A thought about keeping horses for life.

Well it would never be an easy decision, I suppose it depends what is more important to you (not you personally, the person making decision), so the riding aspect (for yourself) as in why spend on the money on owning a horse if your not riding it, or would you have more pleasure in keeping your old retire horse on, or knowing that the horse (that could be ridden) could go off to a new home and be enjoyed by another person thus giving you the opporuntiy to care for your old git that nobody else would want?

Neither decision would be wrong.

I'll admit a sucker for the types of horses that nobody else wants, I could live with not riding the 'ridden horse' because I'd probably have others to ride with friends etc, so if I was to put my self in that sort of position, say Mackenzie (prime example :D) I honstly would have to keep him to the end and part with the other horse, of course it would break my heart but not as much as having my old git PTS, after all, you never know when things could pick up, you may find other opportunities 6 months down the line, who knows what the future holds, never too late to get another horse you can ride again.
 
hmmmm i would probably pts the older one and keep the younger one ... BUT ... If the older one was my old horse Speedy (children eater describes him perfectly or Jaws :P) and the 10yr was a new horse then i would sell the younger one.
 
martlin said:
It's all very good when it's only you, or you and a partner who is similarly minded, but when you have a family and responsibilities that come with it, you can hardly go for a smaller house/a share etc to justify keeping a horse!:eek:
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Your opinion!! A lot of people do do the above!!! Not saying I would. No sproglets yet!! I have a lovely mummy (I'm 30 btw!!) who gets rather upset when things make me cry(this is not something that happens often!!!) so no doubt I'd be able to get some help from them.

My somewhat round about and rambling point (I'm on some rather strong painkillers for my dodgy back!!) is don't generalise on things like this and don't judge people on their descisions and priorities in life. Money is unfortunately what makes the world go round but its amazing how different people can live and get by quite well and be happy with what someone else would consider total poverty and impossible. I know a fair few weathly people who spend very little on their horse's care as they can't 'afford' any more and some who are comparitively poor and yet seem to have so much more!
 
We've been in this exact position, the only slight difference being that the older horse was not vicious, and that he also belonged to someone else although we had full care of him, so ultimate decision did not fall to us.

We lost everything, and were in the position where we had Ellie, the old boy and an elderly pony. We found a retirement home for the pony (she's still there now and doing fabulously well! :) ) but the older lad was harder to find somewhere for. He wasn't 100% sound and needed daily bute for his arthritis, but was in full health otherwise. Because losing Ellie wasnt an option - I could never give her up, and Mum felt the same - there was no way we could afford to keep the old boy on our own, and sadly his owner was not prepared to contribute (they had paid very little towards his keep when he was at our place). We approached the Blue Cross etc, but they all said the same thing - PTS :( So that was the decision we made, and although I don't think it was the wrong one, it still grieves us all today that we had to put a happy, healthy horse down :(
 
TBH, I am quite shocked that seemingly rational human beings would totally disrupt their home/family life by selling up/downsizing for a bloody horse! :eek:

Horses are replaceable...my Family are not.
 
I haven't read the whole thread, but if i was in this situ:

I would PTS the old grumpy one. He's had a nice life with you, and lived to a very decent age, and personally unless I could 100% guarantee the companion home would keep the horse to the same standard as I did I would probably not trust anyone to look after the old pony well enough.

I have always kept my retired horses, and I currently have one (very young) retired horse who can't be ridden. I get great pleasure from keeping him, and we do lots of groundwork which is fun, but if I was in a position where I had no choice about keeping him, I would have him PTS. If I were to give him away I think there would be a very high chance of him being neglected or mistreated, as he is a high maintenance type. The thought of that happening would haunt me forever, and would be infinitely worse for my horse.
 
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nativeponies said:
TBH, I am quite shocked that seemingly rational human beings would totally disrupt their home/family life by selling up/downsizing for a bloody horse! :eek:

Horses are replaceable...my Family are not.
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Well, that is your opinion. I would never, however, describe my girl as 'a bloody horse', and as such, if I had to downsize/move home/get another job to keep her, I would. FWIW, the other members of my family agree - Mum fought like crazy to ensure we could keep her when we lost everything ten years ago, something for which I will always be grateful.

