What would you do?

I'm looking for some advice and what you would do if you were in this situation. It will help me out a lot as I am always thinking about it. Thanks!

My sister lives in California while I live in Michigan. I have 9 horses that we keep at out house and one of them is her horse. It is a palomino paint mare. She is 15 hands and about 23 years old. A couple of years ago she developed a heart condition. Over these past couple years her weight went down greatly. The vet has been with us every step if the way. They said that she is stable now to where she won't lose any weight and she won't gain it back either because of her condition and age. They say she isn't in pain or struggle or anything but she uses her energy to keep her heart pumping instead of making fat for herself. She get unlimited hay and grain twice a day. She also gets a dose of probios every month. People would be alarmed if they saw her without knowing her condition. The problem I have is that even though she looks bad and it seems putting her down would be best the vet say she is fine unless her condition worsens. I just hate seeing her the way she looks but there is nothing we can do. She has SO much heart and energy left on her though that it seems inhumane to even think put her down. It is a crazy situation!!! Advice?
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You will know when the time is right and it doesn't sound like it is time yet.

I have seen this happen many times..the horse will let you know when it is time. As long as she is not in pain and her condition is stable, take advantage of each day.

It depends on HOW bad she is. I would definitely have her on alot more than just grain and probiotic. Sounds like she needs some extra fat supplements, alfalfa, beet pulp, etc etc, as well as a daily probiotic to keep her body supplied with the energy she needs. Its hard to suggest anything without seeing her condition and knowing more about her. Does she seem bright, alert and happy all the time, getting around fine and eating well? Or is she dull and overly quiet, seemingly unhappy.

Thanks! It's a little reassuring to know!

The vet said that putting her on anything daily would be a waste of money as it will do nothing for her. They made us a diet plan for her that we stick to. She gets senior and sweet feed with weight builder, corn oil, mineral salts, beet pulp, and alfalfa twice a day. Her personality is and always been mean and ruling! She was never one of those sweet horses that will just come up to you in the pasture. Now she is more nice towards people. She will come up at feeding time without you even haveing to call her name and loves to be scratched. She is alert and seems happy. She will get after the younger horses and chase after them. She gets around fine and eats good. She is at the top of the pecking order so when she wants food she gets it! Nothing has really changed with her except that she is a little bit of a nicer horse now.
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You will know the time is getting close when she starts to lose her place in the pecking order. No matter her attitude and alpha mare level now, when she starts to go down the other horses will sense it and will re-arrange the order accordingly.

Thumbs up to the old girl though. Her new temperament may just come from the fact she may not have the energy to sustain the old attitude or there is an angel horse on her shoulder telling her to chill out and be nice to the humans who are feeding her and taking care of her :).

Thanks, this helps a lot. I know! She has the most drive I have haver seen in a horse!
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