LilMissy
Well-Known Member
Am at my wits end at the moment. I love my horses, they get me out of bed in the morning but I swear they all have had a conspiracy to drive me insane!!
Have any of you got any advice about any of the below or experience please?
1) 19 year old, 10hh sec a gelding - been in the family forever and current job meant to be as a lead rein pony. Has been fine and no trouble until last year when he went lame on front left after an excape into the neighbours corn field
(naughty pony!!).
Vet diagnosed laminitis so he was kept in and kept in and kept in, treated with bute etc but didnt get better. Farrier and I not convinced as he didnt stand like laminitic and feet had no changes or real signs. Just a pulse and lameness. Decided to turn out again on restricted and he came sound for rest of summer.
On and off lame over winter, stabled and treated with bute when required but got vet again as I was convinced it wasnt lami and vet agreed. Decided he had arthrititis. Also, concerned about his weight, coat, pads around eyes etc so at same time he was diagnosed with cushings. Then went lame in other front foot as well. Flexion tests etc - again arthritis in front fetlocks.
Vet advised not to treat cushings as no lami evident and to bute when ridden. He only gets ridden once/twice a week and really enjoys pottering up the lane or around the school so this is what I have done. However, have really noticed this week that he isnt even sound in the field anymore (I prefer him out as he gets stiff). The ones in pecking order above are starting to bully him and he is starting to bully the youngsters, he looks pretty grumpy except when my daughter is with him! He is much happier in and stuffing his face but again he gets so stiff and lame. He is 19, do I start giving him bute daily just to keep him field sound as he is obviously uncomfortable or he wouldnt be lame...???
2) Older mare - between ages 25-30 we think. Looked amazing for her age until Sept/Oct last year. Then went very flat and grumpy, had her blood tested which showed a small non specific infection, treated with antibiotics and she chirped up. Also tested for cushings which was negative. Started to lose weight despite adlib hay and good feed. Teeth done yearly but had them redone at end of Jan to check, she did have a couple of sharp ones but nothing major.
Weight has just dropped off her, prob now score of 1.5 -2 out of 5 and always looks tucked up. Looks really really old now, grey hair and neck and back all lacking muscle and sheen. Obviously very stiff on her legs and joints in a couple of legs swollen, slightly lame behind. Just hasnt put weight back on. Have tried keeping her in, which she hates and she falls over on the concrete if its at all slippery (generally having a row with companion horse as she is v grumpy). Happier out but still grumpy to other horses which isnt like her at all. Blood tested again and nothing, very very slight dip in liver function but vet says within normal and wouldnt be bad enough to show symptoms. She still canters up for her feed and wolfs it down but does look stiff, comes for cuddles to me but looks depressed when in and as I said very grumpy with other horses.
Any other ideas for her? I so want to give her a lovely long retirement. She has had her heart and lungs checked as well.
These are the main ones as due to thier age they arent insured for anything other than accidents now. Im really struggling about how to treat them both
On top of this my two ridden mares are lame, insurance agreed to pay with one and then changed thier mind = stress
She was kicked and it caused arthritis in her hock, treated but still not quite right. Vet has said to lightly work her on bute but for various reasons I cant now and am worried about her longterm. She is happy enough dossing in the field though and pratting around!!!
The other ridden mare is meant to be going on loan and she is intermitently lame and I cant work out why, she is insured but am terrified to even start down that road with the issue of the other one hanging over my head.
And to top it all my four year old has turned into major 'Kevin' and got himself kicked - small fracture to cannon I actually just want to cry!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have owned all of these for over five years (except 4yr old obviously) and have never known so many problems. Yes they are all getting on (14yrs and above) and you expect an injury occasionally as horses will be horses but seriously??
Am running out of money now as well
Thanks if you have managed to get to the end of this and any helpful advice would be much appreciated please.
Have any of you got any advice about any of the below or experience please?
1) 19 year old, 10hh sec a gelding - been in the family forever and current job meant to be as a lead rein pony. Has been fine and no trouble until last year when he went lame on front left after an excape into the neighbours corn field
(naughty pony!!). Vet diagnosed laminitis so he was kept in and kept in and kept in, treated with bute etc but didnt get better. Farrier and I not convinced as he didnt stand like laminitic and feet had no changes or real signs. Just a pulse and lameness. Decided to turn out again on restricted and he came sound for rest of summer.
On and off lame over winter, stabled and treated with bute when required but got vet again as I was convinced it wasnt lami and vet agreed. Decided he had arthrititis. Also, concerned about his weight, coat, pads around eyes etc so at same time he was diagnosed with cushings. Then went lame in other front foot as well. Flexion tests etc - again arthritis in front fetlocks.
Vet advised not to treat cushings as no lami evident and to bute when ridden. He only gets ridden once/twice a week and really enjoys pottering up the lane or around the school so this is what I have done. However, have really noticed this week that he isnt even sound in the field anymore (I prefer him out as he gets stiff). The ones in pecking order above are starting to bully him and he is starting to bully the youngsters, he looks pretty grumpy except when my daughter is with him! He is much happier in and stuffing his face but again he gets so stiff and lame. He is 19, do I start giving him bute daily just to keep him field sound as he is obviously uncomfortable or he wouldnt be lame...???
2) Older mare - between ages 25-30 we think. Looked amazing for her age until Sept/Oct last year. Then went very flat and grumpy, had her blood tested which showed a small non specific infection, treated with antibiotics and she chirped up. Also tested for cushings which was negative. Started to lose weight despite adlib hay and good feed. Teeth done yearly but had them redone at end of Jan to check, she did have a couple of sharp ones but nothing major.
Weight has just dropped off her, prob now score of 1.5 -2 out of 5 and always looks tucked up. Looks really really old now, grey hair and neck and back all lacking muscle and sheen. Obviously very stiff on her legs and joints in a couple of legs swollen, slightly lame behind. Just hasnt put weight back on. Have tried keeping her in, which she hates and she falls over on the concrete if its at all slippery (generally having a row with companion horse as she is v grumpy). Happier out but still grumpy to other horses which isnt like her at all. Blood tested again and nothing, very very slight dip in liver function but vet says within normal and wouldnt be bad enough to show symptoms. She still canters up for her feed and wolfs it down but does look stiff, comes for cuddles to me but looks depressed when in and as I said very grumpy with other horses.
Any other ideas for her? I so want to give her a lovely long retirement. She has had her heart and lungs checked as well.
These are the main ones as due to thier age they arent insured for anything other than accidents now. Im really struggling about how to treat them both
On top of this my two ridden mares are lame, insurance agreed to pay with one and then changed thier mind = stress
She was kicked and it caused arthritis in her hock, treated but still not quite right. Vet has said to lightly work her on bute but for various reasons I cant now and am worried about her longterm. She is happy enough dossing in the field though and pratting around!!!The other ridden mare is meant to be going on loan and she is intermitently lame and I cant work out why, she is insured but am terrified to even start down that road with the issue of the other one hanging over my head.
And to top it all my four year old has turned into major 'Kevin' and got himself kicked - small fracture to cannon
I actually just want to cry!!!!!!!!!!!! Have owned all of these for over five years (except 4yr old obviously) and have never known so many problems. Yes they are all getting on (14yrs and above) and you expect an injury occasionally as horses will be horses but seriously??
Am running out of money now as well
Thanks if you have managed to get to the end of this and any helpful advice would be much appreciated please.
