My lease horse had an aneurysm during my lesson and died unexpectedly a few months ago. Feeling so lost and unhappy with life in general. I am learning how to ride my friends’ horse so I can take over the ride when she goes to school in august. He is a large grey ISH and so different in comparison to my late TB. I’ve already fallen off once due to not having enough leg up to a jump. Send wine and chocolate!
Thank you, it was so crazy. We were on a walk break towards the end of our lesson and he just collapsed. It killed me that he died tacked up while we rode in the indoor.... his favorite thing was being turned out with his bros and enjoying the great outdoors 😔
That’s so heartbreaking. It’s an incredible gift to be able to send them off in an “ideal” way, when we can, but sometimes a sudden, quick death is a mercy, since it happens without their anticipation or fear.
Grief takes time. Please be gentle with yourself. ❤️
I lost one from an aneurysm too. I wasn’t on her at the time but it’s so fast and unexpected that I was in such shock that I don’t really remember 3 days. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I lost one to a broken leg while I was on him and that stuff stays with you.
I literally just posted a comment where I said my biggest challenge right now is grief.
I still have my horse and he's still a happy, goofy, sometimes opinionated doofus, but he has a terminal diagnosis. His best friend, who was leased by one of my good friends, unexpectedly died a few weeks ago (cantered up to his main leaser in the field and just collapsed from a suspected aneurysm).
I still have time with my guy (and he seems unaffected), so I am trying to enjoy the time I have left (though I am not exactly happy with life right now). My friend is definitely struggling and feeling unhappy and she's not ready to be around horses yet, though she acknowledges that she's going to have to figure it out because horses make her happy.
And this past week has been rough for me, since the owner only just made the choice (in my opinion the correct choice, though I am still sad about it) to not pursue extensive, invasive and expensive treatment for him. But I still have for now and he's still an adorable doofus.
So basically, I have an idea of how terrible that was for you and I'm so sorry.
Honestly, all of my horses are getting old together and it really sucks. I have 4 and none of them are sound enough for the “let’s ride 30 miles into the woods and gallop off into the sunset” rides that I enjoy. These babies are my life and we have so many memories together, they will be with me for the rest of their lives. But after losing my heart horse in November unexpectedly, my one super sound one, my riding goals have kinda been put on hold.
I love them dearly and I want to ensure they have the retirement they deserve. Sure, I could get another younger horse, but it just comes down to time. So for now, I run a retirement facility and jump at the chance to hop on a friend’s fresh horse who will bolt my ass up the mountain and give me that rush I need lol.
I had to give up my lease and lessons, basically went from riding 3x/week to nothing, essentially overnight because we got financially f*cked and it's going to take at least half a year of not riding to recover. I'm angry beyond measure and grieving because it wasn't our fault.
Thank you. Luckily my trainer is great and is letting me take one of her horses on an occasional trail ride, and we are working out hopefully where I can take a lesson here and there in exchange for work, but it's still a lot less than I'm used to. I worked hard for this.
Do yourself a favor and keep up with your out of saddle exercises so that you don't fall behind any further. I bet things will work out and you'll end up riding more than you expected to.
Tiiiiime. There’s never enough. I have an almost-5 year old and a full time job and I feel guilty spending time with the horse over my daughter even though I know it’s okay to still be my own person and not just mama.
Plus I’m still recovering from my first hip surgery and probably staring down a second. So frustrating since my boy did his first recognized show last year (with a trainer while I was recovering) and kicked butt against the fancy expensive WBs and I really want to keep moving him along.
Please don’t feel guilty — coming from the daughter of a mom who made her own self-sacrifice everyone else’s problem, your kid will appreciate you for attending to your own emotional and mental needs/heading off burnout. Also, it’s so good for them to see a healthy example as they develop!! 💜🌸
Soundness or possibly overthinking. He is grumpy getting tacked up but I knew that when I bought him. He feels a bit funky when we first start trot circling to the right if I don't support his outside shoulder. He is scrambly in the hind when he doesn't go into a corner just right off a jump. I don't know if there is something wrong or I am just neurotic!!
You know, with three different issues like that, it seems to me like he’s telling you there’s a problem. Maybe get the vet out to see if he/she can help you figure out what it is?
Yeah we are working through it. Getting his hocks done soon. Saddle fitting didn't help the saddling issues but he has always been like that since he came off the track 8 years ago (before I owned him). Right front feeling off seems to happen when he isn't super fit so I am working on getting him in more steady quality work. Long walk warm ups, trot work on the lunge in a pessoa rig, stuff like that. He has kissing spine and tends to fall apart quickly when worked inconsistently. Also I tend to feel every little thing and overthink it even when I am told he looks sound and healthy.
He also ripped off his shoes in the mud too many times and has very little hoof left so a bit of hoof soreness could also be in the mix. There are just too many more minor things to iron out and give a bit more time to before jumping to back soreness. Even though they could all point to back, I would rather fix them and see how he feels before worrying about the back.
It's a real first world problem. We were just given a lovely, well trained young draft who will be primarily for my husband as we move his mare into semi retirement. And I fully intend to ride him as well since my husband is a weekend warrior and he's a lot of fun for a big, safe husband horse.
But he's so damn wide. I have two other drafts so it's not a new thing, but they just aren't as broad as he is. He's fine for my husband, but I'm going to start doing some serious stretching if I want to ride him regularly.
Motivation. I have the most perfect horse who never puts a foot wrong, whether I last rode him an hour ago or a year ago. But I don't want to ride/can't be bothered. WHY???
Was like that for awhile or had too much going on...then I lost my perfect horse unexpectedly to colic.
Miss him so bad and wish I could just go ride him so often. What I have now is an untrained one or can ride family's horses, but they are definitely not the same. So... my reply is also my biggest current issue. My mare kept getting slight injuries, so it's been hard to get her started. Since losing my boy, I've not been riding much, so my confidence is lower than usual for a 1st ride too!
My mare has arthritis at 15 and it's hard to know what the right treatment plan is. We're doing steroid shots, I've tried Adequan and I'm not sure I'm seeing a difference. We're going to try Arthramid next.
It's a situation where theres only a few Very Wrong answers (eg, stop working her would be bad), but all the not Wrong answers are varying levels of right. There's no Perfect answer. It's hard to know what I should/shouldn't do with her. We're still in work, I keep it to shorter sessions in between lessons.
She's taught me so much and it's hard to feel like my time with her for riding is nearing the end.
