Likewise though if someone made you over do it, and sat on your back at the same time, you might feel a bit fed up. It's about the right balance and we can all make that choice for our horses ourselves.
Retirement
- Thread starter eventerbabe
- Start date
No-one is saying push them through something or make them overdo it though, far from it. I was simply pointing out that being less than 100% sound, in a horse or a human, doesn't mean doing next to nothing is the only option. As for someone sitting on my back, well I'll still carry sacks of feed etc around and their a darn sight more than the weight percentages that some people say our horses should carry.
@Ale you do what you feel is right for your horse, I'm just pointing out that a horse doesn't have to be retired completely because it's reached a certain age or has an old injury or health problem, that sometimes light work is physically and mentally better for them than losing muscle tone and, in some cases, getting bored stood in a small field.
I'm not disagreeing with you at all @carthorse, simply acknowledging that it can be such a hard decision to make either way because there is so many unknowns. That's why I don't think it compares so well to us having issues because we have so much control over our own actions and we know exactly how we feel. We are making the call for our horses based on what info we have available, if they could tell us it would be so much easier! It's merely an observation, I'm not disagreeing with anything said. Everyone should make their own choice and I wouldn't ever tell someone to do otherwise, I wish the same could be said but I'm actually always being told to bring Ale back into work (not on here)
Yes if only they could talk.................It is a difficult one, not always, for me the decision was taken out of my hands, there was no way I could continue even to lightly hack Storm. Her injury was far too bad for that, there is / was no way round it and riding her would make it lots worse. I am sure you do what's right for Ale. The other thing is, and I don't know how Ale is with workload, but it was difficult I found to do less with Storm initially (before the injury, just when she had hock troubles) because she wasn't the kind of horse to only be ridden once in a blue moon or lightly. She needed quite a bit of work and it had to be constant. It just wasn't a pleasant experience trying to potter about on her when I think, she was all or nothing.
I can trust myself because my negative side likes to butt in with stuff to try and stop me doing things.@carthorse I wish I could! I think for various reasons (all non-horse related!) my crippling lack of confidence and imposter syndrome has convinced my subconscious that I can’t trust myself. I’d usually chat things like this through with mum but now she’s not here my own mind likes convincing me I’m wrong
My idiot side, tends to let me find out the hard way, and might mention that something isn't a good idea, at the moment I do it, or after.
I have great ideas on paper, that really shouldn't be followed up!! I triple check with my sensible side first.
I took mine on with an injury. There was no guarantee she would be rideable.
As long as the horse is happy and sound I don't see why they can't be doing something.
Its good for them mentally, emotionally and physically to do some form of exercise the same as it is for us. It keeps the ligaments and muscles toned to support the skeleton, it's good for them to see the area they live in, part of their enrichment.
I don't see how taking a horse for a quiet walk inhand once a week or whatever will break it more. I would perhaps say not doing anything with them at all could worsen the issues. I would speak to my vet obviously.
I'm sorry the decision was taken out of your hands, that must have been very hard
This is also a really important point to consider as well, that actually some are not suited to a ridden life in the quiet lane. There's really so many things to weigh up isn't there
Its what happen with me with Billy. The vets originally said keep exercising him injuries like this do better to be worked.
2 years on, im sorry but i consider this horse to be to lame to be ridden.
He was only a teenager and doing nothing made him too dangerous for me to handle being left in the field. Initially i put him on a calmer supplement. So for his enrichment he gets in hand walks. Which also means that i help support his muscles at the same time. He is also much safer to be around.
2 years on, im sorry but i consider this horse to be to lame to be ridden.
He was only a teenager and doing nothing made him too dangerous for me to handle being left in the field. Initially i put him on a calmer supplement. So for his enrichment he gets in hand walks. Which also means that i help support his muscles at the same time. He is also much safer to be around.
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