And I don't agree that horses are replaceable, either. I understand the principle - that you can choose a horse, but not your family - but for me a horse is more than just a throwaway item, to be enjoyed or passed on whenever it suits me. Yes, I could buy another, but it would never be Ellie. I would do ANYTHING to keep her.
 
it is my opinion..

but i hadn't actually read your response before i posted.

but yes, i do find your situation bizzare...and certainly NOT one i would put my family through over a horse.
 
heidirusso said:
If I lost my job I would simply get another, anything. sweeping, cleaning if need be...So the question would be how much do you want to keep them, as opposed to thinking it couldn't be done.
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Sorry, but I find this naive at best, insulting at worst. I'm a recent graduate with an excellent degree from one of the best universities in the world. It took me nine months to find full time work after I graduated. I had a cv filled with holiday jobs and high profile internships but I couldn't find ANYTHING, certainly nothing that would allow me to keep a horse.

And yes, I would have stacked shelves or swept floors if anyone would have paid me to do it, and I did temp in a call centre and muck out stables.

Not everyone can 'simply get another' when they are out of work, even if they are prepared to do 'anything', not in the current climate. It is NOT a question of how much one wants to keep one's horse. I would give up any luxury for mine without a second thought, and did. But if my parents hadn't been willing to step in then there is no way I could have kept him with no money coming in, not even by moving back in with my parents and living on tins of beans.

It is not easy or simple to find any job at the moment, even for those with qualifications, the best references etc...I should know. And there are people out there less privileged than I am, who are still looking.

Sorry for the rant, but I think that what you are saying is ill-thought out and unfair.
 
Stencilface said:
I would find a cheaper way of keeping them and keep them together. Can't keep one horse on its own imho, and if you're at livery - then you can find a field to rent for two horses for less that that :)
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this.. ive just done this, done from running a business and a yard costing 250 pm to a field with a stable (thats half a mile down the road) that costs a fiver a week. my life has been hell recently but with out a horse id go mad ..

i have though decided to sell my comp horse as She will get wasted with me as I wont be able to compete for around 12 months.
 
Any horse that eats children for breakfast should get a grant from the State IMO :) Seriously though, while I would certainly not rule out PTS because if the horse had been owned by anyone else it probably wouldn't have reached 20 anyway, would there be a way of finding grass livery for the two in return for caring for the YOs own horses or something like? PTS may well be the right thing to do, but it is worth exploring EVERYTHING before choosing that.
 
martlin said:
It's all very good when it's only you, or you and a partner who is similarly minded, but when you have a family and responsibilities that come with it, you can hardly go for a smaller house/a share etc to justify keeping a horse!:eek:
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Thank you Martlin. I was going to say exactly that. People should start pulling kids out of schools and moving in to house shares for a horse. I wouldn't expect it of my partner never mind my kids!!
 
misst said:
Haven't read the other replies but I think I would PTS the older horse and then if I could keep the field get another one in on grass livery for company and a few pennies.

Will read the other replies later!
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Seems my mum and I have different ideas :rolleyes:

Therefore, I'd give the 10yr old to her and I could keep the old grumpy one :D

In all seriousness whilst my old girl isn't grumpy she is 26yrs old and unrideable but I would sell my 2yr old in order to keep her. As others have said a younger horse, especially a nice 10yr old has an excellent chance of finding a good loan or permanent home.
 
Advertise both for loan and keep, assuming I had suitable means to do so (=> company probably), whichever proved hardest to find a place for (obvious from the q that we'd expect that to be the oldy). Failing finding a suitable loan home for either advertise the younger for LWVTB/sale.

Having said that the reason I don't own anything bigger than a chinchilla atm is that I don't have the long term funding to commit to guaranteeing a home for life. I could afford it at the moment but with the need to provide for a time self/partner may be caring for others and committed to a mortgage I'm only loan/sharing.

