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Expert
Posts: 1611
  
| Ethically when is it time to call it quits with your arthritic horse? My mare runs and never refuses at the gate. She's injected and vetted with regular maintenance. She is noticeably slow getting up and around but never has problems on the pattern (no cheating, getting by, or slowing down.) If they go in and do their job do you just keep on trucking until they refuse or show pain on the pattern? | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Depends what you want to do with her when she is done
Are you going to run her till she is crippled and is no longer sound she needs to be euthanized?
Are you worried about her quality of life after, and can financially afford to keep her for the next 10 yrs.
Are you going to sell her, and hope she doesn't end up on a meat wagon later on down the road?
Only you can answer these questions.
I personally like mine to retire pasture sound, I had one with osteoarthritis I was injecting every 3 months, I retired him at 15 he was pulled out of retirement for a yr when he was 18 still was running competitively he was in the top 10 in all but 2 high school rodeo runs. He is now 22, I can tell how he stands he is a little arthritic, but still trots out sound lope around, so I am guessing a few more years are left.
I also have said to the people who have bought my horses, they can all come home when retired. | |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
 
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | You might want to try REcovery EQ. Vitamin C is vital for joint fluid and tendons | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I had to make this choice just this year. It's hard, and only you will know.
My horse was running better than ever last winter, but when I tried to get him going after two months off, I could feel that he was stiff and sore. He was "off" going to the right. After injecting two more times, along with our regular maintenance, the vet told me it was time to retire him.
For me, it was b/c he felt off. He never refused, and I have absolutely no doubts that he would have kept on running and trying. He's 20. His gait has already gotten worse. I let the kids ride at a walk and trot, and even though he's willing, he is just not safe imo (mechanically) for much more.
It's tough to make the decision anytime, but especially with the ones that just won't give up and are willing to give their all. You'll know though.
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Managing arthritis....when is it time to call it quits...