What on earth am I to do?

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trundle

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I took Ella on loan at the beginning of May. Right from the start I've loved riding her, she's given me lots of confidence back, and I've never felt unsafe on her. She took a little while to decide that she liked me, but i think we're really starting to bond. And now, she's lame and its because of arthritis in her knees.

My vet assures me its nothing at all I've done (she's been in VERY light work), this is jsut old age starting to show. Ella is currently sound on very strong joint supplements and Danilon, and the vet said i could start riding her again, very lightly.

Am I just being selfish, though? Would she be better off retired? There is also the issue that I feel ashamed at the thought of going back to her owner and saying, "here, your horse is broken, so you can have her back". I feel like one of those awful people who trash a horse while its on loan and then just dump it back on the owner. I mean, that really isn't the case. I had her back done, her teeth done, her vaccinations brought up to date, she's shod every six weeks on the dot, i've bought her a saddle and a few new rugs....I'm not neglecting her, and she's such a sweet horse, I do adore her.

But am i just deluding myself, hanging onto a horse that i can't really do much with, and certainly not what I hoped to be doing?
 
oh dear - very difficult situation. Have you discussed with owner? I am sure owner would want what is best for the mare anyway (particularly if she had loaned out in the first place rather than sold). If she felt that you and Ella arent now suited then she should reconsider a new home for her. its not your fault and you sound lovely and caring but I understand your predicament. Maybe there is a home for her which will just want her for a bit of light hacking....
 
what has the owner said about the whole situation? and what did you agree in your contract you would be doing with her- at the end of the day if you just want to hack then she'll be fine but if you took her on loan to event then i think you should arrange for her to go back- but you could maybe give the owner some time to sort something else out? sure there would be many people looking for just a light hack....
smile.gif
 
I was in a similar sitiuation at the beginning of this year. I took a horse on full loan and she got an abcess (2nd one) after draining etc, and becoming sound, she started to have remedial shoeing to help the shape of her feet etc. She had lost alot of condition when I got her (ex-racer) and after 6 months of owning her, I had to make a desision of whether she was really what I wanted?
I wanted a horse to compete on etc, but she came to me in poor condition (would have taken at least 1 year to be competition fit) had bad feet (colapse heels and flat feet) and had no tack (I paid for a made to measure saddle in the end)
After a heart to heart with my OH, he made me see I would be better off giving her back and looking for my own horse I could compete on straight away.

It was a tough decision, and her owner was more than understanding.
Have a chat with the owner, and explain your concerns and thoughts!
 
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I have to say, if it were my horse, I'd want her back with me. I suppose it depends on the owner.

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I agree with this. In the meantime I can recommend magnet boots to help with pain management. I have used them very successfully for arthritis, after they were recommended by a friend and another friend is now using them on her arthritic 16 yr old mare, who is much less stiff with them. Her vet also says that the mare is better ridden to keep her moving but her jumping days are over.
 
Well, I've spoken to her owner now, and i feel loads better for it.

Yes, i would like something to compete on, but realistically, i'm not a great rider and i have neither the time nor the funds to compete right now. I am just about up to light hacking, so I will keep her on for now, assuming she can stay sound for that job. If she can't stay sound for even light work, then her owner and I agree that she will go home, and her owner will find a retirement home for her.

I am certainly in no rush to off-load her, and even if she couldn't be ridden, I'd be happy to give her owner a couple of months to find somewhere new for her.

In the meantime, i will look into getting those magnetic boots....
 
sometimes light work and suitable palliative care (danilon/bute and joint supps) can help the horse to cope better with arthritis than just being turned out and allowed to grow old.

working the joints gently stimulates the body to produce more joint fluid as lubrication for the joint - obviously too much and she'll seem more sore.
 
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