Am I being realistic or are other people deluded?

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vivandstar

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Hi everyone. I am new to the forum. I currently have a wanted ad placed for a light hack/companion horse after the sad loss of our family friend we lost just before xmas after 20 wonderful years. I have had to put my mare into livery as she wont live alone, but have a lovely private home to offer. We are not looking for a competiton horse. We do not mind minor querks, vices or health issues. We stated on ad limited funds. What sort of price would you expect to be paying for this type? The ad also states no TB's however I have had lots of emails with people with TB's for £2500 -£3000! Am I not being realistic? I am feeling really deflated. All opinons welcome. Thank you! xx
 
Why won't you consider a TB?
I placed a similar ad a few years back, and said I didn't want a TB, but this girl contacted me and said she had a very sweet and laid back TB for full loan. I was a little wary, but thought as she was local, it was worth a look. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. This mare completely changed my view on TB's. Don't get me wrong, you do get the loonies, but some are totally non-TB like!! Infact, the one I loaned was so laid back, she had quite a fan club on the yard, and all the younger girls loved taking her out to the field as she wouldn't pull there arms out, or run off with them!!

If there are some local to you, there its got to be worth a look surely, and see if you can do a trial loan, and if it doesn't work out, then you can give them back, just make sure you are totally honest with your ability!!

Good luck!!
 
I don't think you are deluded. There are people on here all the time saying their horse has had to give up work or they can't keep them and want a companion home for them.
A few have connected through posts like this too, so you never know.
How about WHW, they have companion horses and ponies on their website. I think someone like you would be right up their street. My friend had a retired eventer from them and they came round now and again for spot checks to see all was well but it was all pretty much hassle free.
sorry you have lost your horse, sad time for you.

Lippy, i think she possibly doesn't want a tb as they can be a bit high maintenance plus they are looking for a big chunk of money for what she wants it for.
 
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Hi thanks for the reply. I would not rule out a tb because of the way they are, infact I have had lots of nice TB's in my time. I have competed at international level in Showjumping so not issues not a problem but as Mum wants to hack (she is 12.5 stone) and feels she would be too heavy for a tb. Also the horse we lost was her wonderful reliable cob which was quite wide so going to a tb would be impossible. I think perhaps an older horse looking for an easier life would fit the bill, but where do you find them is the question?! x
 
I think you should be able to find a loan of this description without too much trouble - if you are patient. You sound like a lovely home/family so don't give up hope.

Welcome to the forum.
 
We really don't want to loan. I have seen so many issues over loaning in the past with owners taking horses back etc, we would rather buy and at least then we don't have to worry with someone turning up on the doorstep taking the horse back. It just seems nobody wants to sell and we are just getting wrong people i.e just had an email from a lady with a 2 year old cob and a rising 5 year old! x
 
My advice to you would be to advertise locally in the tack shops and feed merchants and also ask local instructors, farreirs and vets to keep an eye out. That way you will find something locally which you can try out a few times without commiting yourself and people will know the true history and temprement of the horse. Your price range is sensible.
 
I'm in the same situation - gelding currently in livery due to sad loss of his buddy. I've been stunned by the number of horses advertised which "need quieter life", ie not sound, still being priced at £2k+.

I agree with the Darley suggestion - Bob looks great.

There are a few on the Veteran Horse Society site as well.
 
I have just be perusing thru my favorite horse magazine and was surprised at some of the prices on the horses in the current economic climate. I think there are some seriously high prices for not a lot of horse...stuff being billed as "perfect conformation" etc which is so...well..not!

I have not long ago been horsehunting myself. And I could no way touch any of the horses that I liked they were sooooo far out of my price range for just something that I could hack, do some dressage, maybe the odd bit of small jumping for fun. Most of what I ended up looking at were well over £5k.

I ended up finding my absolute dream of a horse, ON LOAN! He's an absolute pure class act with manners and looks...just been out of work for a year and has a few wee quirks which have been pretty much nothing to deal with. Owner will never sell him, and I don't reckon she'll want him back unless I send him back....so I'm lucky to have him for life, if I want....

And I know finding a good loan horse is hard as there are so many horror stories about those that take on a loan horse and just don't look after them well. I had to go thru a grilling and provided umpteen references and my yard owner is friends with the horse's owner, so it all fell in to place. I'm lucky and really grateful, cos I never could afford a horse of his quality if I had to buy him. ;) oops , went all self indulgent there, sorry! LOL
 
Hi, sorry to hear you are having a bad time!

Why not see if any riding schools have any horses going into retirement, that you could take of their hand or for a small amout of money. Of course-you don't know how well they will adjust after a rc life.
Oh, and just because it's an rc horse won't necessarily mean it will be a total plod!:)
 
I have just had my baby horse diagnosed with kissing spines and he is under treatment for it which is a 8 week programme of steriods and light work. He will be a companion horse or a very light hack! I got him as competition horse and therefore it is only fair on the both of us to find him a more suited home! He is 6 years old and a tb. I would consider selling him to a home where i would be sure he would be used for the above only and NO more as he is a sweet heart.

Let me know if you are looking for something like him, it'll break my heart but i can't afford to keep him at livery if i want to get something i can do more with! I want him to go somewhere where he can get the lifestyle he derserves!
 
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