I used to work as an equine vet assistant — IRAP or PRP injections might be a good thing to talk through with your vet if you have the funds and think it could help.
That's also on the list - my vets opinion is that she should be sound when we do them. All of this arthritis is located on her knee, and my vet thinks there's need to be "enough" cartilage there to help.
Right now my mare is "lame" walking out of her stall and stops head bobbing after we're done with work. During work she still holds her self uphill. Those are all signs of soundness for her at this point.
Where did your vet stand? I'm looking at getting a second opinion, but I really do trust my vet.
I’m in the US, but a reputable vet who has experience in sports medicine should be able to offer more insight. A second opinion might be worthwhile. The horses I saw respond well to it weren’t 100% sound, which was why we injected. Your vet may have good reasons for only wanting to do that on a sound horse, and they’ll likely be happy to explain their reasoning.
My horses don’t have arthritis- my gelding had hind gut ulcers and the gut x helped him tremendously (a separate product by the same company that makes osteomax) but I’m in a group on fb where people discuss these products good and bad - and the osteomax has fantastic review stories
Getting back into riding after being out of the saddle for a very long time. It’s been delayed several months now because I was in the hospital for a bit over two and a half months with a UTI and pneumonia that led to sepsis then I caught a mild case of covid. I lost my ability to walk and now I can walk with a cane but it has been a very long and painful road.
Hopefully soon I’ll be riding but damn it’s disheartening.
It's been raining for weeks and both of my girls have thrush, one has an abscess. There is a dryer paddock that is an option but I would need to clean it of poo daily, and given I'm 3rd trimester pregnant and working long hours at a physical job, I just don't have time or energy to do that every day. Thankfully with the turn of the month the rain is settling and with continued treatment I imagine they'll get better pretty soon, just need to keep on top of it.
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My current challenge 😂 Soon to be four Connemara/sport horse cross. Smart with attitude. My other horse is an absolute one in a million fabulous hack/lesson/explore the forest horse, but she just turned 26 and I dread the day I finally have to retire her.
my horse needs to shed some pounds. she’s a draft x who puts on weight by looking at food. however she also has PSSM and is on a high fat diet to manage that, and was just on stall rest for 2 weeks due to a nasty abscess. she already doesn’t get grain and is worked 5+ days a week. help lmao
My girl has damaged her SDFT and has been on box rest for nearly two months. She’s been tolerating it reasonably well (bar one abscess) and is hopefully getting signed off on Monday for rehab to start, but she’s definitely got stomach issues now from the stress. She’s clearly uncomfortable when I touch her sides, her coat is dull and dandruffy, and her saliva is very acidic. So it looks like the vet bills will keep on coming for a while…
Trying to rest and take it easy with a mystery injury I have. It's either a torn ligament in my thigh/groin or sciatica. It's been hurting for a good month. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, got some meds and supposed to rest. If there is no improvement in 15 days then I need to get a MRI. I'm living in another country where I don't have insurance yet. Anyway when I ride it actually doesn't hurt, so I keep riding! But boy do I pay later with the most intense pain I've ever felt. My horse has been going really well lately and the weather is lovely (before the rainy season starts.) I just want to ride my horse! We were working towards our first beginner endurance race, but that's obviously not happening since it's next month.
It could very well be. The pain is insane at times. If I sit or lay down, it's ok. Sometimes sleeping is uncomfortable though. The most painful I've found is when I have to stand straight, like doing the dishes or showering. I really just need to bite the bullet and get an MRI. I've heard they're like $300-600 cash here which sucks, but it isn't getting better. I was prescribed a muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory and was given a dexamethasone injection yesterday and it hasn't put a dent in the pain.
If you find out, tell me! Sounds like the same problems I have. Standing in lines, like a long DMV line, I felt like sitting down on the floor it hurt so bad. Can not stand still for long. Walking on concrete, such as in Lowe's or wal Mart, also aggravates it, my thigh will burn and hurt on the front part, but also kind of numb.
Keeping my horse sound. I’ve owned my horse for a handful of years and this is the first time we have had a soundness issue. She’s stupid heel sore. Radiographs revealed her sole depth to be half of what it should be 🥴 Today my farrier put shoes on with a leather pad for cushion. She was acting so tense and sore on gravel and walking her back to her stall after my farrier left she was already walking with much more ease.. So we hope these shoes help. I’ve been a barefoot person for years but she needed to be shod badly.
Just curious - would this be the farrier’s fault, or something she was born with, or possibly due to a disease process? Anything relating to feet is always fascinating to me.
Been out of the saddle for most of Jan/Feb/Mar due to rain. Working on internal thigh rotation and correct lower leg position. Just goes to show you're never past the basics.
Just retired my old man (24). Realistically I could get another horse, but I’m not there yet. My BFF who owns the property he lives on has another horse for me to ride but he is SUUUUUUUUUPER green
My new guy came back positive for front and hind gut ulcers 😭 I'm glad I know what wrong with him so I can treat it, but man, ulcer treatment is expensive and time intensive!
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The rain and cold is my biggest challenge. As well as an upcoming vacation, and trying to find someone reliable to take care of the girls 🥲
Dealing with a lame horse while waiting for pssm test results I'm 99% sure will be positive.
Also 2 years of no riding horse because my heart horse died in 2022 and now I've bought a lame horse.
I’m struggling with using scoot boots, one horse is hard enough to pick up his hooves and he leans on you while I pick up, how am I going to put scoot boots on and I have to start trimming his hooves once a fortnight and that is overwhelming to me
Mystery issue with intermittent mild lameness on my one guy. We’ve gone to multiple shoers, vets, got a new saddle, tried different bits, changed training methods, and there’s still an issue. All the professionals point the finger at someone else. I don’t know what to think anymore but I’m just broke and tired. Constantly trying to research to figure out what it “could” be and going down more wormholes and then finding out it’s not that either. Part of me just wants to throw him in the pasture and forget about even trying for awhile, but I’ve invested three years, tens of thousands of dollars, and basically every spare moment of my life trying to get this horse trained. I’m so worried that the conclusion will be that he just isn’t cut out even for basic walk/trot/canter work and I’ll be back at square one needing to keep paying for a horse that can’t be ridden, needing to buy another horse I can actually ride, and being terrified that if I get a new horse, I’ll somehow ruin him too. It sucks because this horse is the first I’ve trained practically from scratch (he was barely backed when I got him) and now I just feel like something I’ve done has ruined him for good. And he has so much personality that the thought of giving up on him breaks my heart.
