What would you do

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TakeAChance

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I'm at my wits end knowing what to do with my horse. I've had him just over a year and he's had one problem after another, none of them connected, just random odd things going wrong with him. He just gets over one thing, comes back into work, starts going well and we have another major set back. I've hardly ridden him at all because he's always recuperating from something or another.

After the latest ailment, he came back into work really well, was looking great and seemed to have the worst behind him. I made the decidion to sell him as I'd lost all faith in him and am desperate to get out and start riding club/competing etc. As soon as he went up for sale he went lame (lameness has never been on his list of ailments) so I took his advert down. It seems he has early onset navicular now. He's perfectly happy in the field, sound trotting in a straight line etc so it's not like he's suffering, but what can I do with him?

He's a TB so not really sellable as a companion plus his temperament isn't the best and I'd be worried about him getting into the wrong hands as to look at he really is stunning. The trouble is, I really want another horse to compete, but simply can't afford to have two. I just don't know if I can justify having him put down when he's so happy just so that I can carry on fulfilling my ambitions. I'm totally gutted and need advice :(
 
Yes as long as he was carefully managed, but would anyone really want to take on a horse with a history of so many problems when there are so many problem-free horses needing homes?
 
Early onset navicular doesn't sound that bad, has the vet told you he is only suitable as a companion? Many horses go on to compete, hunt, etc. with corrective shoeing (some people have success with barefoot as well).

What are his other problems?

As for the year on and off, that's horses for you I am afraid. There is no guarrantee another horse would be up to the job you want it to do I am afraid.
 
My friend's horse was diagnosed with early onset navic. He wanted to compete more, so sold her and bought another. The lady that had her does rc lessons and little clear round type classes, and the horse is fine. You just have to be really honest to potential buyers and be realistic that you may not get much for her. It may take a little time...
 
Well yes if he is friendly and happy to hack I no a lot of **slightly older** ;) ladies who like a thing like that and are happy petting, washing, tending to them all day and having the odd bumble along somewhere :)
However it the combo of nasty and ill that would be more of a difficult one, there are free to good home problem horses usually because they are total horrible bug**rs to deal with aswell as being green !
 
TakeAChance said:
I'm at my wits end knowing what to do with my horse. I've had him just over a year and he's had one problem after another, none of them connected, just random odd things going wrong with him. He just gets over one thing, comes back into work, starts going well and we have another major set back. I've hardly ridden him at all because he's always recuperating from something or another. That's horses for you

After the latest ailment, he came back into work really well, was looking great and seemed to have the worst behind him. I made the decidion to sell him as I'd lost all faith in him *Why because he kept having problems?* and am desperate to get out and start riding club/competing etc. As soon as he went up for sale he went lame (lameness has never been on his list of ailments) so I took his advert down. It seems he has early onset navicular now. He's perfectly happy in the field, sound trotting in a straight line etc so it's not like he's suffering, but what can I do with him?

He's a TB so not really sellable as a companion plus his temperament isn't the best and I'd be worried about him getting into the wrong hands as to look at he really is stunning. The trouble is, I really want another horse to compete, but simply can't afford to have two. I just don't know if I can justify having him put down when he's so happy just so that I can carry on fulfilling my ambitions. I'm totally gutted and need advice :(
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This is the sort of thing that gets to me :mad: No horse comes without problems and as an owner you just have to deal with it. Poor you that you can't compete :rolleyes:
I'm sure lots of people will be able to manage this horse with some tlc and careful management.
Do the proper thing by this horse and find it a home before you replace it with a nice shiney new one you can compete on.
 
