Advice please(too many horses).

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Eventerlad15

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Can I please have some advice on what to do with Bertie?

Stats: KWPN gelding, 7 years. Has a cyst on the deep flexor tendon so is unridable.

He is now in the field-as he has been since March. However he really cannot afford to keep him as a field ordament.

He is on a longlist for the blood-bank in Scotland, but he may not even get a place..I want him to have a purpose to fulfill in life still: such as used for blood or at universities for a 'case study'.

Not keen on him coing as a companion as you hear some terrible stories.

If anyone has any brilliant ideas, please let me know, as if he is still here next winter, I dread to think what will happen...
 
Sadly I think in all honesty the responsible thing to do would be to put him down if you can't keep him. That is much better than risking him getting into a life of neglect as you will never be able to guarantee his future if you let him go.:-(
Rehoming places are completly overfilled and any spaces they do have are reserved for genuine abuse/neglect cases.
 
Sorry, but I have to go with OB. If he can't be made sound and you can't keep him, well . . .

The rehoming places are completely overrun with horses that have just been dumped on them or which they've had to rescue from very unpleasant situations. I'd say, from an ethical standpoint, they should put their efforts towards horses that don't have caring owners to make decisions for them.

Sometimes places come up for research studies but I'd want to know exactly what a horse was getting into. I recognise the need for animal testing but I'm not sure I'd want one of mine going into that life unless I knew the situation. Some places take mares and stallions for "practice" horses for breeding education but not an option for yours, obviously. Also, I suspect a horse with a pre-existing condition would be excluded unless it was needed specifically to study said condition. A friend of mine did donate a horse to a university BUT the horse was sound and healthy, young and entire.

You could send him somewhere as a companion, and I know a few great stories always pop up about this sort of situation, but I've heard so many about horses being neglected, sold on etc. I wouldn't risk it unless I could be SURE the horse was going to stay where I put it. (My 27 year old eventer lives with the person who leased him last but I also pay towards him so I know where he is and I know she can afford to keep him.) And sending a horse out into the world with a severe but invisible unsoundness seems a recipe for disaster.

I'm sorry, I know you want to hear a fairy tale and you might very well find one, but having any sort of animal, as you know, can be a lifetime commitment. Someone's lifetime, anyway . . .
 
I'd be tempted to getanother opinion re deep flexor, then if it is incurable, I'm afraid O_B is probably right. Tough love I know
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Perhaps I have read this wrong but it sounds as though you are trying to pass him on because you don't want to have to keep him anymore. I think we have a responsibility to our horses to do the right thing for them when their careers end whether that be at 20 or 7. IMO giving him away as a companion or trying to give him to a charity is a cop out
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sounds as if he should be galloping towards jesus! tho blood bank in scotland would be an excellent place for him. i was told(might not be true) there is a blood bank in oxfordshire? you could phone bourton vale and ask mark lucey (his sister has the scottish bloodbank)
 
i'm afraid i agree with the tough love opinions.

he is your responsibility and it is up to you to safeguard his future.

to loan him out as a companion imo would be too risky- he is so young the home would likely be for 15-20+ years and i wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

rescue homes are just for that- horses that need rescuing, not horses that are able to be looked after but just not any use anymore.

it is a horrible position to be in, but if you truly cannot afford to have him at home anymore, i think you need to be brave and make the decision that will ensure he never comes to any harm out of your sight.
 
Have to agree with Icestationzebra.

I have a rising 20 year old TB mare that is retired, I havent sold her previously as I couldnt secure her future and didn't want to pts so she is here as a field ornament.

I feel she is my responsibility and not somebody else's.

Sorry if this sounds harsh.
 
I know it may sound like a cop out..but as he is only 7 there is no way we can look after him for the rest of his lifr-and next year I am leaving home so he will be left with mum.
We have a horse who was for loan, but I think we are going to semi-retire him and he's 22.

Mum did suggest him being PTS, and I have to say this may have to be the soultion, as i couldnt take the risk of a dangerous loan home.
 
have to say I think you owe it to at least investigate if anyone you know would take him on out at grass/as a companion. I think the PTS is often an easy cop out rather than putting the work in to find a good home, and only when that has been exhausted, consider PTS.
Not all loan homes are bad, and I think it is overhyped slightly, although there are bad cases. However it does require the effort of checking up on the horse.
I personally dislike the attitude that says we can just get rid of things that easily by killing them-not necc directed at you but at a common theme on here.
 
I am afraid to be frank when we keep horses to compete we have a duty of care to them, why are you trying to palm this off to somebody else its like people who try to sell horses at the end of their careers if you are not man enough to do the responsible thing give up eventing as it wont be the last time you have to make this decision.
Perhaps you also dont want the expense this may involve you in.
 
he is trying to do the wright thing.... no-one wants to palm their horse of on anyone but if you cannot afford to keep them for the rest of their life then difficult decisions have to be made ...
 
Look at the OPs other recent post about the new horse that he is clearly full of. so he can clearly afford to keep a good horse but not a broken one.I am only trying to point out the realities of keeping horses and our responsibilities to them .At the end of the day I think we all agree horses lose their lives for all sorts of reasons I think the argument is if there is no other alternative why expect to pass on the responsibility for the deed to somebody else.The reality is if you cannot afford to keep the horse for the rest of its days dont get it and certainly dont say you cannot afford to keep it and in the same breath tell people about your new horse.
 
