What's the lowest point you've had with your horses?

The lowest point I have had with any of the horses I have owned was when a mare I was hunting jumped sideways and spun when another horse went to double barrel her and she ended up on top of me, upside down, in a 6 feet deep ditch!

Seriously things do go wrong and others follow in rapid succession, it happens and you have to just take the rough with the smooth.
 
I have to say that the last 18 to 24 months of my life both horsey and non horsey have been the lowest in my life. Ijuries to me and my horses and one thing after another has mademe on more than one occasion think of jacking it all in entirely.

Things now seem tobe picking up and hopefully I am back on the up.

All I have to say is keep plugging away and keep your own counsel it has done me the power of good :)
 
I spent over 6 months of mainly lows searching for a horse and I found him the most perfect horse words can't describe how amazing he was for me. We clicked perfectly he had loads of potential and he was my world, my life revolved around him and he died at the young age of 6. It felt like my world had ended so suddenly and I have never stooped as low as that before and I still don't think I'm fully recovered from it and wonder if I ever will be.
 
The horses keep me going, even when things with them go wrong, they rely on me, even the sh it bags that try and dump/kick/run up huge vets bills.

im still there for them, they still come first when they get better or progess it out weighs the low points.

when the arrogant food thinking machines see my car and whicker, when i walk across the yard and the nostrails go. when i give one of them a rollocking and i get "that look." *read as the half ton of lard just laughed at me* every day with my horses is worth it.

dont get me wrong ive had awful times, ive recently stood in a stable and said if it gets worse its the end im not paying any more. ive had to debate selling the most .. not only wonderful but classy horse ive ever had..

ive sat and cried cause i cant pay my house rent.

the horses never go. no point no matter how low i am, my horses ever go even if the git bites me on ass, comes in with colic and cost me 1000s.
when they get better or produce a moment of at last..

see.. never a low point theres always a high the next day. :D
 
i have had the worst possible 3 years of my life (horses and personally), i wouldnt wish it on anyone. suicide crossed my mind and seemed the only way out - somedays i get so low and so dark. I have 2 gorgeous babies who are the only things that keep me going.
 
jhoward said:
The horses keep me going, even when things with them go wrong, they rely on me, even the sh it bags that try and dump/kick/run up huge vets bills.

im still there for them, they still come first when they get better or progess it out weighs the low points.

when the arrogant food thinking machines see my car and whicker, when i walk across the yard and the nostrails go. when i give one of them a rollocking and i get "that look." *read as the half ton of lard just laughed at me* every day with my horses is worth it.

dont get me wrong ive had awful times, ive recently stood in a stable and said if it gets worse its the end im not paying any more. ive had to debate selling the most .. not only wonderful but classy horse ive ever had..

ive sat and cried cause i cant pay my house rent.

the horses never go. no point no matter how low i am, my horses ever go even if the git bites me on ass, comes in with colic and cost me 1000s.
when they get better or produce a moment of at last..

see.. never a low point theres always a high the next day. :D
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*Like* :)
 
My lowest point was when I could not see my boy due to my illness and the drugs I had to take. It was terrible, much as I trust implicitly my YO and my daughter, it was not the same as checking on him and ensuring he was ok, he suffers with colic and stress, so his routine is kept very strictly.

That was my lowest point, but I do agree the very lowest point is the loss of the horse.
FDC
 
This year has possibly been the worst of my life. My dog had a heart attack and died on the beach, Affy was diagnosed with OCD and had to have a hock operation but with all the diagnosis techniques it wasnt all covered by insurance, and I'm having to sell my lovelly mare that I've had for 9 years. My yearling has seperation anxiety and put his head through the stable roof the night before his first show, and due to the thunderstorms today I've spent two hours this afternoon vainly trying to create a dam to stop the stream from flooding my field out, knee deep in water (it was the only day this year I went to the yard in jodhpur boots instead of wellies), but im hoping for a lottery win as optomism is what keeps me going and affy blowing down my neck after her 10 minutes of alloted walk out each day. This is why the Egyptians created wine :D
 
