Are we too precious about our horses?

kaiko

kaiko

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I'm playing devil's advocate here but following on from the Will thread, I found it really interesting how many people would PTS their horses.

It made me wonder why so many of us fear that other people can't care for our horses to the same standard as us. Afterall they found their way to us and we would all consider ourselves good owners and there seem to be more good owners than bad.

Don't get me wrong I'm just as guilty of this. In my horsey life I've owner 5 horses, 1 passed away after 18 years together, the other I've had 19 years plus the new boy and 2 I sold. Both to great homes and they have had great lives. I only sold them because I really didn't click with the mare and the I out grew my first pony.

I will always remember my dad explaining to a very emotional 12 year (ME!) why we had to sell my first pony. He said I could never truely own a animal, that I was only his keeper and carer and that his role in life was to teach kids like he did for me. My dad was right, this pony made alot of kids very happy and retired as a nanny to colts at a welsh stud, which he loved. The mare is also in a fantastic home for the last 8 years.

So, are we really the only people that will understand, love and care for our horses as well as we think we do???
 
:)I am totally guilty of this, i know others could look after them just as well but maybe it's more the thought of someone else with them and not me.

Don't know really, it would kill me to see someone else riding my horses and caring for them.
I have said that my youngster would be sold on to someone but 5* only but my now 19 year old would be PTS only because i don't plan anything happening to me any time soon and he is a nervous wreck when moved some where new, he just doesn't cope so it is for his own good. He can be dangerous in new situations and i'd be turning in my grave at the thought of him hurting someone.

Interesting to see where this thread goes. :)
 
I'd be inclined to agree in the case of oldies. The only reason I stay at my yard is because of my 30 yr old, I don't want to move him and he deserves to live out his days peacefully (my old mare passed away in the field so ideally I'd want that for him too). But truthfully I could really do with being at a yard with a school and XC and other people to ride with etc for the new boy. Until then we hire a school 2 mins up the road and work on the hacking alone fears.

As i said, just as guilty hehe
 
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There's a difference between passing on a horse whilst you are still about to hear news and making provision in a will when a whole household could be broken up and there is a lot of grief and emotion that can cloud judgement.
 
I don't have any doubts that there are homes out there that would give my horse excellent care.
However just as there are excellent homes there are also some terrible ones, and there is no guarantee that a horse will not end up in a terrible home, especially in the case that the owner is deceased and the only horsey person in the family.
How many times do we hear about horses being sold to what appeared to be a good home only for the previous owner to find them abused/neglected or dragged around the sale rings?
As a horse gets older then I think the risk increases as it may be more prone to injury or illness and not fit enough to be of use anymore.
I have no qualms about my horse being pts if anything were to happen to me, especially as she is now older.
 
TBH i dont think its a case of everyone putting down healthy working horses because they cant bare others riding them. i think its more the other horse wouldnt be suitable, is old ect. for example. a friend has a TB whos 9 who has back issues and is highly strung. she will continue riding him until he can no longer be ridden then he will be PTS. hes a horse that likes to be in work and even if he did retire happily, she couldnt afford him just to be a pet and he couldnt sell as a companion as hes too expensive to keep.
 
Sometimes.....but having taken on horses who haven't been properly cared for and treated appropriately, and seen the massive change in them physically and emotionally.....I would be very very reluctant to pass them on to just anybody.....or maybe I'm just flattering myself:cool:
 
I'm not by any means saying there is a right or wrong answer. It just made me think a bit and I really am just as guilty but for me, I do reluctantly accept that I'm not the only person in the world that could do them justice.
 
There are lots of lovely people and homes out there, it's just finding them and trusting someone to do that for you when you're gone.

If for example if I passed away, how could I ensure my none horsey husband could find the right home for my horse, it's something we've talked about but still not come up with an answer as to what he'd do.

Suppose another way of looking at it is, how many people do you know who you would feel content with owning/riding your horse? can you count them on one hand? is there anyone at your livery yard you'd feel happy having your horse for example?

Do they have the right personality, riding skills, do they want to do the same things your horse is cabable of doing or what your horse enjoys doing?

The more you think about it the more things you discover you have to worry about.
 
It would depend- if I had someone horsey to pass them on to, who would do right by them and either keep them or sell them on responsibly, that would be fine (unless it was an oldie etc)

If there wasn't such a person, I'm afraid I would rather pts any horse of mine, rather than have them thrown through a sales ring and left to their fates.

If I had a youngster for example, and 3 older or not quite right ones, I would probably leave te youngster to somebody, and pts the others.

It would all depend on the horses and whose available lol.

ATM, I am very lucky in that i can leave mine to my mum, and she would happily keep my present horse until he needed pts
 
I know I'm precious about wanting what is best for my three.

One of mine is from a rescue centre (I've had her 14 years and she's in her 20's) so she would obviously be returned to them to completely retire, hopefully they would also take on my broken cob so the two could remain together.
If not I would probably have both put to sleep.

I love Fudge but he's too large and clingy to be a field companion and not many people would offer a home for life to a horse that can only be a very light hack but isn't really suitable for a novice.

Although Merlin was labelled as dangerous and his owner was advised to have him shot (he then went through 6 homes in as many weeks), I would trust my friend whose yard I keep him at to find a suitable loan home for him where they could cope with his behaviour.

I'm very lucky that I have two very good horsey friends who I would trust to make decisions about my horses futures if i was not able too.
 
All those of you who do not have a horsey family member or friend to find your horse a new home should look up the bhs assisted rehoming scheme. They will help find and vet suitable homes.

It is sad to pts if the horse could have a useful life in a good home. It is also sad to deprive others of the opportunity to buy a nice established horse, it is really hard to buy a horse that isn't a youngster even if you can offer a smashing home long term.
 
I am definatly NOT TOO PRECIOUS about my B, she IS a princess and she DOES need the very best I can afford!

As a princess she DOES need bucket feed everyday after she works, even if it's just a handful to say thanks for being good, and she DOES need her rugs changing every morning and night all year round, and as she is shy and a princess she DOES deserve to know that no one else will do much with her other than rugs and feed if I am not able to. And I am NOT being too precious if I take her to see her potential owner for 'if-the-worst-happens' ocassionally so that she knows her and it is less stressful for her. It is also NOT precious to blow her nose for her with nice padded loo roll or proper tissues brought from home rather than the cheap stuff I buy for the yard loo!

OK so I am a little precious with my B but after a horrid episode a few years ago she was instrumental in ensuring my mental wellbeing. As a result i remained fully functional despite various 'experts' warning I would have a melt down and was able to stay in work, keep my home and afford to keep L who at her age would not have sold on so would have had to be PTS.

It is easy to spoil someone (even an equine someone) when they have helped save your sanity and the life of an equine companion of 16 years who is only here as a result! I literally worship the ground this little mare trots on, BUT she is polite and never takes advantage.

L would be PTS if-the-worst-happens as she is 31 and VERY expensive in ratio with how useful she now is so would not be fair to pass the burden on, besides she loves her little family and is starting to squint so I don't feel it would be fair to her to send her somewhere new with new horses to bully her and new people to not know the commands she undertands and how much/little she can see. Not about no one can care for her how I do, genuinly believe she would not be happy being shipped about and starting again.
 
Bless B is on to a good trick then. :) Don't let mine know about padded toilet paper, they believe my jumpers or coats are good enough.

Pets have a funny way of being the best therapy out there. I've lost count of the times i've cried into a mane as a heartbroken teenager or hugged the dog cause the house feels empty. They really are soul savers at times.
 
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