What to do with lame horse?

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MagicMelon

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The horse I got given last year has very sadly gone lame on a front leg over the past few months and we've not managed to find an answer for it (vets/physio/farrier etc. - he's had x-rays but shows nothing like navicular/athritis and we've tried unshod and with heart bars and physio thought it was more his shoulder so has done work on that etc.). Bute trials have not made him sound either so its not pain related, just a mechanical lameness. He's not got better or worse. At 15yrs old, I think this is just how he is now. He's a wonderful horse, dream to do in all ways and extremely mannerly to ride so I'm seriously gutted about this! We were out competing well until this :(

I now have to consider what to do now. I already have 2 retired ponies and my last competition horse retired to grass due to injury so I cannot afford yet another field ornament, and I only really have horses to compete and I now have nothing to do that with. At 17.1hh he is also not really a companion (although lives out 24/7 perfectly, but due to his size I doubt anyone would want one this big?!). He's a superstar to hack and because he's not in pain - he is perfectly forward going and happy to walk along all day but in trot he is lame (although is happy to do so, if that makes sense but of course I dont want him to do that), so I was hoping to rehome him as this - a gentle hack, for someone to perhaps lead out youngsters with or to go out with their kids or something. I have advertised him (making it clear about the lameness thing in the first conversation) and one person has come so far to try him, they loved him but then decided they couldnt take the risk on the lameness. I totally understand that. But what do I do? I've had several people saying they understand about the lameness but might like to come see him anyway - but I just feel that this is going to happen over and over again with the same result! One person asked about loaning, which I would consider but I'm really worried that once he gets older, they'll want to give him back which is no good to me as by then I'd have another horse and couldn't take him back (due to space and finances)! He needs to go to a forever home as this horse really deserves that. I never intended to keep him permanently but took him on at the time purely to stop the worse fate that was about to happen to him otherwise.

He is a perfectly happy horse, he loves cantering round the field so its not like PTS is any option whatsoever. I'll keep him until I find him the perfect home, but how long will that be! Anyone else been in the same boat? If so, what did you do?? I'm going to forget how to ride at this rate :(
 
How lame is lame?

I might get shot down for saying this, but I don't necessarily think a slightly lame horse shouldn't be ridden - provided it is bright happy and keen. With size and temprement, what about a hunter? Not necessarily for a thruster, but maybe for someone that likes a quieter time at the back and/or a pack (moorland type) that doesn't need to jump

If it were my horse however, I'd be loaning it rather than selling. I appreciate that it isn't ideal if it gets returned but there are good homes out there and at least you have some chance of making sure the horse doesn't end up in a back end dealers.
 
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What a shame he is 15 or I would have suggested the blood bank as they take horses up to the age of 15 as long as they are field sound and over 16hh. I don't have anything constructive to add, except that I really sympathise. I have two field ornaments and no riding horse. I cannot afford a third as it would take up a valuable livery space. :(
 
Sadly you don't have too many options within your control, either take a break from riding and keep him in retirement for maybe 10+ years or PTS. You might get lucky with a loan home, don't right off the possibility of companion homes - little live on fresh air ponies are nightmare companions for big horses becasue their nutritional needs are so different.

only you can decide whether you can PTS - there are worse things than this for him.
 
couldn't you try a sanctuary like Redwings, Hillside, or even World Horse Welfare and see if one of them could give him a ratirement home? Just a thought.
 
skyrock said:
couldn't you try a sanctuary like Redwings, Hillside, or even World Horse Welfare and see if one of them could give him a ratirement home? Just a thought.
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I think it would be bad if we all decided to off load our horses onto these charities just because they can't do the job we want them for. After all, he is not really a welfare case as his owner can afford to keep him, but just cannot afford to get a riding horse as well as him. I currently have two such horses and cannot afford a riding horse unless one of the two goes. But I would not dream of trying to offload them onto a charity.

