Am I the only one who get's angry when I see this?

LollyDolly

LollyDolly

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When I see ad's like this:

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/arabs_horse_22_yrs_5_mths_15_2_hh_chestnut_east_su/advert/253226

I can't help but feel annoyed. I really hate it when people keep lovely horses but as soon as they get too old or fragile to compete then the owner just palms them off, I hate seeing older horses who are only fit for 'light hacking' being sold. Either keep them yourself, part loan or PTS in my opinion.

Frankly it's a lot like a job, if a horse provides you with years of loyal service then, in my opinion, the least you can do is provide them with a safe, stable and comfortable retirement.

*Now before you all jump on me I know I have made assumptions with the ad above, I'm not saying 100% that this owner is doing that however it proves a good example of the type of thing I am talking about.
 
I don't like it either. I saw a 29 year old mare free to good home the other week because the person had bought a youngster and the two didn't get on so she got rid of the horse she'd had for years rather than try and make it work :( Poor horse ended up going to a dodgy dealer too :(
 
Like I say, I'm not saying that this particular advert is an example of it however from how the ad reads it appears that way, but I would not say 100% without knowing the full situation.

I merely used it as it was a good example of what I was talking about, I don't like old horses who are limited in their ability being passed on as normally it doesn't end well for the horse.
 
Makes me sad :( that's like me just giving up my dog because she's old and smells funny. It makes me miss her just being away from her for a few hours while I'm at work!!
I know circumstances change, but it seems like they just want something younger. Might not be the case, it just seems that way!
 
15 years as a partnership and now they can't let him see out his last years. Makes me mad. My girl will go nowhere and when she can't do what I want her to do I will either make the sacrifices to afford two, work my way up until I can afford two or put her first and wait until she has lived out her days in the lap of luxury. Poor Solo, pretty sure he didn't see this coming.
 
Makes me sad too :(

I've had my boy since 1995. I would like to get something bigger for me to ride / compete but don't have the stable space. I suppose I could just try to palm my 37 year old off to someone as a companion but won't as I couldn't bear to do that. He's given me so many years of fun times it's his time to have a happy retirement and will be with me until he either passes on through natural causes or I have to have him PTS due to illness / age related issues.

I can understand some people's dilemas if they don't have their own land and can only afford one horse / pony BUT don't sell your 'beloved' older horse. Put out on loan or find someone to share them with you.
 
Poor boy totally agree if she can't give him a gentle few years or loan out then pts even if healthy.
It annoys me when people just get rid as they want a younger model.
I waited 3 years after my boy became only field sound. He owed me nothin but i owed him a happy retirement after being a faithful companion
 
Well it says gentle hacking, which may involve a bit of canter and the odd small jump, if this is just due to age and not injury then he may well have a good few years of riding ahead, yes it is sad but not as sad as palming off an injured/sick/unmanageable horse to a 'companion' home never to be seen again. Who knows an Arab could go on for another 8 years quite happily, and there seems to be nothing wrong with him other than his age.

I'm just saying in this case I don't mind it so much as seen a lot worse such as 'free to good home as companion or will be pts as I need to concentrate on my dressage horse. Needs hundreds of pounds of veterinary treatment to be field sound'... Now THAT makes me VERY angry!
 
If rather give up the riding if it meant I had to part with a much loved horse I'd had for years to get a new riding horse.
But I know lots of people who's horses don't mean much to them. They are there for riding/competing & if they can't do that they are gone.
 
Yes, it saddens me too, but I wouldn't have had the honour and pleasure of 10 wonderful years with my Bob, if it hadn't been for someone like this. He was a joy to own, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to know and love him. He enriched my life no end, and it only ended when colic claimed him aged 29. I know I would really, really have to be in desperate straits to give up my horse now, and hopefully it will never happen. He will be with me for life, no question.
 
Yes I think it is very sad. I have had 2 of mine for 6-7 years and for what they have given me and OH they deserve to live out their days with us even if that means not being able to ride.
 
Yes, it's sad, but it sounds like he comes from a competition home. It's a sad fact that if you want to compete to a high level you need to have the right horses, and focus all your time and attention on them.
Am I saying it's right, not necessarily. Can I see the rationale, yes. If it was the choice of keeping Cody (late teens, sound, but only suitable for very low level competition) and selling my eventers, I'd keep the eventers.
 
