what would u do if your horse only has 30% chance of bein ridden again

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Mel1

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hia,

I have always ridden and always wanted a horse, after 15years, i finally spent all my money and bought my first horse, and to me she is perfect, everthing I am looking for in a horse (except the crib bitting).. we have had so much fun together and I am SOOO in love with her. she passed 5star vetting - and for a year everything was just getting better and better.
Until, troube started and after so many vet examination and test etc. last week, I have been told to give her 6months off (she's already has had 2month off) but it's not looking very good, even if she does come sound, the biggest problem is in her back and she probably only has 30% chance of being ridable again.
she is now 9, and she's not suffering or anything, the problem is only when she is ridden
I am trying to stay positive and think she's gonna get better but I cant help thinking about what would I do if she doesn get better. What am I going to do with her?
I love my horse but I also love riding, I am still at uni and still have 2years to go; and i can just barely afford one horse.

It's killing me, on one hand I will never ever ever sell her because I love her too much, but on the other hand, I cant stand the thought of her being retired and stop riding.
at the moment she's so full of life, and I can see she's getting bored not doing anything.
I try to ride some of my friend's horses, but it's not the same.

a very tempting option would be to put her on foal when I have got the money to do it. she is quite good looking - good conformation- very nice temperament... and at least that would give her/me something to do
but I really dont think I have got the experience and skills to bring on a foal and then young horse. plus it would mean 4 years before I start riding again!

any suggestion or people that have been in the same situation

everynight when I go to bed I say to myself, dont worry she's gonna be fine, in 6 months time it will be all over and everything will be back to normal again - but what if not...
 
Oh bugger Mel1, what an awful time you and your girl are going through. I can't give you all the answers I'm afraid, I only wish I could. I know this sounds totally random but as well as resting your girl what about reiki & accupuncture? I've heard both treatments can be very beneficial for back problems. Lots of love & hugs to you both, be brave and listen to your heart. Sxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Oh dear that is a dilemma
frown.gif


What exactly is wrong with her back?
 
sacroiliac joint - physio- chiropractor didnt do any good, but there is not only that she's also has also low grade hind and front lameness that might have caused the back problem.
thank god the hind lameness seems to be a lot better, but I've been told that she needs rest to be sound before we can do any work on her back
in desperation, yes i heard of reiki, and will try it if it is affordable
thanks a lot for your support i really need it
XXX
 
Hi there, I feel very sorry for you. Unfortunately if the vet has said there is that little chance then they are probably right (From 1st had experience unfortunately). However a foal could be a good idea, I've heard that it can help mares recover from injury. All the best,
 
A friend of mine had a gelfiing with lameness issues (can't remember exactly what) and she was told he had only about a 30 - 40 % chance of coming sound. Needless to say she was heart broken.
However she did exactly what the vet told her to do. Box rest, followed by limited turn out followed by normal turnout. Very slowly brought back into work. Walk only in straight lines for 6 weeks, trot (little bits building up) in straight lines only again for 6 weeks.

A year later he is still sound and has been starting to jump this summer and compete at local level dressage comps again.

It can be done in some cases. Wish you all the best
 
I had a very similar scenario to you, a little while ago. My beloved pony I have on loan damaged his shoulder ligament, rendering him lame for months. I was DESPERATE to get going on him- we'd just began to get somewhere when he went lame, but every time I got on him to see how he was, he still wasn't sound, or was stiff, at least. The part that I've experienced too is that we couldn't afford two horses, and I wouldn't give him up for the world! Yet also, I wanted to compete. It upset me to see all my friends going off to compete and have fun when I was still stuck at the yard with a stiff lame pony.

In the end, I began to ride (not loan/own) another horse at the same time, to give Bramble the time off he needed to recover and me the chance to compete again and have some fun without being left out. Now Bramble is sound, just some days he comes out a little stiff if it's cold or the ground is particularly deep or hard. I'm just very careful- if I go out to compete and the ground is rock solid, I'll just stay small, and always warm up/cool down well.