Sorry, I don't mean to come over as harsh, and I know your suggestion was meant in a kind way and you are thinking of the OP and her horse, but really, we have to take responsibility for our own animals.
 
Don't sell or give him away.
We all know what will happen.
He will be sold on.
You have no control over it unless you loan.

If he is in no pain then a hack of even a hunter could definitely work.

Also regardless of his size he could be a great companion to live out.
So try that.
 
I think there are homes out there for bigger companions, especially if he is easy to handle and lives out happily. You may also find someone wanting him as a gentle hack or for say their husband to ride occasionally where his size would be a plus, however if you sell or give him away you will never really know if the people are genuine or whether he will be sold on again etc, finding him a loan home would give you more control.

Have you looked at the horses4homes website? I registered on there to receive emails and they send emails out with some lovely horses on being totally honest about their problems and abilities and I believe that they also help with home inspections etc. might give you a wider audience of people to see the horse.
 
I was in this situation 18 months ago with my mare! The vet told me in no certain terms to have her PTS - I was disgusted at the time - turned her away - she came in after 3 months looking like a hat rack with mud fever up to her armpits! Took me almost 6 months to get her looking good again - tried to find her a companion/light hack home but had no interest apart from dodgy people - the best I got was a friend used to come out on a hack once a week with me and my other horse and give her a bit of TLC.

She was then PTS due to a kick in the field - I wished I had had her PTS all those months ago and saved myself all the heartache and remembered her as she was.

There are worse fates for a horse, and if you cannot/won't keep it or find it a suitable home then I think that is your way forward.
 
You know its crazy but an awful lot of owners take so much trouble to buy a sound horse and then never ride.

Every yard I've ever been on had had owners who love grooming and caring for their horses but avoid ever putting a saddle on them.

Why O why don't we see adverts for nice, well mannered but lame horse wanted. Owner has no intention to ride for more than a walk around the block once a month. In summer.

Then your lovely boy would have the perfect home.
 
Could you not find a cheap grass livery & keep him as a hack? It would be difficult & unfair to sell him on as (as you know) although it would be hard to find a suitable home due to increased possibility of future vet bills etc. could you not ask around to find someone looking to loan him as a light hack? Possibly an older person? Unfortunately I doubt the RDA would take him as I believe the are required to pass a 5 stage vetting. Personally if I was in your situation I would keep my horse as a hacking buddy to enable my partner to ride out with me. Maybe someone local might be willing to pay a small fee for the pleasure & independence of going out for lone hacking (as not usually offered by riding schools) this way they would not be responsible for vet fees etc, so possibly a more attractive prospect....just a couple of suggestions.
 
I would try advertising him as a companion, he sounds very similar to the old boy I have had as a companion, who sadly is off to the kennels shortly, but pony companions are no good to me. One that could be lightly ridden would be a real plus.
 
If you cannot keep him then i would PTS. I know it sounds harsh but if you have horses to compete and already have three other field ornaments and cannot afford another then really what else is there other than loaning which he may come back anyway or selling but with so many sound horses unable to sell the chances of a mechanically lame one selling is pretty much nil.

Sorry if it sounds harsh or nasty but just what I would do in your situation. i sold on a rehabbed tendon injury bu the mare was completely sound when ridden and also sold with new owner knowing her limitations.
 
You can sometimes find a companion home - as has been mentioned, he could make a fab husband-hack, or tbh I know people like myself who would struggle with a little pony companion as my horse is a poor doer who needs lots of grass!
 
I have a 17hh field ornament on loan from a charity. I don't want to ride anymore, and like the big horses, so she was perfect for me.

There are others out there like me, so don't discount it altogether:)
 
Fair point Wagtail, I was just thinking o the horses future and how Op could find some sort of happy endig for both of them.
 
