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mudmonkey17

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Hi, I have a 23yr old that is my first horse. Have known and ridden him around 10 years and owned him around 8 years. He has done everything and he is my world.
He has ringbone in both fronts and spavins in both hocks. He has been managed well over the years but the last few months has been struggling.
He found the hard ground a struggle at beginning of summer but this passed and during this he went out on limited turnout and only small hacks. He went out in the all weather turnout pen to stop him getting too stiff.
He then became lame on a hind leg which we treated with a steroid injection. This has worked well and he is now level behind and seems much happier.
The problem is he is generally stiff all over. Still looks bright and is eating fine. He is a good weight and not lame. I had planned to fully retire him as he wasn't enjoying work but after his injection looked so bright that introduced a little bit of hacking again. He hacks just in walk 20-30 min around 3 times a week and at first seemed fine but last week or so just doesn't seem to be enjoying it. Have been told not to retire him as he will go downhill fast but I know that he just isn't happy.
My question is how do u know when they have had enough? I am happy to retire him fully. He is out all night and in for a few hours in day. He spends most of this asleep.
He is on a joint supplement and bute when needed.
I have discussed with vet and could up his bute but am I just masking something?
I don't want him to be suffering. Have accepted that the time to say goodbye is coming but finding it so hard while he looks so well and still bright.
Thanks for reading if you have got this far x
 
Really feel for you, it's so very hard.

As they say, better a day too early than a day too late. If you can see he's not himself now, chances are this will become more apparent as the weather starts to turn? Winter brings with it hard ground again, achey joints and potentially more time stood in.

If it were me I'd be thinking in terms of goodbye before the Autumn. I appreciate that's easy for me to say outside the situation.

Big hugs x
 
It is never an easy decision but if you are thinking that it might be time, it usually is. As above it does sound as if another winter would be too much for him.
Some people find it best to pick a date a few weeks hence and make the most of the time they have left, others prefer to make the decision and get it over with.
It is the worst thing about keeping horses, or indeed an y animal, but try to think of it as the last kind act you can do for him
 
I was reading that thinking "so put him on a joint supplement or daily bute" then I got to the end and read he's on both. As someone who is in constant pain with no prospect of it improving, I can tell you that the longer it goes on for the more miserable the situation is. He might look happy now, but I'd let him go before the cold nights start up. You could try upping the bute dose in the meantime, if you wanted. It's not like you'd have anything to lose and it might make him more comfortable for a month or 2.
 
I tend to believe that once you start thinking about it then generally you know it is something you are going to have to do sooner rather than later. I was also told "better a week too soon than a day too late". However I have found that even once I have made the decision I keep on questioning myself but ultimately in hindsight I have always felt that if faced with the same circumstances I would make the same decision. It is a lousy one to have to make but I pick a date with my vet and keep the horse in the same routine but making a bit more fuss of him/her. Then on the day they get an extra special groom and feed and take their final walk out to the field for a pick of grass.
 
I think there us a big difference between an elderly animal who is just a bit stiff with age and one with specific medical conditions. The trouble can be knowing which is which.

With regard to what Sugar_and_Spice said, well, they have the choice to go to Switzerland and end it peacefully if they want to and they haven't chosen to so far. So, there is definitely an amount of on-going stiffness that a person/ horse wpuld prefer to live with.

We aren't used to seeing doddery elderly horses in the same way we are used to seeing elderly people because they are expensive animals and often pts when they stop being able to "earn their keep" by being ridden.

Obviously there is a point beyond which you need to do the right thing for overall welfare and make the decison that your animal is better off dead. But, if vet is happy and you say horse is well and bright I really don't see the issue (beyond finances) in keeping a horse which isn't as fit as it used to be. I'm certainly not and know that my quality of life is still worth it!
 
ThursdayNext said:
I think there us a big difference between an elderly animal who is just a bit stiff with age and one with specific medical conditions. The trouble can be knowing which is which.

With regard to what Sugar_and_Spice said, well, they have the choice to go to Switzerland and end it peacefully if they want to and they haven't chosen to so far. So, there is definitely an amount of on-going stiffness that a person/ horse wpuld prefer to live with.

We aren't used to seeing doddery elderly horses in the same way we are used to seeing elderly people because they are expensive animals and often pts when they stop being able to "earn their keep" by being ridden.
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What a rude and insensetive post!
Elderly horses do not have the ability to communicate what their view of their quality of life is and have to rely on their owners to make the right and kindest decisions for them.
OP if he is no longer bright and himself, then I think the fact that you are considering the end, suggests that it is the right time, sadly.
 
Hi thanks for those replies. I was sadly thinking his day may have come but then he has rallied round and suddenly I have my old horse back.
I am amazed and no idea really what has changed him. The only change I made was to add in some linseed cakes to his feed.
He is now much less stiff and is light hacking with his ears pricked. I know won't last forever but so happy that he seems much more comfortable and happy in himself 😊
 
In my opinion, it's better for you to be able to make the decision than it be taken from you. The horse chose the first time and I still ultimately had to make the call as there was no hope for her and she forced my hand but I wish she hadn't gone in utter agony.

I truly dread the day when it occurs again and I hope I have the humanity to let him go before he ends up in any kind of pain from old age.

Good luck with your choice whatever you decide x
 
mudmonkey17 said:
Hi thanks for those replies. I was sadly thinking his day may have come but then he has rallied round and suddenly I have my old horse back.
I am amazed and no idea really what has changed him. The only change I made was to add in some linseed cakes to his feed.
He is now much less stiff and is light hacking with his ears pricked. I know won't last forever but so happy that he seems much more comfortable and happy in himself ��
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Not entirely surprised by this. I'm usually more supple in the summer, but this year, for whatever reason God only knows, my joints have been dreadful during the warm weather, especially my shoulders. My arthritis started to ease about a week or so ago, so I guess your boy has felt the same relief now the weather's changed. Hope his relatively good health continues :-)
 
I think you just know.

My old girl was retired for many years, and we walked in hand when she was unable to be ridden. She was happy. She dealt with retirement very well. IMO when you start asking yourself questions, then the time is near. Something in your gut tells you these things. My thoughts are with you, listen to your horse and to yourself xxxx
 
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