Don't know exactly whats wrong with your horse (although neither do you?!) so here's my suggestion.

Since march is not a long time imho. Some sports people take longer to come back from injury than that. Can you not put him on grass or retirement livery for another year to see if this 'thing' settles and sorts itself out. I am a great believer in field rest and time being able to heal a lot of things.

Secondly, I hate this idea, shared by far too many people on here that if the horse isn't suitable for a job and you can't be bothered to look for a good companion home (and maintain contact with new owner) then people immediately say PTS. WTF?! We have one (was on loan originally) as a companion and he is great, ok, so we got him at 20 (now 25) but I would expect to go on for a while longer yet.

There are plenty of good companion homes out there, but they won't come bite you on the bum - heaven forbid you should have to make some effort to find one.
 
popsdosh- I havn't got a new horse FYI, I meant that he was going well, he was a transformed charater!

And in my defence I am at school, so do not deal with the vets, and its a complicated injury-the details of which i am not 100% on.

Please dont judge me as you know nothing really about my situation-I was just asking for your advice; I totally understand how horses are for life, and I personally would happly have him living in the field for life-but he isnt a horse who is content at doing nothing and logically dont think that can happen.
 
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popsdosh- I havn't got a new horse FYI, I meant that he was going well, he was a transformed charater!

And in my defence I am at school, so do not deal with the vets, and its a complicated injury-the details of which i am not 100% on.

Please dont judge me as you know nothing really about my situation-I was just asking for your advice; I totally understand how horses are for life, and I personally would happly have him living in the field for life-but he isnt a horse who is content at doing nothing and logically dont think that can happen.

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hear hear.
Don't judge people when you don't know the full story.
And it's clear from this post that people have totally different oppinions anyway, this is a very difficult situation, and whatever action he takes, he is never going to please everyone.
Give him a break, it must be heartbreaking for him.
 
eventerlad-give him at least 2years, at only 7 it is possible, depending on the injury that 'DR green' may allow him to heal enough to lead a useful hack life, or light competition.
Obviously this depends on the injury and if I'm right in saying you are not the owner (parents?) I do understand it is very difficult for you to have control over the situation. I would start mentioning to people that you have a horse available as a companion-you might be surprised that it may be taken up eventually by someone you would be happy with having him
 
Just to clarify, I don't think anyone was saying good retirement homes don't exist (as I said, I have a fantastic one for my old horse and have helped other horses into similarly suitable situations) just that you can't DEPEND on them coming along just when you need one.

And not every horse can live that life - mine certainly couldn't have done so until he was well into his 20's and even then, it's a very special sort of arrangement.

I'm also sure, in many cases people continue paying to some extent and/or have the horse back if circumstances change. So the ideal situation may absolve one of day to day care but not necessarily of responsibility.

Is the horse actually lame? Is he suitable for a downgraded job, either now or potentially with a sustained convalescence and treatment?

Also, I'm sure these situations are much trickier when parents are involved as they are the ones paying the bills so they get the ultimate say and rightly so. Would it be an option to contribute something to the horse's care, even on principle, at least until you can see if there in any improvement, long term?
 
Right, then you can do nothing but wait and see for a while imo, since he hasn't really been lame that long in terms of some injuries
 
OK, so you post to ask for opinions, but not for people to judge?! Are you not aware this is an open forum?!

Give the horse more time, and if possible phone your vets so you understand exactly whats going on and likely outcomes
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it is very rare for me to post an opinion but in this case i have a personal insight to what has happened to the horse and what eventerlad15 is trying to achieve with this post. I also feel that some people have been unfairly attacking him

Bertie has a tear to the deep flexor tendon where it runs under the navicular bone and a cyst has formed at the site of the tear. Everything has been done to try and make Bertie sound with no expense spared and unfortunately after having extensive MRSI scans done one of the top equine specialists has said he will not come sound.

Eventerlad is only trying to do the best for his horse who he truly loves. He is one of the most dedicated young persons i know and he will do anything for his horses. He will lavish no expense on the care of his horses with of course with the help from his mum. he has over the years had 3 horses from me and all have had a fantastic lives and he still cares for 2 off them now - unfortunately one of the originals has joined the happy hunting ground in the sky due to very old age.

People i think have pre judged him because of previous posts where he has been saying how his new horse Duncan is wonderful so they assume he is palming Bertie off to make way, that can not be further from the truth. He just wants whats best for him.

If people were to read his original post he was asking for ideas not to have people to criticise him. Instead of been negative be pro active in a positive way.
 
remember, this lad is only 17, he is still at school so is not the decision maker here. I only know this due to having a look at his web site.
What a shame about your horsey, you must be gutted.
I am sure that you just want the best for Bertie, it is hard when you have a horse not happy to not be working. I was just saying yesterday, that i hope i never have to stop riding my mare as she would be miserable without a job to do. Even if it is just hacking around the countryside. She is about 20 now though, so very different.
If he could possilby be ok as a light hack, maybe an idea to give him the time off and see if someone could take him on permanant loan as that. I wouldn't sell him or lose control of him though, that is when you run the risk of him being buted up and passed from pillar to post.
good luck, hope you find a solution.
 
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