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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
   
Location: North Dakota | Ugh I can't believe I'm even making this post. I just don't know what to think anymore. I'm down to just one horse who is my dream horse in every way. He is the perfect horse for me and I love him to death. Our personalities just mesh extremely well. I never thought in a million years I'd ever even consider selling him. The idea of it makes me cry already.
But here's the thing. I've had nothing but bad luck with him since the day I got him. Nothing has been his fault but between sickness and injury and then being diagnosed with kissing spine in the 2 years I've owned him I've ridden him maybe 50 times. He's doing better than ever now, but I can't ride him because I had to sell my saddle for vet bills. His monthly expenses I "can" afford but it is a bit of a strain. Also, for the first time in my life I'm finding it really hard to have the time to get out to the barn consistently. I work full time, I'm going back to college later this month, planning a wedding, moving in to a new house, and I'm trying to get control of my health issues which means no more running on 6 hours of sleep and having targeted pt/workout sessions several times a week.
I love him SO much but the stress is wearing on me. He's only 8 and is such a freaking amazing horse, but I always feel like I'm holding my breath, waiting for the next bad thing to happen with him. I dread going to the barn and finding his back sore again or limping cause he got another stone bruise. The last thing I want to do is not ride, but I haven't been able to ride him in months anyway! At this point I'd get more riding done if I didn't have him and went back to taking lessons with my trainer on her horses every other week or whatever. I don't know. Has anyone else ever felt this way? What did you do or what would you do? I'm feeling very lost right now.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2016-08-07 4:42 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| Hugs and prayers for you! That sounds really tough. If you'd feel better emotionally and physically getting rid of him right now, then you might need to. Or maybe you could lease him out, sell him to a friend or someone you trust, or even sell him on contract with the agreement that if he's to be sold you get first dibs? Ultimately it's your decision in the end but if you feel like you and him would be better apart, that might be the way to go. If not, try and figure out how to make it work! I wish I could offer more advice. I've felt similar about my dog because of not having time for him, but I've made adjustments to make it work right now. Good luck! | |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| If he takes that much money and maintenance to keep happy and healthy, he'll be difficult to sell. Then you'll have to always wonder what happened to him, and if he got the care he needed.
I think you're either locked in to finding a happy medium financially, and keeping him, or putting him down where he won't feel any more pain.
Not very many homes will really take care of issues. | |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | classicpotatochip - 2016-08-07 5:04 PM If he takes that much money and maintenance to keep happy and healthy, he'll be difficult to sell. Then you'll have to always wonder what happened to him, and if he got the care he needed. I think you're either locked in to finding a happy medium financially, and keeping him, or putting him down where he won't feel any more pain. Not very many homes will really take care of issues.
He's actually doing better than ever now. Most of his issues were just freak accidents that aren't ongoing conditions. The only thing he still has issues with is Kissing Spine, which as long as he is turned out where he has plenty of space 24/7 and gets injections 2x a year, he does really well. The main reason I haven't been able to ride him all summer is I sold my saddle and have been saving up for another. Physically, he is sound for riding at this time. | |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | If he were mine....I would keep him and just enjoy his company.I would NEVER trust another contract.And also..I have back issues and although its none of my business it just bothers me to see horses be asked to perform with injections and kissing spine therefore I couldn't sell one that has it.Now...saying that is ONLY THE WAY I THINK.It does seem after reading that you have a lot going on and maybe just want and need to be done for awhile but only you can make that choice so I wish you luck and hope you find peace in your decision.just remember once he leaves you have no say so in what is done with or to him.prayers for you. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| I'm going through the same thing with my mare right now, she is 6 and has PSSM Type 2 and is highly symptomatic so I've ridden her three times in the last year :'( I am working on a maintence program for her and although she's expensive and might not even be more than a trail horse, our bond is what makes me keep her. Most think I'm crazy but she was with me through some hard times and If I was ever in a situation where I had to get rid of her, I would most likely have to put her down because no one would want her and I couldnt bare to imagine where she would end up. It sounds like yours isn't that bad and so you could either find a buyer with a buy back contract or essentially put him on the back burner for awhile? Save money, do limited maintence if possible-who knows the time off while you recouperate and get finances in order may actually do him good! | |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-08-07 6:25 PM classicpotatochip - 2016-08-07 5:04 PM If he takes that much money and maintenance to keep happy and healthy, he'll be difficult to sell. Then you'll have to always wonder what happened to him, and if he got the care he needed. I think you're either locked in to finding a happy medium financially, and keeping him, or putting him down where he won't feel any more pain. Not very many homes will really take care of issues. He's actually doing better than ever now. Most of his issues were just freak accidents that aren't ongoing conditions. The only thing he still has issues with is Kissing Spine, which as long as he is turned out where he has plenty of space 24/7 and gets injections 2x a year, he does really well. The main reason I haven't been able to ride him all summer is I sold my saddle and have been saving up for another. Physically, he is sound for riding at this time.
