Retirement?

I think that we all do the best we can for our horses. I recently put my gelding, who is only 12 but comes from a long career on the track, back on joint supplements because he has arthritis in his back legs. He didn't come to me with this knowledge, because his previous owners had not worked him. I saw the pain that he was in, and knew that supplements were something that he needed to have, not a luxury. You had no idea what taking him off of the Adequan would do to him, or to what degree. But, now that you do know, what are you going to do with it? I'm sure that Nelson could continue eventing, but not without some help. Perhaps the Adequan was what kept him going with you in the first place, rather than falling apart.

You also mentioned that there are horses who aren't much older than Nelson doing more advanced work than he is currently. While this is a great arguement for his potential, its also an excellent arguement for his longevity. Is four more years on Nelson really worth it to you? What is Nelson going to look like at the end of those four years? If you sell him now in his current condition to some little girl, would she still be able to use him at the end of these four years?

Its very hard for us to give up our dreams for something, especially when there is some sort of relationship involved. It becomes very easy for us to be selfish and only think of ourselves, because after all a horse can't butt in and say "I don't want to do that anymore". But especially with an older horse, and one that may be in pain, we HAVE to put aside our dreams and look at the reality. If you honestly think that with a little bit of conditioning and correct care (that you can monetarily provide) that Nelson will come out of this no worse for wear, go for it. But if its just going to end up hurting him in the long run, or you can't provide him what he needs, then I say it is time to retire him and find a younger mount.

Sorry for the novel, lol. Hope it helps!

I had a gelding who had an injury, I did bring him back from it and we continued jumping for about 3 years (he was 11). He did good for a while but then it just seemed like he lost his edge and the injury kept flaring up on us. It took me a while but I ended up giving him to a family and their kid and he is SOOO happy just being pampered.

My friend has a horse in his late teens and is bringing up a 4 year old for English Pleasure. She never has time for the older horse, he hates the arena and loves trails but she is no longer interested in trails and hardly every has time for him anyway. He just sits in his paddock looking sad or ticked off when she is riding the other horse. I have suggested she find him a home that suites him better but she just wont, she's to attached. His behavior has become unpredictable and even dangerous (can't mount, hard to catch, abusive toward the younger horse, runs off for no reason).

I know it's hard to let go and move on. But maybe sitting down with a list and pros and cons of each out come would help? It's a very hard decision so I think your smart not just jumping into it.

I spoke with my Vet today, and we had a good long talk.

I asked her if his hock issue was due to he not being on Adequan and she said definately not. This was a freak accident, it was severe tissue damage, which resulted into an infection. She said this could of happened by him slipping out on the ice out in pasture, or some sort of trauma.

Severe trauma to the joint, then resulting into the infection and voila.

My Vet said, retirement or no retirement relies entirely on what his hock is going to do from here.

We talked about him being put back onto Adequan and she said definately. What Adequan was designed to do, was repair. It isn't meant to be a long term suppliment, but meant to repair damage, then the user is meant to go to a maintenance suppliment - like Polyglycam or Glucosamine.

So I am going to get him back on Adequan for a few months and also a good oral suppliment and work on getting him fattened up and muscled up.

I cannot afford two horses, so if Nelson's hock tells us that he can't do what I want to do, then I will have to find him a new home. I just beat myself up because if I do that, I feel like I am "dumping" him and giving up on him. I promised him through thick and thin, and if I let him go to someone else - it'll kill me.

And I cannot bare the thought of him going to someone until they grow tired, and dump him off at some meat auction - I can't let that happen to him.

I am feeling much better today about Nelson's recovery. I was able to get out after work to ride, thankfully the snow stopped and the roads cleared up

The heat in his hock is gone, and the swelling is almost gone. He moves great at the walk *we haven't merged into the trot yet* and I am quite happy Very happy

He still needs weight, he is still ribby - and he definately needs muscle mass, but both will come over time.

He has a round bale in his paddock, and he is at 2 pounds of Purina Senior twice a day *gradually increasing back to 4 pounds* so I am feeling good about his progress.

I'm starting Adequan for him starting Feb 1st, and he has a shipment of Corta-Flx HA coming in from a website where I found on sale.

So I am thinking positive - retirement is still in the back of my head, but I am going to let him tell me when he is ready. I don't think that is now, but we will see.

The BO of the place where we are at, said she would take him and use him as a beginner rider lesson horse - walk, trot, canter - when the time came, so that I can move onto a younger horse to move forward with my Eventing Career.

