suggest that we share a vet call out as I would like to have Olive's bald patch (don't ask) checked out. If that is rejected then I'm going to make it clear that I don't think her current management is acceptable. Thing is husband always tells me to stay out of stuff like this as I don't want to rock the boat for myself, this place is heaven and while I don't want to jepordise my space - I also don't want pony to continue to suffer. It's just not on.
 
Good news!

Although the owner didn't bother cleaning the sores, which are each bigger than a 50p, last night (so I did), or this morning (so I will), she IS having the VET out on Wednesday!

I am really pleased, I only hope that the vet is clear enough about possible routes of treatment and that the owner doesn't try to down play it. I do have my suspicions though that having lost her helper as from July, the owner may well be thinking/wanting the vet to suggest PTS.
 
Just thought I would update for anyone still with me on this :o

Pony did have the vet last week, he prescribed 2 danilon a day for three weeks and then down to one per day for maintainence. Said she is a good companion and may well last into her 30s! Owner groaned at this point.

Fast forward to today. Horses are out at night and in during the day, so owner came up at three to put pony out. Pony absolutely hopping, upon investigation we found an 8 inch shard of fencing sticking out of ponies hind quarters. It had gone in about 5 inches and the surrounding area was rock hard, the hole was pus filled and it was scorching to touch. Owner pulled out the shard, effectively a massive splinter, and said 'do you think I should give her two danilon?' 'Erm, no she needs to see the vet NOW', 'oh great, do you think so'.

So vet came, two anti biotic injections and other meds and pony has gone out after being poulticed. Vet said clean twice a day. Owner has decided she will do it once a day.

The splinter was fencing, pony is itching and needs grooming and had rubbed her bum on the fence. Owner tried to argue that the shard of wood must have been in the shavings as the shard wasn't there when she brought her in this morning. Yes it was, she just didn't notice as she shoves her in her stable without giving her the slightest fuss. Owner was adamant it wasn't fencing until we went and found the rail that the shard clearly came from.

To be fair owner did say 'that's terrible, how could I have not noticed?' and I did feel for her because she does love the pony.

Poor old thing :(
 
Oh dear, poor pony. Difficult situation for you to be in too Billie1007. Doesnt sound as if there is much you can expect the landowner to do. You are obviously being very tactful with the owner and things are (more or less) happening according to the vets instructions so hopefully if that continues you don't need to change tack. Just seeing what you have posted, it looks to me as if the owner might rather not have the pony to look after. Maybe if the 'opportune moment' arises you might suggest that she looks for another home. Horrid situation for you - sorry cant think of anything clever to resolve. :(
 
It sounds like by dint of your reminders pony is achieving a reasonable level of care, not ideal but while pony is receiving pain relief not a major welfare issue.

Just a depressing list of minor issues, hopefully the issue with the splinter will inspire her to a better standard of care.

The only other solution I can imagine is pony being PTS which doesn't seem necessary at this point. Good for you for looking out for the old girl.
 
I can understand your predicament on this; we had a similar issue at our yard, but not as extreme.
To me, and I appreciate I can only guess over the Internet, this pony sounds in pain and that there is some element of neglect, as the owner is not taking proper care. Billie, you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you do nothing, the pony will suffer, but if you help, the owner effectively gets away with it. Is there a possibility the owner may vanish, leaving you with this poor pony?
I know you said the vet has been, but that doesn't ensure ongoing good care. If the yard owner doesn't want to get further involved, and the owner isn't improving their standards of care, despite your best efforts, I would be calling either WHW or the BHS. This owner needs a reality check and fast.
 
Contact whw or bhs as above, this owner needs to get a grip anda vist from a welfare officer might just get her to wake up to herself.
 
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