It might be a gloomy outlook but it does ensure I won't be in this position :-)
 
Steorra said:
It is not easy or simple to find any job at the moment, even for those with qualifications, the best references etc...I should know. And there are people out there less privileged than I am, who are still looking.

Sorry for the rant, but I think that what you are saying is ill-thought out and unfair.
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Just to add, it is never easy to find a job after graduating - it took me ages to find a proper one, and thats after I worked doing anything for two years, whilst I funded myself through doing a Masters.

I accept it may be hard at the moment, but it is always hard, there are jobs out there though. :)
 
heidirusso said:
I would keep both horses of course! I genuinely believe anything is possible.

Situations like this seperate the people who want to make something happen to the people who don't - If you don't want to keep the other horse then you wont make it happen, if you do then you will. Theres always a way.

x
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we need a like button here - so true and very relevant! Very happy to say my boy is still with me :) :) :) :) :)

eta - i think some people on here have been quite insutling about others opinions!! Feel free to have your own, but people choose to live their lives in different ways, with different priorities.
 
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Stencilface said:
Just to add, it is never easy to find a job after graduating - it took me ages to find a proper one, and thats after I worked doing anything for two years, whilst I funded myself through doing a Masters.

I accept it may be hard at the moment, but it is always hard, there are jobs out there though. :)
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Thanks Stencilface :). And to clarify I'm not complaining - I realise I'm very lucky to have parents who were willing and able to help out, and I did (eventually!) find a job with the awesome company I work for now.

I just wanted to point out that, though I would do anything and give up anything for my horse, all the determination and love in the world won't automatically turn into cash when it's needed.

Bigboyrocky - I remember your post a few months back, and I'm so glad things are looking up for you.
 
Steorra said:
Bigboyrocky - I remember your post a few months back, and I'm so glad things are looking up for you.
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Thanks so much :) still not great - we dont have any spare money but everything thats NEEDS to be paid for is getting paid for which is great :) but...., i still have my gorgeous pony! (:D) so i owe mum big time for that!! :) hopefully we will be back on track after christmas! :)
 
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bigboyrocky said:
Thanks so much :) still not great - we dont have any spare money but everything thats NEEDS to be paid for is getting paid for which is great :) but...., i still have my gorgeous pony! (:D) so i owe mum big time for that!! :) hopefully we will be back on track after christmas! :)
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I'm not trying to say people are wrong for doing anything to keep their horses at all. I am just trying to say that not all of us can rely on our mum like I assume you have done from your post. My mum is wonderful but can offer no financial support whatsoever. Nor can she give me her time or keep my horses livery free at her house.Sadly my step father has passed away. I am very much alone in the world with regards to my horses. I would do anything in my power to keep both of mine if they couldn't be sold on or rehomed but I can honestly envisage some situations where this would not practically be an option. Especially with the economic climate the way it is right now
 
jesstickle said:
I'm not trying to say people are wrong for doing anything to keep their horses at all. I am just trying to say that not all of us can rely on our mum like I assume you have done from your post. My mum is wonderful but can offer no financial support whatsoever. Nor can she give me her time or keep my horses livery free at her house.Sadly my step father has passed away. I am very much alone in the world with regards to my horses. I would do anything in my power to keep both of mine if they couldn't be sold on or rehomed but I can honestly envisage some situations where this would not practically be an option. Especially with the economic climate the way it is right now
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Im guessing you dont know what my situation was/is... because i didnt 'rely' on my mum for finacial support, i couldnt have... I dont know my dad either so thats not an option.

I am still at school (yr11), mum lost her job (very messy) so looked like horse had to go, as we were left with nothing. I found a job and work all weekends and hols, and mums now got 2 part time jobs and does a bit of sewing/patchwork, which then gets sold on to a friends upholstery business then upto london..

Being left with nothing, house bills, food etc is hard enough to cope with, let alone a horse at livery. All my money goes towards livery (i only earn enough to pay 80% of it) so mum still has to give a bit towards it, but its not like ive been relying on my mum at all. My mum just beleives in me, and is absoloutly amazing for giving all that she has and putting it towards soemthing she beleives im *talented at.