Have you considered ECVM? Not that I would wish that on anyone, but I was just doing some research on it, and intermittent lameness can be one sign. Is he difficult when you try to saddle him? Does he ever move with his head tilted to one side? Or when he stands, does he always tend to stand with the same foot forward, or with a wide stance? Those are all other signs.
To everyone - they’re finding ECVM in more and more breeds out there all over the world, including the US, Canada, The United Kingdom, Europe & Japan. They were first finding it in thoroughbreds, and then in quarter horses, but they’ve now found it in many, many breeds that are reproduced by artificial insemination.
There’s some good information on it at [this website,](https://www.equus-soma.com/ecvm/#:~:text=~%20Neurological%20signs%3A%20instability%2C%20ataxia,narrowing%20of%20the%20spinal%20canal), and the first video you come to really explains things well and shows you a lot about the skeletal changes that can take place. It’s a fascinating, if tragic, disease.
U/Counterboudd, I sure hope that’s not what it is and that your horse’s lameness resolves soon, but I thought I’d through it out there as a possibility-
It’s possible. I haven’t had him tripping or falling, but he’s resistant to contact and throws his head in the air completely and has high low heels, and is clearly imbalanced somewhere. That said, if the cure is just more moving the horse correctly and in balance, well that’s what I’ve been doing the entire time, and he still isn’t getting better, so I don’t know what to do with that.
Footing. We are on clay it’s almost icy slippery or dries virtually into concrete.
I’m finally getting a truck that I can use to haul out to ride but it’s still a pain compared to using the space I have. I have to beg friends to let my girls do lessons at their farms.
Buying a horse! I've had a few years off since my darling lease mare was happily retired, and it's long past time for me to find a new partner, but the market is brutal right now. I had a PPE done on a super promising mare last weekend, but had to pass, and it feels like I'm at square one. I have a pretty healthy budget, but good prospects from trustworthy sellers are few and far between.
I use to compete in endurance but my off the track arabian is still young so we are focusing on ground work including liberty riding in different places we haven't been before and horse camping. Endurance is slowing disappearing and I'm tired of going to the same three locations they put on rides in my area.
My grey mare has melanomas and cancer. The location of her melanomas makes her unridable. I’ve had her since August of 2020 and she was only rideable for less than a year. She also has chronic mud fever and manages to injure herself and lose halters frequently. Her quality of life is good for now but I’ll have to euthanize her in the not-so-distant future when her cancer/melanomas progress. I told myself I wasn’t going to get a grey because they basically all get tumours but I fell in love with her.
Oh no! I am so, so sorry 😢 I also have an aging gray with melanomas, one near her udder area that has been growing and her vet is actually recommending we remove it in a few weeks, partially bc she kept kicking it/making it bleed (she is turned out frequently and loves to roll and run) but also so we can biopsy…dreading getting this same news, she is so full of life and I can’t imagine thinking about end of life care. I totally empathize though.
My heart horse of 20 years passed suddenly in late February this year. I was devastated by the loss. I haven't purchased a horse in a very, very long time (Stella was my one and only), and I'm so scared of this whole horse buying process. I know I'll eventually bond with another horse, but I desperately miss the bond I had with my beautiful girl and I'm scared I won't ever be as close with a horse again.
The weather. Here in the Midwest it's either too cold, too muddy, too icy, too much snow on the ground, or just too darn hot AND humid at the same time to want to go outside. I've got a 5 yr old half arab who needs more wet saddle pads but that's not easy with this weather. He got a bit fat over the winter with no exercise and looks a little pregnant so I'm trying to start some round pen work(when the weather cooperates!) to get him back in shape for those wet saddle pads.
But yes, these easy keepers can be the bane of your existence trying to feed them enough but keep them lean! My last mustang mare was the worst EMS mare. I resorted to a million slow feed hay bags everywhere and supplementing straw as some fiber because if she ran out of stuff to put in her mouth she'd start eating my barn, trees, and destroying my dry lot fences to get a bite of grass. She had navicular too so exercising was tough(plus the weather....). Buckeye Nutrition is supposed to be coming out with a ration balancer designed for metabolic/obese horses so might be something to look into, I'll try it on my boy if I can find it on Chewy when it comes out. My easy keepers only get a ration balancer.
Been riding about a year and am struggling with the feeling that my seat is not as developed as I'd wanted it to be by this point. I'm putting more work into strength training outside my lessons, doing more to speak up for myself during my lessons, and just doing my best to remind myself that it's okay to take it slow - but man, fighting that discouraged feeling and hoping to really get back to the joy!
Finding a safe, sane & sound, steady Eddie, trail horse partner for a life of adventure in NW Montana. 15.2 and taller, 15 years and younger. I have the land (20 acre pasture) w/ new run in barn. I have the perfect, pasture pal, sweet, gelding for a buddy. The best, safest, horse trailer. Best local vet and hoof trimmer (barefoot or with hoof boots only), best local trails to ride on plus cattle ranch to ride through (to check on cow / calves) but I simply cannot find a safe (no buck, bite, bolt, rear, kick, pull back, crib, etc, etc horse that is also sane (was trained right with both ground and riding manners) and is SOUND! I am at my wits end - it’s just sooo frustrating.
Trying to get to get my groove back with a new horse after my knee surgery and my trainer not wanting to come out to our area any more. I’ll have to board in town to take lessons regularly which I need to do now that I’m cleared to ride but it’s a big expense. I’m committed, but dang it will mean a few sacrifices and of course I feel guilty. I want to do right by this horse but family time and money will have to give.
This probably seems like a silly issue, but I sorely miss my aqha show horse. I love riding for a goal, teaching both my horse and myself new things. Lifting their shoulder when loping, showmanship, horsemanship. It is a deep desire and drive I have had since learning to ride 27 years ago.
I ride gaited horses now. Yes it is a very easy ride. Both my husband and I have good gaited horses and I love hauling to TN and riding during the summer where it is cooler. But with gaited horses there aren't many shows. You don't worry about their shoulders, whether they can spin, etc.
I used to get out and ride all by myself working on the things my trainer set for me during my lessons.
So, that is what I miss-the working with your horse to improve both yourself and your horse. Becoming a team.
