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 Expert
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| I also have this choice to make. I have a 33 yr old son of Dash For Cash "Bank The Cash" he is a grand old man but have not been able to get him fat this summer and he is starting to teeter and wobble when he walks. He is still happy and feels good most days but I have no barn for him, he gets blankets and lots of feed in the winter but I am scared he will go down in snow and ice and that would be hard to take. We will put him down this fall before he gets worse just letting him enjoy the last of the summer. | |
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 Regular
Posts: 54
| **HammerTime** - 2015-08-26 4:07 PM
I am fighting myself here... 11 years ago I got this mare, my first horse of my own. She has been right there beside me through parents divorce, breakups, school drama, everything! And has even toted my 3 year old son around since he could sit up. She is something special to the family. She is in her late 20's. Last winter she got pretty poor. Teeth had been done (What teeth she does have) and she is UTD on all shots and dewormed like it is a life or death ritual. I put her on pasture this summer, and she filled out a little but nothing like I had hoped for. I will try to attach pictures. I am fighting myself though. We are predicted to have a rough ole winter this year. Lots of snow, ice, etc. Which is hard on anything especially old bones. I would just like unbiased opinions other than from my family who is obviously Team Keep Her Alive And Prolong Amanda's Anxiety. They are also not horse people. They don't understand the risks you run when you have to feed so much grain to keep one up, and the severity of arthritis. I guess what I am asking here, is what would you do? Try to keep her comfortable through winter or let her go with some dignity before winter? Thank you guys.
I simply cannot read that small green text in your post. | |
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Regular
Posts: 79
| I have three seniors (25, 27 and 30) all doing great so far...I do, however, keep a watchful eye on the 30 year old every winter...I have never blanketed as they all grow great winter coats but his doesn't get as thick but I keep an eye on him. During the Winter, they come in at night and the barn gets closed up as opposed to now they have 24/7 access to go in or ot. Best of luck to you with your decision...I hope I'm still a ways off from having to make that decision...
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| My 26 year old gelding is one easy keeper, which I'm thankful for. We all say he's just too pig headed to accept that he's old, he will still fight with other geldings and flirt with his mares all the time, and he would probably still give those young pole horses a run for their money if we let him.
I accept the fact that if he ever gets harder to keep weight on or he has problems physically, and I don't think it is in his best interest to keep him going, then I'll be calling the vet up and putting him down. Yes, it'll be a sad day when it comes his time, but that's our jobs as their owners, to make the hard choices even though they hurt. And it's not ok to make them suffer because 'we can't make that choice', 'it's not fair' OR the worst one, 'It's not our job to play god'.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2015-08-28 4:16 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | We just put one of my students old timer down Wednesday. He was 31 and He was satarting to loose weight and not able sustain his body any longer, even with teeth done, a ample pasture and 12#s of feed a day and many extras! We tried all we could but He also had a bad stifle and was having trouble getting around. There comes a point where you have to make the judgement if quality of life is still there? In his case,It was just time. Plus he is not a hay eater at all!!! So we didn't want him to have to go thru winter cold and suffering. :( old boy is running in green pastures now! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | My oldie is 33. Her heart is strong as an ox. Her legs will give out before her heart does. She is swayback and a tad bonyier than I'd like over her hips but the vet and all my horse friends and family say she looks amazing for her age. The dentist checked her teeth and he said 50% of her teeth are still good and that she shows no signs of TMJ pain(I think that's what it called). I feed her 2-2.5 of Tribute Sr twice a day, so she gets close to 5lbs a day. She's still mean and sassy to other horses and still loves humans. I swear this mare is made of steel and I'd clone her if I could afford it. I hope she will die peacefully on her own one day. I firmly beleive they will tell us when the time is right to let them go. I do not beleive in putting one down just because winter is coming. This mare is my once in a lifetime horse and if I ever have another half as nice as her, I'll be lucky. I feel honored that she's back with me (after living with my cousin for a decade) and it's privelege to care for her. We treat her like Gma in the retirment home. On the cold days when they don't go out, I let her wonder the barn while I do chores and on other days I turn her loose and let her eat the grass in front of the barn.
I have a friend with a 43/44 year old horse and she gets a little poor in the winter but always bounces back in the spring. Another friend has two oldies, about 29 and 30 and they are fat and sassy and loving retirement. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | I have found that most horses can just keep going if they have teeth. Once those are gone, it is hard to keep condition on them through the winter. Senior feeds are not necessarily the answer without some additional support. Most senior feeds are not very well made to start out with. I have a 31 year old that we had a very hard time with in the winter for three or four years. Once we found a combination that worked for him he keep weight well. Many have old parasite damage that makes nutrient uptake hard no matter what you do. If they have teeth, and you keep them chewing comfortably, eliminate parasites, use more alfalfa in the diets and limit grain by doing so, most true seniors winter pretty well. | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | winwillows - 2015-08-29 11:47 AM
I have found that most horses can just keep going if they have teeth. Once those are gone, it is hard to keep condition on them through the winter. Senior feeds are not necessarily the answer without some additional support. Most senior feeds are not very well made to start out with. I have a 31 year old that we had a very hard time with in the winter for three or four years. Once we found a combination that worked for him he keep weight well. Many have old parasite damage that makes nutrient uptake hard no matter what you do. If they have teeth, and you keep them chewing comfortably, eliminate parasites, use more alfalfa in the diets and limit grain by doing so, most true seniors winter pretty well.
Can I ask what the combo was that you found and liked it worked? My old guy has hardly any teeth---front ones were kicked out when he was a foal and the others have worn down over his 36 years. . . . | |
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