Hi guys,
Where to begin? Well, to start off a few years ago I posted on this board that I wanted to get into hunting. You all were great. I got a lot of great advice and met a couple of really great people from here who got me hunting. (Horsie and I had never done it before.)
Well, wouldn’t you know it, we loved it! This quickly became my horse and my favorite thing EVER. My horse would actually strut his stuff after hunts. He became so fearless. He became so brave. I also really identified with the sport and love the people who are involved with it. I was asked to become a member of our local club and I dream of the day when I earn my colors.
Now to the advice needed part…
My horse had a pasture accident last November/December. He was treated by our local (very well respected) vet, but we didn’t realize quite how bad it was until March. My horse detached both of his medial glute muscles from his femur. He also detached both of his superior glute muscles from his femur, which when they detached they tore off two little pieces of bone (avulsion fractures). This was likely caused by running and jumping out of his paddock, but we’re not 100% certain how he did it. From my understanding this is not a common injury. My vet thinks their may have been something else going on with his hind end that may have caused a weakness, but again, we’re not certain.
My horse was a toughie through all of this. He was only intermittently lame for a few weeks. To look at him you would never know he had such a terrible injury.
Anyway, I’m pleased to report we’re walking undersaddle with a little bit of trotting now. I’ve got the green light to progressively start bringing him back into more work. I think he’s going to be okay; however because his injury was possibly caused by running and jumping I have decided to retire him from hunting. I am devastated.
My horse is only 8. I am hoping he may be successful as a low level dressage horse (he’s so happy go lucky), but it’s is a big if. He may also do well as a trail horse. I adore this horse, but I do not want to just ride dressage or trail ride. I can only afford (barely afford!) one horse. I’m feeling selfish as I’m beginning to think maybe I should find him a person who would love to just ride dressage and/or trail ride, but then I start to feel guilty about giving up on my partner. I’m also giving some consideration to retiring him to a place where he might be lightly ridden. I am going to talk to my vet about this, too, but I wanted to hear what fellow CoTHers had to say.
So, CoTHers, what would you do?
Happy,
That just plain stinks. I’m sorry your horse and you are having to go through all this. Personally, if I couldn’t afford 2, I would find this guy a nice dressage/trail home, and see if I could find another hunt horse. If you can’t ride this hunt season though, maybe you could still do social things with the hunt, and volunteer to do breakfasts, socials, committees. Those all move you along to earning your colors too! :)
Good luck.
Thanks eyetallion stallion, it really does stink! In my heart of hearts I know this is probably the best solution for all, but I just need to hear it from other horsie people.
I plan on doing all the volunteering I can and cheerleading from the sidelines until I can get back out there! It definitely won’t be the same without Dukie, though.
Well, first off you say that you decided to retire him as a result of his injury which you think was possibly caused by running/jumping. What did your vet say? Does s/he think that he can never recover from this enough to be allowed to go hunting? Without knowing that info, I think I would first see if there are any members of your hunt that might have an extra horse that needs hunted this season, and try to go hunting that way before just giving up on your guy. He just might need a year to recover and get fit, and then be good to go. He might not. But I think I would want to give him a chance first.
For comparison: One of my husband’s best hunt horses tore her meniscus VERY severely last year. She was on stall rest for 7 months, had 4 shockwave treatments, was blistered, etc., etc. We started bringing her back V-E-R-Y slowly starting in late March, and as of 2 weeks ago she is jumping small fences and will be ready for hunting in September. We, and her vet, had NO idea if she would recover enough to go back to her former job, as bad as the injury was. But we felt we had to give her a chance, and it looks like she will be fine.
Oh, Haffy. I’ve just looked through the photos you’ve got on your Facebook link, and I think I can see how hard this decision must be for you. You two look like such partners and friends! I’d second what ES said but also that I’d add to keep up with the wonderful Dukie’s whereabouts if you can. Good luck with your decision!
Edited to add: SSR makes some EXCELLENT points! My own horse had what we were sure would be a career-ending injury but came back to hunt after a long time, and if you can find a mount to exercise and hunt for another member, it could allow you to do both things. If Dukie can come back, even if it takes a year or two, he’d still be a pup.