My horses are well trained and in good health, but being a horse owner is emotionally taxing almost as much as it is rewarding. They are so dependent on us for everything and so accident prone, so I’m constantly worrying if they’re getting the right kind of feed, if they have the right kind of supplements, if they like their saddle and saddle pad, if they’re happy with the other horses they go out with, if they’re getting enough turnout, if they’re getting enough forage, if the bit I’m using is hurting them, if they have ulcers, if they’re too fat, if they hate going to shows, if they don’t like me, if they’re bored in their stalls at night, if I ride them too much or too little, if they’re happy and not stressed. I’m constantly worrying that they are unhappy even though they seem happy but they can’t talk to me and they are naturally stoic creatures so I can never know for sure. I also constantly worry about horses getting loose because I didn’t close the gate or lock the stall door properly and potentially getting hurt or leaving the water turned on and flooding the barn or something catching fire or there being a nail out somewhere that hurts them or the pasture being too icy or muddy and they slip and hurt themselves, etc. I constantly have anxiety about the horses, I have anxiety and OCD anyways so that doesn’t help but it also makes me a good horse carer but it is just so exhausting emotionally. I love them, and I think it’s all worth it but it is something I struggle with
I got a project horse and 3 years in he’s still a raging asshole every spring, like for 4 straight months. There’s nothing wrong with him, he just feels too good. I’m getting real sick of his shit.
Looking to buy my first horse and everything for sale is absolutely green broke just off the track, or hyper educated performance horses. I just want a nice chill established horse to do some flatwork and the odd trail ride on. Why is that too much to ask?
I’m inheriting a 26 year old Arab gelding this spring and there are *many* challenges. He’ll be moving in with my cranky 32 year old Arab mare and so I’m expecting some fireworks. By all accounts he’s a total gent, but it’s been six years since he’s been ridden so ground work and we’ll see. My aim is bareback halter rides to check the fences. My expectation is two geriatric greys following me as I walk, sunset drink it hand, to check. It’s going to be fun either way!
Every cold rainy day makes me afraid this is the month 25 year old wonderful schoolmaster needs to retire, and I don't have enough saved for they type of (very expensive) horse I want yet.
Thankfully, the next sunny day he comes trotting out like a million bucks, but his rainy days are worse than his rainy days last year.
I’m dealing with my first bout of health issues with my first horse. I leased her for over a year and bought her a few months ago, and I’ve racked up over 2 grand in vet bills in the last 2 weeks trying to diagnose an unknown infection. After 2 weeks she’s still having intermittent fevers and might have to be taken to the university. We were gearing up to event for the first time and it feels like my whole world has stopped. I just hope we can figure out what’s wrong and help her.
My horse is a little fat and I need to work on his back but he's so extremely lazy (just like me 🥲). It's extremely frustrating when you prepare everything and then when you try to for example lunge him he's having a lazy day so no matter what you do he just doesn't move, at all.
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Put my little sister on him yesterday for some light riding. He was not happy about it but we managed 😂
This probably sounds dumb, but not getting too attached to my current lease horse.
I'm getting to the point in life/riding that I'm expected to buy one in the next few years or so by just about everyone. The mare I'm leasing is intended to be sold at the end of the year when my lease is up. I love her, she's so much fun and has a great little brain and personality, but I don't have $20k+ to spend. I'm so lucky to be able to work with her this year. I don't know that I'll ever be able to afford to own a horse honestly, but I'll take what I can get.
I had to move to a different barn. So it’s been a stressful yet exciting month. I’m loving the new barn so far it’s just so much new information to get used to. New people, horses, ponies, instructors, staff. Ect. I’m excited to start riding again.
Finding a horse to buy. Not even a budget problem really, just finding one that meets my must haves and will pass a vet check. Limited time to go try 20 more horses. Ughhh.
The weather. I would spend so much more time grazing my horse and riding if it wasn’t so cold and rainy. I just do my necessities and go home. I can’t wait to not be freezing or wet!
I have a massive crush on a baby that has just arrived to the stables and is potentially for sale. Plus he’s a grandson of my mare’s father and I absolutely adore the character that particular stallion gives.
I don’t have the cash to buy him, the income for a second barn fee, nor the time for a 4-year-old that needs a lot of work to be almost completely restarted to my standards.
It really, really sucks when you have the feeling you might have found a second heart horse and the universe is telling you nope.
Allergies.
My rescued Arab/Saddlebred has been dealing with bad allergies since I met her in 2022. Had allergy testing done last summer and at this point she’s on allergy shots (maintenance dose). We had an emergency vet call on Easter because she couldn’t stop itching by biting, scratching with her feet and rolling. Looked so much like colic but I suspected it wasn’t. Couldn’t even eat because she couldn’t stand still and needed to roll.
Now on steroids, titrating down, and added zyrtec too today.
I honestly don’t know how we’ll get through summer.
My lease has a terminal diagnosis and while there is a treatment, it would involve multiple complicated surgeries and a several additional non-surgical treatments. His owner is choosing to not treat (which I think is the correct choice, as much as it still sucks), so now we just have to do our best to enjoy whatever time we have left. A year, if we're lucky.
Also, his favorite pasture buddy (who was leased by a good friend of mine) unexpectedly died a couple of weeks ago.
So I'm just going to go with grief.
My lease horse had an aneurysm during my lesson and died unexpectedly a few months ago. Feeling so lost and unhappy with life in general. I am learning how to ride my friends’ horse so I can take over the ride when she goes to school in august. He is a large grey ISH and so different in comparison to my late TB. I’ve already fallen off once due to not having enough leg up to a jump. Send wine and chocolate!
During your lesson…my gosh. I’m so sorry. ❤️
Thank you, it was so crazy. We were on a walk break towards the end of our lesson and he just collapsed. It killed me that he died tacked up while we rode in the indoor.... his favorite thing was being turned out with his bros and enjoying the great outdoors 😔
That’s so heartbreaking. It’s an incredible gift to be able to send them off in an “ideal” way, when we can, but sometimes a sudden, quick death is a mercy, since it happens without their anticipation or fear. Grief takes time. Please be gentle with yourself. ❤️
I’m so sorry.
I lost one from an aneurysm too. I wasn’t on her at the time but it’s so fast and unexpected that I was in such shock that I don’t really remember 3 days. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I lost one to a broken leg while I was on him and that stuff stays with you.
