What does "field sound" mean to you?

[Apercrumbie]

To me, a field sound horse is one that would become lame if worked reasonably hard, but is very happy and mobile in retirement.

 

[oldie48]

Yes, I can go with that!

To me, a field sound horse is one that would become lame if worked reasonably hard, but is very happy and mobile in retirement.

 

[_HP_]

To me it means sound enough to cope with a life of retirement ie in the field. Lameness doesn't always mean pain and pain doesn't always mean misery. I'm in pain everyday but I rarely notice until I try to do something I shouldn't .
I worry more about the many horses that are in pain while working...those with ulcers, hoof pain, low grade laminitis, back pain, poorly fitted tack, clumsy riders and so on...

 

[HashRouge]

...because to me it means unsound. And that means lame (or otherwise unrideable), and lame means in pain. So is keeping a horse which is in pain OK?

Well, the clue is in the name . To me, a horse that is field sound is just that - sound in the field. But it is also a horse who has not or would not stand up to being in ridden work. I currently have two horses that I would class as field sound. My Arab mare is in her twenties and was retired due to arthritis. However, 99% of the time she looks amazing in the field, sound in walk and in trot, full of energy and enthusiasm. She has the occasional day where I think she looks a bit stiff, but the majority of the time you really wouldn't know that there was anything wrong with her. However, she wouldn't stay sound enough for ridden work other than light hacking and sadly she's a bit too feisty to be a good light hack! The other one belongs to my sister and has navicular and arthritis . Again, he generally looks very good in the field and I think most people wouldn't really notice that there is anything wrong with him. However, he doesn't stay sound for riding in the long term. My sister has tried quite hard, but he is now retired. Now I don't think you or anyone else would look at these horses in the field, Cortez, and think that there was anything wrong with them. Neither of them is given painkillers to manage their conditions, either. But neither would pass a flexion test or would stand up to long hacks, school work or lunging. Luckily for them we're a sentimental family and it's easier having two field kept retired horses than it is having one (always company for each other) so they get to live the life of riley.
I don't agree with keeping horses in constant pain. If I thought for a second that this was the case for either of my two then I would have to consider my options. But at the moment they're just fine!

 

[Kezzabell2]

...because to me it means unsound. And that means lame (or otherwise unrideable), and lame means in pain. So is keeping a horse which is in pain OK?

means not willing to accept that the horse is in pain and should be put out of its misery

 

[supagran]

I’ve got a 15 year old mare who seven years ago broke her leg (knee area) – can’t remember the name of the bone. She came back “sound” but just occasionally on hard ground she looked unlevel. She then had a foal to give her more time off, again came back into work and actually went to HOYS as a riding horse. However due to the slight misalignment after the breal which has put more pressure on her other leg she has twice pulled a check ligament. It has been decided that she is not in pain, and therefore has become a retired paddock muncher. She loves her life, other than not being ridden she seems to love her life of luxury. She gets exactly the same care as the others we have – rugged, fed, stabled at night and in bad weather. She is better (sounder) if living out and she does so in the summer. Only when she can’t cope without pain killers will we think about her future, until then she can continue to munch the grass!

 

[HashRouge]

means not willing to accept that the horse is in pain and should be put out of its misery

Is that your definition of field sound? Because that is, I have to say, absolute rubbish. If that is your honest view, I issue an open invite for you to come and meet my two "field sound" horses and see if that changes your mind. Because I'm willing to bet that, firstly, you won't be able to see that there is anything wrong with them, and that secondly you'll agree that they are not in pain or miserable.

 

[blitznbobs]

...because to me it means unsound. And that means lame (or otherwise unrideable), and lame means in pain. So is keeping a horse which is in pain OK?
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...nd-quot-mean-to-you/page4#AKceDmsPZ6rpeaKB.99

I don't believe in putting a horse to sleep because it is not perfectly sound ... It's a degrees thing if I can keep them comfortable on a bit of painkiller so they have quality of life I will... After all I have dodgy and sometimes painful ankles but I wouldn't want to be shot because of them

 

[poiuytrewq]

I say my beloved horse is field sound.
To me it means he's perfectly happy and sound in the field. He canters over when I arrive and when the others hoon around soundly but if I get on him within a week he's slightly lame and gets steadily worse. If I leave him alone (as in not ridden) he stays perfectly sound and happy....
He's field sound!

