When to call it quits?

[androidheart]

I currently have a 22 year old OTTB retired jumper. He's in great shape; bright eyed, dappled and very ridable, but he is starting to have the good and bad days that senior horses have and he needs to be worked every day, to some extent, to keep him going. i had the vet out last month to inject his hocks and to my surprise, the vet said it won't

Comments

[default_reality]

He certainly is a handsome boy. =)

[androidheart]

Thank you. He definitely thinks so. :)

[12to15steps]

Oh, it's such a tough decision; I don't envy you. All I can tell you is that with these old guys, when the muscles stop working, the ligaments stretch, the joints seize up, and range of motion and mobility start to decline. Sometimes rapidly, sometimes not.

Now, if he's already at the point where his range of motion is declining, maybe it is time to retire him. If you're keeping him in good shape and he's happy and not too sore, it's probably better to keep riding him. Ultimately there's no science to it - it's your call. Lucky you. :)

Your vet might be able to advise you - s/he has undoubtedly seen many older horses, and could tell you whether your boy is normal for his age, in better or worse shape, etc. Not that that means anything, but if he's in kickass good shape, the end is certainly not as nigh as if he's crippled.

[androidheart]

Thanks! The vet commented on his wonderful range of motion and clean, tight legs. I keep him worked regularly, and he is really very fit, so i guess i'm just being selfish. i want to really ride and show again, but I can't when all of my time and money go to keeping him sound and comfortable. i don't mind doing it, he's been a great pony partner and if i had a farm it would manageable. currently he lives 25 miles from me and ideally i would be at the farm twice a day for various old man/crazy weather related things, but the gas and time are a killer. a closer barn is not an option either because I live in Seattle. i'm just torn about when i should say enough and i wonder if i only did half of what i do for him, would he still be sound? that sort of thing. :\

[sm923]

I decided to retire my old-98% retired with a few light rides a year-when he told me to. We had a show and the show went well but he wasn't enjoying it. He gradually became lame and, with dozens of tests conducted, we couldn't figure out what was wrong. He was happier sitting at home, in his huge condo of a stall with his fan.

Now he gets turned out as much as possible(even in the snow), I hop on once a month maybe and ride him and I just let him exercise himself. Sometimes I'll free lunge him just to get the blood going but that's about it. He's an expensive barn ornament.

I really think, in a lot of cases, the horse will tell you when he's done. And if he's not working for you, maybe find a retirement home for him and move on.

[androidheart]

thanks! he's still happy to have a job most days, but after a few days off, he's happy to not have a job and thinks he shouldn't have to go back to work. it's weird. after a few days off he will be cranky when we work, whether or not he's stiff, and the whole ride will suck. after one or two rides like that he is teh awesome. it's really weird, but it's very him to be that way.

good retirement homes are hard to come by. he's never going to be an easy keeper, which is what most retirement situations hope for.

[androidheart]

sometimes all it takes a is a job to keep them going. my guy has days where he feels young again too. don't you just love that? :)

from what i have seen in this area, most retirement homes will just throw whatever kind of cheap hay and grain, fill water troughs once or twice a week and hope for the best. he requires maintenance (diet/circulation + he thinks he's a stud) and has special needs feet, so he can't be out all of the time (seattle winters = slippery squishy ankle deep mud). i don't see someone taking that on for a pasture mate either.

decent boarding facilities with turnout that do not require the owner to be in a program are nearly impossible to find in this area. other than where he currently lives, my chances are probably better trying to win the lottery.

it's really great you have a place at home for your guy. i wish i did too, but i don't. i guess Jorge will continue to be a really expensive pet whose rent is more than mine.

[ardvari]

I agree with the others. When to retire him will depend on him and what he's happy/able to do. From what you said it sounds as if he enjoys working so maybe, if you feel that he's getting sore, you have to wean him of working slowly. Take him for walks, go for short rides, do stuff that will keep him involved but won't hurt him.
We have a 22 year old TB sitting in the yard together with a 31 year old Welsh x QH cross. The pony's deteriorating and we're trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. She's just enjoying life and is happy with it. The TB mare likes to work. I did a three day dressage clinic with her a year ago and she LOVED it. We also show her about twice a year and excersise her lightly in between. She wouldn't be happy being a barn ornament and is much happier being worked.

Definitely depends on the horse. I'm glad I don't have to make the decision you have to make but if I were you, I'd go by instincts. You know the horse best, you love him and you'll make the right decision for him.

Also: Seattle <3! I'm moving

[androidheart]

thank you! it's just tough. but i will make that decision when i have to and weaning him off work slowly will be the way to do it.

where in Seattle? let me know if you would like any farms, farriers or information. if i can help short circuit the painful process of searching that i went through for someone else, i'm happy to do so. :)

[ardvari]

I'm currently looking at Kitsap county, so across the Sound from Seattle. So far we're not entirely sure where we're going to end up down the road but for the next two years it'll be Kitsap county.
I'd love some info about farms and farriers. I have an icelandic, so I want her to be able to be outside at least most of the day if not day and night. Do you think that would be possible somewhere?