[Blistering Winds]

Everybody at the barn say they wish they could ride her, but the girl won't let anybody do anything with it.

Well, sorry, I say she's doing a FINE job if she won't let anyone ride a horse that you deemed in "pain" from her new "build" after being hit by a truck.

And again, just because an animal hobbles or "limps" does NOT mean they are in pain.

Sometimes, after a severe injury, the muscles and tendons are damaged beyond repair and are too "tight" to stretch out properly, which causes a hobble.

Again, you do not know the whole story.

So what if the owner doesn't come and see her. LOTS of people don't see their horses. My friend has a ferel herd she sees every few weeks to count the heads. Thats it.

Does that make them a bad horse person? Some say those of us that WORK our horses are BAD horse people.

She is allowing her horse to live out her life AS a horse. Big deal!

I'm sorry, I just get a bit aggrivated over good hearted people (like you) who just cannot understand another side and INSIST that a horse has to be cared for a certain way, though it isn't called for.

SOME pain, even chronic pain is GOOD, as it also prevents a horse from INJURING themselves even more. Which also could be the diagnosis and recommendation of her vet as well. To prevent her from injuring herself more. The pain is "tolerable" obviously if hte horse is surviving in the pasture...eating and drinking.

Again, you don't know the whole story and in my opinion, getting too "deep" into it.

Like for one, if I was the owner, and CAUGhT you brushing my horse's tail and mane, I'd have you removed from the property perminantly. You'd be appauled at my horse's body and tail right now after the whole winter of NO BRUSHING. He's a HORSE right now. Wild horses survive just fine without our meddling with their tails and manes.

Though starting tomorrow, since I"m getting my horse back into riding shape again, he'll be cleaned up to prevent damage from the saddle, bridle, and anything else I"m going to throw at him. But that is the ONLY real reason that he gets "groomed". Well, that and he's an only horse, and doesn't get "groomed" by other horses. But since that horse is out with other horses, she gets the grooming and love from the other horses for good health.

Ok, rambling.


I think you are diving into this WAY too much. And might get yourself in more trouble than you can imagion.

[Blistering Winds]

I know you mean well...So don't take what I said too much to heart.

But be aware that there may be a perfectly acceptable reason for the horse's condition and living arraingements.

[Dawn]

You say the horse looks in so much pain that it would be better off dead, yet the boarders at the barn want to ride it? Either the horse is not nearly as bad off as it seems by sight. Or it has a very caring owner who is doing the best thing for it by letting it live out its days in a pasture.

[dreamngold]

How can you say that this owner is doing a good job?? She does not want anybody else to ride the horse because she wants to ride it, but never does, and never should. She told this to the BM. The horse is not rideable, it wouldn't be fair. And what kind of life is it for a horse to stand at a pile of hay and munch until it's gone and then walk to the water or stand their all day until the other horses are bored and start to pick on it???? I do not agree with letting a horse get all matted in its tails and manes. It is uncomfortable for them. This is why when they do get matted, they start to rub at it. The OSPCA and other animal welfare organizations beleive that if a dog is matted, that is neglect, I'm sure the same goes for horses. I know I'm not positive that the horse is in pain, but it sure the he!! looks like it. That's why I have contacted the OSPCA, they can look into it further. And they are going to look into it further, they have already told me this. I beleive in my heart that this horse is being neglected. And how can you say that come pain, like CRONIC pain is good??? That's why pain killers are out there, or treatments for pain. SO that nobody or anything has to live with pain. No animal or human should have to live a life of pain, even if it will help the animal/human keep itself out of trouble and getting hurt again. That is NOT right. I know I am doing the right thing. Because I will know whether or not this horse is in pain in the end and whether or not it needed help. If I can help an animal be comfortable by emailing somebody, I sure the he!! am going to do it. I could not look at my horse hobbling around a pasture and think, oh well it's "out to pasture" or its fine. I would make sure it got something to help ease it's pain or discomfort. A horse should be able to run and play all day if it wants, if it can't do this, then it is not being looked after properly. Whether it is too skinny and not fed properly, overweight and too over fed to do this, or too sore or it's tendons are resricting it from doing so. This is not right!!!! People that own a horse should take care of it, not "put it out to pasture" and not care about how it is doing!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those of you who do care, and that are wondering about what is going on with this case, I will keep you updated. Like I said, the OSPCA has been contacted and they are going to go out to the farm to investigate. I will make sure they tell me how things work out.

[dreamngold]

The other boarders thing that if you road it, it would get better. They don't really understand that it is permanent, and not from a lack of riding.

[ThisIsMe]

I really dont understand your point here.

The horse is being cared for, living out its days because it isnt suitable for riding. No one is riding it, it's being attendted to.
Just because you dont agree with the way its managed it DOESNT MAKE IT NEGLECTED.
I think it's much better than filling the horse up with bute and pushing it around to be ridden.

I have a possible permanantly unsound horse sitting out in the paddock at the moment. She's cared for, wanders around the paddock slowly spends her entire day grazing. I dont think she's ever been happier.

Sounds like me this is a case of the green eyed monster.

[Jenje!]

BW, very good posts here! You have made some very good points, as I've come to expect from you. Thank you.

[Sandra-A1]

Just because a horse is in some sort of pain does not always mean that it should have pain killers.
It is my understanding that most pain killers are just supposed to be a temporary thing...not a long term one where horse's are concerned. Horse's stomachs are not like a humans and all sorts of damage can be done if not careful.
It does concern me that you did not make it a point to have a talk with this horse's owner and find out their side first. This does not sound to me like a horse that is in any sort of danger of dying so I do not understand why an effort was not made to talk to the owner first.
If someone is willing to pay the board bill then it does not sound to me that they have no interest in their horse. YOu said you used to board there so why did you not talk to the horse's owner FIRST....I really think that you should have.
As for it being in a small paddock I see nothing wrong with that. The Vet might have even said that the small paddock was where this horse should be kept......but you do not know for sure because you have not talked to anyone to get the details.
If you do not like a horse being kept in a small pen then please never go to Southern California and the Burbank area...you will see small pipe pens in back yards where horses are kept. NO grass in them either...just hay.

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

If you do not like a horse being kept in a small pen then please never go to Southern California and the Burbank area...you will see small pipe pens in back yards where horses are kept. NO grass in them either...just hay.

Yep...we have horses here who are "retired" to 12x24 pipe stalls. Never ridden or turned out...just hang out in measly little stalls. But that's protocol.

[kirstie_babe]

personally if it is pain it should be put out of its misery, i know it will be painful but its betetr for the horse. :'(