bit mormid - but how do you leave a horse in a will???

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narkymare

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ok may be morbid but im being sensible - i work with ex offenders, drive daily, am 44.
I have a horse i adore - could not bear to think of him with a bad home, if anything happened to me - my family are very non horsey. Id trust my yo and riding instructor.
But - for obvious reasons i wouldnt want to ask them straight out - bit morbid isnt it - but to be realistic, they are the only people i would trust with my horse, in fact my riding instructor more than my yo.
How do you deal with this. what do you do ????
sorry for morbid post but things do happen and i want my horse to be cared for if it did xxx
 
IMHO the very first people to speak to are the people you want to have your horse. They might say they can't afford to keep him and I'm sure the last thing you want to do is arrange for him to be owned by someone who is going to find that difficult.

Are you making over a sum of money in trust to keep him for the rest of his life? That might make it easier for whoever you want to have him.

Most of mine would easily be lovable and useful in a new home or my family could deal with them. One old boy though would be so difficult for them to look after and would not rehome so it is specified in my will that he goes to the hunt - it's the only way I can ensure his safety and that of those around him.
 
Very responsible thinking, and more people should do it. Personally, I would speak to Instructor, say that I am in the process of making a will, and would she be prepared to accept your horse as a bequest. Say you really hope it never happens, but she is the person you would trust to look after him etc etc. Making a will, at any age, is not morbid, but sensible. Anyone who drives, rides, or walks across roads should make it perfectly clear how they wish their treasured posessions disposed of in the case of their untimely death. It's the only way to ensure things happen the way YOU want, not your family, and more importantly, not the Government. My daughter is 18, and has made her wishes perfectly clear, and formal. A Will is something everyone should have, and then update it as a matter of routine as circumstances change throughout your life.
 
oh thanks - im not rich, have no money per se if im not working - he is agod steady cob so would hope someone nmay take him and keep him till he sells to a very good home, keep the profits - in effect im thinking of giving my horse to them in my will.
He wasnt/ wont be a cheapy, they would any money back - im just wanting to leave him to a certain person to keep or sell on to a good home, which i know she would do - maybe i should start a little trust fund to keep him in the meantime - thank you xxx
 
Thank you so much groom - i felt so morbid posting this - i am relativeley young and healthy but i live a life so therefore take risks daily and just want my horse to be cared for should the worst happen. Honestly, my family wouldnt have a clue.
I will speak to my instructor - i know she wotn mind, she knew him as a baby and broke him in - if she couldnt keep him there is honestly no better person i would trust to find him a good loving home - ty xxx
 
jemima_too said:
IMHO the very first people to speak to are the people you want to have your horse. They might say they can't afford to keep him and I'm sure the last thing you want to do is arrange for him to be owned by someone who is going to find that difficult.
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Exactly! I own a mare who was formerly bequeathed -along with her filly foal at foot - to someone who was obviously 'trusted' by the former owner. Both were sold on rather quickly!:(

The mare had 5 owners in as many years - and when I bought her she was VERY distrustful of people. To make matters worse, I bought her in foal and the foal was born dead at 290 days - it took us 24 hours to get the body out of the field as mare was going to KILL anyone who went near it!

I've had her 7 years now (she's 20) and she trusts ME. I can't let the staff go near her when she has a new-born foal at foot though. Needless to say, she'll never leave me. And 3 years ago, that filly foal (who HAD found a good home and a caring owner in the meantime) came to me on breeding loan - so they are 're-united' once again.

Speak to the person you want to leave your horse to - and check with them annually to make SURE they're still prepared to offer the horse a long-term home - circumstances change. Hopefully the OP will outlive her horse - so it won't be put to the test - but ....

I THINK one or two of the horse sanctuaries will agree to take a horse on in the event of the owner's sudden demise - and give it a home for life. Obviously they DO expect a bequest to come with the horse. It's another option, particularly for an older horse.
 
I used to work on a livery yard/riding school. There was a lovely old horse there that was a liveries horse that she had left them in her will. She also left money to pay for his keep and he had his own solicitor! He would pay the livery bill and buy him anything he needed.
He was also used in the riding school but the money he earn't went into his own money jar and he even bought himself a new saddle :)
He was very much loved by everyone there and lived until he was nearly 30.

