Am I asking for the impossible?

[Rosie'smum]

Looking to be able to save some money as things are tough atm ( which im guessing the same for everyone) I'm looking to put my horse on either part or full loan, Trouble is she is a bit high maintenance and not sure who will be willing to put that kinda time and money into her. Not sure on a time frame if full loan but would still like occasionally to be able to see her and possibly ride but would discuss that with new people.

So,
She must stay at the same yard (£100 a month (£30 large hay a month (winter)
She has to have physio every 7 weeks (£44)
She has to have same farrier every 7 Weeks (£35)

Then her feed to stay the same:
Balancer (£23.95)
Science Supplements Flexability plus (£59.99)
Danilon ( lasts 2months at 1 a day) (£76.99)
Boswellia ( I forgot how much it is)

I am happy to pay a contribution to her feeds if it is needed.

Now for a bit about her.
14hh 18year old skewbald mare.
Loves to hack.
Good to school.
Great to clip, have feet trimmed and load.

Probably won't disclose this on advert but would mention to anyone that came to view ( if anyone would!) But she has spondylitis in her spine and arthritis in her hocks, which does make schooling more difficult for her, more so her canter atm. But with a sympathetic rider she is fine. So probably looking for someone that loves to hack.

I just wanted to put this across to you guys before I make an advert up to see if it is even possible.

 

[TheMule]

Generally in these situations the owner will continue to pay for the prescribed medication the horse needs. I would expect to still buy her Danilon for sure and, if you feel really strongly about it, possibly her other supplements and her physio bill as these costs go beyond the normal that you would expect.

 

[emilylou]

So about £350 for a hack on full loan. Maybe you’d find someone but personally I’d be put off by the level of involvement you seem to still want, the dark winter days, inflexibility with moving her and her medical issues.
I think you’d have more luck finding a sharer for a couple of days a week.

 

[Sail_away]

I think if you were offering a longer term loan (over a year, say) and were okay with her moving you could find someone.
I would mention the difficulty schooling as it presents her to a different market - happy hacker as opposed to low level dressage.
If not, perhaps a sharer? 100-150 a month is average around here for two days a week. Or could you talk to your vet about feeding and see if you can streamline your supplements/find cheaper alternatives?

 

[twiggy2]

She is essentially a hack for a smaller adult rider, not sure if you would be happy with a teenager but the chances are they will grow out of the mares abilities fairly quickly.
If I went to look at her to find out schooling was difficult for her and her hock and back issues existed I would really feel you had wasted my time. I wouldn't choose to look at something that would find what I wanted to do difficult and it's only going to get harder for her.
I also wouldn't full loan if the owner still wanted to ride etc maybe it's just me but that puts me off.
In your shoes I would advertise her honestly as a hack for part loan and get 2 part loaner, 2 or 3 days per week for £100-150 a month each, it will reduce you outgoings both financially and time wise.

 

[Red-1]

If you still want involvement then what you are offering is a share. I think you would easily get someone to share a well behaved hack, even in winter, especially with lockdown.

A person near me has 2 horses that she has for share, and 3 sharers. They pay £27 a week each. The horses are happy and well cared for.

For a loan, I would imagine you would get more joy if the horse was allowed to move. I would still not be happy myself unless the supplements were paid for, and the physio. I am a very private person and would not have riding by the owner either, I would be afraid that I would nurse the horse along then the owner would come and charge round, and then criticise what I do to boot.

 

[Rosie'smum]

Thanks for your replies and you have given me something to think about.
Wasn't involvement as such, once in a blue moon. I do understand about the feeling of doing the work then owner just takes them back, thats why I would put a time frame but perhaps thats not the best plan for me atm.

So yeah I think the sharer route is the way forward for probably as much as someone wanted. Not sure what to charge though.

She does school and can move lovely, moves very well off the leg, done very well showing in hand (as I'm a whimp at riding in front of others) although done well with her sharer at the time ridden. I think with consistent work and a better rider than I am it would help her massively she just finds downwards transitions hard and left rein. I think canter is due to her hocks and think they do need reinjecting and it being my worse pace.
She does love to jump too but this is limited to once in a while and only on a surface. I did want to hunt her this year as only done it once and has come on a lot since then in terms of brakes!

She is based in east leake btw.

 

[SusieT]

I suggest that you retire her to a field livery, my guess is most of the stuff you are giving her is keeping her sound enough to ride and actually retiring to a natural life will probably allow her to live comfortably .
I would not be schooling/jumping a pony who required so much intensive meds/care to keep her sound as its likely there is some degree of pain particulalry if she struggles to canter.
Also - any evidence the balancer or boswellia are actually required? I'd cut them out and see if you notice any difference..

 

[Rosie'smum]

I suggest that you retire her to a field livery, my guess is most of the stuff you are giving her is keeping her sound enough to ride and actually retiring to a natural life will probably allow her to live comfortably .
I would not be schooling/jumping a pony who required so much intensive meds/care to keep her sound as its likely there is some degree of pain particulalry if she struggles to canter.
Also - any evidence the balancer or boswellia are actually required? I'd cut them out and see if you notice any difference..

Vet said i need to keep her in work to keep the muscles to support her back. Plus the physio has said she is the best she has ever felt so reakon her back has probably fused by now as diagnosis was 2015.
She enjoys her work and its only last few months that i have noticed a change in her canter but only in the school hacking is fine but the first and last time she had her hocks done was at least 2years ago.
Balancer does work as its one of the things that has helped keep her weight down. Not sure on bosweila or danilon as she hides things so well. But its only me that has put her on it everyday vets initially said as and when was needed and physio has just said try her only when ridden.
She isn't ready to end her ridden career yet and vet said once i stop there will be no starting again.
We went xc schooling in the summer babysitting my friends youngster with no ill effect for coming days afterwards.
There is nothing i can do to reduce her costs other than just having someone help share her.

 

[SusieT]

So she probably needs the vet again if her canter has gone?
How does balancer keep her weight down?

 

[Rosie'smum]

I know she needs the vet again, but with everything going on this year it wasn't urgent as its only on a bend. Fine to free school though.
Its spillers lite and lean, It has things in it that help control weight management. I know I could find the ingredients and add it myself but its just easier to feed this. She brings herself in through a 19acre field without stopping to get to her feed! I dont normally do commercial feeds but once summer hits she normally refuses feeds and this is the only thing I found she would eat all year round and noticed it helped with her weight management.

But anyways this thread isnt about how I keep her.

 

[SusieT]

I strongly doubt the balancer is reducing her weight - if you think about it logically there is no reason feeding her more would reduce her weight...
You are saying you cant reduce her costs- its clear you can.
ps- if shes struggling on a bend in canter shes telling you she is sore, you should get your vet out before advertising for anyone who wants to ride her.