Orionstar said:
This year has possibly been the worst of my life. My dog had a heart attack and died on the beach, Affy was diagnosed with OCD and had to have a hock operation but with all the diagnosis techniques it wasnt all covered by insurance, and I'm having to sell my lovelly mare that I've had for 9 years. My yearling has seperation anxiety and put his head through the stable roof the night before his first show, and due to the thunderstorms today I've spent two hours this afternoon vainly trying to create a dam to stop the stream from flooding my field out, knee deep in water (it was the only day this year I went to the yard in jodhpur boots instead of wellies), but im hoping for a lottery win as optomism is what keeps me going and affy blowing down my neck after her 10 minutes of alloted walk out each day. This is why the Egyptians created wine :D
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if it makes you feel better.. ive recently had one of mine with coilc, couldnt walk him as he came in on 3 legs (we think the pain induced the colic) vet at 4pm, then again at 11. by which stage id been at the yard 11 hours, had gone and got oh and then sent him off for a take away and supplies for a long night, vet was in stable doing a rectal, i had the horse.. which was sedated. but also had a mug of wine, her comment was its the 1st time ive done a rectal on a horse whilst the owner drank wine.. it was a long night..

by vets next call out at 4am i was not a happy owner.. 2 weeks later, half a hoof off, nerve blocking near all of possible parts on leg piss ing horse is still slightly lame.



im going into homebrew.:D
oh did i mention he was for sale and i really need to sell.. :D
 
Lowest point would have to have been while I was in a chemo induced fog being treated for breast cancer, knowing my wonderful beautiful boy Khan was being looked after jointly by 2 sharers, and having the call to say he was lame. I was so far away (literally, 140 miles) and unable to drive safely. He was coming out of the stable stiff and lame in the morning, but improving once he was out. Vet was called, tests etc, and he was diagnosed with despomathy in both hind tendons, and recommended he retired, at the age of 15.

Fast forward 4 years, I'm still here, and after a regime of 24/7/365 turn-out and lots of rest, he is still able to go out for some gentle hacking, although he would really rather it be a bit faster!! I've done so much more than I thought I would with him, and his and my recovery has come along together.

It all seems like a horrible dream now.
 
my lowest point came at the end of january. my husband was in afghan i had been ill for about 2 months with one thing and another but with no support just muddled on. tried to do something nice for my mum and arranged a lesson on my very sensible boy. sensible pony spooked at something and my mum fell off. she broke her hip socket. had it pinned but about 2months ago had to have her whole hip replaced due to the bone dying. i spent months blaming myself and it affected my confidence to the point that i gave myself till my hubby got home from tour (4 weeks) to either pull it together or sell my horse of a life time. i even wrote his advert. thankfully my fantastic instructor helped me sort things out and he is now going better than ever and my mum is back on her feet. xx
 
Mine was when Freckles was 4 and went lame, took her to a well known hospital in Newmarket where she had scans, nerve blocks etc.... was told they ''thought'' she had dense navicular bones and would always be lame... but wanted to do a MRI? scan to be sure... drove home for 3 hours in tears, (while towing her home) I had only lost a horse a few years previously due to a RTA, so the thought of having another PTS was devastating.

But yard owner told me not to give up hope, we put her on homeopatic treatment, used magnetic boots, egg bar shoes as the vet suggested. (for life).. it was a very low time... never did the MRI scan in the end, due to my own vet advising againts it..

well shes 13 now, I brought her to Spain with me.. shes barefooted!, never been lame since and is happy and healthy and ridable... :-)
 
jhoward said:
if it makes you feel better.. ive recently had one of mine with coilc, couldnt walk him as he came in on 3 legs (we think the pain induced the colic) vet at 4pm, then again at 11. by which stage id been at the yard 11 hours, had gone and got oh and then sent him off for a take away and supplies for a long night, vet was in stable doing a rectal, i had the horse.. which was sedated. but also had a mug of wine, her comment was its the 1st time ive done a rectal on a horse whilst the owner drank wine.. it was a long night..

by vets next call out at 4am i was not a happy owner.. 2 weeks later, half a hoof off, nerve blocking near all of possible parts on leg piss ing horse is still slightly lame.



im going into homebrew.:D

Home brew is not good. I've got some and the affects the day after are quite spectacular, but trying to do handstands after drinking it is quite funny! P.s dont try nettle wine you cant work out what in the yard has peed on them first.
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Orionstar said:
jhoward said:
if it makes you feel better.. ive recently had one of mine with coilc, couldnt walk him as he came in on 3 legs (we think the pain induced the colic) vet at 4pm, then again at 11. by which stage id been at the yard 11 hours, had gone and got oh and then sent him off for a take away and supplies for a long night, vet was in stable doing a rectal, i had the horse.. which was sedated. but also had a mug of wine, her comment was its the 1st time ive done a rectal on a horse whilst the owner drank wine.. it was a long night..

