When to retire them

C

chaps89

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 July 2009
Messages
8,974
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
I know it varies between the individual, but under what circumstances have you retired your horses/ponies?

Mine has been diagnosed with arthritis and for the last 2 years has been on Bute- now up to 2 sachets of equipalazone powder a day. He's not lame, but very 'footy' and stumbles alot. His stride is also not as free as it was previously. But in the last 2 weeks he seems to be very sore and just not right, there's nothing obvious but I'm going to have his tack and back checked and call the vet again.

He's only in light work (ridden 3-4 times a week, hacking with 1 schooling session) but last night he struggled doing our normal 3 mile block (he even bit me when I got off which is very out of character) and if the physio and saddler can't find anything amiss I'm not sure if it's maybe time to call it a day. I know I'm getting wound up over what might be fixable so I'm blaming the hormones.
crazy.gif

Just not sure what to do if there is nothing amiss, he's only 12 and is otherwise fully fit, healthy and happy, and like I say, he's not even lame, but I get the feeling he'll be bored being a lawnmower.
frown.gif
Some famous HHO vibes wouldn't go amiss if anyone has some spare, please?
 
My horse was diagnosed with arthritis at 8 and he went on one bute a day this year and when i went ot ride him i got on and he just kept limping and falling on his back legs as he just coudn't support my weight and i am a lightweight lol so thats when i knew to retire him and he is only 13
 
We used to give our old lady a break from bute for a week at a time as it seemed to make her tired and narky. We also used magnet boots to good effect for another one with arthritiis. Hope this helps. So sorry to hear about this at such a young age.
 
one of mine had 6 months off when i was in the USA, no-one wanted to ride him due to his 'temperament' (to me he just has a nice strong personality!) anyway, on my return, i hacked him out 3 times, and on each time, he would feel different after so long and seemed to be not so much struggling, but just not quite right. I gave it 3 attempts then retired him.
He was 24 and has suffered with bone spavin for many years and we know one day he would have to be retired due to it so i guess it was an easier decision to make for us.
 
Dwi- i think the insurance company have now put an exclusion on his legs now/for any fees relating to his arthritis, as when he was 1st diagnosed we did a lot of investigating, x-rays, nerve blocks etc which means i have to pay for anything now. Im going to speak to the vet to see if he can suggest anything else & will then consider further treatment but sadly money is tight atm. I will double check with the insurance tho
smile.gif

Welshmonsters- how did your horse adapt to being retired so young? Like i say, mine isnt as bad as your horse seemed to get but i know hes not right or happy being ridden :-S have you still got your retired horse now/Hows he coping?
YorksG- did the boots make a big difference? My boys arthritis is in his p1 and p2 in his forefeet & hocks, so difficult areas to put boots on directly! Would putting boots on his legs make a difference do you think? (Sorry, i dont know much about magnetic boots)
Luckilotti- its interesting to hear you retired your boy cause he wasnt right too so thanks
smile.gif
 
My now 19yo was semi-retired at 14 with navicular. He's field sound, was OK to gently hack out round the fields but uncomfortable on hard surfaces. I decided to permanently retire him last week when for the first time he put his ears back and snapped at me as I was walking past with my other horse's saddle ... The message seemed to be 'don't you dare come near me with that thing!'

I know I could ride him on bute but would be worried that it was masking some other injury.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top