I literally just hung up the phone with my trainer. They realized the reason of the weird show yesterday was probably from stomach ulcers. Her show career is over. She can't jump much anymore because it will just be a messy race around the arena. No Garden State. No Princeton Jumper derby. I can't hold onto a fucking horse for more than a fucking YEAR. Mary is the longest I've ever had one really and May 1st is only my 9th month leasing her. My friend is having me ride her horse until we work something out because she isn't getting along with her horse so she'll be riding another one.

It was kind of figured out because she kept looking at her stomach and kicking a back leg, a few of her weird antics that she was doing yesterday.

I am upset beyond belief, I'm soooo sick of these stupid setbacks in riding, I was looking forward to going to Garden State since January and now 7 days away we have to cancel. And no I can't ride another horse in it.

And I'm still not on speaking terms with my parents so they don't know yet because I just found out and I'm so upset I can't deal with this I want to take a day off of school tomorrow and just mope and maybe dig myself a grave.

I'm really sorry, that sucks. I hope you find another horse soon, that's really frusterating.

I'm so sorry Lauren!! I hope you can find another horse that is as special (or close to) as her

I'm so sorry for you, you will find another horse soon

Omg, thats horrible. I'm sorry. I hope you find a new horse thats just as special.

I'm so sorry! I hope you can find another horse soon.

You want Marley?
Seriously though, I'm sorry, that sucks.

im soo sorry
dont worry things will all work out


when i first read the title i thought you ment like the virgin mary had to retire because of jesus christ or something like that sorry thats off topic

Oh that's horrible. I love seeing pictures of your horse.

Is there no hope in medication? I don't have much ulcer experience.

I'm back... dazed but here and it's not like she died so I don't feel so bad anymore, I shouldnt' feel bad for anyone but her. They are going to have my barn owner's wife ride her over the days to see if it's like soreness or internal kind of thing, I can hack her every once in a while but it won't be the same.

Medication is available and they might go into it... but it's pricey and not going to be the ultimate cure, it would just make her more comfortable. We don't want to show her again cuz it could be crippling in the long run.

Wow Fancy, that actually made me laugh, lol.

There are 2 current horses available for me at my barn, my trainer really wants me to buy this 7 yr old but no one in my family can even afford it - hell if my sister hadn't gotten a full scholarship to college I wouldn't even have had Mary so I am pretty lucky.
Anyone want to give me a free lease? I am also trying to make myself known to other trainers but I am so bad with first impressions. I don't even want to get attatched anymore, I'm thinking of just like... catchriding my way up but around here everything is so unavailable. We have show horses but at my barn you're not allowed to show over the 2 ft mark without your own horse and this is just helllllllllll.

poor mary, I hope everything turns out OK for her

and poor you, Lauren. This must really suck and not going to the horse show is awful (that happened to me last month because my horse went lame and I was so upset).

Would the barn make an exception to the 2ft showing rule for you? Since you're so experienced and all?

why do you need your own horse to show over 2 feet? like why is that a rule

I'm sorry hawkie! I know how frustrating it can be, for different terms atleast. The little large pony I was riding for awhile, after a few weeks of work or even just a week she'd come up lame or hurt herself or the weather would be horrific (snow), it was such a pain trying to get her going. You just have to keep with it, but don't stay unattatched from another horse, that new horse probably wants your love and attention!

I don't know about an exception thing. It's a liability issue with the 2 ft thing.

In the meantime of waiting, I'll just depress myself around the house and continue my (now pointless) countdown till Garden State.

Can't you put her on a program of gastrogaurd or ulcerguard? Luke had ulcers too, and the gastrogaurd helpd so much. He now eats all of his food, has gained a ton of weight, and his stomach isn't bothering him at all!

thats awful :( if its just ulcers tho, cant a regime of gastroguard fix it up? i bet its less expensive then leasing another horse.

good luck with whatever you decide to do.

My trainer said she will probably go on gastroguard, we're still experimenting and it's not 100% positive. All this week is going to be a LOT of testing but even so... Mary is still iffy in the 3 ft and I'm ready to do 3'6", my trainer said I could probably get around a course well, just not on Mary.

I think I'm more upset about the sudden-ness of it all, I really was looking forward to showing all summer - after this I only have one year left as a junior rider and I want to get out there.

I'm on speaking terms with my parents again now, I just told my dad and he feels horrible. But he also said now that he really doesn't want to "buy" another horse (he said he's fine with leasing another) because it proves his point... first was Lilly's freak colic, then Chino being taken away, then Mary's thing. Taking full ownership is riskier I do agree but I also want a horse to take through college with me.

I've never heard of retireing a horse because of ulcers. I think you need to talk to the vet, there are so many options before you have to retire a horse.

i am soo sory, im sure things will work out and be ok. There are so many horses out there, im sure if you take your time and look hard, you will find something perfect

How bad are her ulcers? There are so many horses that ride with ulcers, why the big upset?

Studies show that about 80-90% of all competition horses have ulcers to some extent. There's a lot you can do to help them. It sounds like the real problem though is that your mare isn't up for what you want to do, ulcers or not. Your father is right about leasing, as much as it can be awful, (I've had some bad experiences) it is less of risk when it comes to losing a horse.

About the horse through college...as somone who does have a horse in college, think long and hard before you go through with it. It's a huge time and money commitment, and I've been lucky enough to be supported by my parents with a lot of the bills. You might be happier staying with just catchriding and leasing.

aww that really stinks! im so sorry, it blows how youve only been leasing her for a little while. if only you were about 6 months earlier, you couldve leased my old horse for free.. i hate how timing with these things always suck

If you just want something to show and you're OK with horses possibly being pulled out from under you, ask a sale barn. My friends leased horse got taken away, so my trainer talked to one of his friends who owns a sale barn and they sent a horse over that my friend is riding and showing. It's a free lease, but she knows that if someone wants the horse, she has to give it up.

Ugh that's not fun, I'm really really sorry. If your parents are willing to consider a lease, I'd look into it. It sounds like you've had some bad luck, and though I can totally understand your parents point of view, that really sucks. They'll be a horse out there for you somewhere!

Ditto.

I'm probably going to still lease her and be able to show if she gets better because they are going to use gastroguard and have professionals work with her for training. It's giving me more hope... they said if she doesn't get better though I do have to lease another.

The thing with still leasing Mary is that I can't show much. but I am happier now that she might be able to be fixed up.

yeah im sorry 2 hear that

Try to put things in perspective and be thankful that she is not in worse condition or dead. I had a good friend that lost her junior hunter to perforated gastric ulcers. It was too late - there was nothing they could do for him. I walked in the barn one day and he wasn't there.

Showing is nice, but when it comes down to it, the horse matters most.

Yeah, I lost a mare in late December of 03 and the thing I miss most was her... not riding or showing but just the mare herself.

I'm pretty much fine with it though I'm still trying to convince my Dad to keep leasing her.