by vets next call out at 4am i was not a happy owner.. 2 weeks later, half a hoof off, nerve blocking near all of possible parts on leg piss ing horse is still slightly lame.



im going into homebrew.:D

Home brew is not good. I've got some and the affects the day after are quite spectacular, but trying to do handstands after drinking it is quite funny! P.s dont try nettle wine you cant work out what in the yard has peed on them first.
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oh damn! mind you my land is away from the main yard.. only birds/deer/badgers/wild cats/rodents. actully .. we are near dartmoor and have random stones in field... one of which i call the killing stone.. ok ok i hear you back to tescos its it!:D
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my lowest point was prolly when I went to fetch madam in for the farrier & found her hopping lame. . . .Thought it was abcess. Week later - not abcess - get vet. Vet thought deep abcess as no response to pummeling or flexion tests. . . another week goes by. . . another vet visit. Tendon injury. . .guarded prognosos. . . .10 weeks of box rest. . .walking in hand twice daily ( it was terrifying ! ). But on the plus side, I really bonded with my mare - I was her only herd member. I spent 3 or 4 hours a day around her & I fell head over heels in love with her ! She's fine now. Back to being the lead mare ! But they were dark days. I work full time as a gardener, so I was bloomin' exhausted & near to tears for the 10 wks ! Hope you & yours will be ok.:confused:
 
When one did a tendon and was unlikely ever to return to full work and the other (bought to allow me to ride whilst number one was on box rest) developed bone spavins and severe behavioural problems (vertical rearing and broncing). It was just ***** and I became so disolusioned with it all. Thank fully number one has made a fab recovery and is jumping again, but number two ended up LOU at the age of five and wss literally given away. She was a beautifully talented pony and I never really appreciated how good she actually was. I will always wonder where we might have been now if she hadn't had so many problems :-( Daisy does make up for it though, she is very very close to being perfect.
 
When my beautiful horse was kicked in the field and sustained a serious fracture to his leg.

We are amazingly lucky in that he recovered and we have recently started gently hacking him out again - but looking back at the 10 weeks we spent driving an hour round trip to the vets every night while he was there cross tied, and all the scares / complications we faced when we though we would lose him, then the further 4 months I spent going up to the yard at 5.30am in the depths of winter to do 2 ponies and my horse before work, and turn out my friends 2 horses as she had just had a baby, and then again just about every evening after work, I'm not quite sure how I did it!

Its all a very distant memory now however and I smile every single time I see him out in his field looking happy in the sunshine.
 
When I had a lesson with Vardi and he bolted in the school with me and I had to admit that he was far too much horse for me at the present time as much as I adored him he was too young and needed a 100% confident rider and I after a bad smash up on another horse needed a horse that could look after me.

After taking a long hard look in the mirror I made the hard decision to sell him on, after receiving two offers for him he spectacularly failed the vetting when the vet discovered the mother of all side bones in both front feet.

Faced with a horse that was unsell-able but who I was not able to ride and having all sorts of advice thrown at me I researched the condition, spoke to a lot of people and came to the conclusion that he needed to be kept barefoot and put in light work and that was not going to happen in Holland, add to this mix the fact I was scared that should he go totally lame I would not be able to move him when we return to the UK in 2 years I was in a hell of a dilemma.

Luckily an old and trusted friend in the UK offered to take him on an exercise livery basis to see if he stayed sound and what level of work he could cope with.

5 weeks in he has been hacking out, schooling and has had his initial jumping lessons, with the different types of work he is turning into a model citizen and one of my friends pupils has fallen in love and will be competing him at his very first Dressage Competition next month.

As for me I still miss him, but I know he is getting the education he needs so that when I go back to the UK I will have a nice, sane, grown up and stable horse to take back.

Meanwhile I can buy the schoolmaster horse I need at the moment so that when Vardi and I get back together again we will be far more of an even match.

The last three months have been stressful and at times dark but the light is very much shining at the end of the tunnel again.
 
When my TB had kissing spines and he had me pinned against the shelter wall all 16.1hh of him. He then bolted out and and put several large cuts on my pony by booting her in the face. It was then I accepted PTS was the right way to go. I have still not found a horse that came close to him, I miss him every day. He had worked hard his 14yrs (Irish Steeplechaser and then Hunter then my happy hacker/ odd hunter and RC horse) and I think it just caught up with him.
 
