When is the right time to retire?

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Marquire

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Some advise please
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I have a mare on loan for my OH and she is 20 next week. She show jumped to a high level in her youth and had a fairly hard life before her owner bought her 10 years ago. Two years ago she started developing navicular and side bones and has been on a light work programme, hacking and gentle schooling, with 1 sachet of Danilon per day.

Things were going great until the beginning of December when she started to look and feel much stiffer. The vet advised upping her danilon to two sachets per day as she is a big girl and he thought 1 sachet was a very low dose for her.

Things continued well for a couple of weeks but she has started to go downhill again. If she is given the danilon, turned out for 8 hours a day and just groomed and fussed over when she comes in she is fine. If she is riden in the indoor school (rubber surface) for 15 minutes in mostly walk, she is also fine. If she goes out for a 30 minute walk hack, she is definately feeling her feet by the time we get back to the yard and she is normally unlevel the day after. I'm unwilling to give her more drugs as I think it's totally unfair to drug her up so she can be worked. A low dose of danilon to help her old joints is one thing but that's where I draw the line.

If she was my horse I'd retire her and let enjoy her twilight years going out in the field with her chums during the day and being pampered when she comes in at night. I've spoken to her owner who is scared to totally retire her as she thinks she'll go downhill quickly if she doesn't have a job to do. Obviously the ball in is her court and she is going to phone the vet for advice.

So do I give her back and let the owner worry about making the decision, or try to persuade her that retirement is the best option?

Answers on a postcard please!
 
Oh hard, hard, hard. Will she go downhill if retired? Is she the type of horse that has to be doing something.

Certainly sounds like it's time to retire the old girl, and she most certainly deserves it.

Agree about the Danillon. At 20 she's not going have long term damage problems, and it is much kinder on the system than Bute. But I wouldn't be happy 'buting' a horse up purely to ride it either.
 
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Oh hard, hard, hard. Will she go downhill if retired? Is she the type of horse that has to be doing something.

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12 months ago I would have said yes. She was always the type that wanted to go place and do things but in the last few months she seems to be mentally ready for an easier life. To be honest she is only ridden one a week for 15-20 minutes just now so it is a virtual retirement anyway. I think as long as she was getting some attention in the form of grooming and petting she'd be happy as larry.
 
Then I agree with you then. You obviously know her very well.

You're going to have to be very tactful with the owner. But unfortunately the ultimate decision doesn't lie with you, which is a shame.

I was in a similar predicament last year (year before actually) with a horse I looked after for someone. I did get my way, but a lot of handholding was required.

Are you in a position to keep her yourself and have another horse for hubby?
 
I couldn't affort to keep her if she retires and get another horse for hubby. She works out quite expensive due to the danilon and eggbar shoes she needs.

Her owner has said that if the vet thinks it's retirement time for her she'll move her to her Mum's who has land and a couple of retired mares of her own. This would be best all round I think and the owner's mother doesn't work she'd get lots of cuddles.
 
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Her owner has said that if the vet thinks it's retirement time for her she'll move her to her Mum's who has land and a couple of retired mares of her own. This would be best all round I think and the owner's mother doesn't work she'd get lots of cuddles.

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Ahh, that sounds ideal.
 
I normally hate retiring horses and mine have all been in work to some extent to the end. However, they have all been fairly sound and healthy, albeit with some light bute for stiffness when they got into their mid 20s. They all have wanted to be out and about and would not have enjoyed being in the field full time.

In this case if she can be out a lot and well cared for and is not the sort to pine for lack of work, then yes, time to go to mums and live a happy retirement.
 
I have two elderley horses 23 and 19 that I keep in work (hacking) and are on Danilon and Pergolide (for Cushings). I find that keeping them rugged up when they are turned out and then a lighter rug when they are in their stables helps them.

Some horses retire well and others do not but you know the horse the best and I am sure that the owner will appreciate your input.
 
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