 

[Mike007]

Gun job? Field sound or field suffering? That is the question. Only the owner can answer that one.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I answered this without reading the other replies. It was a 100%truthful reply not one I thought correct and now I've read other replies I may not have posted it.
Last year in about Feb I had two horses and was in a total state over them. I got second opinions and hand one pts. The other everyone agreed (I was for putting both ts was happy)
I think it's more than being sound. My old boy is actually soun but when u made the decision last time with the help of the BHS he wasn't but he's happy.
If I call him he canters over. He plays with the others,in fact he instigated it.
It's a very individual thing

 

[Mike007]

It's a very individual thing

I couldn't agree more. Life is tough, for horses and for humans but we just have to do the best we can. Iam mortified by the mistakes i have made during a lifetime with horses yet I sincerely believe that I always put the horse first.

 

[Leo Walker]

As someone who lives with pain I think my tolerance levels for field sound is lower than most. Lame, mechanical or not wouldn't work for me. Try walking around all day limping then tell me that mechanical lameness isnt painful! In amongst the other stuff I have very, very mild arthritis, it barely registers with me as I have other issues, but its still unpleasant and the main issue I have with it is suffering from lack of mobility as the joints get stiff. I cant imagine how it feels to a prey animal to not be able to fully function. As a human I can rationalise pain to a certain degree but horses cant do that. I think my view is probably skewed a bit due to my own experiences, but there are so many fates worse than death for a horse!

 

[GirlFriday]

Agree with the "sound [with or without medication] when not in work [of whatever type the owner happens to think is relevant, some animals that might be fine in low level work would be retired by some riders/obviously there could be a difference between sound to ride and drive etc]" type definitions.

And in answer to the 'is it OK to keep a horse in pain?' question I'd say yes, there are certain circumstances where a certain amount of pain is simply part of being alive and, whilst not fun, the benefits of being alive can sometimes outweigh the negatives of long term/reoccurring pain. I can and do make decisions to PTS some animals at some times. But I don't necessarily subscribe to the 'everything has to look and act like a healthy 6 year old or be PTS' type of view. We do all sorts of unnatural things to ourselves and our horses. For me prolonging life beyond a time when it might have otherwise been shortened by wolves/my body is clearly headed in one direction is a privilege. One to be used carefully, but nonetheless, I'm in favour of the option of life with long term conditions, including ageing, it is an option most of us do take for ourselves.

 

[Natch]

..
I don't believe in putting a horse to sleep because it is not perfectly sound ... It's a degrees thing if I can keep them comfortable on a bit of painkiller so they have quality of life I will... After all I have dodgy and sometimes painful ankles but I wouldn't want to be shot because of them

This. I take a fairly liberal view of field sound as any horse that can't stay sound when ridden but is reasonably comfortable living a retired life. I don't mind if I have to Bute a retired horse to keep them sound,as long as they are still enjoying life and able to get down and up again, potter and exhibit most normal behaviours. A lot of these answers are very black and white but I think each horse and each situation is too unique to make sweeping statements. My dog is arthritic, on pain meds and carefully managed exercise. She gets up lame and stiff after a sleep, sometimes she's noticeably lame for a few days, but her overall quality of life is good and she is enjoying life still. I don't think a retired horse necessarily has to be pain free all the time, just that any pain is not allowed to get out of hand.

As for the definition I take a liberal view on it because it's used to describe a retired horse with some lameness in work issues. Does it need to be more specific than that, as long as the horse's welfare is the priority?

 

[mytwofriends]

My horse has arthritis (hocks and coffin joints.) He moves around the field perfectly well, his coat gleams, he's a great weight and likes getting into cheeky trouble. He has alert, bright eyes.

When they eventually come in overnight, I know he'll stretch before leaving the stable in the morning and he'll limber up on his short walk to the field. He's not on any pain relief currently, except I'll pop him a bute prior to the farrier trimming his feet.

He's 25, he appears happy and content. In my mind he's field sound. I've had him for years, I know him inside out, and will take my cues from him.

 

[Leo Walker]

And in answer to the 'is it OK to keep a horse in pain?' question I'd say yes, there are certain circumstances where a certain amount of pain is simply part of being alive and, whilst not fun, the benefits of being alive can sometimes outweigh the negatives of long term/reoccurring pain.

