You won’t know for sure what’s going on without MRI in the best case scenario, but ask yourself if that information would change what you are willing and able to do at this point. And given long term issues, there may be some risk of a poor prognosis despite treatment in that maybe he won’t reasonably come sound again for his light work. MRI procedure itself is not without risks (general anesthesia, or a long period of heavy sedation for standing). If stall rest is not an option for you, then retirement is very reasonable.
1 Like
Thanks everyone for their replies. I feel very validated in what I’ve been leaning to!
I saw him today and he’s really not handling being in well, I gave him some trazodone last night to take the edge off and it gave him horrible diarrhea and he also cut his leg while in the stall 
super superficial but I was like really?
The farrier is coming on Monday to try a different shoe to make him more comfy, but I found some bruising on his sole today so I’m wondering if that is part of the issue. I tried him in the small paddock today but he went absolutely stupid on me because it’s not his routine so I decided to just turn him out as normal tonight as I think he’s less likely to run on his routine. He’s very much the type where he gets anxiety if something changes (like me) so I think it’s the safest option for him.
I think I’ll let his feet heal, try the new shoes, and see how he goes with zero expectation. I’m cautiously optimistic as the farrier seems confident this will help him.
3 Likes
My current walk-trot lesson horse is an Appendix QH gelding, with navicular disease. He is around 28 years old. He came to my lesson stable as a free lease since he had been boarded there in his glory days. NO JUMPING, walk, trot, and some canter (as in lately he has been used to teach students how to ride a canter since his canter is smooth.) He lives outside 24/7/365.
When he came to the stable he was sort of OK, he had approved type of shoe for navicular disease (bar shoe, pad) and went OK for a while. When he started at the stable he was definitely not happy going over trotting poles so my riding teacher stopped asking for him to go over them. Then he got worse, nodding at the trot and refusing to canter on the right lead. My riding teacher noted that his right knee was not quite right, and he improved after she got the veterinarian and the X-ray machine out at the stable so my riding teacher, the veterinarian, and the new farrier could all get on the same page and they changed his shoeing to accurately reflect his leg bones–in that now he toes out a little bit instead of his toe being “properly” centered, no more bar shoe, and being picky about his angles.
He improved somewhat (no nodding at the trot) but he still refused to do the right hand lead when cantering. I noticed some “anxiety” about his lower right leg so I got him BOT Exercise Boots, the Fenwick Leg Wraps (for use under the BOT exercise boots) and the Fenwick Pastern Wraps. Both me and his part-leaser put his boots on for our rides. He has to do one 30 minute lesson with me (walk and trot right now) and 3 one-hour WTC rides a week with his part-leaser, with one ride being a group lesson.
Six months after his shoeing job got changed he is a happier riding horse, so long as his boots are on his front legs. We did not get “immediate” soundness, I listened to him and worked him within his own willingness to move. Twice I did not get to use the boots when I had my lesson and he was MUCH LESS WILLING to move forward when I asked him to extend his walk. With his boots on he will extend his walking stride somewhat–within the limitations of a 28 year old lesson horse, and with extra encouragement (alternating leg aids plus telling him out loud “you can do it!”) he will extend his walking stride further.
Just this week my riding teacher told me that the horse, MJ, finally agreed to do a right hand lead at the canter, PLUS he willingly trotted over the ground poles.
So my navicular 28 year old lesson horse has improved as far as soundness is concerned. He is trotting sound, I do not feel any flinching in his legs, and he is moderately willing to move forward with impulse (while muttering that he is 28 years old.) He is probably sound enough to do trail rides on not-very-challenging ground, dirt trails, no gravel, no rocks, and not a lot of up and down hill work.
I think that his boots on his lower front legs help his knee feel better too, at least I have not felt it flinching lately and my riding teacher has not seen any evidence of his right knee bothering him.
1 Like
Bit of an update since last time I posted, not sure if it may be helpful to anyone with similar issues!
The shoes made him sound, which was super promising. After a lengthy talk with the vet we decided to try an ultrasound to see if anything could be seen versus the MRI. They did find some damage to his DDFT, which they’re thinking likely has been chronic for him for awhile due to his history. The damage is not a tear or a lesion but was described to me as a “fiber disruption”. They recommend the winter off and revisit in the spring and see what kind of workload he can handle after bringing him back slowly, but she’s cautiously optimistic given the response of how sound he was with the shoeing alone. I also may try shockwave to try to help with the healing and give him a better chance
9 Likes
This is long.
