What would YOU do in a situation like this?

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niagaraduval

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My horse was diagnosed the emphysema. Sadly, he is still young (he's 6 now) and so full of energy. He just can not not be ridden.
I have been told, that if I do every possible thing to help him, there is a slight slight possibility his emphysema can improve.
Currently he is at a yard about 9 miles away. With work and everything I cannot get out there everyday. So he is on full livery. He lives out 24/7 at the moment. I was hoping to keep him out all winter, but have been advised that that isn't wise as of his breed. In the winter he was stabled, and had shavings, hay soaked for hours, water added to feed to make a sloppy mess. I have to be careful when grooming him, as of the dust that comes out of his fur. I can't sweep the yard near him, and he has to be isolated. The yard he is currently at is so lovely. I love it there. But as I can't see him everyday I am worried of how well he is being dealt with. He is currently out 24/7 so don't have to worry at all about him being in the dust. I've noticed a big improvement in his breathing in just 3 months of being constantly out. I also 'free loan' a lovely mare from the YO. There are only 2 horses there (my horse and my 'free loan' mare).
The horses love each other (mare and gelding) they are inseparable.
Do I stay where I am, and risk him having another crisis or do I move him to a field 5 mins walk from my house, where he will have all the care he needs to combat this illness but leave his mare and have to live on his own? He is not the horse to live on his own, but I can't afford another horse. Nor do I want one. The field doesn't have a tack room (which means i would have to carry my tack/brushes (everything) up there everyday. There is no shelter (although I will build one), There is no arena, no electricity, no water.. No horse box..

What would you do?
I really do not know what to do..
 
I would leave him with his mare. I hate to see horses on their own... I'm afraid it is a personal bugbear of mine. There are also lots of rescue charities with small ponies that can be loaned as companions and badly need homes. A pony wouldn't necessarily need shoes or hard feed or rugs. Could this be an option?
 
why can't he live out in the winter? with a shelter (rubber mat flooring) and a really really good rug and plenty of forage, i would keep any horse out (including full tb, for example), they can be kept warm and dry enough (FAL Goliath rugs are a thing of wonder) and it would be so much better for his problem.
if you really can't do that, and decide to go for the field, can't you ask if the mare could come with him, on loan? just an idea.
best of luck
 
What breed is he? I have had TB's over winter out 24/7 some without rugs so I would be suprised if he can't live out 24/7 even if he is rugged. I would not want to keep him on his own so I would prefer to keep him where he is or loan a rescue pony.
 
He is a French trotter (Thoroughbred, American trotter, and hackney). He is very fine and feels the cold alot. I also think he could stay out with a shelter and rug but others don't think it's a good idea.

I wouldn't have the slightest clue to where I could find a rescue pony.

I would LOVE to bring his mare with him but I just know that the YO would say no.

When horses have a crisis of emphysema, it's a very very severe thing. Most horses die over it. And some horses are known to have a crisis every few months. The vet has to be out everyday and it costs thousands each time. Every crisis the horse has it makes it more prone to getting it again. Making it eventually fatal. This is the reason I am hesitating so much.
 
My WBxTB lived out all last winter and she was fine in fact she put on a lot of condition. She had shelter in the form of high hedges and a couple of trees and a really good rug. Sometimes I think it is the owners rather than the horses who cannot cope!
 
I also have an arab who really feels the wet but as long as she has a decent rug she is as happy as larry out. If you think he will be fine then he is your horse and I would give it a go. Is there no where he could go on grass livery where there are other horses for company?
 
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I also have an arab who really feels the wet but as long as she has a decent rug she is as happy as larry out. If you think he will be fine then he is your horse and I would give it a go. Is there no where he could go on grass livery where there are other horses for company?

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Sadly, no. The nearest place is 30 miles away. I feel he would be even worse off than now if i moved him somewhere like that.
 
I wouldn't do either option I'm afraid. Personally I wouldn't keep a horse with emphysema stabled, and I wouldn't keep any horse on their own.

I would be looking for an alternative yard where the horse can live out 24/7, well rugged and fed and in the company of other horses.
 
It isn't just dust though that you need to worry about, local agricultural conditions can have an effect. It sounds that your horse is doing well where he is, it may be that if you move him surrounding crop and tree pollens or harvesting dust could cause further problems - so I would be inclined to leave him there.

Different thing of course but i have a mare on long term loan who had COPD and has taken 5 years to improve, but when checked by the vet after she had her foal last month they could not detect any sign of it at all - careful management and a yard in the right location have made a huge difference. Same management in different locations, she has had a cough and a wheeze.

So consider that amongst the other issues of cost, contact and quality of life
 
I would leave him where he is, he's happy and settled.
My horse even shivers when she gets wet at this time of year, so i just put what i call "her Rain Mac!!"on.
She winters out no probs and has even been clipped.
You just have to make sure he is rugged up warmly.
I have heavy duty Mark Todd and Rambo Rugs wth necks that i swap around so she doesn't get rubbed.
If it is really cold i put 2 rugs on, 1 with a neck and 1 without. She's toasty all winter.
I don't think there's a bigger wimp for feeling the cold, but she much prefers being out.
 
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