Nichola_BEquestrian
Member
I bought my horse a few years ago with the intention of getting back in the saddle, doing some schooling, hacking, clinics and dressage. Over the last few years we have done just that! He's quirky and hasn't been an easy horse, but I achieved everything I wanted to with him.
He's a large horse (WB) at 16,3hh and has always done a job. He was a show jumper for many years and competed up and down the country (jumping large tracks).
He is now 16 and we have had an up and down year of veterinary issues. He had stifle problems that were treated with stem cell therapy and rounds of cartrophen, plus rest. I brought him back from that (following the rehab plan strictly) and we went on to do some more clinics etc over the summer. Though signed off by the vet I always found he still was never 100% behind. He has always found collection very easy, but I found he was wanting to be on the forehand more and struggled to collect in the canter (which was always his favourite thing to do)!
He was then diagnosed with some mild (as the vet puts it, very mild) navicular and collateral ligament changes in front. This was treated again with steroid, cartrophen, rest and remedial shoeing (he is now shod with heart bars and pads for support). He came back from that fine and we continued to have fun.
We continued to plod along, hacking, clinics etc, with some competitions booked. He has then injured himself in the field (despite me asking and asking for the fields to be rolled before the summer, they were not rolled. Vet thinks he stepped down a rut, in a very rutted field). He now has swelling of the SDFT and the vet has noted annular ligament swelling. We are currently going in to week 3 of box rest and in hand walking. I agreed with the vet that I can turn him out in the arena for half an hour every morning (as he doesn't tend to run around - just eats grass from the edges, and has a roll). So he gets half an hour out while I muck out etc. I then in hand walk him (bandaged up, as suggested by the vet) for 20 minutes every evening, and he gets some hand grazing. Surprisingly, he is being such a good boy! And has company in the barn all the time, so seems quite content. I have a very large stable. Vet is coming back to review in 6 weeks. I don't know what I'll do about small area turn out, as I don't have that option on the yard I'm on. So may need to look at moving to somewhere were I can gradually get him back out. Not just turn him out with a large herd and undo all of our rehab!
All of that I can deal with, I don't mind rehabbing again and if I have to move yards so be it, I just want what is best for him. I said to my vet that I don't care if he doesn't come back competitively or if he becomes a hacking horse, as long as he is comfortable and happy. The vet said he is not ruling him out as a competition horse, but we do have a collective range of issues that could go at any point. Though the vet agreed, that keeping horses fit and in work is always helpful.
Where I am struggling is me. I don't know if it's because he is off injured, or because I have a lot of other things going on in life, but I have lost all interest. Not in him I must add - he is my world, and I love him to pieces. I have lost interest in riding full stop. I have a busy career, my own business that is just taking off, and kids at home. It seems I've lost all interest and confidence when it comes to riding. I don't have the desire that I used to have. In the past I've been so excited to get my horse fit again and the idea of competing again was all I focused on, yet now I'm happy not doing that (which I suppose meant another stint of rehab didn't hit me as hard this time.....).
I will do everything it takes to get my boy sound and happy, but I suppose what I'm asking, is, is it selfish to retire my horse because I no longer have interest in riding? Does that sound awful? Is that a reason to retire him?
I keep thinking about it. Maybe it's just because of where we are at right now? And I'll get back to wanting to ride again?
I've ridden for 30 years, competing, working in the industry etc. But now it feels like I'm moving in a different direction and that desire is no longer there.
Maybe someone can advise. It seems my mind is all over the place at the minute! My horse is 16 (which I know is by far still young enough... but he's done a job, hence the veterinary issues we have had)
He's a large horse (WB) at 16,3hh and has always done a job. He was a show jumper for many years and competed up and down the country (jumping large tracks).
He is now 16 and we have had an up and down year of veterinary issues. He had stifle problems that were treated with stem cell therapy and rounds of cartrophen, plus rest. I brought him back from that (following the rehab plan strictly) and we went on to do some more clinics etc over the summer. Though signed off by the vet I always found he still was never 100% behind. He has always found collection very easy, but I found he was wanting to be on the forehand more and struggled to collect in the canter (which was always his favourite thing to do)!
He was then diagnosed with some mild (as the vet puts it, very mild) navicular and collateral ligament changes in front. This was treated again with steroid, cartrophen, rest and remedial shoeing (he is now shod with heart bars and pads for support). He came back from that fine and we continued to have fun.
We continued to plod along, hacking, clinics etc, with some competitions booked. He has then injured himself in the field (despite me asking and asking for the fields to be rolled before the summer, they were not rolled. Vet thinks he stepped down a rut, in a very rutted field). He now has swelling of the SDFT and the vet has noted annular ligament swelling. We are currently going in to week 3 of box rest and in hand walking. I agreed with the vet that I can turn him out in the arena for half an hour every morning (as he doesn't tend to run around - just eats grass from the edges, and has a roll). So he gets half an hour out while I muck out etc. I then in hand walk him (bandaged up, as suggested by the vet) for 20 minutes every evening, and he gets some hand grazing. Surprisingly, he is being such a good boy! And has company in the barn all the time, so seems quite content. I have a very large stable. Vet is coming back to review in 6 weeks. I don't know what I'll do about small area turn out, as I don't have that option on the yard I'm on. So may need to look at moving to somewhere were I can gradually get him back out. Not just turn him out with a large herd and undo all of our rehab!
All of that I can deal with, I don't mind rehabbing again and if I have to move yards so be it, I just want what is best for him. I said to my vet that I don't care if he doesn't come back competitively or if he becomes a hacking horse, as long as he is comfortable and happy. The vet said he is not ruling him out as a competition horse, but we do have a collective range of issues that could go at any point. Though the vet agreed, that keeping horses fit and in work is always helpful.
Where I am struggling is me. I don't know if it's because he is off injured, or because I have a lot of other things going on in life, but I have lost all interest. Not in him I must add - he is my world, and I love him to pieces. I have lost interest in riding full stop. I have a busy career, my own business that is just taking off, and kids at home. It seems I've lost all interest and confidence when it comes to riding. I don't have the desire that I used to have. In the past I've been so excited to get my horse fit again and the idea of competing again was all I focused on, yet now I'm happy not doing that (which I suppose meant another stint of rehab didn't hit me as hard this time.....).
I will do everything it takes to get my boy sound and happy, but I suppose what I'm asking, is, is it selfish to retire my horse because I no longer have interest in riding? Does that sound awful? Is that a reason to retire him?
I keep thinking about it. Maybe it's just because of where we are at right now? And I'll get back to wanting to ride again?
I've ridden for 30 years, competing, working in the industry etc. But now it feels like I'm moving in a different direction and that desire is no longer there.
Maybe someone can advise. It seems my mind is all over the place at the minute! My horse is 16 (which I know is by far still young enough... but he's done a job, hence the veterinary issues we have had)
that it could make his injury worse?