How much debt would you get in to keep your horse?

[Freewomble]

Finding this so tough. Dhorse has lots of veterinary needs and needs careful/special management. I've already exhausted what I felt was quite a substantial emergency/rainy day fund.

He's only 8 but with long term/manageable conditions so looking at many years ahead of this. Keep going overdrawn/using credit card for the next round of vet treatment. Would never rehome as not fair on either dhorse or new owner. I just don't know where to draw the line.

Sorry if I dip in and out of thread, working bonkers hours to try to keep as much income coming in to stay afloat. Some days it feels worth it and others I am completely drained and demoralised

I wouldn’t be going into debt to keep an 8 year old alive. I’ve got old ponies, for example a 30 year old who has cushings and regular lami episodes, so I have ongoing bills for Bute and pergolide. I’m ok with that. It won’t be forever and when his time is done he will be pts.

But if for example I had a youngster with kissing spine or even one that needed colic surgery and who then kept on having colic episodes I would think twice about the future for that horse.

What conditions are we talking about ?

Joint and metabolic issues, so exercise is needed but very careful grazing.

No. I know someone who is in grands worth of debt with her horse. She can't afford him yet the poor horse keeps coming down with health issues. The newest one is a £4K dental bill, which insurance won't pay out on she's struggling to manage her household
Bills due to the horses increased fees.

Horses, animals in general are lovely but it's not worth loosing your home over or getting into severe debt.

If your working bonkers hours to stay afloat, then surely you don't have time to ride? It's a slippery slope.

Have got management right so is actually flourishing, just working myself to death to keep going. I think eventually one or either condition will make the decision easier for me. It's just the financial/emotional/physical drain of keeping going. Rock and a hard place.

It is a very slippery slope. Am paying for him to be exercised some days so yes, feels like a catch 22 situation.

Just going round in ever decreasing circles. The ethics of putting down a beautiful animal and my nest friend who is flourishing because of what I'm doing vs the cost to myself and family. Been round and round so many times and I just can't bring myself to do it.

If you and your family are being negatively impacted just to keep him upright, then I’d honestly be putting him to sleep. He’ll know nothing of it.

I’ve got five, all various ages and issues. My youngster with metabolic is my biggest problem by far and I haven’t yet decided his future. But he’s not costing much in the interim.

I understand the dilemma but there are so many beautiful, healthy horses out there that deserve good homes.

Breaking yourself for a broken one won’t help anyone.

Metabolic issues are so cruel. Just that alone is enormous, without the joints as well.

I'm not sure I have the stomach for another after this one. So hard not to beat myself up for not being able to cope better than I am. It's not for the want of trying, that's for sure.

Could you part loan him on the grounds that they ride him so many times a week? So he gets the excerise and you're not paying someone else to do it?

I already have a sharer and find I still need to cover days with professional help as well.

I’ve just had my older girl pts, she had deteriorated a fair bit but cost was a factor in the timings. I could no longer afford her.

My livery was massive due to her condition (EMS plus hind lameness) she was retired and then recently went up to £100 of medication monthly. So she was costing £700ish per month for a non ridden oldie.

I loved her more than anything but my credit card bill was massive and I could no longer make ends meet. I have a daughter and she had to come first.

It was an easier decision in that she was 26 not 8, but it was still difficult as she could’ve managed another 6 months or more as she wasn’t in a lot of pain, just couldn’t use her hind very well. But I decided to end it.

I still feel sick about it but it was the right thing to do.

I'm so sorry for your loss @Cobblersorchard. It is heartbreaking, but sounds like you really did your best.

I'm cross that I can't afford the ethical standard of care I so desperately want to give, with the support I need to do so.

So few livery places are properly equipped to cope with metabolic horses. Or they say they are and then they aren't really or it becomes a problem. No-one likes soaking hay properly.

Sorry, am tired and very peed off today. Never again will I own a horse unless I can see to them myself 3-4 times a day if necessary.

And the ones who ignore the professional advice you pay zillions out for and tell you there's nothing wrong with your horse so they don't need xy or z!

Well yes they seem fine BECAUSE I'm doing XY and Z 🤬

I remember that pain! I actually was really lucky with my last 2 yards. They both did exactly what I asked, and she was cared for brilliantly but it cost a fortune.

I’m not having another for a long time. I’m completely traumatised. I have had too much worry and stress for too long. It’s broken me.

I am bereft though. I miss her so much it actually hurts.

For what it’s worth @Freewomble if I had my time over I’m not sure I would have kept her going post EMS diagnosis even though she was in work then.

You wouldn’t be wrong to call it a day.

Thank you so much for you thoughts and time in replying @Cobblersorchard. I hope my angst hasn't triggered painful stuff for you too much. 26 is a marvelous age - you should be massively proud of yourself for seeing dpony through that far. Good on you, they were very lucky to have you ❤️

Thank you. It’s still very raw, only 19 days ago. I just paid the final vet bill, that was fun 😞. Over £1k for pts and cremation without ashes. It will take me months to recover financially.

I'm another who would say that pts is probably the kindest thing for everyone concerned. I kept my wonderful mare going for years with metabolic issues, but it was hard, even with her at home. I was constantly checking, exercising, restricting grazing, buying in hay etc, watching for sunny days, watching for frost...it was relentless. When she could no longer tolerate any grass wiithout going lame I called it a day, she hated being confined or restricted. I know it was the right thing, but it didn't make it any eeasier.

Thank you both so much for sharing your experiences. It is a constant anxiety and not one I like entrusting to anyone else that doesn't really understand why I do things a certain way. I think that's what I'm realising and I need to not feel bad for that. You end up feeling like you're being neurotic, but you're not. The littlest things can have a big impact.

I’d have a realistic chat with your vet and have him pts before the winter sets in . Fortunately we’ve never been in a situation where finances come into the equation but I have had to make difficult decisions wrt care needs and how far you go 💐

Thank you, and yes, I think that's what I'm realising. Last winter was hell and I've made changes, but if I'm finding it this tough even with those now in summer, winter is filling me with fear and dread. At least he is happy and pain free currently.

Sending empathetic hugs your way @Freewomble
I also have an unrideable 8 year old, with issues in his spine, hocks, si joints amongst others. Having spent more than £6 k on vets fees of my own money already on him, I have made the hard decision to not have any more treatment for me, basically we solve one issue then another flares up. I can’t bear to have him put to sleep but, so many buts.

So many buts! This has to be the 3rd time I've said no more after this episode. Then he improves and life is lovely again. Just this evening, having felt a wreck all day, it's been so peaceful and glorious at the yard - good for the soul and I feel better for it. There's nothing compares is there, when it's all going well! He's both the cause and the cure of a lot of stress.

I'm sorry you're in a similar boat. 8 is no age really, is it. They should be in their prime poor buggers.