Do you think this horse can be rehabbed?

Question

Calm, easy-going mare, very recently retired from the track, still racing fit, needs some let-down/time off. No vices, athletic and a cute mover, but not currently sound on a stifle. Will make a lovely sporthorse broodmare (Mr. Prospector, Fappiano, Seattle Slew bloodlines). Photos on website, see contact info page for web address. Free to the right home.

I was e-mailing the owner before they found out she wasn't sound. here is some information from our conversations:

I've attached a few more photos of Drizzle, I don't have any of her undersaddle yet.  I broke my collarbone about a month ago so I'm not able to ride at the moment, so she hasn't been started on the retraining process yet.  Hopefully I can at least get her on the longe line this week.  She's a cute mover and moves really well from the shoulder with a flat-kneed trot. 
 
Personality wise, she's very friendly and is well behaved, she is very quiet in her stall and does fine turned out with other horses (both mares and geldings).  She's been very calm and hasn't offered to spook or really look at anything.  She is also supposed to be very calm and steady undersaddle--I know the race owner and when he says they're quiet, they are--the other horse I have from him is being retrained by a 14 yr old girl, she's had him for about a month and the horse is already working on the bit and jumping (she's an advanced-beginner the only one who's ridden him besides the jockeys at the track).  I would imagine Drizzle will be pretty much the same.
 
The only issues that I know of are a scar on her left knee (I've attached a photo of her knee)--it was a pasture accident that happened a couple of years ago and is only cosmetic, the joint hasn't been effected.  She also is a little sensitive about being groomed, she doesn't really like her flank area brushed and will pick up her hind feet but hasn't offered to kick.  She does LOVE being scratched, so I think once she figures out the grooming routine, should be fine.
 
Drizzle is pretty much a blank slate, I think she would do well as a hunter or eventer or in the dressage ring.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.


Hi Emma,
 
Sorry to say, Drizzle isn't sound.  The trainer I got her from said she had had some soreness in her left stifle but was now sound on it.  She's not--she actually hold her left leg up and canters around on 3 legs.  So I think if she has a future it's as a broodmare.  There is a bump on her left hip as well, so I'm not sure if the issue could be help with some chiropractic work and rest or not.  At this point I'm just looking for a home for her.  If you'd like to try rehabbing her you can just have her.  I have 7 horses at the moment and can't keep one that's not going to do anything.
 
I'm not sure how Drizzle will do.  She has been turned out since she's been here and she seems to be less sore than when she initially came off the track.  I had my vet look at her quickly while he was out to work on another horse, he said there is some effusion in her stifle, and would recommend injecting it to see if that reduces the inflammation and soreness.  Her stifle certainly doesn't seem to slow her down in the field, she seems to get around fine on it.  I can't really say if more rest and some rehab/treatment will solve/manage the problem (the race trainer said she was sound after injecting her stifle a while ago), I'm sure she will improve but not sure if she will hold up to long-term heavy work.  She is a really sweet horse, I really like her, I just can't afford her.  Let me know if you have any other questions.


Sorry this is retty long.  
Do you think she can be rehabbed to be ridden.  Of course I would talk to a vet before I would take her, but I just want to know what you think first.

Angela · Accepted Answer

Stifles can be very difficult to rehab. I have not seen too many horses with stifle INJURIES come sound again. Many of the horses with stifle PROBLEMS that are just a result of a loose or "sticky" stifle can be succesfully rehabed. It would depend very much on the reason for the lameness and the degree of damage. But if this mare was "cantering around on 3 legs) then it sounds like it's a pretty significant problem.

If you are considering getting this mare, ask yourself what you would do if it turns out she'll never be sound. Are you OK with keeping her as a pet for the rest of her life? Though she may have good bloodlines for racing, TB broodmares are a dime a dozen. It's very difficult to even break even on breeding a horse, much less actually make any money. If you want to get her, thinking that "if she ends up being sound for light riding that's great, but if she's just going to be a big pet I'm OK with that too," then I say go for it. But if you wouldn't want to keep a companion horse that can't be ridden, then keep looking. I think chances are that this mare will never be sound for any serious riding. Miracles can and do happen, and I've seen some horses that veterinarians thought would never be sound go on to lead long and impressive careers as riding horses, but don't count on being one of the lucky few.

Driver · Answer

I think you should not get this horse.  She may or may not be able to be ridden in the future and there's no way of knowing how it will turn out.  She will end up costing way more than "free" in a very short time, with vet visits, injections, and probably a variety of treatments until you find one that works (if you find one at all).  If she needs the joint injected, you'll have to continually have it re-injected every time the effects start to wear off.

If you are only getting one horse, and you want a horse you can ride, it's too risky to take a chance on this mare.

charm · Answer

I guess at this point, you have to make a personal decision. This horse is what I would consider a rescue. You would have no money in her to start. Then you have to decide how much money you can afford to spend to rehab her. Stifles are really nasty critters. However, I have had horses who were lame on stifles for over a month wind up totally sound with some rest and steady easy work. It's really your call. How much money and time can you afford to 'waste', in case you end up with a pasture ornament instead of a riding horse?

Diddy Doris · Answer

She might be OK but somehow I get the feeling she will just end up as a light hacking/pleasure horse.

Stifles can be quite unpredictable. Some get better, some don't. 

But its best not too pin your hopes up too high on this horse. I doubt she will be fit enough for any competitions, or the work getting her to competition standard.

Sorry sweetie.

MBRShorse · Answer

She might make it.  It could be a racing injury that just needs time to heal.  Only time can tell.  I don't think she will ever be able to do huge jumps and what not but most definitely light riding.  I think she had a shot.

Trending News

Do you think this horse can be rehabbed?

5 Answers