Thanks guys. I should stress that I would never put a healthy happy horse down. He is perfectly happy so there's no way I'd consider it. I can easily keep him so its not a problem, just not ideal but he's still my responsibility. I do think there is someone out there who would give him a great home, its just finding it as obviously most people run a mile when I say he's lame (but then I am stressing in the advert that I want him to go as a "gentle hack" so you'd think people would guess from that (I dont say he's lame in the advert, but do in the very first conversation as I want to explain it!).

el-snowflakes - No, I'm not a happy hacker. I actually hate hacking (had too many incidents with past horses!) and competing is where my heart lies, I get really bored not competing. I also wouldn't do grass livery, pointless as I have enough room with them as they are, I just couldn't fit another one in.

A companion would suit him fine too, its just that he's competed all his life so I think he might get a little bored never being ridden again. He'd just like to pootle out alone the lanes every few days, even once a week. I know loads of people who only do that but still only ever consider 100% sound horses (like you said dogatemysalad!).

I wouldn't consider Redwings, ILPH etc. as its really nowhere near that serious! I believe they should only be used if someone literally cannot afford to keep their horse for example and have no other option. I'm just a bit gutted that I currently have 4 horses and ponies - 2 of which are retired and 2 others who can ONLY be walked about under saddle... :(

I don't think its unfair to pass him on to someone who genuinely would love to do the work he can do. I certainly dont think Im the only person in the world who can give him a good life. Im extremely picky about where I sell/rehome my horses to (I have turned down people in the past). And it would be written into any contract that he came back to me if needed (not ideal, but I would do this to ensure his future).

Thanks everyone - I guess I'll just keep advertising him and asking around, hopefully someone perfect will come along soon!
 
Sorry to hear of your situation. There definitely are genuine people out there who would be willing to take him on, despite his lameness issues. Finding that person may just take a little longer- but the right person will come along :) ...life has this funny way of sorting itself out so hang on in there.
 
MS123 said:
life has this funny way of sorting itself out so hang on in there.
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Thanks :) I've always been used to having young horses (as I love bringing on youngsters) and always something to be riding/competing, and suddenly I seem to have found myself with 4 horses/ponies, all 15yrs+ and all permanently retired or broken (my main horse injured himself last year and is now retired bar walking about and a few strides of trot). Funny how these things happen in one go. Guess I had a good run!
 
montanna said:
I was in this situation 18 months ago with my mare! The vet told me in no certain terms to have her PTS - I was disgusted at the time - turned her away - she came in after 3 months looking like a hat rack with mud fever up to her armpits! Took me almost 6 months to get her looking good again - tried to find her a companion/light hack home but had no interest apart from dodgy people - the best I got was a friend used to come out on a hack once a week with me and my other horse and give her a bit of TLC.

She was then PTS due to a kick in the field - I wished I had had her PTS all those months ago and saved myself all the heartache and remembered her as she was.

There are worse fates for a horse, and if you cannot/won't keep it or find it a suitable home then I think that is your way forward.
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I'm sorry if I misunderstand your post, but if I was turning a horse away there would be no way it would be coming in undernourished or with mud fever. How is that possible?
 
montanna said:
I was in this situation 18 months ago with my mare! The vet told me in no certain terms to have her PTS - I was disgusted at the time - turned her away - she came in after 3 months looking like a hat rack with mud fever up to her armpits! Took me almost 6 months to get her looking good again - tried to find her a companion/light hack home but had no interest apart from dodgy people - the best I got was a friend used to come out on a hack once a week with me and my other horse and give her a bit of TLC.

She was then PTS due to a kick in the field - I wished I had had her PTS all those months ago and saved myself all the heartache and remembered her as she was.

There are worse fates for a horse, and if you cannot/won't keep it or find it a suitable home then I think that is your way forward.
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I'm really not sure what point you are trying to make. Turning a horse away is not an excuse for neglect. I have many horses turned away, so to speak, and all are hands on checked a number of times daily. They are all kept in fab condition and any ailments they may pick up are cared for in exactly the same way as any other horse.

dogatemysalad said:
You know its crazy but an awful lot of owners take so much trouble to buy a sound horse and then never ride.