Yes Muchadoaboutnothing, I did want to sell him because of all the problems which meant I'd got nowhere with him. I bought him to do a job and he can't do it. The trouble is, eventhough I see it like that, I'm not cold enough to be detached about it and love him dearly so I really, really want to do the right thing for him. Yes I do want another horse so that I can go out and do things and believe me, I've wrestled with feelings of guilt over that for a long time because if I didn't want to fulfill my own ambitions, I would be able keep him as a field ornament. I just want to find a solution that suits us both. Please don't judge me. This situation truly is tearing me apart and I only hoped to offload a little. I've never seen animals as being a disposable commodity and, despite the fact that other people have been telling me to 'get rid' of him ever since I've had him, I've persevered with him for over a year because I feel a responsibility towards him. I just hope there are other like-minded people out there who might be willing to give him the same care that I have and enjoy a life of lighter activities with him.
 
Muchadoaboutnothing said:
This is the sort of thing that gets to me :mad: No horse comes without problems and as an owner you just have to deal with it. Poor you that you can't compete :rolleyes:
I'm sure lots of people will be able to manage this horse with some tlc and careful management.
Do the proper thing by this horse and find it a home before you replace it with a nice shiney new one you can compete on.
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Crikey! give her a break, she has just said she wants to find a nice home for him before she gets a new 'shiny' one, she is only asking for advice :rolleyes:
 
Hi. I had a horse who developed navicular after 2 years, after I'd spent a long time breaking and producing him, then started competing and he went unlevel. He was a big, very very beautiful grey ISH and it was absolutely devastating :( and I also had to make the decision what to do with a horse that couldn't compete at the level I wanted, but who was a kind quiet horse. The vets gave us the choice of having his nerves cut, but I didn't like the idea of competing a horse who couldn't feel his feet. Because he was a big safe gentle giant, and required only low level bute to work without having his nerves cut, I loaned him to Hartpury college - there he was superbly looked after, I cannot fault the care he had, and he loved the life and the work. They were happy to accomodate his condition and all his costs were met by them. Sadly after 2 years his lameness became worse, so we 'gifted' him to a friend who had his nerves cut and hacks him once a week, and he is now her baby.

The point of my rambling is; there is always an option. If he is not in pain, and happy, and easy enough to do, not dangerous or silly, then there is a home for him. If you can afford to buy another horse but not keep them both at livery, then you could loan him either to a private home or to a college, which would mean you always knew what was happening with him, and you can have the final say over decisions that may need to be made.

Don't despair, and take time over any decisions you make. A lot of people will understand that to keep a horse who cannot do the job you need it to, is just not an option. Whatever decision you make, only you have to know it is the right one, people will always have their 'opinions' but that doesn't make them right. Navicular is generally degenerative, and there is no 'cure', so do not kid yourself that it will go away.

On here, if you ask for an opinion, you will always get a wide range of replies, some helpful, some judgemental, some you may not like, but don't ever feel you have to justify yourself or your actions. Good luck wih whatever you decide. If you do sell him, just be honest with the buyers, and realistic with your price! :)
 
Thank you Falaise, your reply has really given me hope; it's so nice to hear that someone in a similar situation had a positive outcome for their horse. I intend to be totally honest about my boy because it's so important to me that he goes to the right home. It's good to hear that there are people who will take on a horse with a diagnosed condition that limits the work they can do. Maybe I will look into loaning a little more seriously as opposed to selling, at least that way I'd be able to keep tabs on him and make sure things are going ok.

I'm so glad to hear your horse is doing well in his new home :)
 
TakeAChance said:
Thank you Falaise, your reply has really given me hope; it's so nice to hear that someone in a similar situation had a positive outcome for their horse. I intend to be totally honest about my boy because it's so important to me that he goes to the right home. It's good to hear that there are people who will take on a horse with a diagnosed condition that limits the work they can do. Maybe I will look into loaning a little more seriously as opposed to selling, at least that way I'd be able to keep tabs on him and make sure things are going ok.

I'm so glad to hear your horse is doing well in his new home :)
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Excellent plan, and one I have used before, to the benefit of horse, new person and me. Good luck. Navicular is not the death sentence it used to be.
 
I would definitely look into loaning. far too many dubious people that will promise a good home then sell on..

