Am I heartless?

H

horsegirl

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as I am always puzzled by people who "rescue" ancient, knock kneed, broken down horses at auction from the "meat man"? Youngsters or horses with some potential I can understand but 25 year old, lame, arthritic animals why?

By the way this post isn't aimed at anyone in particular (just in case someone has posted on this subject recently and I haven't seen it) I am just wondering.
 
i would look at it like the elderly horses have given so much in their life and proberbly deserve to live out their remaining years, happy and loved. thats just my opinion and i think its great that people have the time, space and money to do it i couldn't
 
Maybe because some people have the luxury of land and enjoy being able to give a horse a home, and simply enjoy looking after them. Not everyone wants a horse they can ride .
 
I am with seeingspots here - I have an oldie who is having a really tough time at the mo back and forth to vets with severe hock damage, but i look at her a think she has given sooo much of her life to me, so yes, i would give a golden oldie a home - simply because they dont deserve to be at sales etc at their time in life, they need to be spoilt - after all they have done someone, somewhere a good turn in their life (wow that was heavy for a Friday going home time!!).
 
Oh and horsegirl, no your not heartless - we all just want different things from our horses that's all and that doesn't make you heartless.
 
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i would look at it like the elderly horses have given so much in their life and proberbly deserve to live out their remaining years, happy and loved. thats just my opinion and i think its great that people have the time, space and money to do it i couldn't

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This pretty much sums up my thoughts. Some people also get more out of looking after/giving an animal a good quality of life and a chance than riding alone. I think I fit into that category. But you have to be brave and commited and financially able to take on an elderly horse with veterinary issues.
 
I've taken a few old horses from people who have found themselves in situations where they no longer can care for their horses. Most of them have been well loved and well cared for horses though and they are still going strong. I either didn't pay anything for them or I bought them for pennies.

I did buy a poor old mare last year, bless her.....she was just too far gone and had been neglected for too many years to bring herself back from the brink. Such a shame as she was a lovely mare and when she died, she had never looked so good.

I am offered horses free at least 2 or 3 times a week. I no longer take free horses.

I personally wouldn't go to a sale and buy an old crippled horse nowadays and I wish people wouldn't send their old horses there; they should take the responsibility and have these horses put to sleep at home.
 
I think that's a good point Tia - it's knowing when it is in fact kinder to put an old or suffering horse to sleep - I have a few oldies around at the moment, all of whom seem perfectly happy, but I keep a close eye for the day when they are not.

Yes, it's lovely to think that we are looking after horses that have given us so much pleasure in the past, but sometimes the kindest thing we can do for them is to ease their passing, not prolong it because we think we are being nice!
 
"i would look at it like the elderly horses have given so much in their life and proberbly deserve to live out their remaining years, happy and loved."

i couldn't agree more. and also Tia, i think it's because people are too tight and moneypinching and want to squeeze every penny they can from their poor old horsie
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i rescued mine because he is young, and has such a nice personality... he's fab to hack. i would love to save an oldie, but can't afford a horse i couldn't ride. if i had my own land, maybe, but not on livery.
 
I believe that if you have such a horse, and, for whatever reason, find you need to 'offload' this poor horse, then you should do the kindest thing and put them to sleep, Some people, as said, will however try to get every last penny they can, and it is therefore nice that someone can buy and care for these horses in their old age. What would concern me is if the horse were bought and forced to work when, in reality, they are unable. This enforces the reasons why they should be humanely put to sleep.
 
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