Suspensory injury

[michickenwrangler]

I know no one here insulted me, I was just expecting someone to say, "Well if you can't afford the vet bills, then you shouldn't have a horse." Well, normally I can, just not on a day that the brakes and wheel bearings go out after coming back from a trip where I spent $200 in gas.

Goodhors, I have been competing in distance rides since 2000 and I usually win. She has only been pulled from a ride once (we were in an accident on the way to the ride and while she vetted in sound, her knee must have been banged up pretty bad) and only that one suspensory injury last year. I also did compete in a few rides on another horse who finished all of her rides sound. I know how to condition a horse. Izzie's registered name is Party Party if you care to look in UMECRA or GLDRA archives. www.umecra.com or www.gldrami.org

Like I said, she's done for the season and next year we'll be taking it easier. I suppose now I'll have to start saving up money for a replacement for when she fully retires.

It's a sad thought, I've ridden Izzie for the past 12 years since she was six, and I've owned her for 11. That she's 18 now has really hit home and she's no longer the sassy little 6 year old that she was when we first started out. Nor am I the crazy, independent 17 yr old that I was then. That horse and I have been through so much together: boyfriends to husband, Holly Michigan to Rhodes to Goodrich back to Rhodes to Prescott to Tecumseh and back to Prescott, college and my daughter, going from a minimum wage pizzeria worker to a teacher, trails from the U.P. to the Ohio border, rivers, hills, lakes, roads, forests, fields, dawn rides, evening rides, camping with her, going to shows with her, the ribbons and t-shirts and coffee mugs we've won, Izzie nickering at 5:30 am on the dot when we're camping, the road trips while listening to Bob Seger's "Roll Me Away" (since we always ARE just a few hours out of Mackinaw City like the lyrics in the song) with just me and her. the way she lifts her head when she hears me whistle. It's not something I'll ever be able to replace, no horse will ever take her spot and I know it. It will be hard trying to bond with another horse after her.

 

[w c]

Well we may not have to write that chapter just yet. Lay her up and see what Dr. Green and Dr. Time do.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I know. I'm just coming to grips with her mortality and age. She's a horse I've grown with and ridden so much that riding her is just instinctive, like a centaur.

 

[patandchickens]

So how is her ankle now?

Thinking good thoughts for you,

Pat

 

[michickenwrangler]

She seemed OK when I was out there last. Her fetlocks were still slightly puffy from the long trailer ride home. She didn't react when I lifted her leg to "probe" her with my fingers the way the ride vets do. I don't have a chance to get out there today, but I'll probably go out tomorrow morning.

Thanks

 

[w c]

Maybe you could just kind of keep updating this as time goes on.

Just some general musings - As horses get older, a lot of competing horses have 'stuff going on' that their owner/trainer or rider has to be careful of. Sometimes just natural wear and tear, sometimes an old injury that one is always keeping a hawk eye on.

In most good quality horse sports there is some veterinary oversight at the competition, and in some it's very strict that the least little uneven the horse can't compete. So even the cold hearted ones can't run a lame horse. In some sports no drugs are allowed, in some you can give a little bute, but it's limited so a horse with a serious problem can't compete.

A lot of older horses are campaigned very strategically, such as keeping them 'up' over winter so things don't have a chance to get loosened up and weak and get an injury again, and picking and choosing very carefully which competitions they go to. Some will be very careful where or when or how they turn out, others will refuse to compete if the footing is deep, or hard, or whatever would aggravate. Then the horse is in a 'program' - wraps, liniment, monthly adequan. It may not get a lot of vacation days as the work may be what keeps the horse performing comfortably.

Everyone has a different idea about this. I have seen it taken too far, where I'm just kinda saying, 'come on man, give it up', but there is in a lot of horse's lives, a period where you manage strategically and fairly.

But after that the horse's life is still very useful. He might be in charge of teaching the younger generation or allowing an older retired rider to enjoy a happy ride once in a while. A horse like Party Party is just a good horse, and is always worth her weight in gold to the right person. It took time to find 'the right person' for a couple of my horses but they went to a very, very happy life for a long long time, after they couldn't compete any more, and they were very well loved and cared for.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I think from here on out we'll just be doing a few of our favorite rides a year--Grand Island, Hopkins Creek, a day or two of Shore to Shore since it is so close, and then a fall ride (I like 'em all for different reasons: Tin Cup Springs is close, Pine Marten and Brighton have beautiful trails). 100 miles a year will be plenty for her for the next 4-6 years.

