Wwyd with pony :(

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Blueysmum

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Need some advice.

Pony is currently at Rossdales and after extensive testing and scans/X-rays we’ve found out that she has a compression in her spine causing her to trip (which is the reason she went in for testing). She also has some issues with her neck and they are doing more testing for her leg lameness.

She’s 14 and a the most kind, loving and softest mare ever.

The vet said she wouldn’t allow her child to ride a pony that has these issues incase she tripped and fell on them.

So what’s next? It feels like such a shame to PTS a pony who seems happy in herself, never shown pain etc but I can’t justify full livery for a pony my daughters can’t ride. We love her so so so much and want to do what’s right for her.
 
I had to retire mine at 4 due to a defect in the neck compressing the spine. He was only recently backed and one day went berserk when I was riding. I definitely would not recommend getting back on the pony, it can be so dangerous. Mine doesn't appear to be in pain when not being ridden and looks basically normal in everyday life.

A retirement livery would likely be cheaper than full livery as they don't need to provide the same facilities. Otherwise you need to pts unfortunately.
 
nutjob said:
I had to retire mine at 4 due to a defect in the neck compressing the spine. He was only recently backed and one day went berserk when I was riding. I definitely would not recommend getting back on the pony, it can be so dangerous. Mine doesn't appear to be in pain when not being ridden and looks basically normal in everyday life.

A retirement livery would likely be cheaper than full livery as they don't need to provide the same facilities. Otherwise you need to pts unfortunately
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Not always cheaper, where I am it’s the same price as the work involved to look after the horse is the same full livery or retirement…unless you can find something that has 24/7 turnout or they have little facilities.

Either way when you only can afford one horse on livery it does really make it challenging, perhaps look for a companion home? X
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Either way when you only can afford one horse on livery it does really make it challenging, perhaps look for a companion home? X
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Where I live retirement livery is about 2/3 price of full livery. In my case I am quite happy to look after my horse myself even though he can no longer be ridden. I would also be devastated to come across him being sold as suitable to ride which is what happens to so many that are passed off as companions. It's a regular occurrence for the so called companion 'forever homes' to sell them via dodgy dealers, especially nowadays when so many people buy unseen 😢 .
 
I would want to ask, frankly, what progression of the spine issue will look like. If you search on here for neck arthritis you will find threads where people have seen a small issue, got a diagnosis, decided to retire a much loved equine and then relatively quickly the condition has worsened either physically or in terms of the pony’s mental health/behaviour. For a prey animal, neurological symptoms that affect movement are terrifying and can create huge, huge anxiety leading to ulcers, more pain, more anxiety and so on.

If there is more wrong then your decision is probably more clear cut, but it is worth remembering that vets have to offer treatment if available. Asking them for success rates and timelines for effectiveness of that treatment is often quite eye opening.

I’m sorry the issue wasn’t something you could easily fix.
 
I’d have a discussion with vet re how things are likely to progress and how quickly and how that is going to affect every day life for the pony and her ability to live a normal life.

If she has arthritis in her neck plus nerve compression then do they see the tripping getting worse / is she potentially going to get to the stage where she’s at risk of falling over, is she likely to find certain neck positions required to graze or eat from a haynet uncomfortable, is she going to be safe for the farrier to work on etc?

I think in order to consider retiring her you’d need to be happy that she can be kept comfortable and safe with a good QOL that allows her to do the things important to her that make her happy and that she is going to be safe to handle for things like routine foot care (ie won’t be at risk of falling on someone if becomes suddenly unstable).

If you decide that her being retired is not viable for whatever reason then the kindest thing would be to PTS to make sure she can never fall into the wrong hands / that nobody takes it upon themselves to try and make her a ridden pony again in the future
 
thank you all. I’m so stressed. I can’t imagine not having a horse in our lives.

I feel so overwhelmed and emotionally drained. It’s my daughters birthday tomorrow as well :(

If god forbid she has to be PTS then I fear we will lose our livery space before we are able to find a new pony.
 
Blueysmum said:
thank you all. I’m so stressed. I can’t imagine not having a horse in our lives.

I feel so overwhelmed and emotionally drained. It’s my daughters birthday tomorrow as well :(

If god forbid she has to be PTS then I fear we will lose our livery space before we are able to find a new pony.
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We that’s the simplest issue to resolve. You speak to your YO, explain that you will be PTS but you would like to hold your stable because you will be looking for a replacement.
You may need to pay 100% of the livery price or the YO may give you a discounted rate to hold the stable. But it’s not uncommon to hold a stable.
 
Most people with arthritis will tell you that it hurts. I have flare ups i wouldn't wish on a horse and it's started now in my lower spine. I'm pain free nearly all the time but when it flares I know it will end in a day or two (I'm lucky with that!). A horse doesn't know when the pain will end.

I'm sorry but in your shoes I would have the pony PTS, because they hide pain so well and you will never be sure. Her eyes may be bright when you visit, and that may be because you have visited. What is she like the rest of the time?

I used to see a friend's horse huddle against a wall looking very sad. I told her about him, but when she saw he he was bright and perky because she had turned up and she wouldn't believe me. Then one day he turned on her and broke her arm, and then he was PTS, but he was unhappy long before that.

I'm so sorry you are in this situation, especially with a child's pony.
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I’d pts. I had a pony who started tripping and fell with my son on board. I retired her but in hindsight it was not the right thing to do. And sadly from a child’s POV unless you can afford another for her to ride the novelty of a big, expensive pet will soon wear off.
And I lived on a farm so retirement cost me nothing.
 
