What would you do?

Slightly Foxed

Slightly Foxed

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I have to sell my horse for financial reasons. I've had him for 18 months and during that time he has been totally sound. Some lovely people came to see him recently and wanted him so had him vetted, which he failed. My vet came out today and he suspects bone spavin. The horse is being x-rayed on Monday.

The point is I can't afford to keep him; I have no work at the moment. If it is the worst and he has bone spavin I really don't know what to do. I know it can be managed and depending on the severity he can continue in work. Do you think anyone would take on a horse with bone spavin (he hacks in company but can be unpredictable on his own)? Or would the kindest thing be to have an otherwise healthy horse put down? He's only 8.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.
 
If you can't afford to keep him and can't guarantee his future then it may be the kindest thing to PTS.

I don't know much about bone spavin but if there is 'something wrong' with him, he faces an uncertain future.

I don't want to sound harsh but I believe that rescue centres are bursting at the seams and you may find it difficult to find him one. Also you may find a lot of people do not want to take on a horse with known problems that will cost them and restrict what they can do with them.

Good luck - horrible situation.
 
Thanks A1fie, I understand that bone spavin can be managed with corrective shoeing and supplements and there is a new 'miracle' drug for arthritis called Tildrin but that's £350-£450 a time.

I'm thinking that if the worst is confirmed, PTS may be the kindest option. Poor chap, he's not had the best start in life.
 
Oh FGS take the easy route why don't you, and talk yourself into putting him down because you don't have any money. Go and get a second job, life is sacred.

Its one thing to be told by a vet he is permanently lame and in pain with no hope of recovery to hoping its the case so you have an excuse to ease your conscious.
 
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Oh FGS take the easy route why don't you, and talk yourself into putting him down because you don't have any money. Go and get a second job, life is sacred.


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Because life is that simple?! At least OP is being responsible & not trying to ship pony off to a charity.
 
It can be, loads of people have second jobs to support their animals , if of course they care enough. Horses are not disposable and why should he lose his life cos he has the misfortune to be owned by someone who won't try for him. There are loads of options before PTS is the last choice.

Sharers
Reduced livery / grass livery
etc etc
 
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Oh FGS take the easy route why don't you, and talk yourself into putting him down because you don't have any money. Go and get a second job, life is sacred.


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Because life is that simple?! At least OP is being responsible & not trying to ship pony off to a charity.

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I agree Nic01.

Life is not black and white and its just not simple. I am sorry you do not know the OP's situation. I would much rather see a horse PTS'd than face a uncertain future. Its attitudes like yours that lead to horses ended up passed from pillar to post
 
LHS, I think you are being a little harsh. I already have two retired horses that have been with me for over 20 years. I'm trying to do what is best for the horse. I could send him to a dealer couldn't I who could dope him up and sell him sound?!

As for getting a 'second job', that ain't so simple in this current climate.
 
I think that there are few people willing or able to take on a horse knowing that they will have to spend money on treatment for them, there are just too many horses about that have nothing wrong with them to choose from.

I think taking responsibility for our animals is the kindest thing we can do for them and that does mean making hard decisions.

I have a dog (as well as a horse) that I adore. He is and has been my best friend. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old and he is now 12 years old. He has not been an easy dog - he growls a lot. I know that he is not aggresive but many people don't. I have had vets telling me to put him down.

I made a decision a long time ago that if I couldn't keep him for any reason I would have him pts. Not because I am heartless, quite the opposite I love him so much and I couldn't bear the possibility that he would end up in a situation where he was not understood and treated badly. He is a little grumpy old mongrel but he is my heart and my best pal.

I don't think I am the best owner in the world but I do believe I know my little dog better than anyone else and not only do I understand him, I love him for his little quirks.

I believed that it was not fair to him to have an uncertain future where in all likelihood he would have a worse quality of life than he had when he was me which is why I made the decision.

I don't feel like a bad owner, quite the contrary. I feel like I am a responsible one.

Animals are so utterly dependant on us and as such we have a duty to do our best for them. As I said above, a horse with problems is statistically unlikely to have a good future, I know it's possible, but I know a lot more end up at markets and places like Spindalls farm.

I think you are being a responsible owner in a horrible situation.
 
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Oh FGS take the easy route why don't you, and talk yourself into putting him down because you don't have any money. Go and get a second job, life is sacred.


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Because life is that simple?! At least OP is being responsible & not trying to ship pony off to a charity.

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I agree Nic01.

Life is not black and white and its just not simple. I am sorry you do not know the OP's situation. I would much rather see a horse PTS'd than face a uncertain future. Its attitudes like yours that lead to horses ended up passed from pillar to post

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Very well put.
 
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I
I have a dog (as well as a horse) that I adore. He is and has been my best friend. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old and he is now 12 years old. He has not been an easy dog - he growls a lot. I know that he is not aggresive but many people don't.