Benefits who though? Its not benefiting the horse.

 

[ycbm]

And in answer to the 'is it OK to keep a horse in pain?' question I'd say yes, there are certain circumstances where a certain amount of pain is simply part of being alive and, whilst not fun, the benefits of being alive can sometimes outweigh the negatives of long term/reoccurring pain.

I don't see what benefits there are to a horse living in pain? He's not looking forward to reading a good book, seeing the next Fast and Furious, having a night out with old friends reminiscing over the good times. He's a preyed on animal and like all preyed on animals, he's living each groundhog day ( in his case in a very small environment) waiting to become tail end Charlie and eaten by a lion.

 

[MasterBenedict]

I would class one of my boys as 'field sound'. He came to me early this year, having been retired from the riding school I worked at years ago. I'm a sucker for a sob story and he was my favourite, so when I saw him advertised on fb for £100 light hack, I knew I had to have him! He is unknown breeding and age, though I'd guess late teens. We've had ups and downs, but he is doing fab.

Yes, he is about 1/10 lame in walk and probably a little more in trot. However, he is more than happy to have a trot and canter round the field, plays silly games, has a huge appetite and generally has a very bright outlook on life. He is not on any traditional pain meds, just some supplements I personally think are helping. I have ridden him lightly a handful of times over the summer but it is apparent that he isn't up to much more than gentle walk/trot in straight lines. Thankfully I have the time and facilities to manage him until I think it is too much.

I wouldn't consider pts when he is looking as good as this!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My horse wouldn't pass a flexion test and he is short in trot until he warms up then he is fine but he's 25 with arthritis and can hoon about the field and under saddle when the mood takes him.

If people saw him before he was warmed up they would tell me I'm riding a lame horse. After 20mins you wouldn't know. No nodfibg or limping just short.

So i very much think it's on the individual horse, mine isn't in pain he's just stiff

 

[ycbm]

He has arthritis blackbeastie. I'm sorry, but unless you've got him on total pain relief, he's in pain. 'Short' just means equally lame in both legs. Stiffness is painful when you are old. Ask a few old people who have arthritis and they'll tell you.

 

[ycbm]

I do think there is a growing problem as more and more horses are perceived as pets.

There is a world of difference between the way a cat/dog and a horse should be treated in old age imo. Cats and dogs are light and their sheer bodyweight isn't adding to their problems. They don't have anything like the same difficulty standing up and lying down. They live in the house with humans who can watch them constantly. They can be easily medicated with small quantities of drugs. They are prey animals at the top of their food chains. They don't live life expecting to be eaten at any moment that they show weakness.

Yes, it's an individual decision, but perhaps more account needs to be taken by some owners of the differences between horses and other pets.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

He has arthritis blackbeastie. I'm sorry, but unless you've got him on total pain relief, he's in pain. 'Short' just means equally lame in both legs. Stiffness is painful when you are old. Ask a few old people who have arthritis and they'll tell you.

Well you must know more than my vet who gave him a full work up 6weeks ago when he had his Cushing diagnosis, who I asked if he required Bute and who said given he isn't stiff in trot once his muscles have warmed up (only in one hind leg might I add and is over tracking in walk at all times) and isn't lame in canter then no.

So I think I will go by the fact that he is only slightly short on one hind leg in trot for 20mins then tracks up fine on a joint supplement and my vet assessing him that he doesn't require it. As I said to YOU he is in pain, to those that know him he isn't.

I am NOT one of those who keeps a horse around past it's time, I am still not convinced that I'm going to keep him going on prascend as I don't believe in medicating to keep them here and my vet fully agrees with my thinking.

 

[GirlFriday]

I don't see what benefits there are to a horse living in pain? He's not looking forward to reading a good book, seeing the next Fast and Furious, having a night out with old friends reminiscing over the good times. He's a preyed on animal and like all preyed on animals, he's living each groundhog day ( in his case in a very small environment) waiting to become tail end Charlie and eaten by a lion.