Again, I realize that she'll be done competing in about 5 years. My plan is to get a horse for DD in a few years when she's about 8 or 9 years old. Getting her a nice, sound trail savvy horse between 10 and 16 and have Izzie "mentor" the two of them. After a few years, it will be time for Izz to retire and DD's horse will by then be more seasoned so that horse will be able to help mentor my 5-6 year old that I will get.

Granted, plans probably will change slightly, depending on finances and DD's interest, but we'll see what happens.

 

[goodhors]

Well that sounds like a good plan and takes her up to about age 30. Regular work keeps an old horse going, putting them "out to pasture" is what does them in. May not be what they used to do, but it gives them purpose, keeps them interested in life.

I quit taking my old horse on the Cross State after she was about 23 because the son had her signed up in Pony Club. Just not up to the 20 mile days anymore. She had already worn out two trucks hauling to shows and activities! Had done lots of miles to stay fit too. She then did regular PC riding meetings, was the demo animal for showing the Club kids how things were done from grooming, trimming, to fitting saddles. Stood like a rock as long as needed, easily handled by the little kids for grooming clipping. She was also extremely well put together, but gave an impression of being smaller than she was because she was not real tall. A fun game was "guess her size" in bit, girth, headstall, blankets, height. Then the kids had to measure her to find the truth! Seldom did ANYONE ever guess it correctly, even experienced people. Was real helpful in teaching that "generic" size bit or blanket might not fit. Measure first, THEN go shopping for your horse.

She was trustworthy to make sure son did his riding correctly! Had to ask correctly or she would sometimes pull a trick on him. She got him up to the 2ft jumps, both in Show Jumping and Cross Country, then we had to move to another horse for higher heights. Doing the horse years equal 3 people years, she was still an antique person age trying to jump! I said 2ft was it for height, and she always went clean, even at that age.

She still was the "go to" horse for his PC Games riding. Turned speed on and turned it off as needed. Have one photo where you see his heel above the saddle seat, his arm with fake sword scooping up a pop bottle on the ground, going at a canter. He and she always did pretty well in Games.

Had some folks come over to "make me an offer I couldn't refuse" when horse was 29yrs at one of the Pony Rallies! They said they could see my son was outgrowing her, wanted to be first in line to get the mare! I was quite surprised, asked if they knew how old she was? They guessed her at about 17-18 and I laughed when I said they needed to add 12 years. They didn't care, still wanted her pretty badly. They had seen how well she took care of son, needed a horse like that for daughter. I had to refuse their VERY NICE cash offer, made their kid cry. However the old horse was never for sale, raised her from a foal, had no idea of ever parting with her! Very flattering though.

Horse then moved to my very young daughter, they rode by the democratic method. Horse got a vote on where to ride around the farm! DD put on plenty of miles just cruising around, was the main fence checker for quite a while. We did some family trail rides, had lots of fun. Daughter had to eventually move up to son's other horse after son finished school. The old girl was just getting elderly. She did pony the old horse from the other one, still got in her exercise.

I also grew up with my horse, did a TON of things with her, she made me look good, won more ribbons and trophies, awards, than I had places to hang it up. Might be petty, but winning just was deeply satisfying, the success mark of all the effort put into developing her and myself as a working team.

Had the mare until age 35, when she was so frail that I didn't want to have her face another winter. She had started having trouble getting up at times. Mare hated being kept in a stall very long, liked being outside every day. A slip or fall on our snow and ice would have been too much, so we had her put down on a nice day, before she was hurting. We all cried that day.

You enjoy them while you can, do the best for them you are able. Funny how I still expect to see her at times when I go in the barn. Took a couple years to quit automatically going outside on cold rainy days to bring her inside to dry off!

 

[w c]

I think when an animal has been such a big part of your life that's natural to expect to see them like that.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Just an update for everyone.

Izzie's been doing well. After a few weeks, I began handwalking her and then worked up to DD riding her at a walk on level ground. After that for a few weeks we worked up to a trot. Took her on one last long trail ride to South Branch Nov. 12 before Rifle Season began. She did fine that day.

So, she'll have a fairly easy winter since I'm busy with work and we'll start again in the spring.

I have some financial issues--have to pay back $2700 in unemployement (dang UIA! ) and had some repairs on te truck that took up some money and maxed out the credit card so DD's horse will have to wait.

But ... one day!