What should I do for the best???? Sorry LONG

Spyda

Spyda

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I have a yearling filly and her in foal dam. My dilema is what to do with one or the other of them.

I took my filly to The Grange Futurity - she was awarded a Second Premium (Eventing) but does have a major fault with her front legs. The filly has bench knees and has recently started to point her toes inwards (xrays last week show the deviation from straight, down through the centre of her forearm to the centre of her canon below the knee, IS significant; an angle of 185 degrees (instead of 160 degrees). The bones in her long and short pasterns are also slightly malformed. See photo here of filly:

Claudy

If I leave the yearling as she is (i.e. at grass with just regular trims by our local farrier) - it's likely she wont even make it as a decent riding horse/hack. The only alternative is remedial shoeing (at about £160 per set someone said
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), plus regular cost of xrays, transport to and from remedial farrier, etc. This will not correct her, but should result in her being rideable. To what extent I do not know but it's perferable to leaving her as she is to deteriorate.

I still have the filly's dam, now 4.5 months in foal to homozygous coloured stallion Cutsdean Centurion but I cannot afford to keep both my in-foal mare AND the yearling now it needs the costly remedial farriery.

My husband is demading that one or the other goes, and goes soon. Problem is, which do I keep? I just don't know what to do. I want a nice young horse to bring on, which I can show a bit and jump locally and that will be a nice competitive all-rounder for my sons to ride too. My yearling would have been ideal, but with her front legs is it worth (as my husband puts it) throwing good money after bad with the remedial farriery? She's a beautiful little horse, but I've no experience of her problem and only hear negative about her condition. If I keep the broodmare instead, hopefully next year's foal will be straight and sound but as we all know a lot can happen between now and a healthy weanling foal. Ideally I'd keep them both, but really can't now. We're already living off an overdraft and with four young sons to raise I've got to be practical (and fair). If the filly hadn't suddenly needed this extra expenditure our plan was to keep the broodmare and sell next years coloured foal.

But do I even have an option here???? I'm thinking, even if I wanted to sell my yearling would there be a market for her? Doubtful anyone would breed from her and unless she has the expensive remedial farriery she might not even make it as a riding horse.

Can someone detatched, please advise me? I feel like crying.

**** Big hug for getting this far....... *****
 
Unfortunately, at livery. I keep the filly on a private yard which has a spare stable. Costs £15/pw to rent the stable + all other expenses on DIY. Because I cannot keep my broodmare with the filly, she's on grass livery at stud. Costs £3.50/day but includes winter feeding, foaling down, etc.

Last year, I kept the mare and unweaned foal with a friend but out of the blue her landlord passed away and she lost the lease on her yard. My huband and I tried everything we could to find a local place to move the horses to. We were even happy to take on a sheltered field but there was absolutely nothing around here. Luckily I found the private yard with a space, so move the filly there and returned the mare to stud.

I was just arguing with my husband over the phone an hour ago, asking again why we can't find some winter grazing somewhere - but he reminded me that we'd already tried that for several months last year, without any success whatsoever. We've driven round, asked around, advertised - but nothing came to light.
 
What a desperate situation, you have a beautiful filly who may or may not become a riding horse at additional expense.

If I'm honest it doesn't sound too promising, but its heartbreaking, and for me i would have to see how she progresses as she develops, if she becomes a hack thats fine and if not but she is not in pain then she would be a field ornament.
 
Yes.... and a VERY expensive field ornament at that. Deep sigh... now you see why I could just sit here and cry.
 
If one absolutely HAS to go, keep the mare in foal. It'll put you a year behind for your desired riding horse but at least there's a chance it'll be fine whereas your yearling's already broken.

Sounds like your husband's just trying to be practical, there's no point arguing about the inevitable.
 
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Yes.... and a VERY expensive field ornament at that. Deep sigh... now you see why I could just sit here and cry.

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Well being dispassionate about it - the yearling sounds as if it won't ever be fit to work - so have it destroyed, and cut your losses.

However, having a heart - did you breed her with the intention of having three horses (Broodmare, foal, and this one)? If the answer is yes - then she deserves the chance and I would be giving her remedial farrery. If the farrier won't come to you - change him.

As for the rest - who pays for the horses you or your husband - or both? If it's both, then of course his views count. If it's you - then they don't.

What a horrid situation.
 
I think you have to decide whether the filly has any realistic chance of a useful life, if she doesn't, then the kindest thing you can do for her, is to have her PTS in a controlled way. It is a heartbreaking thing, but sometimes breeding is like that.

Not every foal is born perfect. As the person responsible for bringing her into this world, you owe it to her to make the right decision, if you give her away, she could end up on a lorry to god knows where.
 