A horse in a small amount of pain or discomfort can still enjoy food, socialising, movement and so forth like any other horse. It is just a question of balance. At some point the pain becomes more negative than the joys are positive. Same as with the kind of animal that reads books of course. If we PTS all horses that don't enjoy a good read you wouldn't have any sound pain free ones either

 

[scats]

It also goes back to the old term 'bridle lameness' when a horse seemingly was completely sound out in the field, but as soon as a rider was put on board, they became lame. This has caused many people to believe that their horse is 'having them on' and 'pretending to be lame to get out of work' ( some people actually think their horses are clever enough to work this out).

In reality, out in the field with no weight/rider on it, a horse can adjust its weight to put itself in the most comfortable position possible. Hence what a lot of people consider 'field sound', however, with a rider on board, the ability to transfer their weight so freely becomes restricted and they often begin to show their lameness when they are unable to move how they need to in order to stay comfortable.

A highly thought of vet who specialised in lameness up at Leahurst once told me that you should never judge a horses soundness by what it's doing in the field.

 

[Goldenstar]

You might not be able to judge it's soundness but you can judge a horses quality of life particularly if you have known the horse a while .
And that's what you have to when you retire a horse in the field .
But people's setting of the bar is different .
I know people who keep horses to sore to lie down and think that's ok -I don't .
I know people who won't give pain relief but think it's ok to keep a retired horse sore in a field because it's retired - I don't .
I have no issue with people giving horses long well managed retirements but to often it's a case of I can't bear to put him to sleep but I can bear to watch him limb through the mud I don't have much time for people like that .

 

[ycbm]

A horse in a small amount of pain or discomfort can still enjoy food, socialising, movement and so forth like any other horse. It is just a question of balance. At some point the pain becomes more negative than the joys are positive. Same as with the kind of animal that reads books of course. If we PTS all horses that don't enjoy a good read you wouldn't have any sound pain free ones either

Why is it of any better to a horse to be alive and potentially in pain than simply to be dead? Does a horse actually care if it's alive or dead as long as it doesn't know it's going to die today? Is there really any inherent value in simply being alive, except to the owner?

 

[ycbm]

Well you must know more than my vet who gave him a full work up 6weeks ago when he had his Cushing diagnosis, who I asked if he required Bute and who said given he isn't stiff in trot once his muscles have warmed up (only in one hind leg might I add and is over tracking in walk at all times) and isn't lame in canter then no.

So I think I will go by the fact that he is only slightly short on one hind leg in trot for 20mins then tracks up fine on a joint supplement and my vet assessing him that he doesn't require it. As I said to YOU he is in pain, to those that know him he isn't.

I am NOT one of those who keeps a horse around past it's time, I am still not convinced that I'm going to keep him going on prascend as I don't believe in medicating to keep them here and my vet fully agrees with my thinking.

Blackbeastie I am sorry you were upset by my remarks. I made the comment because you said your horse has arthritis, and I have never met an animal with arthritis who can talk who was not in pain.

If I had a horse who tracked up short for twenty minutes and then came sound, I'm afraid my belief would be that he was in pain for those twenty minutes, or he wouldn't be short striding on it.

Maybe he is just stiff. But I've often over exerted myself in my life and been stiff later. I can't recollect ever being stiff without stiffness meaning pain when first moving after being still.

Clearly you feel that his quality of life is good, and equally clearly he is very well cared for. There are many horses in the country who would envy him, ridden and retired.

 

[ihatework]

Blackbeastie I am sorry you were upset by my remarks. I made the comment because you said your horse has arthritis, and I have never met an animal with arthritis who can talk who was not in pain.

If I had a horse who tracked up short for twenty minutes and then came sound, I'm afraid my belief would be that he was in pain for those twenty minutes, or he wouldn't be short striding on it.

Maybe he is just stiff. But I've often over exerted myself in my life and been stiff later. I can't recollect ever being stiff without stiffness meaning pain when first moving after being still.

Clearly you feel that his quality of life is good, and equally clearly he is very well cared for. There are many horses in the country who would envy him, ridden and retired.

Did they all take themselves over to Switzerland to do the deed?

 

[ycbm]

Did they all take themselves over to Switzerland to do the deed?

I've already said that I don't think you can compare a human who can look forward to new experiences with the groundhog day lived by a retired horse in a limited environment.

For me, there is a lot more reason for a human in pain to want to be alive than for any horse to want to be alive at all, in pain or not in pain. They aren't stood there planning next year's holiday or even tomorrow's breakfast.