Last year my lovely black lab was put to sleep. The my horse Taz had Lamintis, he came sound and I started to ride him again. Then he started to have trouble breathing, had him scoped he had a lump on his larynx. Tried antibiotics no success so he had to have it removed, operation was a success no cancer cells were found. A month later he started to struggling to breath again, scoped it was back only this time impossible to remove, vet suggest steroids but I made the very difficult choice to let him go. The vet said that steroids were offered but the end result would have been the same. So on January 2nd 2011 I lost my other best friend. I brought my new horse who is a star but after a month went lame, X Rays done he has Ringbone in both front coffin joints, so now more heart ache and stress to come. But I wouldn't change any of it, the short time I've spent with all my animals was worth it.
 
i'd say the last 11 months have been awful for me and Rob, he has had 3 major injuries, and a major sight problem diagnosed, which has lead me to decide to retire him almost 10 years earlier than i was expecting :(

it's been heartbreaking- literally, every time the poor lad started to improve from the injury before, something else hit him :(

but hey ho!!! he's been sent home to my mum's stud to recuperate and by all accounts has made himself into a maHOOsive nuisance and he's feeling better all over :) he's not going anywhere in his retirement- he really doesn't owe me a thing, but i am missing him like mad!!

and as mum says, at least i've still got him, so i'm definitely grateful for that!!!

oh well- i'm presently trying to pinch one of my mum's fabulous mares or one of the yearlings so there's that to look forward to ;) :D:D:D
 
The last 15 months have been the worst I have ever had with a horse. I bought an 8 year old ex racer mare last April. About 7 weeks later she got serious nasal discharge and after several trips to vet and hospital, where a tooth abscess was eventually diagnosed after two months?!?!? she eventually came home in about September. I started leading her out with short periods of turnout - her face was a mess after all the surgery and numerous infections and then started hacking her out. She was due to go back to the hospital in December for a check up. A couple of weeks before she was due to go to the hospital her fetlock started swelling up, so I e-mailed ahead and asked if they could look at this too. They did so and it was found that she had a large bone chip in there, so another operation and two weeks in hospital again. She came home on box rest, then went to a rehab yard for two months, then home to start roadwork. After a few weeks, she went lame again - I initially thought it was something to do with the fetlock, but vet came and after a day of testing at the surgery, it was established that she has bone spavin. Rest and cortisone injection and we have progress again.......however she is a idiopathic headshaker, so not sure where we are going to go with this one next!! Can anyone beat that for vets bills?
Thanks again to Petplan Equine!!
 
Having to have my 25yo part-bred arab mare Ellie (Magic Elf) put to sleep yesterday afternoon, after 20 years together!!!

Ellie-1.jpg
 
today, my confidence was shattered as i was riding a green mare who got silly at her first show. it was all blamed on me and i was called names etc, if i'd been enouraged and told what to do in a nice way not put down or called pathetic for being nervous i could have dealt with it.
alas, i've been reminded i am a cr*p rider and will have to start from scratch.

officially my lowest i've ever felt since i was a tiny scared 11 year old with my first pony.
 
Tazhazzamoose said:
today, my confidence was shattered as i was riding a green mare who got silly at her first show. it was all blamed on me and i was called names etc, if i'd been enouraged and told what to do in a nice way not put down or called pathetic for being nervous i could have dealt with it.
alas, i've been reminded i am a cr*p rider and will have to start from scratch.

officially my lowest i've ever felt since i was a tiny scared 11 year old with my first pony.
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Thats horrid :mad: At least you had the guts to get on her and ride her, and I bet you did better on her than they would have done!

I've had many low points, but the worst are having horses PTS, anything else can be dealt with, one way or another.
 
Well one was finding a pony that I had bought only a week previously suffering from tetanus in the field. Having only had him a few days vaccinations were something I had not got round to. We went all round that pony and could not find any injury at all. He was put down. Another was a young mare I had who was very difficult and we had lost confidence in each other. After a great many problems of the falling off variety, one day she reared out on a hack while napping towards another horse. She slipped and came down on top of me. I led her home in tears, she had frightened me so badly. I only ever rode her again to show her to potential buyers. (Fortunately there was one!) My confidence had never been at such a low ebb.
 
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