*her words not mine!
 
I'm really glad you could hold on to your horse. Please don't be offended. It's great that you and your mum have managed to sort something out which means you can keep him. Ultimately though you are relying on her as she is providing a roof over your head and helping with his livery.

I truly think it is admirable that you are willing to work to keep him as plenty of teenagers your age most certainly would not be and I expect it is a real stretch for you with school work and working to keep him. It is lovely for him that he has found such a great home.

All I am trying to explain is that if I personally lost my job I could not keep mine. I would have to pay

£900 a month rent
£140 a month council tax
my gas and electricity which I have no idea on I'm ashamed to say
my food bill
£130 car loan

I am tied into a rental contract so couldn't move for at least six months, rent wouldn't be much cheaper as I live in an expensive part of the country anyway(and moving somewhere cheaper would mean never getting a sensible job again), my car loan is there and wont' be gone until I pay it off.

Earning minimum wage I could probably just about afford to pay all the things I am legally required to. It would certainly not leave any spare for the neds

And also I am not talented like you quite clearly are from your siggy so it probably wouldn't be worth it anyay :) I suspect your mum is right on that front!
 
Ok, thank you for your replies.

Next scenario.
You have the same 10 year old as above. However, the child-eating horse has been replaced by a 20year old horse who used to be a driving pony. You bought him because he had a gorgeous face, however he's actually a complete nightmare to ride and is dangerous to ride. He also now has a condition that means he cannot drive any more - so he has had to be retired.

Just to clarify, you CANNOT just keep them both/find a way. The point is that you CANNOT keep both.

Which would you keep now? And what would you do with the other one?
 
flamehead said:
Ok, thank you for your replies.

Next scenario.
You have the same 10 year old as above. However, the child-eating horse has been replaced by a 20year old horse who used to be a driving pony. You bought him because he had a gorgeous face, however he's actually a complete nightmare to ride and is dangerous to ride. He also now has a condition that means he cannot drive any more - so he has had to be retired.

Just to clarify, you CANNOT just keep them both/find a way. The point is that you CANNOT keep both.

Which would you keep now? And what would you do with the other one?
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again pts the older/grumpy one and sell or gift younger one....

i for one don tbelieve im passing your problem onto someone else and pts is the only way to secure a horses future....
 
Ok, to make things easier, both of your horses are in a field with other horses. This is all hypothetical, just play the game people!
 
No change, I'm afraid. And if things were that dire, I would also consider loaning the younger one on a renewable 12 month contract in the hope that things would improve.
 
I'd still PTS old guy. Sounds like he's a hard life of it and doesn't deserve to be passed around for the last few years of it. Would probably get rid of both of em if times were really hard. Sell the younger one. That way I'd feel better, like I hadn't picked one over the other. 10yr old would be found a nice, well vetted home where I could keep in touch.
 
If it were me, I'd go back to the basics with the older horse. Separate him from the other horse, so he focuses on you for companionship. Then establish who is boss and make him respect you. Get control of his feet, be able to yield his front/back with your body language, soften/flex, etc. Once you've gained respect on the ground, move onto ridden work. I haven't had the need to correct something like rearing, so cannot recommend a course of action. Try downloading Clinton Anderson's shows. I'm not a fan of his, but he can offer some handy advice. I use torrents (which allow you to download files over a peer-to-peer network), more specifically uTorrent. Which can be downloaded at http://download.cnet.com/uTorrent/3000-2196_4-10528327.html?tag=mncol;1 and here is a link to CA on a well known torrent site: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...86&q="Clinton+Anderson"+site:thepiratebay.org You could also try looking on YouTube. Most NH people have their own channels.

I would NOT kill an animal with behaviours that could be corrected. Sell the younger horse and persevere with the older. He will most likely not find a home and deserves to be given another chance of life. Besides, the younger one will bring you more money.
 
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