When do you say enough is enough with your horse?

C

ChestnutHunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 April 2007
Messages
959
Visit site
We bought my horse to compete last year but he has only been in work for 5 of the 13 months I have had him. He was completely sound when I bought him but we have had problem after problem and the money is fast running out. He is 8 and a real gem of a horse., but over the past couple of months has been diagnosed with side bone in both front hooves, grade 3/4 stomach ulcers twice which went and reoccurred, bone growth on his spine behind the saddle and gets hideous hives on and off no matter on season/change in diet. His ridden behaviour has become shocking despite following vets advice and rehab program.

We have literally spent thousands on top of our insurance money getting to the bottom of the ulcers which is how we found the other problems, but it is just never ending and he just isn't fit for purpose. He is my best friend and it is an awful thing to go through but nothing is working, we have thought of every possibility and had every xray/scan/investigation we could possibly afford but it seems that as soon as we find one problem it develops in to another. Time off work for vets trips, getting up at 6am 7 days a week to medicate him.

Where would you draw the line and what would you do in my position? Nobody would buy him considering the problems he has and the level of maintenance that he requires, he needs a job and is it fair to turn an 8 year old out for the rest of its life? The problem is that I am buying my first house and the financial strain is a real problem, I work full time and go before and after work to muck out/bring in etc but the hours that I put in for little reward is taking the fun out of being a horse owner.

I love my horse but he isn't enjoying the work any more and it upsets me that he might be in pain!
 
ChestnutHunter said:
I love my horse but he isn't enjoying the work any more and it upsets me that he might be in pain!
Click to expand...

That speaks volumes - before you even get to the financial considerations.

IMHO 8 is very young to be retired and he may still potentially be in pain despite the lack of ridden work.

I think you know when it's time to call it a day - lack of spark, the day he gets grumpy with you despite always greeting you with a wuffle, not wanting to go out in the field.

It is the last thing we do for them - sometimes it come sooner than we would like.

It is a very sad situation - must be heartbreaking.
 
What a horrible situation for you to be in it sounds like you have both been through a lot in such a short time, do you think your horse would live out for a year, might be worth turning him away letting him live as natural as posible it can sometimes do them the world of good and often they come back a different horse, could be an option if your struggling with making a decision right now at least if you give him a year out and look at it as one last chance.
 
It's not easy I have spent more that 10k on one of mine since December.
atm we don't know why he gets repeated bouts of pain/ colic .
i am trying to think through when I call it a day as well .
If I was you as long as your horse can can graze because he is young I would get him out in a herd environment in a large field for a year and see if nature can sort him out .
No answer just sympathy it's horrible like a worm in your brain turning all the time .
 
When you think it's time, it will be the right time. The age of the horse doesn't really come into it, it's the quality of life they have and it sounds as if yours doesn't have much, sometimes you just cannot get them right however hard you try. Best wishes and my thoughts are with you.
 
What a awful situation, poor you and poor horse. Tbh I'd be thinking of calling it a day now before winter sets in and things get even more expensive and difficult.
We had to have the most amazing horse who had massive potential pts at 8 a few years ago and it really is difficult.
 
Echo the others, just heart breaking for you.

I would either pts or turn him away for a good length of time if possible - though I wouldn't if he is lame.

Honestly don't beat yourself up, you have gone above and beyond.
 
Echo the others, just heart breaking for you.

I would either pts or turn him away for a good length of time if possible - though I wouldn't if he is lame.

Honestly don't beat yourself up, you have gone above and beyond.
 
Putting the horse aside for a moment ( hard I know) How much is enough for you? Sometimes we get so caught up thinking about the animal ( understandable) we forget about the stress and strain it puts on us and our loved ones. Also the financial stress. It sounds to me as though you have poured everything in to this lad, you bought him to do a job and he is too ill to do it. I adore my horses, I have a retired animal in my field but then he is not costing me the earth and I can also afford one to ride as well. If I could only have one and it was unridable I would give a short retirement and then they would be pts. I would be upset but I would end up resenting all the money and I'm sure it would be a strain.

I'm not saying put your horse to sleep, I am saying think about how this is affecting you and your loved ones as well as the horse. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top