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Re: [RC] Old Horses and weighing decisions......... - Linda Marins----- Original Message ----- From: "L gin" <ladurgin@xxxxxxx> Watching old Champ, ... He is mid twenties, retired... He is on full turnout with MSN daily... He has been "off and on" lame for 3/4 years since retirement. ... His front is always a bit off cause of the bad knee... It looks to me that this new added lameness, it is in his back end--up --hip or back....Like he is walking a tightrope with his back feet... I haven't given him the set of neuro ground tests yet. He wouldn't be able to do all of them, but not sure it is for neuro reasons. He pivots funny in front sometimes taking a hop... He is prone to thrush some so I try to watch that... ...and I just wonder when to make tough decisions. Is this how it goes, they just start going downhill and more things keep happening and ,yes they still eat and get around, but not very well, and you start to wonder how far to let it go...
I've got this problem now. A 32-year old Morgan broodmare, with
the body, personality, and kinetic gift that exceeds even what you'd
expect from her breeding (UC Electra: UC Marquis x UC Rhapsody).
A marvelous old gal ("Big Fat Mama") that I love dearly, and regret
bitterly that I didn't have the priviledge to own her until she was
already 24 years old. I bought her out of the University of Connecticut
spring auction; her owner had donated her back to the University at
age 23 and they'd decided to cash her out through the sales ring.
Price: $800: just enough to outbid the killers.
She's always been my Cast Iron Girl, beautiful, spirited, smart, with
that floaty, oily--gliding--POWER trot that just makes you shake your
head in wonder. All the old Standardbred guys at my barn would watch
her moving around her paddock and say, "Who *IS* that old mare?!!"
With her uncut, unset tail sticking straight up, flagging the air in the
classic *natural* "gay tail" pose. Nothing ever wrong with her.
Firm, but gentle alpha mare of her herd, and not at all afraid to take
on a 2-ton Hereford bull over a pile of hay and make him turn tail
and run for his life!
But it is over now. Since last winter, no amount of grain or hay or
even spring grass keeps the weight on; she's moving slowly and painfully;
her head almost never rises anymore, and the gay tail is a sweet memory
of the past. Panacur purges, Adequan, oil, special feeds...nothing is
helping.
It is time. No. It is past time.
How does anyone ever bring themselves to do this?
Linda Marins
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