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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
  
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Honestly, you only have 2 options to keep him safe. Keep him as a pasture pet or put him down. I have a very nice gelding that became a pasture pet as a 5yr old. I won buckles and he was just starting to nip at the 1D with very very little hauling. Pelvis injury makes him unsound to ride more than a trot. With his AQHA record I am afraid someone would start to run him again. If I ever got to where I can't keep him, I'll have the vet come and take care of him. |
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Regular
Posts: 65
| If you can afford to have him as a pasture pet, I would keep him. Not worth the risk of selling him to someone who you think you can trust and have that go bad.
On the feet issue, we have a horse like that. We had a great farrier, he told us to start giving him Gelatin......one packet a day. It wasn't an over night fix, but after a good year or more, we could tell a huge difference.
Good luck. |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
 
Location: SE KS | I see mine every morning/night feed him, love on him and I will bury him.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| Thats a tough decision. I personally would keep him, and if the time came that I was unable to, I would put him down. I have a 16 yr old that I had to retire due to a stifle injury. Shes a quirky antagonizer but the mare has earned her place. I love that Im still able to pet her, ride her and just look at her. Heck I love even having to chunk a feed bucket at her when shes in a mood.... Shes my girl. I got a mare a year ago that is her twin. Down to looks and personality. I see so much of my old mare in her. I am dealing with soundness issues with her and my husband asked me last night what I will do if she isnt able to run barrels. Without missing a beat, I said keep her. She goes nowhere. Together we have overcame alot of mental issues with her and the mare trusts me. She Had been passed around and counted off as a bad horse with behavioral issues. Turns out it was all pain. Imagine that..... Shes made a complete 180 and Ill never let her go. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I kept a horse that wasn't suitable for running anymore because like your horse, he will run through his problems and I was afraid someone would run him until he died. He has severe IAD and is a bleeder. He is impossible to keep fit to run and currently can't even have hay, period, because he can't handle it even when steamed, so he gets hay cubes, pellets and beet pulp. But he won't let you know that. He's a workaholic. I had people that were almost offended I don't sell him, because I "Can't use him". These are the same people that used to ask me to name a price, so I can only assume that they're thinking I would sell him for dirt cheap because of his problems and then they could buy him.
So he's a very fancy trail horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 670
Location: Running my kids somewhere. | I had one very similar. I had very good luck with glue shoes with pads and equi-pack. but once it became more than his feet I was lucky to find a friend with the same blacksmith that needed a pasture buddy. He is living the great life and if ever needed he comes back home to live out his life. I owe him that! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | The replies on here about them deserving their retirement and that they're owed a life that doesn't involve someone running them thru their pain helps restore my faith in humanity!! In all honesty, y'all are examples of responsible horse mommas  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Have you tried glue on shoes?
I would consider "loaning" or free leasing him out to your friend as a trail horse. You retain ownership and he can come back to you if she decides she doesn't want him anymore. |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | fulltiltfilly - 2017-01-27 5:25 AM
Have you tried glue on shoes?
I would consider "loaning" or free leasing him out to your friend as a trail horse. You retain ownership and he can come back to you if she decides she doesn't want him anymore.
That was going to be my other suggestion. I've debated letting people borrow my horse, that I know won't run him. But that way I still retain legal ownership and rights over him, so if I ever thought someone was misusing him I could take him back. |
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