Thanks everyone for chiming in! I really appreciate all of the advice and suggestions. It’s what I need to hear.
We’re not really certain what caused Dukie’s injury. This isn’t really an injury seen too often in horses (according to my vet), but it is a very common injury usually occurring in elite track and field runners & jumpers. It usually happens when a runner or pole vaulter extends them self so greatly the muscle detaches. So, we are extrapolating a bit, but my vet does think he initially slightly injured himself in the hunt field and then made it worse playing with his buds in the field.
Dukie had three rounds of shockwave over the spring. He was ultrasounded before we began shockwave (it was also how the diagnosis was made) and re-ultra sounded post shockwave treatment. My vet gave me the green light to start to bring him back, not because everything looked great, but rather he thinks something else is going on back there and he was hoping by starting him again undersaddle that I would make it worse and we might be able to figure out why his injury happened. So far, I haven’t made him worse, but I haven’t asked much of him.
What scares me from trying to hunt him again is the amount of scar tissue he has back there. His vet and his chiro tell me scar tissue is stronger than the connective tissue; however it doesn’t stretch. I’m afraid that if we move off very quickly that he might over extend and re-detach. I am a self proclaimed worry-wort, though. He is a really hot horse so he wouldn’t do well Hilltopping or moving in a slower field. My hunt does have a non-jumping field, so that could be an option???
Honestly, my vet uses phrases like, “maybe a walk/trot horse”, but his chiro thinks he can maybe do more. I guess I won’t know until I start to push him a bit more. I adore this horse. We’ve been through a lot and he has flourished as a hunt horse. I just want to do what’s best for the both of us. Perhaps I am being too hasty in my thoughts of maybe moving on from him. You’re right, SSR I do need to discuss this further with my vet.
Thanks all!
Thanks, Hounds! I really love this little/big guy!
Haffy,
I’m so sorry that you have this issue. I think ssr has some good thoughts for you. Your guy is young, and why not have your cake and eat it, too.
I have brought back horses from severe injuries and been able to hunt them. It takes time, great dedication, and money. It can be a tremendous bonding experience, too. It is taking the risk that the horse won’t make it, but it sounds like you are very close to your horse. He may pull through because of your healing energy and time with him.
Remember that if he is a hot horse, you may have trouble finding a good trail ride home for him. Many trail riders want a quiet, reliable, bombproof, packer. It is also difficult to find a good, long term, placement for a companion horse/retiree.
Oh no!
Hi – I have loved your marvelous leaping Haffie pix, so sorry to hear that there’s a soundness issue. Don’t give up hope, give him plenty of time, and in the mean time there’s bound to be someone who has a spare horse needing hunt mileage. . . but in the mean time, if you find a marvelous non-hunting home for your guy, that might be a good option. We just never know on these soundness things, and my vet always says “tincture of time” is a marvelous product.
Thank you everyone for all of your encouragement and words of wisdom.
Our hunt’s September fixture card came out the other day and I got really bummed thinking I wasn’t going to be able to hunt anymore. I think that’s why I crashed and thought maybe it was time to move on from Dukie. But, I’m not ready to give up on him.
I don’t know what will happen in time, but I will continue to work closely with his vet, chiro and farrier. Hopefully, we’ll hunt together again. Keep your fingers crossed for him! He really is a special (sometimes special) boy. 
go for it!
If he can trailride; he can hunt. OK so he can’t jump! Big deal; hilltop anyway! He’ll learn and you’ll still get to hunt. Just condition the heck outa him. A LOT of us have hunted horses that were written off. You won’t know till you try. After the initial recovery period; stop treating him like damaged goods or gingerly and go for it. You both deserve that chance and that effort…I say go for it! I’m not impressed that this was a career ending injury btw.
I hunted a horse that broke 6 wither vertebrae when a tree fell on him. Wasn’t going to be rideable ever again…got 4 more seasons hilltopping outa him and I had to make a few accomodations but we got R done! You can too I’m betting!
