Ziggy_
Well-Known Member
QR.
Its very difficult for me to contemplate putting down a horse with bone spavin as my mare, who is Loss of use due to bone spavin, is in full work and loving life. I appreciate that she might be one of the lucky ones but I feel there must be more to be done with your boy whose behaviour obviously suggests he's in some sort of discomfort at the moment.
I didn't own her when she developed the spavin so I don't have all the details on that - but I do know she was not worked during the fusion process but turned away on a hilly field. Would this be an option? Alternatively, I've often read walking hacks (particularly roadwork) are best for encouraging fusion and horses with spavin will often be more uncomfortable on a surface so I would be wanting to avoid schooling unless the vet has said otherwise. Would it be feasible to give him some sort of painkillers if he must be worked?
He may be holding himself awkwardly due to the spavin so it may be worth getting the physio to have a look at him - or possiby getting a second opinion from another vet if you aren't entirely happy with yours, or even a full work up if you have good insurance as so many horses seem to be found lame on all four legs these days.
My mare was diagnosed aged seven and sound eighteen months later. Various people tried to bring her back into work afterwards but the time off had turned her into a hooligan, so I bought her and did it myself - she had just turned ten. Two and a half years later, she's sound and in full work. This morning, I took her down the beach for a gallop then took a short cut back home across the fields, jumping a couple of ditches as we went. Yesterday I schooled her, attempted some travers and the penny finally started to drop about what I wanted her to do so I was thrilled! Day before she did some lovely work on the lunge. We compete over the summer at RC level jumping and dressage, and moved to the yard we did because there are two gorgeous XC courses within hacking distance which we can't wait to try out next year! She's on Extraflex HA by Feedmark and no-one knows there's anything wrong with her until they see the Big letter L freezemarked on her side. The physio came recently and declared her to be in the shape of her life. I honestly think its too early to be making decisions for your boy - I know that not all spavin treatments are successful and I'm sorry for those who have negative stories to tell but for now at least, please try to stay positive and give him another chance - he sounds like a star and it would be such a shame to give up on him.
Its very difficult for me to contemplate putting down a horse with bone spavin as my mare, who is Loss of use due to bone spavin, is in full work and loving life. I appreciate that she might be one of the lucky ones but I feel there must be more to be done with your boy whose behaviour obviously suggests he's in some sort of discomfort at the moment.
I didn't own her when she developed the spavin so I don't have all the details on that - but I do know she was not worked during the fusion process but turned away on a hilly field. Would this be an option? Alternatively, I've often read walking hacks (particularly roadwork) are best for encouraging fusion and horses with spavin will often be more uncomfortable on a surface so I would be wanting to avoid schooling unless the vet has said otherwise. Would it be feasible to give him some sort of painkillers if he must be worked?
He may be holding himself awkwardly due to the spavin so it may be worth getting the physio to have a look at him - or possiby getting a second opinion from another vet if you aren't entirely happy with yours, or even a full work up if you have good insurance as so many horses seem to be found lame on all four legs these days.
My mare was diagnosed aged seven and sound eighteen months later. Various people tried to bring her back into work afterwards but the time off had turned her into a hooligan, so I bought her and did it myself - she had just turned ten. Two and a half years later, she's sound and in full work. This morning, I took her down the beach for a gallop then took a short cut back home across the fields, jumping a couple of ditches as we went. Yesterday I schooled her, attempted some travers and the penny finally started to drop about what I wanted her to do so I was thrilled! Day before she did some lovely work on the lunge. We compete over the summer at RC level jumping and dressage, and moved to the yard we did because there are two gorgeous XC courses within hacking distance which we can't wait to try out next year! She's on Extraflex HA by Feedmark and no-one knows there's anything wrong with her until they see the Big letter L freezemarked on her side. The physio came recently and declared her to be in the shape of her life. I honestly think its too early to be making decisions for your boy - I know that not all spavin treatments are successful and I'm sorry for those who have negative stories to tell but for now at least, please try to stay positive and give him another chance - he sounds like a star and it would be such a shame to give up on him.
