What Would you do ??

Horseback Rider

Horseback Rider

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I brought an ex racer from a trainer I know and who has a good reputation 3 months ago.

She had brought him and was training him to race when he took a tumble out training one day and had damaged a tendon. Due to the time off required for thsi type of injury he wasn't able to race for that season. So had been chilling in the field.All of this information was given to me by the owner/trainer

I took him on loan for a month he had no shoes when I got him and was foot sore. My farrier put shoes on him and he trotted off the yard sound.

A few weeks later he got an overreach in the field so was lame for week or so. I had the vet out just to check it wasn't anything else.

Then he had a case of celulitis in his near hind had three jabs and was fine. I am aware that TB'S are prone to this illness and have seen several cases of it before, so I wasn't overly concerend.

Last saturday he came in from the field and had lost a shoe so was foot sore and lame. On sunday he managed to lose the other so was feeling a bit sorry for himself got shod on Tues still abit footsore so was just turned out. On Friday he seemed even more lame so calle the vet. He said he has bruised his sole and also flexioned him and he trotted away very lame on near fore.

The vet now wants to X ray as he thinks there is some arthritic change and will be able to decide if it's worth treating after looking at the X ray.

My dilemma is that this is the first horse I have owned after having a break from horses for 3 yrs and started riding again about 2 yrs ago.

If after the X rays the vet concludes that treatment ( adequan etc ) will only give him a small chance of improvment what can I do with him. I want a horse I can ride and do RC stuff on but I can't afford to buy another while I have him but if I sell him who would want him ??

If I had my own land I would happily keep him but the livery costs in my area are astronomical !

He is on Danilon / bute for a few weeks and will then be x rayed so maybe I should wait till then b4 I panic but I kind of feele I should prepare my self for the worst !!

Also does anyone think I have any come back to the person I brought him from ( I have only had him since August this year) now I am not so sure about why he wasn't doing anything ??

Help / Comments / Suggestions appreciated
 
You probably dont have much come back. I did the same as you bought from a trainer and the horse was constantly lame more than he was sound. After paying the HUGE vet bill I eventually relented and sent him to a race horse sanctuary. Im sorry its not good news but just to let you know you are not alone. I really feel for you I cried buckets for weeks.
 
no come back at all I would think as you were aware he had problems when you purchased him. If the x-rays reval that he will remain uncomfortable for the rest of his days then kindest thing to do would be to have him PTS, even if you managed to rehome him you cant guarantee that he would be treated with the medical attention that he would require. It costs less in the long run to buy a good sound horse than buying a cheap one with problems so if worse comes to worse cut your losses, save up for a few years whilst you don't have the cost of livery and invest in a healthy animal. In the meantime look for a share option.
 
Did you get him vetted when you bought him? I doubt you would have any comeback. I think he would be "sold as seen". Unless you could prove the owner knew these problems beforehand and deliberately witheld them from you.

You never know things may not come back as bad as you think. What age is the horse?
 
A friend of mine bought a beautiful 8 yr old warmblood for ca. 16K euros. The horse had great breeding and nice movement, and had won many lower level classes a few years before. Interestingly, the owner claimed the horse had been only ridden on hacks for the last 2yrs because she had no time. VERY suspicious as this horse had been purchased as a 4yr old for +20K euros at auction, started a dressage career, and then suddenly became a trail horse?? Hmmm...

Anyway, long story short, during the trial period x-rays revealed advanced navicular, and luckily the horse could be returned. I saw the horse on the internet a few weeks later advertised as a dressage horse with no mention of his navicular. Buyer beware.

Honestly, in my opinion, if the horse is unsound (and will likely be all of his life) the kindest thing is for you to retire him or put him to sleep. But hopefully the vet will have good news for you.

Good luck.
 
he's 8 I know he was cheap and looking a gift horse in the mouth and all that. However I know several other people that have brought ex racers from the same trainer and they are now going really well! Am starting to think I am jinxed or it's just sod's law
 
I invested £11000 in vets fees on my ex racer in the end bit the bullet and found him wonderful retirement home he was only 8.Its luck of the draw I have tbx and she s doing well vowed never to have another tb anything but did it again.I still wish I had him if I had my own land i would have kept him.
frown.gif
Its a nightmare if you buy the wrong one shatters your dreams
 
difficult dilema, i am facing something similar. My horse has been diagnosed with wobblers and he's had a steroid injection in his neck which is supposed to reduce inflammation around the cervical bones in the neck to stop it pressing on his spinal cord. he has not improved yet, the vet says give it more time. but i am worried that if he doesn't get better i will just have him as a expensive field companion until he gets so bad he will have to be PTS.

I struggle to pay to keep him so it is really disheartening that this has happened, i bought him with potential to event as he had lovely paces and temperment when i bought him. He was an ex polo pony at 5, and i really put alot of work into him and he was going really well until this summer he started going downhill.

he is still only 7, he is also a thoroughbred, bred to race but hasn't raced.
He was 2 stage vetted and passed, but i do wonder if the lady i bought him off knew there was something wrong with him, but its too late to go back now.

I think you will either have to find a charity that will have him, or rehome him as companion, or if else fails, have him PTS.

Hope it works out for the best.
 
question4u

Thanks for your response but a few points

1) When I got him the only thing wrong with him was that he didn't have any shoes on. As soon as they where on he was sound

2) Yes perhaps buying a cheaper horse may mean that it could have more problems than a slightly more expensive SOUND horse. But I have also owned several horses that cost a hell of a lot more than the current one, had five stage vettings done one died of colic and the other developed Navicular and eventually had to be pts.

Your comments read as if you are trying to say I should have expected this, I can take comments & critisism but I really dont see the point if they aren't constructive in any way
 
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