So one day at a time, no rushing - but trying to plan ahead so that Nelson and I have a back up plan

I know how you feel about the thoughts of giving him up. And also about the worry of giving him to a family to get tired of. But IF it was to happen that he can't handle the eventing...or even the walk, trot, canter as the beginner lesson horse, have you thought of one of the charities? Where I grew up, I volunteered for a little bit at "A Leg Up". They take the quiet, sane, bombproof horses; and use them to let handicapped kids ride. The way we would do it is that we would take the horse out, clean him/her up and get the saddle on. One person would lead the horse, while two other people walked along on each side of the horse holding on or steadying the child while riding. It is very low impact on the joints; and where I was, none of them were really big kids. Not to mention, I know for a fact that the horses were well cared for. If he were to go to a place like this, you would also still be able to visit with him.

I sincerely hope you can get him back to where he was though. GOOD LUCK!!!

MIE
There is no way of escaping the ageing problem. in animals or for that matter in humans With dogs they say every 1 year of a dog's life is 7 of a humans - which makes my little terrier 101! But she is still at my feet.
I have not seen a similar valculation for horses - but it must be at least 3:1
Is your horse 60?

I spoke with a gait analysis who says that in cross country eventing - the stress on a horse's front legs when landing is 3 times body weight - say a tonne and a half! I don't know if the figure is correct but ouch!

My Joe was eventually put down because he slipped and pulled a check ligament when bolting down an asphalte lane. It is likely that his ligament had already been damaged previously from working on mountainsides. One foot shooting out forwards when going downhill and a heavy horse can be crippled for life. Suddenly all he could do safely for the rest of his life was to eat grass.

When serious injury strikes, then it becomes decision time. The horse may suddenly become unfit for purpose. Tricky. When I bought DiDi I had in mind already what to do when I could no longer ride - I check every now and again that the options are still open. But horses are neither dogs nor humans and we horse owners have to come to terms with the difference.

The scenario will hit most of us at one time or another - sadly for you it is your dilema now. Sorry, but all I can say - is that I understand your anguish. Many of us have stood previously in your shoes.

Barry G

Well,

I just started Nelson on a Digestive Suppliment. This is supposed to aid in prevention of Colic and it repairs the stomache lining and ulcers and gets everything in his digestive tract flowing.

Good news though - I trotted today, and he is great! He is walking fabulously, and trotting smoothly and cleanly.

Bad news - I found out what caused his injury. He's a stall kicker.

*mumbles profanities*

I found out tonight. How?

After our hour walk with a tad bit of trot work out, I took care of him, and put him away into his stall.

I then threw him some more hay, and walked into an abandoned stall where Nelsons grain and suppliments are kept. I baggie everything up, into ziplock bags - grain and suppiments.

While I was doing that, I would hear a squeel and then boards being hit with force, I assumed it was the mare beside Nelson - cause she's a beotch. After I got to about 5 bags, I happened to look up - just as I looked up, I heard the squeeling again and saw Nelson's *** up in the air, and then the stall walls banged.

That little S.O.B!!!

So I have to figure something out....

I had one horse, who had suspensories so messed up I couldnt ride anymore. I had him for about a year just as a pet, after I spend four years riding and showing him. I told him I'd keep him forever. No one really wants a lame horse, who require $250 custom made shoes every month, well no one would take him that I could trust to keep him. I kept him untill 2004, when we decided to put him down because he had extensive neurological issues, and was not gaining weight on anything.

My second horse, has navicular syndrome. She's been on and off again lame for the last two years. Since July shes not been ridden. She isnt a horse I would sell. Shes just to dangerous for nonaggressive riders. She requires alot of transitions and half haults to stay somewhat calm. Her lack of training and her lameness make her almost unrehomable. Shes my baby, she just kind of hangs out in the pasture, her main job is to teach the other horses manners. If I had to I would sell my yearling before I got rid of my mare.

I do understand that some people just really want to ride and show and have a horse they can show off. And they just can afford two. But I just dont have the heart to send a horse to someone else who has given me so much love and trust me completly.

If I were in your situation I would keep nelson, if it was feasable, and I would start searching for a horse who could take me places, or a lesson horse I could compete with, and ride nelson for fun, if it turns out he cant hold up. Of course I am assuming you lessons would be the same price on another horse, and you could find a horse to ride for free.


Sometimes having a horse you cant ride is pretty heart breaking too. I used to watch the local dressage shows. But I just cant go anymore. One time I went, we were in the parking lot and I just couldnt get out of the car. I wanted to ride soo bad. It was so depressing to watch a show and know you could never do that with your best friend anymore.

I have my two, I wish I could afford more. The only reasons I can really afford both of them is because I dont pay for a place with a ring, or hot water, or full service/care. I

For stall kicking, I would probably keep him outside, with access to a large run in (of course this may not even be possible in your area) see if he still kicks. I hate shifting around to different barns alot, and I like to stick with one place if they have good care, but maybe you could continue with your instructor, but more nelson to a less expensive barn, assuming it still has good care, and use that extra $$ to pay for more lessons, or contribute to nelson's "extra things he needs fund."
Althought I know were I live its hard to find good care, a good barn, and a good price, unless you work off board or know someone.