What would you do?

Hi

On a more positive note. My pony got spavin at 6 and was treated for it with the cortisone injections. He recovered and continued to teach me right through pony club aswell as my 3 brothers. He only got worse at 15 and so is now lame but he is comfortable and if we take him for a plod up the village occasionally we just give him a bute the day before. He copes really well and he's 19 now. Also friends mare got spavin at 21 and was treated with bute as shes only used for real light hacking. Now gradually cutting bute down and shes doing well. There are ways so I'm sure you could find someone who did hacking and dressage etc. Don't condemn him just yet. Be positive and things will come right. I agree you are being sensible and responsible but only look at that as a last option. Good luck, fingers crossed he's ok x
 
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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

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I am with Pookie, perfectly put. I really feel for you SF, what an awful situation, as said, take it one day at a time, let us know how it all goes
 
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Normally, I'm one of those who is all in favour of making the 'responsible' decision.

However, on this occasion I'm going to say, please, please DON'T put this poor horse down due to suspected bone spavin.

My mare was an eventer who developed bone spavin at seven. She's now 12 and I've had her two years. We hack out, school, jump and compete occasionally at RC level. She is totally sound and loves her work. She's never had a lame day since I've had her, and the physio came today for a check up and said she's in excellent shape.

ETA - having just read the other responses and your horse isn't even lame, I'd happily sell, loan or share him out - with full disclosure of his condition of course.

I hope your financial problems resolve themselves and things turn out OK for you and your horse, for now just take things one day at a time, weigh up all your options carefully and don't take what seems to be the 'easy way out' in this situation.
 
My friend had a horse diagnosed with bone spavin at 7. She advertised her as she wanted to compete and thought it worth a chance at finding a home for the mare and was totally honest on the advert. She found a home for her where she hacked, lightly schooled and went to a few local shows. There are some people who will take horses on as long as they know exactly what they are dealing with. Good luck with the x-rays.
 
My understanding of Bone Spavin, is that you work them through it so it forms new bone/cartilage. I dont have a great understanding of this but there is a dressage horse at my yard who has it and she moves beautifully even now.
I know you are struggling what with work etc, but i am sure there is someone out there who would love and understand ur horse. My mare wind sucks and had a kissings spine operation and i know no one would understand her like i do. I hope you don't make the wrong decision. Don't give up
 
My mare was diagnosed with bone spavin as a 5yr old. In fact, she has a spavin in each hock. She is now 14 and is only 1/10th lame and has competed up to affiliated elementary level with no trouble. She was very lame at the start and has had 3 steroid injections into her hocks but is very comfortable. It takes a lot of work tho as she needs to be in regular work otherwise she gets stiff and is on cortaflex all the time. I use magnetic rugs and boots on her to ease any stiffness and I keep her weight under control to avoid extra stress on her hocks. She no longer jumps but I find the dressage keeps her sound and flexible. In my experience, to have her just as a hack would have been the wrong thing to do as I don't think the work would have been enough to encourage the spavin to fuse so it was either do what I have done, or loan her out as a field companion. And I did have people interested in using her as a companion, even tho she is a 16.2hh warmblood. So I guess it would depend if someone wants to put in the hard work to keep him sound with no guaruntee that he will. I would wait and see what the xrays say first before you get too disheartened. It could be something else all together or a mild spavin that will fuse and cause no more problems. I think talking about pts is a little premature at the moment. Please pm me if you need any advice. Iam more than happy to help. Totally sympathise with your situation by the way. Such a rubbish time for that to happen, as you are needing to sell him. I can see your dilemma!
 
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