Who has told you remedial farriery will cost £160? My regular farrier does remedial work and has done so on my horse who had laminitis. Although he had slight pedal bone rotation, within a year his feet were as good as new. He actually shoes on the Great Britian team, so they don't come any better. He only charged me about £10 extra than a normal set of shoes. He just visited as normal. What is your vets opinion re your filly? That's the crucial opinion and have you spoken to a remedial farriery, there is a web site with all registered farriers on and they should tell you one in your area.
My heart really aches for you. I am sure we have all shed more tears over horses and poorly pets in general than we have over all the other stuff that life throws our way.
Trouble is once your husband gets a bee in his bonnet, that doesn't help at all. Mine interferes (in a nice way) with every aspect of my life, but knows better when it comes to the horse. Having said that he does make his opinion felt, then backs off. The very best of luck and a big hug X
 
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Who has told you remedial farriery will cost £160?

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I must admit - this did cross my mind. I think the fact that the word remedial is being used goes to some farriers heads.

All shoeing is remedial - admitedly some more so than others - why that means the price is hiked up beats me.
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Quote from Amy -

"Well being dispassionate about it - the yearling sounds as if it won't ever be fit to work - so have it destroyed, and cut your losses.

However, having a heart - did you breed her with the intention of having three horses (Broodmare, foal, and this one)? If the answer is yes - then she deserves the chance and I would be giving her remedial farrery. If the farrier won't come to you - change him.

As for the rest - who pays for the horses you or your husband - or both? If it's both, then of course his views count. If it's you - then they don't.

What a horrid situation".

I totally agree with this I'm afraid. If filly is as bad as you say, then she won't be a breeding prospect either so she will just be a very expensive ornament.
However, I know what my vet would suggest is to turn filly away and give her time to develop at the same time having her trimmed correctly every four weeks and not over doing her with feed in the hope that a lot of it is just growth related and will come a lot better if not right completely. But to do that, you need to find somewhere to turn her away of course; could she swap places with your mare at the stud as most do a discounted rate for long term boarders? Whereabouts are you as someone on here might know of places you've never even heard of?
Have you any pictures of her which show how bad she is that you can put up?
 
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<font color="red">Whereabouts are you as someone on here might know of places you've never even heard of?

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East Devon

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<font color="red">Have you any pictures of her which show how bad she is that you can put up?

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Futurity
 
Re: cost of the remedial farriery. It was my regular farrier who said it would/could cost this much when he trimmed the broodmare this morning. The filly will have to have special shoes glued on, so the feet need to be super clean for the glue to stick, plus she may need to be xrayed after the shoes are fitted - all which adds time to the farrier's visit. Hence anticipated cost my farrier rekons.

That said, I HAVE telephoned my vet this afternoon and left a message for him to telephone me back when he gets a mo. I want to ascertain exactly how much the remedial shoes will cost per set, how frequently she will need them redone and find out how long does she'll need them for this initial stage. I also want to ask him again EXACTLY how successful he thinks the remedial work will be for Claudy. He knows I bred her to event so I do think his benchmark has been against that criteria, so when he says the finished results probably aren't going to impress me - maybe he means in that she won't be jumping round Badminton during her lifetime - but, hey, I already know that
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However, having a heart - did you breed her with the intention of having three horses (Broodmare, foal, and this one)?

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No, as my TB mare had been out of work for past 3 years - prior to producing Claudy (entirely my fault - not her's) - I put her back in foal with a view to selling her next summer with the coloured foal at foot, or perhaps just selling the foal if it were really nice and covering her again. We were really pleased with Claudy initially and our intention was always to keep her to produce, but obviously that's altered now her leg problems have materialised. Now, instead of selling the mare and/or foal, we wonder whether we should plan to retain the coloured foal next year and cut our losses with Claudy (
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). The added complication of financial problems has arisen because my friend lost the tenancy on her yard last winter and the filly now requires the additional remedial treatments, plus regular xrays, etc. Seems luck is just against us at the moment.


 
STILL haven't heard back from the vet. Grrrrr....
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I wont know how much the shoeing is going to cost until he gets back to me. Wish he'd hurry up and put me out of my misery.
 
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STILL haven't heard back from the vet. Grrrrr....
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I wont know how much the shoeing is going to cost until he gets back to me. Wish he'd hurry up and put me out of my misery.

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Call him!
 
I know! Thanks. But he's a busy man totally oblivious to my wracked nerves. Everytime I call he's out or in consultation. Assume he'd have rung me back if he had the answers I want. Maybe he's not yet collared the remedial farrier? Maybe farrier's on holiday??? Dunno, but sure wish I could be put out of my misery here
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At last!!! Finally got hold of the vet this morning. Told me that the reason I hadn't been able to contact the remedial farrier was because he's been ill. Ah, okay.

Ask him about my filly.

<font color="red"> How much for the remedial shoes? </font>

Farrier fee alone is about £60 for stick ons, or £70 for nailed on ones.

(Plus whatever vet charges for being present initially and discussing xrays etc with the farrier, plus subsequent xrays &amp; consultation fees to determin progress, I assum)

<font color="red">How often will the remedial shoes need to be re-fitted?</font>

More frequently than 'regular' shoes, as the remedial ones are inclined to come off!

<font color="red">So, wouldn't it be best to use the nail on shoes then?</font>

No, because you need a decent amount of foot to nail onto and your filly's feet aren't the biggest are they; and, in anycase, the nail on ones don't stay on any longer than the stick on shoes in my opinion. Would be better to start off with the stick ons and see how things go.