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Have to agree with you there - my dog (who has just died
frown.gif
) could be a very nasty specimin, but would only bite if you did certain things. I am sure if he had ever had to go into rescue kennels or similar, he would have had to have been PTS as he would have been evil. Simple as. He would fight any other dog, to the death, and I have no doubt would probably have bitten. But we knew how to manage him, others probably wouldnt.,
 
I also agree with Nic01

Life is not black and white and I have just lost my second job that paid for the horse and trying to find another in this climate is proving impossible.

Taking into account the current climate I think, while it is hard for you it is a responsible stance you are taking
 
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What a very difficult situation for you. I really feel for you. As LHS has such strong feelings perhaps they will be willing to take the horse on.

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Brava Divasmum - well said!
 
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Taking into account the current climate I think, while it is hard for you it is a responsible stance you are taking

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Thank you. I'm trying to consider all options. I'd be happy to loan him as a hack but he's a bit unpredictable on his own, although fine in company.

I'm not sure I can bring myself to have him PTS when he's so young and otherwise healthy. Believe me, if it came to that I would feel so guilty... Maybe I'm jumping the gun... hopefully!
The horse is a brilliant jumper. If the condition's mild enough perhaps he could do dressage, he moves well enough for that. I'll see what the x-rays reveal on Monday.
 
Sllightly_Foxed, what an awful position to find yourself in. Please don't beat yourself up for considering all the options - his welfare and quality of life are the priority here, and if all other options fail and any of that's jeopardised you're right to consider PTS as the kindest option.

I'd take things one day at a time if I were you - see what the diagnosis and prognosis turn out to be, and then see if sharing, loaning or selling are options. Don't believe there are no people out there who would be prepared to take him on in some way - there are kind, caring people who would be happy with a light hacker if that's possible for him, although I appreciate they may not be in abundance.

If he's been otherwise sound until the vetting he may still be in very early stages and treatment (for the time-being) relatively cheap. Would his insurance cover this?

Good luck to both of you
 
QR
To the OP, what a horrible situation to be in, if it helps at all, it is refreshing to read a post from someone who is thinking of the long term future of the horse, rather than salving their own feelings! I agree that no-one is going to take on an animal with an expensive condition and that PTS is probably going to be the best option. So sorry that this looks like the way forward and hope things look up for you in the future.
 
Pookie, you're right, I may be jumping the gun, the glass is half empty! But a lot of things going on at the moment. Unfortunately, he's the only one who's not insured. You know, I meant to get around to it and didn't. My own fault, Sod's law.
 
Nowt wrong with preparing yourself and weighing up your options, perfectly sensible. It's easy to expect the worst when things seem crap all round, but in some ways it's better to not have the shock of unexpected bad news.

I've got everything crossed for you and your horse.
 
Have you contacted the people who had him vetted, once you have the xrays they may want him at a reduced price or on loan.
 
would he poss be suitable to loan to an RS, we acquired several horses with spavins (can think of 7 in at one point) either bought cheap or loaned, hacks were always in company and all were managed appropriately workload etc, one lovely gent had nov evented and was a great schoolmaster for us.

Just another option.
 
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Have you contacted the people who had him vetted, once you have the xrays they may want him at a reduced price or on loan.

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I have spoken to them, the horse was for a 15 year old girl to show jump. Whatever the prognosis, I don't think he'll show jumpt at the level she's looking at now and I wouldn't want to lumber them with a whole load of trouble.
 
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would he poss be suitable to loan to an RS?

Just another option.

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Hmm, hadn't thought of that one. But he is a lot of horse, 16.3 warmblood. I'll investigate tho. Thank you.
 
it meant we got horses that were better than could have otherwise been afforded, all were kept comfy and fwiw none were pts due to spavin most made it to old age and got bad colic etc, the ex eventer was 10 when we got him and did years.
 
I wouldn't pts a horse with spavins, they can normally cope with a lifetime of light - medium work. What was he vetted for? If it was for competing, its possible he would pass for hacking and even RC/unaffiliated dressage. I couldn't say without seeing how lame he is, but generally speaking, if the price was right you'd probably sell him without the vetting to to a light work home. You'd be taking the chance of someone trying to make money on him, so I wouldn't sell him for peanuts and you'd have to disclose the spavin and that he wouldn't pass a (?) competition horse vetting.

Loads of horses have spavins, it really is one of the few conditions I would sell a horse with rather than pts.
 
Suspected spavin? PTS for that? There are several of us on here still being led merry dances and round XC courses by our spavined animals!

Unless you are extremely unlucky, spavins are but a temporary inconvenience and slight interruption of normal operation. They have to be worked and mine certainly hasn't been expensive to maintain. Has yours got insurance? Get the treatment done if so and here's to a useful and comfortable few years yet. Mine was 11 when first diagnosed and is a full of beans 14yo now.

Hang in there and consider loaning him.
 
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