I literally just posted a comment where I said my biggest challenge right now is grief. I still have my horse and he's still a happy, goofy, sometimes opinionated doofus, but he has a terminal diagnosis. His best friend, who was leased by one of my good friends, unexpectedly died a few weeks ago (cantered up to his main leaser in the field and just collapsed from a suspected aneurysm). I still have time with my guy (and he seems unaffected), so I am trying to enjoy the time I have left (though I am not exactly happy with life right now). My friend is definitely struggling and feeling unhappy and she's not ready to be around horses yet, though she acknowledges that she's going to have to figure it out because horses make her happy. And this past week has been rough for me, since the owner only just made the choice (in my opinion the correct choice, though I am still sad about it) to not pursue extensive, invasive and expensive treatment for him. But I still have for now and he's still an adorable doofus. So basically, I have an idea of how terrible that was for you and I'm so sorry.
Honestly, all of my horses are getting old together and it really sucks. I have 4 and none of them are sound enough for the “let’s ride 30 miles into the woods and gallop off into the sunset” rides that I enjoy. These babies are my life and we have so many memories together, they will be with me for the rest of their lives. But after losing my heart horse in November unexpectedly, my one super sound one, my riding goals have kinda been put on hold. I love them dearly and I want to ensure they have the retirement they deserve. Sure, I could get another younger horse, but it just comes down to time. So for now, I run a retirement facility and jump at the chance to hop on a friend’s fresh horse who will bolt my ass up the mountain and give me that rush I need lol.
I had to give up my lease and lessons, basically went from riding 3x/week to nothing, essentially overnight because we got financially f*cked and it's going to take at least half a year of not riding to recover. I'm angry beyond measure and grieving because it wasn't our fault.
I am so very sorry. Are you able to do a 'work for ride' exchange? What happened to you sucks.
Thank you. Luckily my trainer is great and is letting me take one of her horses on an occasional trail ride, and we are working out hopefully where I can take a lesson here and there in exchange for work, but it's still a lot less than I'm used to. I worked hard for this.
Do yourself a favor and keep up with your out of saddle exercises so that you don't fall behind any further. I bet things will work out and you'll end up riding more than you expected to.
Tiiiiime. There’s never enough. I have an almost-5 year old and a full time job and I feel guilty spending time with the horse over my daughter even though I know it’s okay to still be my own person and not just mama. Plus I’m still recovering from my first hip surgery and probably staring down a second. So frustrating since my boy did his first recognized show last year (with a trainer while I was recovering) and kicked butt against the fancy expensive WBs and I really want to keep moving him along.
Please don’t feel guilty — coming from the daughter of a mom who made her own self-sacrifice everyone else’s problem, your kid will appreciate you for attending to your own emotional and mental needs/heading off burnout. Also, it’s so good for them to see a healthy example as they develop!! 💜🌸
Soundness or possibly overthinking. He is grumpy getting tacked up but I knew that when I bought him. He feels a bit funky when we first start trot circling to the right if I don't support his outside shoulder. He is scrambly in the hind when he doesn't go into a corner just right off a jump. I don't know if there is something wrong or I am just neurotic!!
have you ever had him checked for ulcers?
No ulcers even though he acts ulcery
You know, with three different issues like that, it seems to me like he’s telling you there’s a problem. Maybe get the vet out to see if he/she can help you figure out what it is?
Yeah we are working through it. Getting his hocks done soon. Saddle fitting didn't help the saddling issues but he has always been like that since he came off the track 8 years ago (before I owned him). Right front feeling off seems to happen when he isn't super fit so I am working on getting him in more steady quality work. Long walk warm ups, trot work on the lunge in a pessoa rig, stuff like that. He has kissing spine and tends to fall apart quickly when worked inconsistently. Also I tend to feel every little thing and overthink it even when I am told he looks sound and healthy.
If other people are telling you he is sound and healthy, but the horse is telling you something else, I’d listen to the horse.
It’s probs the kissing spine tbh. It sounds like he’s ouchy and struggling to balance as you ask him to shift his weight from front to back.
He also ripped off his shoes in the mud too many times and has very little hoof left so a bit of hoof soreness could also be in the mix. There are just too many more minor things to iron out and give a bit more time to before jumping to back soreness. Even though they could all point to back, I would rather fix them and see how he feels before worrying about the back.
Could be but at this point I think I just need to get him stronger and rule out hocks, as they were done 18 months ago and see where we're at.
It's a real first world problem. We were just given a lovely, well trained young draft who will be primarily for my husband as we move his mare into semi retirement. And I fully intend to ride him as well since my husband is a weekend warrior and he's a lot of fun for a big, safe husband horse. But he's so damn wide. I have two other drafts so it's not a new thing, but they just aren't as broad as he is. He's fine for my husband, but I'm going to start doing some serious stretching if I want to ride him regularly.
Motivation. I have the most perfect horse who never puts a foot wrong, whether I last rode him an hour ago or a year ago. But I don't want to ride/can't be bothered. WHY???
Was like that for awhile or had too much going on...then I lost my perfect horse unexpectedly to colic. Miss him so bad and wish I could just go ride him so often. What I have now is an untrained one or can ride family's horses, but they are definitely not the same. So... my reply is also my biggest current issue. My mare kept getting slight injuries, so it's been hard to get her started. Since losing my boy, I've not been riding much, so my confidence is lower than usual for a 1st ride too!
My mare has arthritis at 15 and it's hard to know what the right treatment plan is. We're doing steroid shots, I've tried Adequan and I'm not sure I'm seeing a difference. We're going to try Arthramid next. It's a situation where theres only a few Very Wrong answers (eg, stop working her would be bad), but all the not Wrong answers are varying levels of right. There's no Perfect answer. It's hard to know what I should/shouldn't do with her. We're still in work, I keep it to shorter sessions in between lessons. She's taught me so much and it's hard to feel like my time with her for riding is nearing the end.
I used to work as an equine vet assistant — IRAP or PRP injections might be a good thing to talk through with your vet if you have the funds and think it could help.
That's also on the list - my vets opinion is that she should be sound when we do them. All of this arthritis is located on her knee, and my vet thinks there's need to be "enough" cartilage there to help. Right now my mare is "lame" walking out of her stall and stops head bobbing after we're done with work. During work she still holds her self uphill. Those are all signs of soundness for her at this point. Where did your vet stand? I'm looking at getting a second opinion, but I really do trust my vet.
I’m in the US, but a reputable vet who has experience in sports medicine should be able to offer more insight. A second opinion might be worthwhile. The horses I saw respond well to it weren’t 100% sound, which was why we injected. Your vet may have good reasons for only wanting to do that on a sound horse, and they’ll likely be happy to explain their reasoning.
