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Few situations are harder for horse owners than realizing their partner may no longer be safe to ride. At a recent Plaidcast In Person event, an audience member described her 6-year-old horse who had begun stumbling, even falling, and whose veterinarian suspected a neck malformation. She asked Dr. Steven Reed, an expert on neurological issues in equines, if should she pursue expensive diagnostics, or just turn the horse out?
Knowledge vs. Cost
Reed’s first point was simple: “Knowledge is always better. So the more you know, the better off you are.”
But he also acknowledged the financial reality. A full neurologic work-up with exam, EPM testing, vitamin E levels, radiographs, anesthesia, and a CT myelogram, runs about $5,000. For many owners, the decision comes down to whether knowing the exact cause would change what happens next.
“If you’ve already made the tough decision that you’re never going to ride him again and you’re okay to feed him, then maybe you don’t need to spend that money,” Reed explained.
Safety Comes First
Reed reminded the audience that neurologic horses can be dangerous, both to themselves and to people. “There isn’t a horse made worth getting hurt over,” he warned.
That doesn’t mean every neurologic horse must be put down. Some can live comfortably in turnout if they aren’t falling or becoming aggressive. But others, especially those that are unpredictable or unsafe even at liberty, may reach the point where euthanasia is the most humane choice.
Reed also noted that horses that are fitter often cope better with mild neurologic deficits. While he didn’t suggest this would change the audience member’s specific case, he and Dr. Julie Vargas discussed how exercise and rehabilitation can sometimes help horses adapt through neuroplasticity, the nervous system’s ability to retrain pathways.
Still, this isn’t a universal fix. Some horses can compensate; others cannot.
The Emotional Reality
Beyond the medical side, Reed acknowledged the emotional difficulty of these choices. He joked that he owns “the Unstable Stable” because he has kept more horses than he probably should. But at the end of the day, he said, safety for the rider and the welfare of the horse have to guide the decision.
When a horse can’t be ridden again, there is no single right answer. Some owners choose further diagnostics; others accept retirement without them. The key is weighing what knowledge will add, whether the horse can live safely in turnout, and where to draw the line if it cannot.
In Reed’s words, knowledge is valuable, but compassion and practicality must shape the final choice.
Want more insight from Dr. Steven Reed? Listen to episode 445 of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
