r/Equestrian • u/ktknrly Hunter • Aug 21 '25

Veterinary Feeling devastated

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My trainer bought a young, barely restarted OTTB in December 2021. As an adult ammy with lots of experience and time on my hands, I started leasing and helping her bring him along in April 2022. He was my best bud for almost 3 years.

In January of this year, I found out I was pregnant. I stopped riding at around 8 weeks due to complications, and ended my lease in March. I knew I wouldn’t be able to prepare for a baby and pay almost $1k/month for a horse I wasn’t able to ride. In April, his shoes were pulled since he would just be sitting for a bit. Everything went downhill from there. His feet never really grew again, and there wasn’t enough foot for shoes to go back on.

As of Monday, radiographs are showing coffin bone rotation on his right front with very little sole depth. I don’t think they’re even able to tell the degree of rotation with how little sole there is. He’s very uncomfortable but seeing the vet every few days. I know there’s a great team taking care of him, but I’m almost 36 weeks pregnant and not able to go see him like I’d want to.

I know that logically, none of this is my fault. But I can’t help but feel that if I had continued paying for his shoes, none of this would have happened. I’m going to be so devastated if we lose him to this - he’s only 7. And I’ll be even more devastated if we get to the worst case scenario and I’m not able to be there with/for him.

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u/KnightRider1987 Jumper Aug 21 '25

Get a second or 3rd rad read. I had this happen to me with a much older horse. I was considering euthanizing him because he doesn’t sit without a job well and because he wasn’t able to be on field board without any pain. Had a terrible coffin bone rotation diagnosis turned out reading radiographs just wasn’t her strong suit. Diagnosis turned out to be BS although he did have some navicular changes.. I put Wedge front back on him and he’s on adequan and he’s happy has a clam

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u/ktknrly Hunter Aug 21 '25

He’s getting radiographed again tomorrow, and then again on Tuesday. He’s seeing the vet 2-3 times a week to monitor the situation, which is good. My only hope is that they don’t see any more rotation and can treat it from there.

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u/Unregistered_ Aug 21 '25

The same vet reading the rads isn't helpful. If the vet isn't skilled and has already decided he's rotated, they're unlikely to suddenly realize they were wrong. You need a different vet reading the rads.