What type and height is the pony. She may tick all the boxes to be an ideal non ridden companion for someone. As long as she can be kept pain free and have a quality of life
I have a SEc b who isnt ridden, but he is the perfect companion for my other ridden pony and he can come out on the lorry for ride and lead hacks. He loves it
 
Firstly I would be having a frank discussion with the vet about the pony's furure prognosis, pain management etc. You need a full understanding of what the future is likely to look like for your pony. If it is rapid deterioration, pain that cannot be easily managed, then I think you have your answer.
If the future is simply not being able to be ridden but otherwise her condition is managable and she is happy and sound to be retired, then I would consider retirement livery.
I would also ask how old are your children? Would they understand somewhat of what is going on? I only ask because they may surprise you with the level of maturity and understanding they may show. They may not want to give up their much loved pony and there are ways around the riding issue like a part loan for example.
I am truly sorry for the situation you find yourself in. Sending hugs x
 
Muddy unicorn said:
Pain from arthritis is very individual though .. I have grade 4 (out of 4) arthritis in both my knee caps and I’m completely pain free 99.9% of the time. I’d be pretty pissed off if someone suggested putting me to sleep on the basis of my x-rays
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But it's neck arthritis. This is likely to cause ataxia. You don't weigh half a ton and walk around unsteadily with a small child on your back. Vet has stated unsafe to ride. Not everyone can afford a field ornament even if she's not in pain ( which I doubt). I would be horrified if this pony was passed on as a companion.
She could trip and fall on someone leading her, she could trip and injure herself in the field, she may not be able to move away from a bullying horse quickly
If OP can't hold onto her and/or the child wants a ridable pony, then PTS is by far the kindest and safest option
OP I'm sorry for your situation which is complicated by a child who will be as devastated as you x
Don't rush your decisions but I wouldn't be letting your child handle her sadly x
 
I've taken a couple of crocked ponies from friends and friends of friends as companions and they will never leave me- so homes are out there though not if they have lami or separation issues.
 
The daughter is 17 not a child so presumably mature enough to understand that animals are sentient beings not just something to be tossed aside when no longer useful. Whatever decision is made about this pony’s future, it should be made in the best interests of the pony - that may well be PTS - but if the prognosis from the vet is reasonable then retirement livery or a properly vetted, known companion home should surely at least be considered. There are trustworthy companion homes around - we’ve borrowed two companions since we’ve been here and one of ours is off up the road to our neighbour for a week to be a temporary companion to one of hers. Obviously you wouldn’t be selling on as a companion or loaning out to a friend of a friend on Facebook..
 
Muddy unicorn said:
The daughter is 17 not a child so presumably mature enough to understand that animals are sentient beings not just something to be tossed aside when no longer useful. Whatever decision is made about this pony’s future, it should be made in the best interests of the pony - that may well be PTS - but if the prognosis from the vet is reasonable then retirement livery or a properly vetted, known companion home should surely at least be considered. There are trustworthy companion homes around - we’ve borrowed two companions since we’ve been here and one of ours is off up the road to our neighbour for a week to be a temporary companion to one of hers. Obviously you wouldn’t be selling on as a companion or loaning out to a friend of a friend on Facebook..
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Sorry no. It is never a welfare issue to have a horse PTS. Sentient being or not, horses cost a large amount of money and time to keep, and no one is obligated to keep one in any shape or form.

And while I'm sure there are trustworthy companion homes, there are many more that are not remotely trustworthy. Mine is rideable and is only on loan and he's been stolen and sold twice, having to be fetched back. All for the sake of a few hundred quid. Hes lucky, I owned him and could get him back. Many are not so lucky at all. Both of these loan homes were supposed friends I had known for significant periods of time.

If people stopped guilting others then maybe more people would PTS knackered horses and there would be none for dodgy dealers to buy and sell on to the unsuspecting.
 
Muddy unicorn said:
Pain from arthritis is very individual though .. I have grade 4 (out of 4) arthritis in both my knee caps and I’m completely pain free 99.9% of the time. I’d be pretty pissed off if someone suggested putting me to sleep on the basis of my x-rays
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You can speak. You can take pain killers as soon as you need them. You know the pain will stop. You can make choices for yourself. If you didn't know someone had made that decision for you, you wouldn't care two hoots.

I wish more people could hear what the knacker man I met last said to me about the number of horses with kidney failure from long term use of bute that he was being asked to shoot. And kidney failure makes people feel hungover type rough long before it would be discovered in a horse.

There are far, far worse fates for a horse than to be PTS with dignity.

.
 
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I'm Dun said:
If people stopped guilting others
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This over and over. Adding to what's in the best interests of the horse why are people no longer, it seems, allowed to consider what's best for themselves?

Retired horses are a constant stress to anyone who loves the animal. Are they cold/ hot/ happy/ being picked on/ hungry/ overfed/ in pain/ in the mud/ on too hard ground ......... It just goes on and on and on.....

And nobody can ever be 100% sure that a horse is not in pain.

People have a right to end that stress in their lives.
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Muddy unicorn said:
Well why don’t we just shoot them all just in case…
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I don't think that a very helpful addition to the discussion, to be honest.

I support people trying to make a PTS decision. I wouldn't suggest to somebody who is genuinely happy to look after their retired horse and feels confident of their quality of life that they should have their horse shot.
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Muddy unicorn said:
Well why don’t we just shoot them all just in case…
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That's a ridiculous and quite frankly hurtful comment to make. And totally disrespects the 100's of responsible owners on this site.

Many people, thankfully, approach horse ownership with a sense of pragmatism and are realistic about the probable outcome of a compromised horse. Some (like you, it seems) don't.

Please don't derail this thread with aggressive comments. Members will respect your views if put across in a respectful and sympathetic manner. But if you can't do that, please don't comment.
 
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