When to retire?

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welshied

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I think today will be the last time i ride my cob as his head shaking is becoming too bad. He is getting worse and worse and at the point now where he is just too strong and just pull his nose to the floor all of the time and if you pull it up he just tosses it about, the vet told me about 2 years ago to stop riding him if he got too bad and i have been persevering with him since but now i am at the stage where i dread riding him and don't enjoy it and he just stresses himself out but i feel guilty not riding him as he is only 10
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Am i doing the right thing?
 
I think you are doing the right thing.
Its very sad that you don't enjoy riding him because of the problem, but with the head shaking you knew this day would come when you will have to stop riding him.
Is there no meds that will help at all?
 
Yes definitely retire him now. You have persevered until neither of you are happy and riding is becoming dangerous. It is a shame but I'm sure you have explored every avenue. Will you be able to keep him as a field ornament/companion?
 
i will def be keeping him and he will be a field ornament and companion to my youngster who will hopefully be my riding horse i have tried him on supplements before which have proved to be very expensive and not very effective just needed the reassurance that i am doing the right thing as its hard to make the decision without someone telling you the hard facts lol
 
at 10 is very young to be a lawn mower!! have you got to the bottom of his head shaking? sorry might hav missed previous! what has helped, what has not, when is he worse/better? etc mor info req but if sound everywhere else? their is a solution somewhere, but need info! is he insured? would you cosider putting him on a trial homeo remedy?
 
had all tests done and they did want him to be sent away to be a guinea pig by putting coil round nerve in his face as an experimental thing which there was no way in me letting it happen!
I have put him in a nose net and fly mask but the main factor is that because of his headshaking now he has no confidence in the roads whatsoever anfd just goes around like something possessd to the point now where i am having to schedule it around when there will be kids out and when there won't be.
Even when he has got his mask and nosenet on he he is still dragging his nose down to the floor and blowing the whole time etc
 
I've got a mild head shaker so I understand a little. He has just about quit for the season now - driven by sunlight/bugs/hayfever.

I don't doubt you have tried everything. The biggest difference to my horse was moving him from chalk to clay.

It sounds as though you understand that your horse is struggling to cope with the combination of work and the discomfort he is feeling. If the 2 of you are nolonger enjoying your hacks, then retirement sounds a wise option.
 
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