Decision Made
We have currently got 5 horses on a bare block. Drought has made sure there is no feed on the ground. We also own one in the red zone on free lease that currently is just incurring money spent on it without the leasee getting any use of him.
We are in the green zone though so can move them if we can find somewhere.
2 of these horses are old. One is my sons 35 yr old pony who is getting to the end of his life span. Often he just lies down because he is old and tired. The other oldie is my 24 yr oldo who would not come through the flu either. He is older than his years due to his first 3 having been spent in starvation and abuse.
The decision has been made, hard as it is, that if the flu comes they will both be put down to save them the pain and suffering that would come with it. We highly doubt that either would come through even with excellent vet care.
We also need to be realistic on the finances. We would be spending large amounts on our other horses. We know there will be vet bills for our horse in the red zone, we cannot expect the leasee to cover them really or ethically.
This flu is going to be the death of not only the expensive horses, but the golden oldies.
Sherril-lea QLD
We are in the green zone though so can move them if we can find somewhere.
2 of these horses are old. One is my sons 35 yr old pony who is getting to the end of his life span. Often he just lies down because he is old and tired. The other oldie is my 24 yr oldo who would not come through the flu either. He is older than his years due to his first 3 having been spent in starvation and abuse.
The decision has been made, hard as it is, that if the flu comes they will both be put down to save them the pain and suffering that would come with it. We highly doubt that either would come through even with excellent vet care.
We also need to be realistic on the finances. We would be spending large amounts on our other horses. We know there will be vet bills for our horse in the red zone, we cannot expect the leasee to cover them really or ethically.
This flu is going to be the death of not only the expensive horses, but the golden oldies.
Sherril-lea QLD
posted by Horse Deals at
8:24 pm
7 Comments:
Don't give up on the oldies - our 25 yr old mare is well on the way to recovering after having EI. She and our 5 yr old gelding caught the virus in late September.
The mare was grumpy and needed bute in her feed on two occasions, but we did not need to go beyond that in terms of medication. The vet came but only to confirm that it was EI - no intervention. Our mare was unrugged in a large grassy (non-dusty) paddock, with shade, shelter and water. She is now quite bright and is eating well.
A lady I know had a 41 yr old pony gelding (her first horse!) who she expected would not make it, they were prepared to put him down if he showed distress, but he coped remarkably well and is now fine (for an arthritic, senile old pony - grumpiness not due to flu!).
The horses seem to do better if they can walk around and get their heads down, if they have company, and if you damp the feed and give them things that are easy to eat.
We were dreading the onset and were left in a Red zone with no way to help our horses beyond nursing them, but the waiting was worse than the disease in the end - though we were lucky, and it is worse for others - it depends on the individual horse as to how it copes.
Many people have commented that the older horses seem to cope in some cases better than fitter, younger ones.
Hang in there!
Kerry
you're being unrealistic and totally ridiculous.
i've read every single entry on this page, and this is the first to make me angry enough to comment. the thoroughbred stud next door to me have a few 20+ year old retirees that i know for a fact all came through the ei fine.
maybe you should read down the page a bit further about people telling the stories of their old horses living through the virus. give them some TLC and a little bit of time and effort and they have every chance of pulling through. after all, don't they deserve it?
and you would put them down in perfect health.
i'd say it's almost barbaric.
claire QLD
read down the page about (SHE MADE IT)now that is a true horse lover...
i am also in the green zone, so if you need somewhere for your horses to live until it finally rains, I might be able to help. my email is samsenescall@bigpond.com if you are interested.
We are not barbaric, we are realistic. We do understand some old horses come through it. If we really were heartless then there would not be 2 old unused money munching horses wandering my paddocks. They cost just as much to keep unused as used horses.
Both our old horses will continue to recieve the daily love and attention they do now. The decision is for IF either get the flu.
One of them already has a respitory illness and the other somedays just lays for hours on end because he is old and tired. We are always surprised when he has survived another change of season. He would not have the strength nor will to fight it.
We will never make our horses suffer just so we can be seen by others who wish to judge that we have tried our best. They will not be put down if healthy, but if very sick then we will do the kindest thing we can for our horses.
Unfortunately sometimes our best is to do the right thing by the horse and let them go. I made the decision for my own old horse, my 9yo son made the decision for his 35yo pony. Seems my 9yo son may have more compassion than many far older people.
Good luck with your animals when EI hits, and I hope that you don't have to make any tough decisions, but if you do, know that some of us out here will respect that it is your decision and you know your animals the best! Sincerely
Hi,
I have a 27 yr olg gelding who is recovering from EI and is doing remarkably well......he just had a small cough and a bit of a runny nose.
I did get antibiotics straight into him on the very first sign of the flu but he is recovering much better than the 4 yr olds nextdoor.....they as we are all different and I hope you dont have to make a very hard sad decission in the near future.
I must also say I have called the DPI 3 times and have not even had a call back let alone seen an officer to quarintine my property..(unlike my neighbours right nextdoor!)....
It makes me wonder if this is going to be another disease we have to live with in Australia due to goverment neglect.!
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