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Been through hell and back

16K views 105 replies 40 participants last post by  Cacowgirl 
#1 ·
There is so much back story here it would take all night but it boils down to this

Im a new horse owner.I listen to what im told and i do it.My horse sees a vet every time it is needed.I have him shod every six weeks.I have him on everything i am told to help with his weight problem.I have put my faith in people that i was told were the right people and then to be told the opposite by others.I am moving my horse back to a walking horse barn the same one a got him from.They seem to be the only constant that i have.He was a nice meaty yet refined nicely gaited horse.Since i have bought him ive had nothing but problems.Im hoping that when i move him things get better for me.But here is a video of this quarter horse trainer telling me all the things wrong with my horse.I have had vets,trainers,breeders,owners,farriers.like 10 out of 10 people that have seen this laugh and cuss at the same time at some of the things he is saying.What you dont hear is right after i stopped the camera he said my horse was crippled and if i dont stop riding him he will need to be put to sleep in a year. I can see the side to side differences and i can see that there might be an issue so please dont think that im oblivious but according to all the people that have seen it there was no reason for me to leave that barn that day in tears.What are your thoughts.
 
#79 ·
I'm thinking it has to do with his feet paired with being unbalanced from the time you went to put weight on him and didn't ride (not your fault, just my opinion) since a horse with a trim that doesn't work for him will start doing all kinds of strange things, especially if it goes on for awhile and isn't a one off thing.

We had a TWH that used to be a cart horse (showed) and then fell on his front end and got arthritis in his right knee. He also walked like that behind and seemed off.. but that was how he was since he wasn't conditioned or anything. He didn't pace though which is so cool looking, gotta admit)

Hope you get to the bottom of this.
 
#80 ·
Just my 2 cents about the pacing/soundness issue....this horse is 7, a bit young to have soundness issues related to his lateral way of moving. MOST "show bred" TWH are lateral in movement, the proper (or improper, depending on point of view) shoeing turns that lateral movement into the infamous "Big Lick". My 1/2 TWH mare is very pacey, but at 12 remains totally sound with hundreds of miles of serious trail riding under her belt, er, girth. Good luck to you, recently moved from DFW area (almost NO gaited horses) to AR, almost nothing BUT gaited horses, so I know exactly what you're going through in terms of finding help with your horse's issues.
 
#81 ·
Just my 2 cents about the pacing/soundness issue....this horse is 7, a bit young to have soundness issues related to his lateral way of moving.
I hardly agree. Friend's Saddlebred mare started having problems at age 9 that we noticed, and was probably having issues before that. A horse can have soundness issues of all types at nearly every time period in a horse's life.
 
#82 · (Edited)
I think my horse is a walker/paint cross.
& he Is So hard to keep weight on I have had him for 4 years & have had trouble with his weight but he was starved when I got him so that could be the reason hes such a hard keeper. I have to Keep him on free range hay
Timothy/alfalfa. I feed him a coffee can full of Grain & I add in a Weight Booster & corn oil.
He should eat it with the booster & corn oil. Also Put him out in the pasture as much as possible. If you Have to You can add a tad of applesauce to the mixture to hide the weight booster & corn oil taste & there should be No way he will refuse Eating it.
My horse Eats Everything I just Told you all year round & He has put on a ton of weight.
I was also told by my vet Not to rush the weight Gain I was told to feed him like i described but I was told Not to expect it fast Especially in the hips & back.

I cant watch videos So I cant give you any advice on the Lameness issue
 
#83 ·
Whats your Worming Schedual This Can Play A Big Part in weight Gain!

Heres Mine
January -Zimecitrin Gold or Quest Plus (Tape Worms)
March- Safegaurd or Quest (Encysted Strongyles)
June & august-Any (large & small Stronglyes)
November-Quest or Invermectin (Bots)
 
#84 ·
Vets in different areas recommend different things, and mine, in both VA and NY recommend fecals quarterly, and worm accordingly. The rotational wormer routine has led to resistant strains, just like the overuse of antibiotics.

I don't believe that TWH or crosses are generally hard to keep weight on because of the breed. I think it is an individual thing, just like most things. I also have a TWH cross, and do not have any issue with weight.

I have, however, found this thread really helpful since I am having some issues with mine, also, and am waiting to get him home from the trainers to get my chiro to look at him. Mine is NOT gaited, but, I think that the fact that he is a cross may be some of what I am seeing and feeling in his unbalance at the lope to the left.

OP-You can respect your 30 days notice and still move your horse, but you will end up paying board in both places for the 10 days or so. Might be worth it.....I would consider it if I were you. The sooner you get help, the sooner you are back riding and the horse gets better.
 
#86 ·
First off, I haven't read all the posts..just skimmed the last couple of pages and I'm not a trainer or a vet. You'd asked for opinions and remember, this is just mine, for whatever 2cnts it's worth:).

If it were me, I'd take him out of his current boarding bard asap. They won't care, they have your money and aren't doing anything for him or you to help answer this question that must be eating at you ALL the time. Your piece of mind and his best interest, regardless of what the outcome is priceless.

I'd agree, at some point your horse has been shown either in big lick or the class down from that...for the life of me can't remember the name of it..too early on my Sunday morning <g>. At least that's what his way of going looks like in one of the video's. He's more squatted back on his back end and light in the front with a lot of knee action..that's not natural but man made.