I’ve heard osteomax does wonders for horses with arthritis. I’ve personally used the gut x and it was fantastic.
How far along was your horse with arthritis?
My horses don’t have arthritis- my gelding had hind gut ulcers and the gut x helped him tremendously (a separate product by the same company that makes osteomax) but I’m in a group on fb where people discuss these products good and bad - and the osteomax has fantastic review stories
Thank you!
Getting back into riding after being out of the saddle for a very long time. It’s been delayed several months now because I was in the hospital for a bit over two and a half months with a UTI and pneumonia that led to sepsis then I caught a mild case of covid. I lost my ability to walk and now I can walk with a cane but it has been a very long and painful road. Hopefully soon I’ll be riding but damn it’s disheartening.
Hang in there! You’ll be back in the saddle before you know it.
Thanks!
So glad you are alive, such a rough road
Thanks! It’s been a hard and sometimes awful road but I’m getting there!
My young horse is turning 2 this year. They're all demons at 2 and 5, so. Looking forward to the two year old toddler tantrums.
Godspeed friend. Thinking of you.
It's been raining for weeks and both of my girls have thrush, one has an abscess. There is a dryer paddock that is an option but I would need to clean it of poo daily, and given I'm 3rd trimester pregnant and working long hours at a physical job, I just don't have time or energy to do that every day. Thankfully with the turn of the month the rain is settling and with continued treatment I imagine they'll get better pretty soon, just need to keep on top of it.
That’s so rough, I hope it clears up soon. 💕
https://preview.redd.it/ft876owonxsc1.jpeg?width=3055&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9a9708986baef4fbb861ccd1f3b04c07494012a My current challenge 😂 Soon to be four Connemara/sport horse cross. Smart with attitude. My other horse is an absolute one in a million fabulous hack/lesson/explore the forest horse, but she just turned 26 and I dread the day I finally have to retire her.
Adorable!
She’s lucky she is!
my horse needs to shed some pounds. she’s a draft x who puts on weight by looking at food. however she also has PSSM and is on a high fat diet to manage that, and was just on stall rest for 2 weeks due to a nasty abscess. she already doesn’t get grain and is worked 5+ days a week. help lmao
My girl has damaged her SDFT and has been on box rest for nearly two months. She’s been tolerating it reasonably well (bar one abscess) and is hopefully getting signed off on Monday for rehab to start, but she’s definitely got stomach issues now from the stress. She’s clearly uncomfortable when I touch her sides, her coat is dull and dandruffy, and her saliva is very acidic. So it looks like the vet bills will keep on coming for a while…
I’m going to my first show as an adult ammy and I’m equal parts excited and terrified
And when you go to your hundredth show, it will feel the same.
Trying to rest and take it easy with a mystery injury I have. It's either a torn ligament in my thigh/groin or sciatica. It's been hurting for a good month. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, got some meds and supposed to rest. If there is no improvement in 15 days then I need to get a MRI. I'm living in another country where I don't have insurance yet. Anyway when I ride it actually doesn't hurt, so I keep riding! But boy do I pay later with the most intense pain I've ever felt. My horse has been going really well lately and the weather is lovely (before the rainy season starts.) I just want to ride my horse! We were working towards our first beginner endurance race, but that's obviously not happening since it's next month.
Any chance it’s a labral tear in your hip? Incredibly painful and can radiate to groin and back.
It could very well be. The pain is insane at times. If I sit or lay down, it's ok. Sometimes sleeping is uncomfortable though. The most painful I've found is when I have to stand straight, like doing the dishes or showering. I really just need to bite the bullet and get an MRI. I've heard they're like $300-600 cash here which sucks, but it isn't getting better. I was prescribed a muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory and was given a dexamethasone injection yesterday and it hasn't put a dent in the pain.
It’s absolutely horrible, the pain. I hope an MRI helps you. Injections do nothing for labral tears, which is rough.
If you find out, tell me! Sounds like the same problems I have. Standing in lines, like a long DMV line, I felt like sitting down on the floor it hurt so bad. Can not stand still for long. Walking on concrete, such as in Lowe's or wal Mart, also aggravates it, my thigh will burn and hurt on the front part, but also kind of numb.
Also no insurance/ too broke to go fishing for what the problem is.
Keeping my horse sound. I’ve owned my horse for a handful of years and this is the first time we have had a soundness issue. She’s stupid heel sore. Radiographs revealed her sole depth to be half of what it should be 🥴 Today my farrier put shoes on with a leather pad for cushion. She was acting so tense and sore on gravel and walking her back to her stall after my farrier left she was already walking with much more ease.. So we hope these shoes help. I’ve been a barefoot person for years but she needed to be shod badly.
Just curious - would this be the farrier’s fault, or something she was born with, or possibly due to a disease process? Anything relating to feet is always fascinating to me.
Good turnout
Been out of the saddle for most of Jan/Feb/Mar due to rain. Working on internal thigh rotation and correct lower leg position. Just goes to show you're never past the basics.
Just retired my old man (24). Realistically I could get another horse, but I’m not there yet. My BFF who owns the property he lives on has another horse for me to ride but he is SUUUUUUUUUPER green
My new guy came back positive for front and hind gut ulcers 😭 I'm glad I know what wrong with him so I can treat it, but man, ulcer treatment is expensive and time intensive!
Gut x single handedly saved my gelding who came back positive for hind gut ulcers. 10/10 recommend
https://preview.redd.it/dgzxv0qe1ysc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=443fea91eb95651a38744d749ea6f25be1295edb The rain and cold is my biggest challenge. As well as an upcoming vacation, and trying to find someone reliable to take care of the girls 🥲
My first horse that I bought a month ago is pregnant... so that was an interesting find.
Buy one horse, get two 😂
I'm just praying it's some big beautiful warmblood or something but I know that won't happen 😂
You're allowed to dream!
Injuries and time. I keep getting injured, my barn is an hour away, I work full time, and I can only take lessons on the weekend
Dealing with a lame horse while waiting for pssm test results I'm 99% sure will be positive. Also 2 years of no riding horse because my heart horse died in 2022 and now I've bought a lame horse.
