Worried about my horse

[Barbaro]

This is more just a post to let me rant to be honest, to get out how I'm feeling about this whole issue with my boy.

Last year we discovered my horse has kissing spine, it was only mild but he's a sensitive boy and it was thought to be what was causing problems in his hind legs too (not lameness as such but he wasn't tracking up as well). He got injected first and this year it wore off so he got surgery. His back is now fine.

But his back legs are still bad, very bad. Both stifle joints are damaged and require surgery. His right was the bad one at first, but the left is actually the bad one now. He did more damage to himself though the day before the lameness work up by rearing a lot while trying to load him and at one point flipped over and fell.

The vet says with how lame he is on his left hind she's not sure the surgery will do much more than just make him comfortable. It's heart breaking as he's only 9 and he's such a good horse, he doesn't know how to be bad, he has such brilliant movement when he's fit and he's amazing at jumping. It's such a waste if he has to be retired, but I'd never sell him even if he did. He'll always be owned by me, he helped me get my confidence back so he'll never go anywhere. But worried about him, he can't get surgery for at least 2 weeks, he's on danilon til then but he still struggles to walk. Just hoping that the surgery will help him and get rid of the pain even if I can't ride him again.

[Fireinthegrate]

So sorry to hear this. I hope the surgery combined with pain killers and rest make him more comfortable.

[QuestionableMouse]

There's a lot you can do in addition to the surgery to help him. Corrective/supportive shoing, keeping him fit and in lean condition, massage, avoiding bad footing... There's more things too like a really good joint supplement, or trying full time turn out so he can move about plenty. Speak to your vet and farrier for more ideas.

Also if he fell there's a good chance he's bruised/stiff which is making everything look worse.

[Barbaro]

He's on full time turn out, got a physio (although stopped that for now as there's no point til surgery is done), he gets equitop myoplast as a muscle supplement and his farrier is excellent. He's in excellent condition too although obviously is lacking muscle, he hasn't been ridden since January and has had surgery/box rest. He has everything just need the surgery done now. He's not on box rest currently as he hates it and vet was happy for him to be in a small paddock. He's fine in that, but it's sad seeing him right now, he's obviously down because he's sore.

I wish I could sort his issue with loading and we may have soon if he will load willingly into a lorry as I will get a lorry instead. He's not scared of the trailer though, eventually he will walk in willingly and he's not bothered by it, but he fights for at least half an hour before that, and sometimes has a tantrum and rears. Usually manage to stop it, but didn't that day.

I'm so stressed about him, want him to be comfortable and happy and can't make that happen soon enough. The next 2 weeks are going to go by so slowly.

[Gabilan]

It is horrible watching them go through that kind of thing. My horse is currently on restricted turnout and I cannot explain to him why he isn't out with his herd in the bigger fields. He always has horses in sight and has plenty of company. I mooch in the field with him and poo pick whilst he's turned out for company with him, but it makes me heart sore watching him sometimes. Just know that you are doing everything you can for him - and to be blunt, a lot of people would have given up by now.

It's such a waste if he has to be retired

I don't think it will be necessarily from his point of view. If you can get him comfortable and pain free and he gets time in the field with buddies, he may just happily retire. They don't have the same ambitions we do, or the same sense they have to be doing or they're wasted. You might be interested in this group //www.thenonriddenequineassociationuk.org/ Some members can have some odd ideas ("is this a photo of a spirit ghost?" Err, no dear.) However, they are interesting and give a different perspective on having a horse you don't ride.

[Barbaro]

Yeah see I think that's why my horse is down too. He's in a small paddock within his field so he's got his friends nearby but can't go off with them to the rest of the field. He loves to socialise so I think that makes him down too. Can just see it in his face, he's sad. I do keep wondering if I am doing best by him or if putting him down would be kinder, but the vet never even mentioned that so I figured they were happy to continue.

I don't mind if I can't ride him again, his health and happiness are far more important. It's a shame because he likes the work too, and he especially loves jumping. I couldn't keep him as a hacking horse though, he gets freaked out on hacks and just terrifies himself, doesnt find it relaxing even with other horses. So he would just be retired if that was the outcome, and I would find him a loan home to be a companion horse, or rescue a horse from the sspca and find them a field to live together in. He definitely wouldn't object to being retired for certain though. He'd be quite happy eating grass and sleeping all day.

[Fueledwithfairydustandgin]

What is the actual diagnosis for his hind legs? Have they said what the prognosis is post surgery? The problem with hindlimb lameness and backs is it's often a vicious circle. I found this out with a gelding that had SI problems which then affected his hocks and eventually his front legs. It's the stress of compensating. I'm obviously not saying he should be put down but I just wanted to say that just because a vet hasn't advised it I wouldn't let that make a decision for me. We work in the equine industry and sadly have seen far too many cases of horses being put through surgery after surgery because when they treat 1 thing, something else starts to show. The vets are a business and while they wouldn't allow cruelty it is in their interests to keep investigating and treating and increasingly we wonder how much is fair to the horse. I obviously don't know anything about your particular case but just wanted to share my experience. Really hope you get good news

[Barbaro]

The diagnosis is that it's his stifles, there's fibres in both that are causing the pain and need to be removed.

But as you say, he's compensated and he's lame on his front left leg too, that was due to the right hind leg being sore first. The vet isn't sure if there is more wrong with him or not.

I'm hoping to give him a chance with the surgery and that should remove most of the issues. I don't want to put him through any more surgery though after this, and as long as he is happy and can remain bute free and sound but retired at worst case, that will be his life. Its a bonus if I can ride him. But I don't want him in pain anymore, the vet knows this and knows I am realistic about his chances of riding again, she knows I'm not determined to be competing again. I think if I was she would say give up.

[user546425732]

It's lovely to read how much you care for your horse. I hope he's ok.

[RatherBeRiding]

Please be careful if you loan him as a companion. Most people, if they want a companion at all, want a smallish pony - easy and cheap to keep. There are a lot of very dishonest people who will happily promise to give him a good home as a companion and then will sell him on (doped up to appear sound) and simply disappear. They won't return your calls, they will block you on all media and likely as not will have given a false address in the first place. I've seen it happen so often - Facebook is full of people looking for horses stolen on loan.

A friend of mine was very VERY lucky to get hers back within the week of the "loan" happening when she got wind of what the game really was.

I think finding a field somewhere with a companion and letting him be a lawnmower if he won't come sound would be a great idea. So many people rush to PTS just because a horse can't be ridden. They didn't ask to be bought - we owe them the best care we can give.

[Barbaro]

Oh trust me, if he goes out on loan to someone they will be signing a contract written by a solicitor. That's for that reason and incase they decide to ignore me and ride him anyway because 'he's lovely and pretty and looks sound'. I will not be giving him away to anyone lightly.

I would probably just find him a field and companion though, it would be easier.

He seems a bit better today, more like his usual self and less lame so that's good. Not kidding myself though, he's on 3 danilon a day currently.