http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=471959&start=1
This is what you posted 'My KS horse usually gets back injections and cur-ost to manage his back pain. His last injection was on May 11th. I admit I haven't been as adamant about lunging as usual but he was also moved out on 20+ acre pasture with tons of hills and terrain so he's getting a lot of good exercise on his own. But he is just not improving. He had one good day (about 80% pain free) but otherwise is still in a lot of pain when his back is palpated. My vet has mentioned several times that she's had good luck with shockwave therapy. It's $300 a session and she said in 1-3 sessions most horses improve dramatically and the results have been lasting a long time. Now I can handle the $900 but only if there's a reasonable chance it will work. Otherwise, I'm going to start looking into the ligament snip surgery for him. I will do WHATEVER it takes to try and get this horse sound. Any other I would have given up on at this point but he is really really really special and everyone who knows him sees it.
So I'm looking at experiences with shockwave, especially if you've used it for KS. But any example of it helping (or not) with inflammation is appreciated.
Edited by Bibliafarm 2016-08-07 11:20 PM
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I'd find a place where you can turn him out for a year. If rest won't set him back, that would allow you to get a routine and catch up. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bibliafarm - 2016-08-07 11:16 PM cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-08-07 6:25 PM classicpotatochip - 2016-08-07 5:04 PM If he takes that much money and maintenance to keep happy and healthy, he'll be difficult to sell. Then you'll have to always wonder what happened to him, and if he got the care he needed. I think you're either locked in to finding a happy medium financially, and keeping him, or putting him down where he won't feel any more pain. Not very many homes will really take care of issues. He's actually doing better than ever now. Most of his issues were just freak accidents that aren't ongoing conditions. The only thing he still has issues with is Kissing Spine, which as long as he is turned out where he has plenty of space 24/7 and gets injections 2x a year, he does really well. The main reason I haven't been able to ride him all summer is I sold my saddle and have been saving up for another. Physically, he is sound for riding at this time.
I agree with Bibs about selling him, sell with full disclosures on all his health problems so that someone will know what to look for if he gets sore again.. So I'm guessing that you got the shockwave therapy for him and hes doing good now? | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| Same girl. Same.
I've got a mare that (through no fault of her own) has been sick, sore, lame, you name it. BUT she's my absolute soul mate (sorry husband  ) I've had people tell me "it's a good thing you bought her, no one else would do for her what you do". When life gets to be just too busy and I've got too much going on, she just stays turned out until I'm caught up and can be back on her again. She's sat for 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, and every single time I get back on her it's like a breath of fresh air.
If you can afford him, and he's that special to you, let him be turned out until you're ready to get back to it. Just my two cents :) | |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I had a mare like this that I paid a lot of money for. Spent 9 years trying to make a go of it. She was easy to like and be around. Got two half years of rodeo on her. Finally gave up. As I hauled her off to get sold, the song "Say something, I'm giving up on you" would either play on the radio or in my head and I would start bawling. Anything that could happen to a horse happened to her, most of the time through no fault of her OR me. Finally hoped that if she got away from the black cloud over my place, she could thrive and be all that SHE could be. Lost my Butt selling her, what I got putting her on clearance did not cover the year it took to sell her and somebody got a heck of a deal if they have better luck maintaining her.
But I WILL say that the morning after I shipped her to be sold, it was like a heavy weight had been lifted off my soul. I didn't wonder what ELSE could possibly happen to her and I actually wanted to ride.
Now the now 5 yr old colt I raised has taken on her bad ju-ju. Somewhat broke but can't finish him due to an unknown back issue. Was going to send him off to a rehab for therapy since there is no real affordable test to tell me what is going on (Xrays can only image the top of the spine and tell me if he HAS kissing spine but cannot rule it out if not seen on xrays, and a body scan can only tell me where he hurts.....I KNOW where he hurts). Well first my new horse got what I thought was strangles but culture came up negative for everything and then colt got lame with what proved to be abcesses in both hind feet, and he was off for over a month. By that time we had spent so much on my surgery and repairs to pickups and semi that it is not an option at this time. So there he sits, getting fatter.......sigh
I KNOW your frustration. Only you can decide when it is enough, and then you have to worry about IF you can get him sold.
If you were closer I would lend you a saddle! | |
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When to sell out