However, tbs seem to be really hard to rehome at the moment. I have never known so many given away. You may have to contribute to the cost of any treatment to get him a home.
 
Flax said:
Crikey! give her a break, she has just said she wants to find a nice home for him before she gets a new 'shiny' one, she is only asking for advice :rolleyes:
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Re read the first post: Quote 'I just don't know if I can justify having him put down when he's so happy just so that I can carry on fulfilling my ambitions.' End quote.

Sorry but that was the line that got me. No need to be thinking of PTS at this time. I am entitled to my opinion flax :rolleyes:

OP. Your second post shows much more emotion towards this horse rather than, what I percieved, as annoyance towards your horse in your first post.
I'm sure you will find a great home that will suit this horse and wish you every luck in doing so.
 
I'm with Falaise here, there's a home and a purpose for most safe horses in the UK. Make sure you highlight the horses positives as well as relevant downfalls when you advertise him for loan/sale or he will be with you forever!
 
"Do the proper thing by this horse and find it a home before you replace it with a nice shiney new one you can compete on. "

This ^^^^.

Plenty of horses with properly managed navicular go on to lead productive ridden (and competed) lives.

You might be wanting to give up on this one. But find someone who doesn't first.

Then good luck to you. And the next horse...
 
I can see why that line was misinterpreted MuchAdo. I meant that, just because everyone around me is telling me to pts so I can carry on riding, doesn't mean I can justify it. It might be ok in some people's eyes but not mine.

Anyway, misunderstandings aside, this thread has made me feel more hopeful for an all round positive outcome.
 
I have a pony that sounds like your guy, he had problem afer problem, I am abit big for him now and due to his issues he can no longer jump just do dressage. I have had him 8 years so no way was he going anywhere.

So I went out and a bought a 7yr old TB, who last year (after 1yr of owning him) was diagnosed with navicular after going lame. Couldn't believe it, absolutly devastated. But it wasn't the end of the world, he has eggbar shoes and still competes, hes does PC/RC stuff as well as dressage and SJ. I'm hoping to eventually event him. I can do what I want with him as long as I dont jump him on hard ground.

So its can be managed and they can still compete depending on the severity of it and as I found you can end up with a horse with worse problems than you had! My TB is now out competing again this year but last year it was mostly my pony going out.

Hope you find a solution, I know how it feels as don't know what I will do when my TB eventually goes downhill as I can't afford 2 lawnmowers and buy a 3rd!!
 
Having Navicular isn't the death warrent it was many years ago and yes it can be managed so they can compete. But loan him out to someone who want to do a little of everything should suit him down to the ground.
 
also, having been through so much with him, do have a good chat with your vet so he can give you a better idea of what your boy can do and good luck..
 
Thank you all for your kind words and advice. Someone came to see my boy today; a lady who's a friend of a friend. She seemed lovely and and really liked him too. She's an older lady with her own stables at home, looking for a horse to lightly hack and be a companion to her older, retired TB. She will most probably have him on trial as I'd feel happier about that and I've also suggested she speaks to my vet tomorrow to get a realistic idea of how to manage him and what his limitations might be.

If this works out, it will be perfect for him and I'll be able to catch up with him now and then as she's only a couple of miles from me. Fingers crossed :)
 
TakeAChance said:
Thank you all for your kind words and advice. Someone came to see my boy today; a lady who's a friend of a friend. She seemed lovely and and really liked him too. She's an older lady with her own stables at home, looking for a horse to lightly hack and be a companion to her older, retired TB. She will most probably have him on trial as I'd feel happier about that and I've also suggested she speaks to my vet tomorrow to get a realistic idea of how to manage him and what his limitations might be.

If this works out, it will be perfect for him and I'll be able to catch up with him now and then as she's only a couple of miles from me. Fingers crossed :)
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Awww wow that sounds perfect!! Sounds life he will be living the life of luxury! :D
 
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