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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

I think that this will be my old mare's last summer...

37 replies

MrFibble · 18/07/2010 20:05

She's lame behind due to a ligament injury 3 years ago. Now the navicular in her front hooves seems to be rearing its ugly head again.

All I have been able to do with her in the past 2 years is light (walk only) hacking so she's now getting fat and hard to handle.

But I still love her to bits and always have to think about the amazing stuff we have done together.

How do you make the decision? I don't want to be one of these owners who keeps a suffering horse alive because they can't take a hard decision but equally I don't want to put down an animal that still enjoys life.

Shit.

It's hard.

Any wise words?

OP posts:

ThatVikRinA22 · 18/07/2010 20:10

not a pony owner but what about taking advice from your vet?

they will know when its time will they not?

Original poster

MrFibble · 18/07/2010 20:15

I had the vet out last year to assess her and at that stage she was OKish although he said he would understand if I decided to put her down.

It's so hard with horses as they seem to hide pain well. I think I will call him out again. It's just so horrible.

This is now the 4th time I've been facing this with her. Horses are heartbreakers.

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 18/07/2010 20:16

Just hugs - I leave things slightly later than i'd like, it's horrible and I dread the day, dread it, when it comes to any of my animals

how did you manage the navicular before, is she too old to try anything else?

MitchyInge · 18/07/2010 20:17

I suppose it gets beyond repair at some point?

Original poster

MrFibble · 18/07/2010 20:27

She's 23 and has had navicular ever since before I bought her but silly me didn't have her feet x-rayed because I had known her for 5 years before then.

I used to have her in high heeled shoes and could put them back on but it seems a distressing thing to do for a horse with a dodgy ligament when it possibly might not work. When I turned her away for a year after the ligament injury I took off her high heels and when she came back into work she was OK.

I have her on no-bute, cortiflex and something else for her feet.

She's been intermittently lame now in walk for 4 weeks and is stumbling alot.

Shit.

When she did her ligament the vet said either shoot her now or box rest for 4 months and then turn her away for a year.

When she was diagnosed with navicular the vet said either shoot or try high heeled shoes (sorry if I don't use the right terms - I do all my horse stuff in German or French normally).

She was so talented.

And now she's getting fat and aggressive. I can't even turn her out 24/7 as that sets off the lameness.

I can't turn her out in a group as she tries to be top mare and gets beaten up as she isn't up to the job anymore.

Horses.

Who'd have 'em?

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 18/07/2010 20:47

welling up

am such a sap

I don't know, sounds like you feel her quality of life has deteriorated too badly now. Know nothing of navicular beyond whatever we learned in theory, every horse different too. Just want to wish you the very best with this decision really.

lubblyjubblies · 18/07/2010 21:20

turn her out in a muzzle? reduce fatness/laminitis tendencies? It's so hard when a loved animal is struggling. Personally I would give her the summer and see what condition she is in come autumn. If she is in pain that makes her excessively grumpy or prevents her eating than say goodbye. If not , and I was able to provide her with a little herd, running free (except tea time) then you will repay her well :-(

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 18/07/2010 23:19

I agree with Lubblie, she could be becoming aggressive because she is in pain.
My best friend had an ancient horse, who has been costing her a mint in meds for several years. he was Ill on and off, but seemed happy, so she kept him going. Eventually he started having fits. She made the decision that as long a he was well she would keep him going, but the next time the vet came out, that was that. Maybe you should do this. As long as she isn't in pain, and not lame or unwell, let her be, otherwise, well.....
It's shit I know. I made the choice not to put my dog through seriously invasive surgery for cancer and I know one day soon I will have to make the decision, I'm really not looking forward to it!

Original poster

MrFibble · 19/07/2010 20:16

Thanks everyone.

lullblyjubblies - she's only out 5 hours a day at the moment on very poor pasture so I don't think there's any laminitis coming into it but thanks for the suggestion. I could switch her to shavings instead of straw to see if that helps her lose weight but that would be 40 euro more livery a month.

Here's the crux. I feel guilty because I'm letting money come into the equation too. I could throw money at it to try and fix things but I don't think she is fixable and I don't have the money at the moment. In fact the vet said 3 years ago she'll always be lame but it's a matter of how much lameness is acceptable.

At the moment I am spending around 500 euro a month on a horse that is too lame to ride and that I think might be in constant pain.

I could call the vet out for x-rays to see if the navicular is progressing. This would be another (minimum) 700 euros.

If that's the case and if he doesn't say shoot her I could put her into high heeled shoes or whatever other treatment would be suggested. Another 100 euro a month minimum.

I could de-nerve her. God only knows what that costs and I don't think it's right to de-nerve a horse with a weak and potentially unstable stifle. In fact, can you? I don't know.

Argh! Why do I have horses? Why???

I'll get the vet out for an assesment next week.

OP posts:

CluckyKate · 19/07/2010 21:26

Big (((((hugs)))) for an impossible decision.....one that every horse-owner dreads.

Deep down I think you know what the right decision is but that can only come from you and not from a bunch of cyber-friends who, with the greatest of respect, may know neither you nor your horse.

Take your time and be objective - list the pros and cons of each alternative and have a good, long talk with your vet.

