"Amazing what horses can survive, and what little things destroy them." *Chatting over the fence with our neighbor, he told us the bad news that their young mare suffered a career ending injury last week.
Remember when I posted about going to the jumping tournament to watch my next-door neighbor compete? She rides that big Oldenburg gelding who loves the show jumping ring. I was so impressed by the courage in those riders and the brilliant performances of the horses.
She also has a Rheinisch 5 year old mare that she visits every morning, starting her out slowly and carefully for her career. I was intimidated by that huge chestnut mare looking down at me when I met her in the field.Last week she was leading her from the barn to the field and the mare stepped into a hole and stumbled, destroying the ligaments in her leg. The vet said it's as bad as a break, and the mare may never be sound for riding.
All her hopes, all her preparation, it's over for her. Thankfully their horses are insured, including a "loss of use" clause, but still.
Her husband told us, "It's ironic because she was *so* careful with her, warming her up slowly every day, cooling her down just as slowly."
I feel so bad for her. I'd love it if she brought her home to the field in front of our house, which belongs to them. I bet getting to spend the winter at pasture would help.* Adventures of a Horse-Crazed Mind
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10 comments:
I bet Baasha would like having that mare in an adjacent field also. How devastating to end a career with such a random thing.
Isn't it awful how easily it can happen? Barnaby had a year off because of a broken pedal bone that just happened on a normal hack, ditto Zak with 10 months off for a tendon, also done in such a simple manner. It just shows we have to make the most of every moment with these precious friends.
Very sad to hear - these things happen to horses, no matter how careful you are with them.
That is sad - your neighbour must be upset...and disappointed.
My friend just lost her mare to a badly broken leg - the mare stepped in a groundhog hole...
That is terrible Lytha!!! Your poor neighbor...
How are you and Baasha holding up in Germany? I have often wondered how you are doing over there...
That is a shame. Makes me nervous to because we have lots of rodent holes and mounds on our property. I should walk the pasture and plug them up, put they'll just tunnel up somewhere else.
Awww, could that plan work out? Baasha would probably enjoy her company, too.
That is so sad. I know all too well abour damaged ligaments. They are truly never the same again. It's been over a year since I severed my ACL and had surgery, but it's nothing like my other leg. It's still so weak and so unstable.
Poor mare. This just validates why I choose not to canter through a field that I know has huge prairie dog holes in it.
I saw the damage falling and tripping into one can cause, when Rojo snapped his leg right in half.
Terrible tragedy.
~Lisa
Leah, it would be so nice to have that mare closeby!
Autumn Mist, I agree, every day is important.
Kate, it was a good thing that my man was there listening, it's important to me that he understands how fragile horses are.
Laura, we don't have groundhogs but we do have moles and I've always been afraid of falling through into mole tunnels so I rarely canter in fields.
Melanie, with regard to your last post, it is hard for me. I'm going crazy here cuz it's so hard to find a job I've been looking for 2 years. I have a very large amount of rejection letters. The thought that I'll never have a career again is horrible. There is only so much a housewife without kids can do, and I don't have any friends here yet. *sigh*
Once Upon, it is illegal to kill moles in Germany, and oh, how I want to!
Lisa, what you saw was a tragedy. I hate how a rodent can be responsible for the death of a horse!
Awww, that's such a tragedy! Is there no way it'll heal over time?
Tragic...hope the diagnosis changes. She is beautiful.
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