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Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
  
| I have a retired barrel horse. He's only 11. Had bone chips in his fetlock. He had surgery in August, was injected in September, did regenerative therapy in December, and then injected again in March and he is still not completely sound. He doesn't limp at a walk or a lope but does limp at a trot. He will not pass a flex test. I have been advised (obviously) not to run barrels on him anymore, but the vet said he'd be fine for light riding. If I do ride him he's not any better or worse the day after. Just always that same little hitch. He runs (and I mean RUNS FULL SPEED, haha) and plays in the pasture just fine, if you were not looking for the limp you would never notice. Is there any supplement/ therapy I can try to get him back sound? Is there any sort of therapy program that could use horses like this where he would be well cared for? Do I try to sell him as a trail horse? I am at a loss here. I have no use for him and feel like he's just wasting away when he could have a job, but I also don't want him to go to a bad place and not be taken care of either. Does anyone have experience with this type of thing? Any advice would be appreciated. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I have an 11 year old with quite a bit of arthritis already In quite a few places. My vet kind of said same thing as yours. Retire. But yea he runs bucks kicks and plays like crazy. My horses have a JOB and running barrels is his. I have found gateways substitute powder (Devils claw and yucca) to really work on him. He stays sound on it for most part. Maybe little off but to a non trained eye he is sound. I pick and choose where I run and he doesn't make more than 2 runs a month. I use previcox couple days before, day of, and few days after races and he still loves his job. Just have to pick and choose best ground places with added money. I also inject polyglycan monthly. That probably has the most benefit. | |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
 
Location: Got Lobsta? | I had a horse that I needed to retire because of colic issues. He would give anyone 110% and I just knew I couldn't guarantee that someone wouldn't buy him as a trail horse and still run his legs off in the arena. He gave me 110% so I kept him as a pasture pet just so I could sleep at night. Glad I did, he is still out in the pasture, 32 years old with my other retired barrel horses. Follow your gut when selling, ask for references, there are some really good homres out there but remember you can't predict what his future will be after you sell him. Good luck! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | If he is kid safe/beginner safe, very quiet with timid people on the ground, just the type of horse to not make a wrong move or get spooked, then you can likely find a non-profit organization that will take him. The most you will get out of it is a tax write-off, but you would know that he's in a good place. Other than that, I occasionally see posts on FB looking for a companion horse. They just want something free, they can put out in the pasture.
I wouldn't go against the advice of your vet by trying to get him back to the arena. It sounds like you did everything right by him trying to bring him back sound. If you do find some magic supplement or drug that makes him appear sound, it is likely to be only a band aid temporarily masking the issue.
I don't know many trail riders that don't want to pick up a trot every now and then. And unfortunately most trail riders just don't have the knowledge to deal with a performance injury. I would worry about the care he would receive. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| BamaCanChaser - 2016-06-21 9:57 AM
If he is kid safe/beginner safe, very quiet with timid people on the ground, just the type of horse to not make a wrong move or get spooked, then you can likely find a non-profit organization that will take him. The most you will get out of it is a tax write-off, but you would know that he's in a good place. Other than that, I occasionally see posts on FB looking for a companion horse. They just want something free, they can put out in the pasture.
I wouldn't go against the advice of your vet by trying to get him back to the arena. It sounds like you did everything right by him trying to bring him back sound. If you do find some magic supplement or drug that makes him appear sound, it is likely to be only a band aid temporarily masking the issue.
I don't know many trail riders that don't want to pick up a trot every now and then. And unfortunately most trail riders just don't have the knowledge to deal with a performance injury. I would worry about the care he would receive.
I agree with this.
It doesn't take long for someone to know that horse is a barrel horse and you will find yourself running against him most likely in the future. I wouldn't risk it. You can always donate to a therapy program but they do have pretty strict criteria including height as they usually need walkers.
I would potentially get a second opinion if you think there is more you can do. I semi-retired my gelding on my own as vet said he could run but having KS, I don't want it getting worse and I want him to be around a long time. I run him about 1x a month and I know he can handle more but I run him and get him qualified for the big year end show and then I pick a few races that I really enjoy, where I know he runs well and I know the weather/ground is good. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
| Thank you for all of the responses!
It does scare me to just put a Band-Aid on an issue that will most likely only last for a short time, and I would hate to damage him any worse for just a few runs. It also scares me that if I decide to sell him he will end up in the wrong hands and make his way back to the barrel arena.
I still think he would be fine for a trail horse, trotting and loping on a trail ride on occasion are not going to do anymore damage than him being turned out in the pasture and doing it on his own. I do see your point about a novice rider dealing with a performance injury; however, his only maintenance as of now is Adequan once a month. I'm not even really sure if that helps him much or not, but I give it to all of my horses.
I guess I will look around my area to see if there are any therapy programs I could possibly get him into because he is very well mannered, gentle, and an inexperienced rider could easily handle him. His only drawback to being a therapy/ lesson horse is that he is big, he's 16.2.
Edited by babbsywabbsy 2016-06-21 11:29 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| I had a friend give away a horse that had some issues, ended up a bad situation, and it took her 10 years to get him back and save his life. She felt awful about it, and I learned from her, that I cannot do that.
I have a 17 year old that I retired at 11. He sounds the same as yours. He has navicular, and with corrective shoes, and aspirin daily, he's kind of sound. Fine at the walk, lope and running, but at a trot you see the head bob a bit. Without any of those things, he's sound to wander the pasture and has had no issue out running my 2 still competing when they feel frisky. I just can't bring myself to risk anything freak happening, so, here he will live out his days. And maybe one day tote any of my future kids around. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Gave my boy away to the couple I bought him from. He lived the rest of his life with them and their grandkids. He was so fat and happy every time I came to see him.
Maybe find a family friend who could ride him? You could also Lease him out. That allows you to stay the owner and allows the leasee to be under contract. You would still need to pay for feed/supplements unless you worked that into the price per month of the horse. Also factor in routine vet visits. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I know there are alot of people who think the theraplate or equivibe are a waste of time or money but I own an Equivibe and I cannot say enough good about it. I have a mare that has several issues (we have been able to maintain them) but the Equivibe has honestly changed her world. My vet had never seen a horse flex sounder 9 months after injections. If you have access to a whole body vibration therapy -- give it a try. I would be surprised if you didn't see a positive change within 6-8 weeks. | |
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