You don't know the circumstances here. What if there has been a change of situation/redundancy/ill health and they can't afford to keep him anymore?
Why shouldn't they try and find a nice home? There are plenty out there.

I know that the HHO mafia en masse seems to think that a healthy, happy horse is better of dead than sold, but if it was mind and I couldn't keep it anymore I'd definitely try and find a good home, not just automatically reach for the 12 bore.

Winds me up SO much on here when posters repeatedly jump on the 'just PTS' bandwagon. Its a healthy horse ffs.
 
It isn't always a bad thing. If all competition horses who needed an easier life were PTS rather than having a new home found, I wouldn't have Alf.

Looks really miserable and neglected - doesn't he?

IMAG1156.jpg
 
I was beginning to think that everyone on here thought PTS was the answer to everything and it made me feel quite sad...so thankyou for reminding me that some of you do actually care about your horses even when they are getting a little past there best...I also think it is very very sad that a beautiful horse who has clearly given there owners such pleasure is now to be passed on BUT at 22 and an arab he could certainly have a fair bit of life left in him so if they can find him a good home I would prefer they did that. I personally would be prepared to sacrifice riding to look after all my horses in later life as my soul will shrink and die if I did anything else.
 
by the way Auslander what the hell are you doing to that poor horse (clearly a neglect case if ever I saw one)...dont you know how much 'happier' he will be clip clopping over Rainbow Bridge
 
I do and I don't. I think in a first attempt to find a suitable home then why not give it a shot, but if I couldn't find a home then I woul PTS.

If it was older/ had medical prob/ unrideable then I'd PTS.
 
redriverrock said:
by the way Auslander what the hell are you doing to that poor horse (clearly a neglect case if ever I saw one)...dont you know how much 'happier' he will be clip clopping over Rainbow Bridge
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I did threaten him with that when he was doing passage out to the field this morning (I have sciatica and can barely move at the moment). His response was to squeal loudly, do the snakey-head trot/buck thing off down the track, followed by a couple of victory circuits with his tail in the air. I think he's trying to tell me that life sucks and he's deeply unhappy!

He was accompanied by his girlfriend, a 20 yr old ex BE mare, who was also acquired in her twilight years by current owner. She seems pretty happy with her situation too
 
I differ in opinion here. Horses arnt just big pets they are there to do a job too. When it doesnt do its job you sell it on for someone else to enjoy and get another one. Not everyone is lucky/rich enough to keep every horse they have ever owned till its old! I would have about 30 now if that was the case....
 
blucanoo1990 said:
Its so sad.
15 years together.
Then they don't want him any more.

Would you do that to your other half/child or other family?!
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It makes me very sad too. Not this particular ad (we don't know the circumstances and it could have a happy outcome) but seeing an old horse being passed on always seem very sad. :(

However, I have to take issue with your last statement. Our relationship with our family, especially children, is quite a different thing and not comparable.
 
No your not. All situations are different and we cannot second guess some one's circumstances but there are people who simply want a new model and are prepared to give up their faithful companion who has given them many years, this I have issue with.
I would love my old girl to still be with me, I owed her everything and would never have dreamed up giving her up to someone. I did consider retirement livery could be an option in the future but she would never have been passed on, she was my darling horse and she gave me years of her life and I owed her everything, but she was taken prematurely from me. I think there are quite a few horses out there who are given up for very poor and selfish reasons, and this I find so sad
 
badgermyers said:
I differ in opinion here. Horses arnt just big pets they are there to do a job too. When it doesnt do its job you sell it on for someone else to enjoy and get another one. Not everyone is lucky/rich enough to keep every horse they have ever owned till its old! I would have about 30 now if that was the case....
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Agreed, I think we all would love to have a collection of horses that we have loved and keep them forever but unfortunately life isn't like this. Most of us don't have our own land and a big pit of money for such things.
I for one have a horse so that I can ride, I enjoy all the other aspects of horse care but riding is the reason why I have my own. I can only afford one horse, both time wise and financially and would hate to be made for guilty for finding a new home for a horse that could no longer do the job it was bought for. I don't compete but for people that do and enjoy doing this then why should they not be allowed to sell the horse to a good suitable home and get another they can compete.
Lets hope the owner of the horse for sale doesn't get to see this as I am guessing unless they have a heart of stone this has been a hard decision for them without them being called heartless over the internet for all to see.
I say good luck to the owner and lets hope she finds her horse a lovely quiet home where he will be loved and cared for and appreciated for what he can do.
 
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