<font color="red">How long will she have to have the remedial shoes fitted?</font>

At least a couple of months. Longer depending on speed of outcome. Hard to say until treatment starts.

<font color="red">What exactly will the horse be fit for if we proceed with the remedial shoeing and it is successful, in your opinion?</font>

Well, she wont make an event horse.

<font color="red">Will she make a decent riding horse?</font>

Can't promise that, but the less you do with her the better the prognosis.

<font color="red">So there is a chance the treatment won't work and she won't be fit for riding? Money is an issue for us, and I am trying to establish whether or not we should proceed or simply cut our loses and have her put to sleep.</font>

Well, I think putting her to sleep is a bit drastic! Wouldn't suggest that.

<font color="red">Yes, but I might end up having all the remedial work done and not even end up with a hacking horse or broodmare at the end of it?</font>

Yes, possibly, although I would hope not. She'll probably end up being okay for someone to enjoy hacking about on. Like I say, less hard work she is asked to do, the better the outcome it likely to be in the long term. But I really cannot guarantee the outcome.

<font color="red">In your opinion is her condition congenital?</font>

Hard to say. Schools of thought vary. Some say it can be caused by how the foal lies in the womb, others recon it's genetic. As neither your mare or the stallion have the condition I really wouldn't like to guess, but as your broodmare suffered plancental abruption 3 months into her pregnancy and the filly did not received 100% nutrition in the womb for the duration of her gestation, this might have be a influencing factor in how her front joints have developed. Hard to say whether she'd pass the conformation on if you bred her.

<font color="red">So when do you think the farrier will be able to see her and start the remedial work?</font>

I'm seeing him later today about another horse. I'll try and set something up for next week.

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Hmmmmm..... am I any further forward in deciding what would be BEST to do? Duno.

However, watched the filly yesterday as my four little boys rushed out of the car to wrap their arms around her head and neck as she looked out over her stable door. Ears pricked, happily nuzzling everyone and accepting their cuddles happily. Decided that I'd better give her a chance. They love her and she's got the sweetest nature around them. Deep sigh.... guess I'd better start praying the 'treatment' works and that I win the lottery in the next couple of months. Haven't got the money to get the treatment done, but that's just a bridge I'll have to cross...... Gosh, and with Christmas coming up too!!! Better warn the kids that Santa's a bit skint this year LOL
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So when do you think the farrier will be able to see her and start the remedial work?

I'm seeing him later today about another horse. I'll try and set something up for next week.

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Ok, so that knock's one expense off the list - they will be meeting today, so vet will not need to be present when the horse is shod.

Exactly what are the shoes that are being fitted??? Can't get my head round that one. Are they metal?

You may only need another set of x-rays in say 3 or 4 moths time - so not every few weeks. And they could be your last set for some time.

Is she insured??
 
Yes, see what you're saying about the vet seeing the farrier today and discussing Claudy, but I bet you 100 to 1 that vet will still be there next week. Farrier and I are meeting up at vets practice. Expect the filly will need sedation during the cleaning and fitted process.

The glue on extensions she's having are plastic. Haven't a clue what they are going to look like yet. My own farrier says they are tricky to fit as they are stuck to the hoof with something similar to Super Glue. Means the hoof must be absolutely immaculate for decent adhesion to be created. Guess that's why the stick on shoes are prone to falling off!

I assume the plastic extention can also be fabricated in metal and nailed on, but as my yearling has such small feet at this stage (and not much excess growth either due to the hard ground around here) I understand that nailing shoes on probably wouldn't work very well either.
 
Yeah, reckon that's my best option too. I'll give her over winter to improve and see how she is at 2 yrs. The knee growth plates will be finished by then, so I am assuming we'll know exactly what we're going to end up with by then. Fingers crossed it's not all going be a waste of time and money though. Just know what my luck is like......

Still got to decide what to do with my in-foal broodmare though. Even my husband is keen to see the coloured she's going to throw next March. If only I could find some pasture to rent with water and shelter, to winter her out more cheaply than keeping her at stud. Ideally I'd send the filly away to winter out with other babies, but with the regular trips being needed to the remedial farrier, it probably isn't a good idea to send her off anywhere. We need her close to home. Also, want to keep a beady eye on her extensions once they are fitted. Hope to keep them on for as long as possible between scheduled fittings!
 
Not at the moment as I have been waiting to speak to the vet. Was hoping he'd make the decision easier for me.

I think Tallyho_2 is over Tiverton way which is about 30-35 miles from me. Didn't want to impose Tallyho_2 with another horse to look after over winter. I wouldn't be able to get over there more than once a week, at best, so wouldn't be able to do the broodmare myself. Would hate to ask anyone to do that for me...
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Well, no. Shifting filly away wouldn't help for the reason of having to ferry her over to remedial farrier every few weeks. Plus I need to keep her fairly confined to keep the shoes on for the time she's got to have them on. Best I keep her close to home to manage her leg problems for the the next few months. It's the broodmare at grass at stud I need to relocate or sell.
 
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