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pollymouse88

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So I have had my mare almost 6 months now and always going really well which included a win at a local show jumping. When I had her the vet checked her out flexion and everything and I said can I jump her and he said can't see why not just take it carefully (which I have done). But 6 weeks ago she went lame not sure how but came in from the field limping (making me think she did it there). She is now on and off lame on the left side both fore and hind. The vet has now said he would suggest we turn her in to a hacker and show pony which I agree with. I love this pony to death I get upset even when she walks in lame, she has taught me so much these last 6 months and I owe her everything as I am now back to riding the big boys with confidence even when they have their moments. Now here is my dilemma my other boy is 18hh he is only 6 and has plenty of learning room to jump etc but if I was to have a nasty fall off of him I am concerned my confidence would sky rocket downwards. I have always been a show jumper and I know he is too big to produce the times so looking to do either dressage, hunters or possibly eventing. I don't have the option to get rid of either of them and thats nothing to do with how much I love them but they both have reasons why I have them. So my dilemma is more of a what if I fall off the big one jumping and I don't have an alternative.

1) One shall I just see how it all pans out with him and then if I do fall off see how I feel? (the only thing that concerns me is that I will have nothing to regain my confidence with and will have to find something)
2) Shall I have a look for a third one thats smaller and more of a school master/mistress that can still jump but maybe not want to compete as much and sort of be my warm up for me and my 18hh.

Now I have written this all out it doesn't seem to be as much of a dilemma as it seemed in my head - it seems pathetic really. I think my major concern is loosing my confidence and not having her to bounce back up. I know I will still have her for hacking but that is all, I love this mare and i would do anything to make her life better. I have considered putting her out on loan etc but I love her too much couldn't bear to see her leave me and also her best friend will miss her too much I just can't separate them.

Round of appaulause if you got to the end of my not so much dilemma!
 
Can I ask what the Mares diagnosis was for a vet to say turn her into a happy hacker only?
I would not be happy with this unless I had a difinitive reason as to why she is going lame- having been there myself! My mare went lame from the field, went in for full work up, nerve blocks, x-rays etc and was diagnosed with ringbone, sidebones and DJD. Vet suggested happy hacker but this hasn't been the case and she is currently coming back to full work and is totally sound, I just need to be careful of the ground etc and not over doing it!
You need a bit more of an answer than that from the vet I think...

Good luck! :)
 
baker190 said:
Can I ask what the Mares diagnosis was for a vet to say turn her into a happy hacker only?
I would not be happy with this unless I had a difinitive reason as to why she is going lame- having been there myself! My mare went lame from the field, went in for full work up, nerve blocks, x-rays etc and was diagnosed with ringbone, sidebones and DJD. Vet suggested happy hacker but this hasn't been the case and she is currently coming back to full work and is totally sound, I just need to be careful of the ground etc and not over doing it!
You need a bit more of an answer than that from the vet I think...

Good luck! :)
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It's her arthritis and her age (21), I think the other owners were not letting on as much as they should of as well. Wear and tear he called it. I would love to have the full work up on her but without insurance and lack of money and the fact she would find that very stressful I would rather turn her to a happy hacker and she will be more than happy. I am hopefully with some bute and some slow exercise in the school on flat she might become fully sound but with me and my 6 year old now trudging on quite a bit cause she has been off so long. I never over do it I did the whole I know you can jump we will only jump when we are out competing and only jump 2ft.

I kinda wished that vet hadn't come out cause I struggle to understand him, but I needed a bit more answer than I got. Hope this fills in the holes.
 
At 21 I wouldn't say she was "old" and I personally think that an arthritic horse should be kept moving whilst it can as this would be more beneficial in my mind. My mare, for example, has DJD (Degenerative Joint Disorder- Arthritis) and taking her out of work for a while while we were getting the diagnosis meant I had a lame horse as she was "seazing up"! Now she is barefoot and coming into full work and I have never seen her move so well :o And she is only on a tiny bit of bute after work which we are weaning her off of completely at the moment.