Not sure how any of that will help, but thought it may help for you to know that other people have had heartbreaking things like that happen too- you're not alone! =D

Personally what I'd do is look out for a horse that needs exercising that maybe you could ride for a while as your mare is getting better? Then maybe you could review the situation, and remember it's a 30% CHANCE, not definate, just a chance. In some ways 30% can be as likely as 99%!

Good luck hun, PM me if you want to chat

xxx
 
Have you thought of putting her to the blood bank for 12 months. They are kept safe and sound like a herd of cattle, but remember they are herd animals.
 
I don't see an alternative apart from giving her the 6 months off suggested and then see how she is at the end. Only then can you make a decision, given the facts at that time.

As for her boredom, she's got no choice in the matter so it is up to you to try to eleviate the boredom for her, don't ask me how, but I am sure there's plenty of advice on here for you to take.

If I was in the same boat I would be happy to retire my boy. Riding is not the be all and end all to me, he is though. I get a great deal of pleasure from looking after him, walking him out inhand and spending time with him.

Going down the foal route will be financially draining, time consuming and you won't be able to ride for a long, long time.

Alternatively, in the event the news is not good, perhaps she could be loaned as a companion.

The bottom line is, I guess, if she does not fulfil your requirements and she is unhappy being a field ornament and no alternative can be found such as companion do you have her PTS? Only you know whether this is an option to be thought about.

I do hope things are not so bad as they seem and wish you good luck. xxx
 
I was in a similar position to you 3 years ago. My horse split his DDFT and had bone spavin.

I was told he would not be ridden again, that he would be on danilon so he would be sound in the field.

He had time off work, in a small turnout paddock. He started to be walked out in hand. He did so well, that I started riding him for 10 minutes with the vets advice and we are now back to hacking and light schooling 3 years on.

Give your mare time and see how she is. I know how you feel having been in a similar situation, but it is worth giving her a chance and seeing what happens - miracles can happen. Nature has a way of sorting things out.

Good luck to you both, let us know how you get on.
 
If its a back issue, especially sarcoilliac, I wouldn't be wanting to put her in foal tbh - its a huge extra weight for the mare to carry.

Follow the vets instructions, then when you can, just turn her away. Mine had nearly 2 years off through having a foal, then damaging her tendon sheath just as she was brought back into work. You will find other horses to ride, and you will settle into a routine with your horse.
 
I would give her the time off the vet recommends and then reassess - it is too soon to be making decisions yet.

If she comes sound unridden you could always consider whether she is suitable for driving?
 
Let her have the time and see, I don't think you can make any decisions unless you do this.

If you are missing riding and don't have anything else to ride stick an advert up in local tackshops there are lots of people happy for some help.

My mum did this years ago and got 8 responses so could pick what she wanted to ride, we mostly have just made a contribution to shoes but know many people who have made no finanacial contribution just grateful for the help.
A friend did this a year ago and got 6 or so repsonses, tried 4, picked 2 and rode them both for a while and now rides one of these still.
 
I'm sorry to hear of your mare's problems.
I think you should follow vet's advice and rest her to see what happens before making any decisions about her long term future. We have had acupuncture successfully with one of ours but it certainly wasn't cheap! and is reallly only effective with muscle problems.
I can't see that putting her in foal is an option, this would put extra strain on her back and it could be that there is a genetic tendancy to a problem which you might be perpetuating.
If it comes to the worst and she is only ever field sound, then it could well be that after uni you would be able to afford a second horse to ride. I remember the time immediately after getting my first post-qualification job as the time when I had most disposable income (although I have to admit that it was before student loans:o)
All the best to both of you!
 
Sacroiliac issues are usually secondary to other problems. If your horse has a problem with her hocks I would check these out to rule out all issues. The back problem sounds secondary as well - they very commonly stem from a problem with hind legs.

If your horse is insured I would have all the investigations done now in 6 months she will no longer be covered and you might not get a conclusive diagnosis. If the problem is sacroiliac in my experience a couple of months off with a really good chiro did a lot of good with one of mine who had a chronic SI problem. But he has to be kept in a certain level of work to keep him supple so it really is a case of listening to your horse and seeing what she needs.
 
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