What to do?

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MissHocusPocus

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My mare had an operation on her tendon as she had a hole and tear in the tendon on the fetlock, so very hard to heal, they operated on it and gave her a 40% chance of becoming sound, six months on and she is still not sound and it is hot and puffy sometimes pretty much every other day..

I spend £250 on her every month and I really do not know what to do, she is 16.2 shire xtb so too big for a companion, no breeding lines although a nice mare so wouldnt be very good as a broodmare + the extra pressure on her tendons..

I cant ride her obviously and I really do need something to ride but cannot afford two..

what would you do?
 
Find grass livery somewhere cheaper, chuck her out and leave her for a year to see if she comes right. During that time I'd get another one on loan to ride or a cheapie to bring on.
 
Only you can decide what to do but as you seem to be saying she can't be kept as can't be ridden, then looks like you are leaving PTS as your only option.

6months isn't that long for a tendon injury, but guess depends if she is comfortable or not.
 
What does your vet say? I'm assuming they told you prior to the surgery that 12 - 18 months recovery time from tendon injuries / surgery is quite normal?

Don't envy your position but given you put the mare through the surgery I think you owe it to her to give her enough time to see if she'll come good.

If you don't want to / can't afford to spend the money waiting to see if she will come right then you have two options realistically:- sell for peanuts to an uncertain future or pts.
 
How old is she?
If she's not too old I would be inclined to not be too hasty and see if she progresses through spring/summer, then if theres no improvement you will have that very tough decision to make then.
It seems as though you may be seeking justification in deciding to have her pts, in which case I don't think anybody would hold that against you. Nobody would want to see a horse living day to day in pain.
It is a tough decision to which there is no easy option so don't be too hasty and I'm sure whatever you decide will be for the best.
 
to add, how long ago did they operate? My own Shire X Tb mare was seven months on box rest with a less than 24% chance of coming right. She is now fine and enjoying her life greatly.

Edited to add. Work was done in September 2011 and you were advised on your post in Veterinary of timescales of 15 months and two years.

Personally I'd turn her away and get something else with the intention of bringing her back in slowly in 2013.
 
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I would be inclined to agree with Dee O' Dorant turn her away and see what happens and find yourself something to exercise/loan/cheap to have over the summer. Six months isn't really very long for a tendon injury. My mare did a tendon sheath she had 20% chance of coming sound when came out of surgery and 40% thereafter it took me nine months to bring her back into work and she didn't canter for a year (well with me on board anyway) or jump for a year and a half.
 
Thanks for the responses, no I wouldnt pts- she is my baby! she is 13, think thats what I shall do then- find a cheap field and turn her away, no other option really!

Yep the recovery time is long, but it has got worse than what it was two months ago with heat in etc, the vets said there is nothing more I can do and its just a waiting game now, very depressing when you get your hopes up for then to bring her in and it be back to square one!

she was 24/7 stable for 3 months then turned out in small paddock kept in at night
 
MissHocusPocus said:
Thanks for the responses, no I wouldnt pts- she is my baby! she is 13, think thats what I shall do then- find a cheap field and turn her away, no other option really!

Yep the recovery time is long, but it has got worse than what it was two months ago with heat in etc, the vets said there is nothing more I can do and its just a waiting game now, very depressing when you get your hopes up for then to bring her in and it be back to square one!

she was 24/7 stable for 3 months then turned out in small paddock kept in at night
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Ive also got a lame horse so I know how devastating it is, how did she do her tendon?
 
Certainly, if you can, go for the retirement livery option and turn her away for a good year to 18 months. You should be able to find something pretty cheap near you and just rough her off.

A work colleague of mine had a mare that had a very nasty injury in the field to a tendon. She got loss of use and retired the mare to the field for 18 months or so and she came sound. You have to really rough them off though so no stabling or work of any kind.
 
they think it was a huge impact so she must have done it in the field whilst messing around.. must have caught her back leg on her front and tore it! It really is gutting.. my first horse - had her two years today and she has been lame a year of it..
xx
 
if it helps my mare when seriously backwards about five months after her operation seeing her sound in trot seemed like some kind of distant dream she was 13 too (she's now 26). I would see what happens with Dr. Grass tendon injuries are just a horrid waiting game in the end sometimes. My mare also injured herself in the field (not fair) hugs
 
MissHocusPocus said:
they think it was a huge impact so she must have done it in the field whilst messing around.. must have caught her back leg on her front and tore it! It really is gutting.. my first horse - had her two years today and she has been lame a year of it..
xx
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I can totally understand, I've only had mine since october and since boxing day he has been lame 4 times, crippled one day (after 30 mins work) but sound the next. Vets coming on thursday to scan the his ligaments so hopefully get to the bottom of things.

Its horrible isnt it, I know how you feel x:(
 
What a shame for all this to happen with your first horse. Bad luck! I'm another who would turn away for the whole summer somewhere as flat as you can find, and cross your fingers. You may get someone who would give you free grazing as a companion - I know a few people who are desperate for company for their horses..
 
Fingers crossed for you.

Many years ago I was given a 14 yr TB as a hack after he had spend most of his life hunting and then had tendon surgery. After 18mnths off, most of which he spent munching in the field, he came back into work totally sound. He also had the most dreadful flat feet and pedostitis, oh, and he'd been hobdayed years earlier too! He wasn't up to a lot of fast work but was more than capable of hacking round the district 3 or 4 times a week.

Don't give up - she'll hopefully surprise you and give you years of fun together.
 
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