You are right to slow her down but I would personally keep her going as best you can all the time she is sound! :)
 
I have a friend with a 6 year old 18hh+ horse who is proving very successful jumping and winning plenty of classes he does into, no reason why yours can't be successful.
 
astonsmummy said:
I have a friend with a 6 year old 18hh+ horse who is proving very successful jumping and winning plenty of classes he does into, no reason why yours can't be successful.
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Its not whether he can be successful its whether my nerves and confidence can hold if I was to fall off. He is such a baby he was well schooled but he is very human orientated and I have to reassure him all the time.
 
baker190 said:
At 21 I wouldn't say she was "old" and I personally think that an arthritic horse should be kept moving whilst it can as this would be more beneficial in my mind. My mare, for example, has DJD (Degenerative Joint Disorder- Arthritis) and taking her out of work for a while while we were getting the diagnosis meant I had a lame horse as she was "seazing up"! Now she is barefoot and coming into full work and I have never seen her move so well :o And she is only on a tiny bit of bute after work which we are weaning her off of completely at the moment.

You are right to slow her down but I would personally keep her going as best you can all the time she is sound! :)
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We didn't think she was old either but of course compared to my spritely 6 year old she is incredibly calm and well behaved. The issue with taking her out still is that she gets really excited so bucks and rears when she is out and about so would concern she will do more damage to herself with excitement.

I will take her as she comes for the minute she is quite happy in the field with her best friend. Her best friend was getting stressed recently when I took her out even though there is others in the field.

She is in good condition and has wintered very very well so she isn't fighting being thin or anything so its just the lameness.
 
If I were in your position, I'd not want to jump an arthritic horse on bute to keep it sound either at 21. But I would have the necessary work up to find out how best to keep her pain free. It doesn't have to cost thousands, but once you know what stage the arthritis is at, its easier to tailor a routine that will benefit her most. I think where possible older horses are far better in light work.
Then as far as riding goes, ideally loaning a schoolmaster type for you, or having some lessons somewhere to build your confidence. You may not want either of yours to move away, but you might be able to find either a sharer or someone to loan from your yard with one or even both of yours, once you know what level of work the mare is best to do.
 
littlelegs said:
If I were in your position, I'd not want to jump an arthritic horse on bute to keep it sound either at 21. But I would have the necessary work up to find out how best to keep her pain free. It doesn't have to cost thousands, but once you know what stage the arthritis is at, its easier to tailor a routine that will benefit her most. I think where possible older horses are far better in light work.
Then as far as riding goes, ideally loaning a schoolmaster type for you, or having some lessons somewhere to build your confidence. You may not want either of yours to move away, but you might be able to find either a sharer or someone to loan from your yard with one or even both of yours, once you know what level of work the mare is best to do.
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I have lessons weekly on my 18hh there is no problem with my confidence at the moment. My instructor thinks we make a great combination. He had a little temper tantrum the other day with me and I just was like get on with it. It am more concerned if I was to loose confidence off of him but I am hoping we will develop together and if I do fall off it won't be too much of an issue. I think at the moment it is see how we go. I might have to get a smaller one as mine don't fit in the box so looking at alternatives to travel arrangements at the moment!
 
pollymouse88 said:
I have lessons weekly on my 18hh there is no problem with my confidence at the moment. My instructor thinks we make a great combination. He had a little temper tantrum the other day with me and I just was like get on with it. It am more concerned if I was to loose confidence off of him but I am hoping we will develop together and if I do fall off it won't be too much of an issue. I think at the moment it is see how we go. I might have to get a smaller one as mine don't fit in the box so looking at alternatives to travel arrangements at the moment!
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I think you are worrying about things that might never happen. :)

If the instructor thinks you are a great combination and his temper tantrums don't bother you then I can't see what the problem is?
You can lose confidence on a pony as easily as on an 18hh, it is just that the ground is further away, but I find that the larger horses are usually a bit more predictable and tend to do everything slightly slower than the sharper smaller horses, so in some ways are easier.
 
Dont live your life thinking what if! Go ahead, do it, and IF the worst happens, you will deal with it.
 
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