I don't know if you'd mentioned this already so I'm sorry if somebody already covered it. If this horse had the heavy keg shoes for the majority of his life and then had them taken off, was put in what to him would be deep dirt, he's going to be VERY off balance especially if his foot gear is different and he's not in shape. The excessive wobble in the back may account for some of it. I had a tw gelding and he was so knock kneed in the back he looked crazy, however a woman who's been into tw, showing, trails, summer camp for kids, snapped him up immediately and he's gone on to a very normal productive life.

Being narrow chested could attribute to just his conformation and/or lack of conditioning. That and him not being able to gain wght properly is also going to make his hips jut out.

Short stepping could be something serious or he's got foot issues.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm with Darren (I think it was) who isn't ready to jump on the "he's beyond help" wagon. Yes, I think he's got some issues to address and they may not be repairable however, until he is evaluated by a NATURALLY GAITED tw facility AND A QUALIFIED VET AND FARRIER (sorry to shout) I'd try and stay possitve. The sooner you and he have some concrete information to go on, the sooner the healing, in every way, starts.

I didn't find the way he got up telling in any direction. I had a young kmh who used to drop to his knees like a dog playing and eat grass. The first time he did this my husband was holding the lead rope and I thought the horse was dying, LOL. His knees buckled..it was scary! and there he stayed, just eating grass..then he laid down..rolled, and got back up. It was hilarious. That horse was just the biggest goofball on the planet and had a lot of nervous energy..your boy reminds me alot of him as he had a hard time gaining wght too.

The horse world can be a harsh and difficult place to be. You'll always get a million different ways to do things, most are well intended, some aren't. You've got to sift though what feels right for you and what doesn't. Our first horse always grabs our heart in a special way and it's gut wrenching to think that they may have severe problems and that we might not have chosen well. Because you don't have all the answers, keep an open mind until you do. I see issues and a horse that doesn't have great conformation, but unless you'll be showing who cares about conformation so long as he's sound..hence..one step at a time.

I'm sorry this is so darned long winded..guess I had a lot to say:oops:. I'm looking forward to hearing what the outcome is. Until then, I'd let him be out in the pasture, give him all the good hay he wants (staying away from alfalpha) and let him do his thing. He's not 3 legged lame and if he's hurting that badly he won't want to race and run around. He's got energy..he's not dumb. Being stalled will only stress him more, imho.

Ok, enough with me!! Best of luck!
 
#87 ·
I too haven't read all the posts, and am not a trainer.

I am wondering if by now you've had his back looked at, and if so what was found if anything.

Also, TWHs need their hooves longer, not as short as say a QH.

I also agree that you have to decide how much time and money you can put into him without hurting other financial aspects of your life...it's such a hard thing to think/talk about. You want to care for him, and you also don't want to put him back out into the horse market world not knowing if someone would take the time to care for him.

I had a horse I couldn't really get any $ for due to being slightly 'off' yet could be ridden safely w/o pain and soundness issues, and I ended up donating her to a therapeutic clinic.

Good luck, hope you've figured it out by now.
 
#88 ·
I was going to let this post go..Well hope that it would get lost.But anyhow.Here is the skinny on Mister

He was moved on the 11th. The trainer,the stable owner,two farrier(both walking horse farriers) a vet and countless walking horse owners has seen him since he was moved.All in all in a nut shell.Jacked up feet.He was being trimmed so backwards and un even. A year of this has thrown him off like no other.Its going to take months to get them back to where they belong.When we are done with the growth on his hooves that is needed we will re evaluate him and go from there.

His weight.That seems to be the only concern anyone has.The day we got him at this barn he conked out like he hadn't slept in years. We dont think he was getting any REM sleep.Teeth..Had them floated in march.Their dentist guy said it was a horrible job.He got re floated the other day.

So in a few months he should be alot better.He was shod last Tuesday for the first time by their guy and you could already see the difference.No stomping of the front right foot( i think it was the right).

Background..did some digging..Yes Mister was in training to be a big lick. That will never change. Yes he has swaying cow hocks.Most of them around here do.I have looked at EVERY walker in that barn and there are alot seeing its the only large facility within 100 miles of itself and i only saw 3 that had nice straight hocks.

I am going to go with the info on the people who have actually seen him in person from this point

I appreciate everyone on here's opinion and it has taught me a lot about things to look for.
 
#94 · (Edited)
If the vet says the only problem with his weight is the amount he is being fed then that means your not feeding him enough. I would give him free choice grass hay immediately with a couple flakes of quality hay as well.
He is off in the hind end.
Sorry your having so many issues but I love seeing new horse people. I'm glad your trying hard to learn but I would find one person that you trust and whose horses look good, happy, and you feel they ride well that I would take advice from not 10. Pick and choose. Every horse owner has to learn this:)
Hope all works out for you.
(p.s. I didn't have time to read through all off it. Just the first page so please forgive me if I've missed something)
 
#97 ·
Really glad to hear that from what they see of him, he looks like he's going to be ok. I'd like to see more video and hear what he's doing 3 months from now.

Up to you if you want him shod. I've never done a twh trim on any of mine..they get the same trim as a qh and I've never seen that they need longer toes to "dig in" and gait. Your boy probably has had shoes his entire life so learning to gait correctly w/o them will be a challenge for him.

I know it totally stinks to get your first horse and have all this crap happen. The silver lining is that you've probably learned more about conformation, gait, bits, etc...Because this happened. Yea, definately not the way you'd choose to learn, but still, knowledge is a good thing. I had to learn the hard way with my first horse here in FL..cost me a boat load of money but I learned a lot. Best of luck and I hope to hear more in the future.
 
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