Every yard I've ever been on had had owners who love grooming and caring for their horses but avoid ever putting a saddle on them.

Why O why don't we see adverts for nice, well mannered but lame horse wanted. Owner has no intention to ride for more than a walk around the block once a month. In summer.

Then your lovely boy would have the perfect home.
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Oh this ^^ 100%. Half the horses on my farm are owned by people who love to groom and potter around with their horses and although they do ride occasionally, I'm blimmin sure that if they never rode those horses again then nothing would change and they'd be more than happy to continue to pony-patter.
 
Spring Feather said:
I'm really not sure what point you are trying to make. Turning a horse away is not an excuse for neglect. I have many horses turned away, so to speak, and all are hands on checked a number of times daily. They are all kept in fab condition and any ailments they may pick up are cared for in exactly the same way as any other horse.
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I'm so glad you picked up on this too. I commented earlier but it sounds much better coming from you!
 
I dont ride anymore but I would not be too willing to take on such a big horse or personally or knowingly one with health issues I dont have the money to start with one with health problems I have a contingency fund for PTS or small vet bills but wouldnt willingly take on such a huge possible financial burden. I have youngsters to show in hand so that wouldnt do me either Maybe there are people who dont want to ride that may take on a big lame horse but I doubt there will be many. So PTS of an elderly lame horse would seem the sensible option as that way he will never have to suffer again
 
I would loan her, then if he does come back you can make a decision then. Obviously check him regularly. He sounds like a nice chap who enjoys his life so seems no reason to pts if you can find someone willing to take him on loan. A lot of people wouldn't mind his size either (I wouldn't as have one a similar size who likes horses more than ponies!) as a companion!
 
windand rain said:
So PTS of an elderly lame horse would seem the sensible option as that way he will never have to suffer again
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Elderly? He's only 15 :confused3: I do agree with your other points though in that it might be tough finding someone who will admit to not wanting to ride and be happy to just groom and potter about with a horse in-hand. Even over here where this is a very common phenomenon the people buying the horses do seem to think that one day they will ride so they always buy horses that are sound just on the off chance that 10 years down the road they might want to hop on.
 
I know people who hack out, but only ever at a walk! So if you could find a loan home like this then let him go there, with the agreement that if the lameness progresses so he can't be ridden he either stays at the loan home in retirement, or you PTS. This would give him some chance of a few more ridden years.
 
Spring Feather said:
Sorry, I saw you'd posted the same after I sent my reply. Beggars belief, and I couldn't let it ride without saying something.
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No, I'm totally glad you commented. I was worried to say anything in case it was taken out of context but I needed to post. With someone as experienced as you there is so much more weight behind it :).

ETA: I wasn't commenting on the original post but remarking on the post about turning away, so sorry about any hijack.
 
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el_Snowflakes said:
Could you not find a cheap grass livery & keep him as a hack? It would be difficult & unfair to sell him on as (as you know) although it would be hard to find a suitable home due to increased possibility of future vet bills etc. could you not ask around to find someone looking to loan him as a light hack? Possibly an older person? Unfortunately I doubt the RDA would take him as I believe the are required to pass a 5 stage vetting. Personally if I was in your situation I would keep my horse as a hacking buddy to enable my partner to ride out with me. Maybe someone local might be willing to pay a small fee for the pleasure & independence of going out for lone hacking (as not usually offered by riding schools) this way they would not be responsible for vet fees etc, so possibly a more attractive prospect....just a couple of suggestions.
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I think he's a bit big for RDA anyway. I don't know what other groups are like, but pretty much all our riders have to be helped to mount and we don't use anything much over 15HH.

However the riding school we are based at does corporate team building days which include a hack through the woods suitable for non-riders. Perhaps something like that might suit him?
 
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