I had a similar situation with my 28 y.o. gelding. He had a lump on his left knee when I bought him in 2001. It looked sort of like a walnut but it never bothered him. The vet x-rayed it. It was not in the joint, just sat on top of it. He went on a joint supplement when the flexion started showing signs of declining. It still never bothered him. He was on pasture board. We took lessons with a friend and he was perfect through 3/31/2020. The downhill slide started on April 2, 2020. The BO closed the barn “100%” claiming the governor ordred it. Not only did she lie about that, she would not allow anyone on the property, not even to drop of a check or bagged supplements. The state state permitted horse owners to provide daily care. The state issued guidelines for the policies put in place.
He spent 30 days standing in a muddy field. He wasn’t particularlry interested in getting back to work on May 1. We had some ups and downs over the summer with a few episodes of lameness, but he always got sound until October. I stopped riding. It got worse in November 2020 when he was losing significant weight and was depressed. Her husband was putting round bales out every 48 hours for 6 to 10 horses. They usually went 12-24 hours without hay.
The vet gave me info for a terrific barn that never advertised so no one knew about it. It was 15 minutes from home. Outstanding BO who knew exactly what he needed. He gained his weight back and his personality re-emerged. There was a shift in the atmosphere in the barn. He had a lameness evaluation with ultrasound by a specialist. My horse had a reasonable shot at soundess with more rest, plus Adequan, Osphos, and one joint injection. He had an excellent farrier who kept him balanced.
It didn’t happpen. Standing around in a muddy field allowed the joint to “harden up.” We did a short Century Ride in June 2021 and I officially retired him in July. He was a bundle of energy, didn’t look or act his age. He should have made it into his 30s. I put him down on 7/20/11 because there were subtle signs the knee wouldn’t control his hoof.
The vet made the entire process a little easier. There were a couple of dozen people there with us. He was well-known in the area. His tail was gone right up to the bone along with the braids the kdis did. I had him composted, which is where he his now.
What I realized was that I would have felt guilty if I pushed him to keep going. I didn’t want to force him to be an old man. I have a terrific photo I can look at whenever I need to. I have an image of my living heart horse. He never looked like a dead horse. I also started doing groundwork with a terrific, wicked smart 7 y.o. boy with a developmental disorder. The two of them bonded and that is still there. He is riding at another barn, but his life changed from profound shyness and fear of horses. He is all over the place. He wants to learn posting trot. He has that mysterious elusive inner aura that few of us achieve. The family can’t afford lessons so that is where I am spending my board payments.
I thought the vet jumped the gun when she said it was time. I saw why a few days later. We did a daily walk to the outdoor with a stop to munch on a fine selection of weeds. A few days later he wouldn’t walk away from the barn. Everyone thought he would keep going until the cold weather hit. It was, and was not, a shock, a surprise.
I have cried for years reading posts on COTH from so many who have lost a horse. I did better than I thought I would. The vet helped me find an inner image that isn’t a dead horse lying on the ground with the whites of his eyes showing… I had friends who hugged me hard. I had cards and flowers and texts and a few gifts.
We know it is better to put them down a day too early than a day too late. It’s true. But I have that bond, and so does my young friend. In the sping I’ll head over to the composting service and maybe bring some of him back home. It’s better than a 50 lb box of ashes.
Our retired vet wrote a book on euthanasia. That’s where I learned about composting. It’s on Amazon: “Goodbye Old Friend,” David Jefferson DVM.
3 Likes
If he’s sound at the walk, I wouldn’t put him on even partial stall rest while you’re gone. I don’t know what your vet is “suspecting” but he’s sound to wander around at will without pain so why confine him?
I definitely think it might be a good time to retire him. You can spend many wonderful years like I did with my old boy - grooming and loving on him for the rest of his years.
Best wishes with whatever you decide. You sound like a great owner. 
I know it’s been years, but so sorry for your loss. Sometimes, that horrible day when they left us seems like yesterday even if it’s been 30 years. You gave him a wonderful life. He knew you loved him. That’s the best we can do. Please take comfort in all your wonderful memories. {{{Hugs}}}
ETA: What a handsome boy he was! 
He was handsome and knew it, looked right at you when you said it.
Thanks Fiesta01, much appreciated!
2 Likes
