$%^&*! Question about colic surgery?

He's still young so his prospects are good. But he'll need a long time to recuperate. He may need a career less stressful than barrel racing, but many racehorses, endurance horses and jumpers have gone back to work after surgery. All you can do is wait wait and see. It may decrease his sale value as many people are leery of buying a horse with that kind of history and it is something you need to disclose. But look on the bright side. If this is the family business, he just gave you a heck of a tax writeoff