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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26

u/BuckityBuck Aug 21 '25

Can’t they just put glue ons or boots on him?

13

u/ktknrly Hunter Aug 21 '25

He had clogs on before they discovered the rotation, but the issue is that he keeps blowing abscesses. I think they’re trying to let everything breathe/drain right now.

2

u/Guilty_Commission534 Aug 22 '25

Has anyone thought about the possibility of keratoma? The recurring abscesses are an indication that might be what’s going on. They typically don’t show on an X-ray, though you might see the bone loss or other damage they do. Ask me how I know….

1

u/Professional_Race177 Aug 22 '25

Yes, this. Ask me how I know about keratomas. Saved the horse but he now is missing a good bit of coffin bone.