Work Horse - questions of what to do when they can't work?

L

LadyRascasse

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2008
Messages
5,263
Visit site
My TB has been off work 6 months and we are still no closer to finding what is causing his lameness. He is a through and through work horse, he thrives on work and hates time off. Obviously this is enforced and we are trying everything. He is very vet phobic which makes him difficult to treat. Which got me to thinking in the long term what do you do with a horse who can't work and is so unhappy because of it? It's not the end for my boy yet we will keep try as I want to know what is wrong before I make any decisions. Just wondering what other peoples thoughts of this situation is.
 
What is his routine?
I've found that most will settle into retirement if in a big field with plenty of grass and nice company. I've only had one that didnt and that was mostly as his physical issues turned out to be causing him constant pain
 
Out 24/7, he was in a 2 acres field with companion but is now in a pen with companion (as of last night on vets advise) Way too much grass, not hungry in the slightest. Just been reading the stunt horse thread and got me thinking I might be able to do some trick training so he is using his brain even if he can't go far physically. Pain is definitely a consideration but he is manageable without painkillers and as I hope we can fix him I don't want to do more damage to his internal organ with long term pain relief it also didn't make any difference to his lameness level.
 
Is he allowed to do any in hand stuff? Ages ago Pie was off work for a bit due to a skin problem where his saddle goes. He was getting bored so I started taking him out for walks in hand, we even went up on the moors which he thoroughly enjoyed. Obviously this is only any good if your horse is sensible to lead - I'm lucky in that leading Pie around is like having a dog at heel, wouldn't be so much fun if he pratted around.
 
Walking is not an option as vet wants him to be rested as much as possible. He is sensible to lead, think I am going to look into clicker training him, who knows we might be able to help with his vet phobia
 
Just an off the wall suggestion... one place I worked where we had a lot of 'vet shy' horses, we found that dispensing with the white coat and asking the vet to wear one of our green quarantine coats often helped.... it just sort of broke the connection between the coat colour and treatment. Another trick might be to soak the vet in aftershave to mask their often rather 'clinical' smell which some horses find unpleasant.
 
Urban Horse said:
Just an off the wall suggestion... one place I worked where we had a lot of 'vet shy' horses, we found that dispensing with the white coat and asking the vet to wear one of our green quarantine coats often helped.... it just sort of broke the connection between the coat colour and treatment. Another trick might be to soak the vet in aftershave to mask their often rather 'clinical' smell which some horses find unpleasant.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever seen an equine vet in a white coat!

OP -I don't believe horses have quite the work ethic that we think they do - it's a very easy human emotion to transfer, especially when they are playing up looking for attention. What makes you think he's unhappy?

I don't think that penning him is going to do his state of mind any good! Is it diet related - surely muzzling would be better than confining him more.
 
No not weight related its lameness related. He has only be in a pen 2 days. It's hard to explain but he just isn't himself, always seems miserable, uninterested in food. He is normally a very happy horse who loves people and he just isn't interested. He has perked up a little bit since I got a new horse but just not Jack. I don't really know how to describe it. He has been lame 6 months now.
 
LadyRascasse said:
No not weight related its lameness related. He has only be in a pen 2 days. It's hard to explain but he just isn't himself, always seems miserable, uninterested in food. He is normally a very happy horse who loves people and he just isn't interested. He has perked up a little bit since I got a new horse but just not Jack. I don't really know how to describe it. He has been lame 6 months now.
Click to expand...

Poor you - and poor him. It's so tricky, isn't it. Sometimes feel like you can't do right by them without making them miserable.
 
i recently had a horse off work, and due to injury i had to learn massage. Horse took a while but now loves it and it was a very bonding thing to do. Might be a good idea just so theres something different happening in his box plus it will relax him. It kept me sane when i'd nothing to do as well, as I learnt so much about muscles and the correct way they should feel.
 
He sounds like he is in pain, not bored.
I'm not sure horses do the concept of bored, they dont really have the brain capacity
 
He may be in pain but NSAIDS don't work for him and until he let us find what is wrong with him there is little I can do on that front. He has mentally come on since he has come back (he came back off loan when he went lame) but he isn't himself, in posting this I did actually mean in the loan term if he was unable to be ridden and remain very unhappy. In the short term I am doing everything and keeping everything crossed we can find and fix his problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top