Good luck with whatever you decide

ThatDamnDog · 19/07/2010 21:35

I think from your posts that your gut feeling is to say enough's enough ... so sorry though, it's heartbreaking.

I don't think you should worry about the money thing - a pile of blank cheques won't fix her problems.

Just always remember, they know nothing of what we're talking about here, but they do know about it if we let them suffer. So it can't ever be the wrong thing to let them go when their quality of life is inevitably going to deteriorate.

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 19/07/2010 22:12

I know what you are feeling. I recently took my dog to thet vet because she had developed mammary tumours. The diagnosis is basically breast cancer. They could operate, the cost would be at least £500. I decided not to go ahead with the operation. Although this is a lot of money in my world, I really would have managed, but what did it for me, was the research I did. The operation was really invasive, involved a total mastectomy, several oozing drains and a lot of pain for my baby. The long term outlook was only marginally improved, as it was very likely that the cancer would return. I would rather that she and I enjoyed the time she has left, and when the time comes, so be it. I feel really guilty, as I worry I was overly influenced by the cost, but really it is the right thing to do. She may have less time, but she will be happy, and we can enjoy each other. Its really not about the money. You love your horse and she trusts you to do the right thing for her. You know whats what. Don't beat yourself up about it.

seeker · 26/07/2010 07:54

The other thing to remember is tha if humans embark on a difficult or painful course of medical treatment they know that they will get better, or they can see the end of it - we have a sense of time and know there is a future. Animals don't - they only know "now".

So if, for example, dd's pony had an injury that needed 6 months box rest to get better, we couldn't do it because she gets so very distressed if she's kept in that we would have to let her go. Even though she might be fixable, she would have a miserable 6 months with no way of knowing that it was so that she could get better.

It's so hard, but we have to do what's best for then as animals, not what's best for us as humans.

Original poster

MrFibble · 31/07/2010 13:26

Thanks again everyone.

Vet comes out next week - wanted to wait until DD was away on holiday camp. If he says she can live out in a field 24/7 all year round I will do it. If he says that would not be wise due to unstable stifle joint then I'm afraid I will have to say putting to sleep is the only option.

I am starting to look for a field in case of option 1.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrFibble · 02/08/2010 08:26

I've made the decision that she should be put to sleep. I watched her in the field yesterday and she is almost crouching sometimes to get the weight off her toes. That's no life for a horse.

I am waiting for the call back from the vet as to when he can come out and do it.

I feel like sh*t.

OP posts:

seeker · 02/08/2010 08:40

Oh - what a hard decision to make. It's easy to know you're doing the right thing but still to feel like shit about it. Try to hold on to thought that you are being a responsible animal owner, and that it's the best thing for her.

Thinking about you.

frostyfingers · 02/08/2010 09:08

I'm sorry, it's the worst thing to have to do, even when you know it's the right thing. Can you have someone with you, I was with my friend when her horse was pts, and she said it helped.

Don't feel bad if you can't be there at the actual time - and she won't know what's coming and won't be afraid. You've given her a good life, looked after and loved her, and are relieving her of pain and discomfort. At times like this, I think it might be nicer to be horse than human.

Thinking of you.

Original poster

MrFibble · 02/08/2010 10:52

Wednesday evening. Between 9 and 10. I will be there.

Thanks for the kind words.

Should I let my other mare, her field companion, see her body?

OP posts:

frostyfingers · 02/08/2010 12:22

If it were mine, I would let her companion see her. I know when one of ours went,the other was in the stable, door shut and didn't see the body, but when he was let out, went to the spot and pawed around and sort of stood over it. It was very moving, but I think it would help to see that's she's gone for good, rather than just away.

We let our dog see the body of her companion, and I'm sure it helped her understand. I sat with the body for a while too, and it helped me.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/08/2010 13:00

I'm so sorry for you - hugs.

Original poster

MrFibble · 02/08/2010 18:52

And now I have just been given an earful by the yard owner because I did not tell him before I requested the appointment with the vet and the vet contacted him before I could. He has given me an earful about how he doesn't see the lameness. Fucking hell. This is not easy as it is. Now I feel I am being branded as a wanton horse destroyer.

OP posts:

frostyfingers · 03/08/2010 09:39

You are NOT a wanton horse destroyer. If you and your vet feel you are making the right decision then you are making the right decision.

Do you normally have a good relationship with the YO, perhaps he just feels he might be losing income......?

If the vet says differently when he sees your horse then you can always think again, but don't just go by the YO - trust your instincts.

Good luck, I'm sorry it's all so complicated for you.

BollockBrain · 03/08/2010 09:43

oh god, poor you.

It has been 17 years since i had my old mare put to sleep and still think of her every day. It is a painful time, but you know when the time is right. Will be thinking of you tomorrow x

shufflebum · 03/08/2010 14:36

You do not have to tell your yard owner before you make an appointment with your own vet for your own horse.
Stay strong, you are doing the best and most responsible thing for your girl, as an owner it is the last kind thing that you can do for her.

Original poster

MrFibble · 03/08/2010 16:18

Thanks everyone. I feel sick about this but every time I look at Bertha in the field I can see she is pointing her toes - mostly front right but sometimes front left - and I know I am doing the right thing. Poor old girl.

OP posts:

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