where to go from here? what would you do?

My head says PTS - but my heart may say differently if it was my horse and we had a strong bond.

I don't think you should feel guilty for PTS if that is what you choose to do - horses are too expensive IMO not to have a purpose, and its fine if you have your own land but livery is hugely expensive.

Perhaps look for a field nearby where you could keep him and another horse? Might have to compromise on facilities, but it would be one way to have a riding horse again and still keep your boy.
 
I am really sorry for your dilemma,I've had the same problem. Opted to keep her as a retired horse for as long as she was happy and pain free. I couldn't even bring myself to ride other horses as none compared to her. I had her PTS just 6 months later aged 10 yrs as she could not be kept pain free.
The day the vet was called to PTS, she stood eating carrots. She knew absolutely nothing about it. Devastated, I was ready to walk away from horses forever, but was asked to exercise a horse as a favour. OH pushed me out of the house to go ride. I loved her too, she was fun like my girl. 6 weeks later, I bought another horse.

Now again, I find myself in a similar position to you with my current horse. I have others to ride though, but she is my special one. Don't know how she'll cope with not being ridden if she doesn't recover, but plan to keep her as long as she's happy. Moved to grass livery and despite being a fine TB X, she's thriving on it- through snow and freezing temperatures. She now hates being stabled as she misses her mates.
If I could only afford to keep one horse and missed riding so much, as I doubtless would, then I would have her PTS. Horses are so expensive to keep, thats the difference between them and a small pet.
A lame horse is still a flight animal and must suffer from the stress of knowing it cannot outrun a preditor, horses think differently to humans. They live in the present and a humane end is not as awful as we would think it to be.

Please don't run yourself round in circles, you are giving your horse the best life possible. What ever you decide, be kind to yourself too and have no regrets.
 
having been in a similar position I think a lot of the guilt is about what others will say. I personally feel that is so hard to take, so many people will and do think extremely badly of someone who chooses not to keep a horse because it can no longer do the job for them.
 
Been here. I had a mare, who was lame all the time and diagnosed with a slipped disk in her back. I was told that I could keep her but she would have to undgero constant physio for the rest of her life but would be sound enough to hack.
My attitude was I wanted to go out and compete and have fun and this mare would never do it. I had her PTS. I couldn't loan her as a companion because she would need physio and I couldn't afford to keep 2 horses especially one who would need constant care and attention. Best decision of my life, but I won't lie, it was also the hardest and most heartbreaking. She was 7 when she was PTS.
 
Can you afford to have two if you rent a field and have him as your own companion?

I don't think having a horse you can't ride means you can't ride. Its just a case of putting the word out that you ar looking for a ride - plenty of people need help exercising their horses.

Best of luck. :)
 
Sorry about your situation.

It sounds like PTS might be too much for you at this stage, you need to think of your own health too.

As others have suggested, maybe look at loaning another horse so you can ride and compromising on facilites so you can keep two, at least for the meantime? I did find that when my older horse was unable to be more than a light hack at best, buying another one (though already skint..) took a lot of the pressure off the situation. I had enough love for both of them lol..

I would love to have my current horse at a nice yard with loads of facilities but can't afford it for all four of mine and don't really want to split them up. I have my retired horse, a younger one I ride and compete and two shetlands that all have different requirements.

I'm lucky that I found a small cheap yard with a small school that allows me to keep the younger one ticking over. They all have stabling but yard allows 24/7 grazing which helps money and time-wise.
 
A critical point is you say he is getting worse. Why not give him a lovely summer, loads of attention etc & see how he goes. If he isn't in pain, then ask around for rides. Okay you aren't riding 'your' horse, but whatever you choose you wont be able to ride him, it's not an option. Every time you find that hard to take, remember that to ride him would cause him pain, then you wont feel sorry for your loss but hug yourself for thinking about his needs first.

I've been there don it with a 9 year old. 5 years on I have her 3 yr old daughter growing in the field, who I will back at 5, so only another 2 years to wait. The vets were wrong in their diagnosis (tendon issue), after loads of hard remedial therapy she now hacks out but will never compete again. Two wonderful friends have let me ride their gorgeous horses in competative rides, which has been great (although no bones I'd have rather been on my girl). I hope to compete again on my own horse in 3-4 years. It will have been such a long wait, but that's life. I'd rather loose out than risk hurting my girl.

It comes down to what means more to you. Your life, your responsibility, your decision. Don't base your choice on guilt, he will always love you whatever you choose. If his condition is getting worse, you may have little choice but to make a decision out of love. The only question is when. Sometimes recoveries do happen, but when you don't know the cause you can't help him.

Don't expect your next horse to be 'him', only he can be him. Treasure the next one for his differences, & they will both find their own special niches in your heart. I know it's easy to say not to get depressed, you have to be strong for him, he is dependant on you, even when it comes to making the hardest choice of all. If he were human in pain & getting worse, able to make a choice, would you begrudge him choosing when it is enough? I wouldn't. That's why it is sometimes called the final kindness.

Any time you want to talk, there are plenty of people on here (including me), who have been where you are & do totally understand what you are feeling. There are no right/wrong answers, only right answers for you & him.
 
Hi,

You need to consider quality of life for this animal and (if possible) dettach emotionally and consider his welfare.
he is only 7 years, lame enough not to be ridden anymore then there is his welfare over the longterm to consider.

Medication is expensive and I doubt anyone would want to loan him and pay out huge bills, plus he will have foot trimming costs etc.. as per any other horse.

Can you afford to keep two horses?
Is this realistic for you rather than an emotional decision?

What would you do/how would you feel if you rehomed him and something happened to him. e.g they started riding him, or sold him on as a riding horse.

Don't think it wouldn't happen - it does!

I've had a horse go lame young too, and this is never an easy decision.

But, to bring some non emotional balance. You bought a horse to ride, because you wanted to compete.
he isn't going to be able to fulfill that role.

It isn't easy nor does what anyone says make anything easier.

I had mine (this is a long time ago) PTS, as I couldn't bear the potential life in the wrong or uncaring hands, and his future was basically going to get worse in health terms.
Still wasn't easy but he had a lovely last summer.

Save. I appreciate what you said about not having funds to buy another horse that will do what you want. But don't get 'buying fever' (if you choose that route) but be patient, get some great lessons on some fab horses and learn whilst you save.
Otherwise at the bottom price points you will potentially be buying more heartache, problems, issues or trouble.

Saving means you could go out and find your ultimate, SOUND horse!

I sympathize with you, I've been there.
 
Hi. Think this post has made a reappearance as is a few weeks old. Thank you for all your replies. Horse is currently with the royal vet college for one last go at a diagnosis. Fingers crossed!
 
I totally feel for you. I had my best boy pts nov 2009, as he was never going to be ridden and in constant pain. Vet put it to me as so: on highest level of bute, our equivalent, bad toothache, just wasnt fair to him so had him pts. I dreamt about him for months and still miss him, but i couldnt have lived with myself if he had suffered. It's a tough one, but i'd have him pts before companioned, at least you know that they are not suffering.
 
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