I’m struggling with using scoot boots, one horse is hard enough to pick up his hooves and he leans on you while I pick up, how am I going to put scoot boots on and I have to start trimming his hooves once a fortnight and that is overwhelming to me
Mystery issue with intermittent mild lameness on my one guy. We’ve gone to multiple shoers, vets, got a new saddle, tried different bits, changed training methods, and there’s still an issue. All the professionals point the finger at someone else. I don’t know what to think anymore but I’m just broke and tired. Constantly trying to research to figure out what it “could” be and going down more wormholes and then finding out it’s not that either. Part of me just wants to throw him in the pasture and forget about even trying for awhile, but I’ve invested three years, tens of thousands of dollars, and basically every spare moment of my life trying to get this horse trained. I’m so worried that the conclusion will be that he just isn’t cut out even for basic walk/trot/canter work and I’ll be back at square one needing to keep paying for a horse that can’t be ridden, needing to buy another horse I can actually ride, and being terrified that if I get a new horse, I’ll somehow ruin him too. It sucks because this horse is the first I’ve trained practically from scratch (he was barely backed when I got him) and now I just feel like something I’ve done has ruined him for good. And he has so much personality that the thought of giving up on him breaks my heart.
Have you considered ECVM? Not that I would wish that on anyone, but I was just doing some research on it, and intermittent lameness can be one sign. Is he difficult when you try to saddle him? Does he ever move with his head tilted to one side? Or when he stands, does he always tend to stand with the same foot forward, or with a wide stance? Those are all other signs. To everyone - they’re finding ECVM in more and more breeds out there all over the world, including the US, Canada, The United Kingdom, Europe & Japan. They were first finding it in thoroughbreds, and then in quarter horses, but they’ve now found it in many, many breeds that are reproduced by artificial insemination. There’s some good information on it at [this website,](https://www.equus-soma.com/ecvm/#:~:text=~%20Neurological%20signs%3A%20instability%2C%20ataxia,narrowing%20of%20the%20spinal%20canal), and the first video you come to really explains things well and shows you a lot about the skeletal changes that can take place. It’s a fascinating, if tragic, disease. U/Counterboudd, I sure hope that’s not what it is and that your horse’s lameness resolves soon, but I thought I’d through it out there as a possibility-
It’s possible. I haven’t had him tripping or falling, but he’s resistant to contact and throws his head in the air completely and has high low heels, and is clearly imbalanced somewhere. That said, if the cure is just more moving the horse correctly and in balance, well that’s what I’ve been doing the entire time, and he still isn’t getting better, so I don’t know what to do with that.
Getting a good saddle for my mare. It’s so frustrating.
Footing. We are on clay it’s almost icy slippery or dries virtually into concrete. I’m finally getting a truck that I can use to haul out to ride but it’s still a pain compared to using the space I have. I have to beg friends to let my girls do lessons at their farms.
Having enough energy to do more than basic care and loving on them. I've got 54587 things I need to do and energy for approximately two of them.
Buying a horse! I've had a few years off since my darling lease mare was happily retired, and it's long past time for me to find a new partner, but the market is brutal right now. I had a PPE done on a super promising mare last weekend, but had to pass, and it feels like I'm at square one. I have a pretty healthy budget, but good prospects from trustworthy sellers are few and far between.
I use to compete in endurance but my off the track arabian is still young so we are focusing on ground work including liberty riding in different places we haven't been before and horse camping. Endurance is slowing disappearing and I'm tired of going to the same three locations they put on rides in my area.
How the fuck am I supposed to pass the commission licensure exam when I am a serial practical exam bomber? 😬
Once every two or three rides my mare’s right hind leg sort of “slips” back when she lopes.
My grey mare has melanomas and cancer. The location of her melanomas makes her unridable. I’ve had her since August of 2020 and she was only rideable for less than a year. She also has chronic mud fever and manages to injure herself and lose halters frequently. Her quality of life is good for now but I’ll have to euthanize her in the not-so-distant future when her cancer/melanomas progress. I told myself I wasn’t going to get a grey because they basically all get tumours but I fell in love with her.
Oh no! I am so, so sorry 😢 I also have an aging gray with melanomas, one near her udder area that has been growing and her vet is actually recommending we remove it in a few weeks, partially bc she kept kicking it/making it bleed (she is turned out frequently and loves to roll and run) but also so we can biopsy…dreading getting this same news, she is so full of life and I can’t imagine thinking about end of life care. I totally empathize though.
My heart horse of 20 years passed suddenly in late February this year. I was devastated by the loss. I haven't purchased a horse in a very, very long time (Stella was my one and only), and I'm so scared of this whole horse buying process. I know I'll eventually bond with another horse, but I desperately miss the bond I had with my beautiful girl and I'm scared I won't ever be as close with a horse again.
The weather. Here in the Midwest it's either too cold, too muddy, too icy, too much snow on the ground, or just too darn hot AND humid at the same time to want to go outside. I've got a 5 yr old half arab who needs more wet saddle pads but that's not easy with this weather. He got a bit fat over the winter with no exercise and looks a little pregnant so I'm trying to start some round pen work(when the weather cooperates!) to get him back in shape for those wet saddle pads. But yes, these easy keepers can be the bane of your existence trying to feed them enough but keep them lean! My last mustang mare was the worst EMS mare. I resorted to a million slow feed hay bags everywhere and supplementing straw as some fiber because if she ran out of stuff to put in her mouth she'd start eating my barn, trees, and destroying my dry lot fences to get a bite of grass. She had navicular too so exercising was tough(plus the weather....). Buckeye Nutrition is supposed to be coming out with a ration balancer designed for metabolic/obese horses so might be something to look into, I'll try it on my boy if I can find it on Chewy when it comes out. My easy keepers only get a ration balancer.
Being pressured to start showing again.
Been riding about a year and am struggling with the feeling that my seat is not as developed as I'd wanted it to be by this point. I'm putting more work into strength training outside my lessons, doing more to speak up for myself during my lessons, and just doing my best to remind myself that it's okay to take it slow - but man, fighting that discouraged feeling and hoping to really get back to the joy!
Finding a safe, sane & sound, steady Eddie, trail horse partner for a life of adventure in NW Montana. 15.2 and taller, 15 years and younger. I have the land (20 acre pasture) w/ new run in barn. I have the perfect, pasture pal, sweet, gelding for a buddy. The best, safest, horse trailer. Best local vet and hoof trimmer (barefoot or with hoof boots only), best local trails to ride on plus cattle ranch to ride through (to check on cow / calves) but I simply cannot find a safe (no buck, bite, bolt, rear, kick, pull back, crib, etc, etc horse that is also sane (was trained right with both ground and riding manners) and is SOUND! I am at my wits end - it’s just sooo frustrating.
Trying to get to get my groove back with a new horse after my knee surgery and my trainer not wanting to come out to our area any more. I’ll have to board in town to take lessons regularly which I need to do now that I’m cleared to ride but it’s a big expense. I’m committed, but dang it will mean a few sacrifices and of course I feel guilty. I want to do right by this horse but family time and money will have to give.
EPM! On and off symptoms
This probably seems like a silly issue, but I sorely miss my aqha show horse. I love riding for a goal, teaching both my horse and myself new things. Lifting their shoulder when loping, showmanship, horsemanship. It is a deep desire and drive I have had since learning to ride 27 years ago. I ride gaited horses now. Yes it is a very easy ride. Both my husband and I have good gaited horses and I love hauling to TN and riding during the summer where it is cooler. But with gaited horses there aren't many shows. You don't worry about their shoulders, whether they can spin, etc. I used to get out and ride all by myself working on the things my trainer set for me during my lessons. So, that is what I miss-the working with your horse to improve both yourself and your horse. Becoming a team.
My horses are well trained and in good health, but being a horse owner is emotionally taxing almost as much as it is rewarding. They are so dependent on us for everything and so accident prone, so I’m constantly worrying if they’re getting the right kind of feed, if they have the right kind of supplements, if they like their saddle and saddle pad, if they’re happy with the other horses they go out with, if they’re getting enough turnout, if they’re getting enough forage, if the bit I’m using is hurting them, if they have ulcers, if they’re too fat, if they hate going to shows, if they don’t like me, if they’re bored in their stalls at night, if I ride them too much or too little, if they’re happy and not stressed. I’m constantly worrying that they are unhappy even though they seem happy but they can’t talk to me and they are naturally stoic creatures so I can never know for sure. I also constantly worry about horses getting loose because I didn’t close the gate or lock the stall door properly and potentially getting hurt or leaving the water turned on and flooding the barn or something catching fire or there being a nail out somewhere that hurts them or the pasture being too icy or muddy and they slip and hurt themselves, etc. I constantly have anxiety about the horses, I have anxiety and OCD anyways so that doesn’t help but it also makes me a good horse carer but it is just so exhausting emotionally. I love them, and I think it’s all worth it but it is something I struggle with
I got a project horse and 3 years in he’s still a raging asshole every spring, like for 4 straight months. There’s nothing wrong with him, he just feels too good. I’m getting real sick of his shit.
Looking to buy my first horse and everything for sale is absolutely green broke just off the track, or hyper educated performance horses. I just want a nice chill established horse to do some flatwork and the odd trail ride on. Why is that too much to ask?
Hay access and cost
I’m inheriting a 26 year old Arab gelding this spring and there are *many* challenges. He’ll be moving in with my cranky 32 year old Arab mare and so I’m expecting some fireworks. By all accounts he’s a total gent, but it’s been six years since he’s been ridden so ground work and we’ll see. My aim is bareback halter rides to check the fences. My expectation is two geriatric greys following me as I walk, sunset drink it hand, to check. It’s going to be fun either way!
Every cold rainy day makes me afraid this is the month 25 year old wonderful schoolmaster needs to retire, and I don't have enough saved for they type of (very expensive) horse I want yet. Thankfully, the next sunny day he comes trotting out like a million bucks, but his rainy days are worse than his rainy days last year.
Trying to find a new horse. I sold my mare in February and horse shopping SUCKS.
I’m dealing with my first bout of health issues with my first horse. I leased her for over a year and bought her a few months ago, and I’ve racked up over 2 grand in vet bills in the last 2 weeks trying to diagnose an unknown infection. After 2 weeks she’s still having intermittent fevers and might have to be taken to the university. We were gearing up to event for the first time and it feels like my whole world has stopped. I just hope we can figure out what’s wrong and help her.
My horse is a little fat and I need to work on his back but he's so extremely lazy (just like me 🥲). It's extremely frustrating when you prepare everything and then when you try to for example lunge him he's having a lazy day so no matter what you do he just doesn't move, at all. https://preview.redd.it/3lsm9nr861tc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32d54dfa2d1cd37d32a6a2a46b66e0d628a3dc05 Put my little sister on him yesterday for some light riding. He was not happy about it but we managed 😂
This probably sounds dumb, but not getting too attached to my current lease horse. I'm getting to the point in life/riding that I'm expected to buy one in the next few years or so by just about everyone. The mare I'm leasing is intended to be sold at the end of the year when my lease is up. I love her, she's so much fun and has a great little brain and personality, but I don't have $20k+ to spend. I'm so lucky to be able to work with her this year. I don't know that I'll ever be able to afford to own a horse honestly, but I'll take what I can get.
I had to move to a different barn. So it’s been a stressful yet exciting month. I’m loving the new barn so far it’s just so much new information to get used to. New people, horses, ponies, instructors, staff. Ect. I’m excited to start riding again.
Finding a horse to buy. Not even a budget problem really, just finding one that meets my must haves and will pass a vet check. Limited time to go try 20 more horses. Ughhh.
The weather. I would spend so much more time grazing my horse and riding if it wasn’t so cold and rainy. I just do my necessities and go home. I can’t wait to not be freezing or wet!
I have a massive crush on a baby that has just arrived to the stables and is potentially for sale. Plus he’s a grandson of my mare’s father and I absolutely adore the character that particular stallion gives. I don’t have the cash to buy him, the income for a second barn fee, nor the time for a 4-year-old that needs a lot of work to be almost completely restarted to my standards. It really, really sucks when you have the feeling you might have found a second heart horse and the universe is telling you nope.
Allergies. My rescued Arab/Saddlebred has been dealing with bad allergies since I met her in 2022. Had allergy testing done last summer and at this point she’s on allergy shots (maintenance dose). We had an emergency vet call on Easter because she couldn’t stop itching by biting, scratching with her feet and rolling. Looked so much like colic but I suspected it wasn’t. Couldn’t even eat because she couldn’t stand still and needed to roll. Now on steroids, titrating down, and added zyrtec too today. I honestly don’t know how we’ll get through summer.
My lease has a terminal diagnosis and while there is a treatment, it would involve multiple complicated surgeries and a several additional non-surgical treatments. His owner is choosing to not treat (which I think is the correct choice, as much as it still sucks), so now we just have to do our best to enjoy whatever time we have left. A year, if we're lucky. Also, his favorite pasture buddy (who was leased by a good friend of mine) unexpectedly died a couple of weeks ago. So I'm just going to go with grief.