His owner was the Yard Owners best friend.
 
ty janet - obviously im hoping to grow old with my horse but things do happen and i just want to make sure he would be well looked after in case - i will speak to my instructor and if not positive, my local sanctuary - i could leave them a monthly donation from now - and i agree, im not being morbid - any of us could cross the road and be killed tomorrow xxx
 
My horse is left to the WHW in my will. I have no one horsey in my family and I know that even though WHW will find him a suitable loan home they will own him so hopefully his future would be safe should I no longer be around to care for him.
 
Its good to think about these things - it majes things much easier for your loved ones if anything happens.

Another thing to think about is what would happen to your horse if you were VERY ill. A good friend died of cancer last year, and in the run up to her death, her family were very tied up with her own care. She was bed ridden, or in a hospital that was a fair journey for the family, so there was no time to do the horse, and her family weren't horsey anyway. Luckily people on her livery yard were fantastic, and took over the care of her horses. It certainly made me think about what I'd do in circumstances like that.
 
I am glad you posted this as I have been thinking the exact same thing. I was planning on talking to my proposed person on Friday & to explain to them that money would be available for their care. Bit awkward but I think its necessary.
 
Honey08 said:
Its good to think about these things - it majes things much easier for your loved ones if anything happens.

Another thing to think about is what would happen to your horse if you were VERY ill. A good friend died of cancer last year, and in the run up to her death, her family were very tied up with her own care. She was bed ridden, or in a hospital that was a fair journey for the family, so there was no time to do the horse, and her family weren't horsey anyway. Luckily people on her livery yard were fantastic, and took over the care of her horses. It certainly made me think about what I'd do in circumstances like that.
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When I was ill earlier on this year my lovely friend at my yard looked after Axel for me. Luckily it was summer and he was out 24/7 anyway.
He's on loan now and if anything happened to me now I'd be happy for them to keep him but if for some reason they couldn't then he would have to be sold and the money left to my daughter.
 
Without sounding cynical you should bear in mind that a Will is only "your wishes" there is nothing legally binding in it (I speak from experience having dealt with Will writing for approx 20 years at my former job) and therefore even if someone now accepts that they will take on the horse(s), in the event of death they may then say that they cannot/do not want to, and there is nothing that could be done, they would become another asset of the estate and would be cashed (if no-one else took the care of them) and the money put into the estate for distribution. However, it should of course be made clear that if you are leaving money for their care to whoever takes them that person ONLY gets the money if they take the horse and keeps the horse indefinitely (i'm not saying your friend/instructor will do this but hyperthetically they could say they will care for the horse, receive the bequest and then move the horse on quickly) its just food for thought, sorry to point this out, but something to think about.
 
Funnily enough my daughter broached this subject recently.
She asked what would happen to our two horses if anything happened to us, (God forbid) being no spring chickens it did set us thinking.
So it has been arranged that if we die or feel we can't cope, the horses will go to my daughter, she has always had a soft spot for our mardy mare, as opposed to my OH's daughter who would probably sell them on.
 
devilwoman said:
Without sounding cynical you should bear in mind that a Will is only "your wishes" there is nothing legally binding in it (I speak from experience having dealt with Will writing for approx 20 years at my former job) and therefore even if someone now accepts that they will take on the horse(s), in the event of death they may then say that they cannot/do not want to, and there is nothing that could be done, they would become another asset of the estate and would be cashed (if no-one else took the care of them) and the money put into the estate for distribution. However, it should of course be made clear that if you are leaving money for their care to whoever takes them that person ONLY gets the money if they take the horse and keeps the horse indefinitely (i'm not saying your friend/instructor will do this but hyperthetically they could say they will care for the horse, receive the bequest and then move the horse on quickly) its just food for thought, sorry to point this out, but something to think about.
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I find it a bit worrying that you can refer to a Will as not "legally binding". Of course it is legally binding, but of course you can refuse to accept any bequest in a Will. The beneficiary is not obligated to accept, but it is misleading generally to refer to a Will as not legally binding.
 
I would ask them if they minded. My horses are all provided for, my daughter's dad has said he will pay costs for her pony until she is working, her shettie and my connie x tb are staying with my hubby and the 37 year old and my retired section A will be pts as I know its too much for someone else to take them on as at 37 Sov will mean more attention andcosts and Willow needs someone who understands and who he feels safe with and as he is quite dangerous if he doesn't trust or know you enough I just couldn't risk his and Sovs health and the safety of my family.
 
my baby is bequeathed to my daughter and ummm my ex ( who loves her so so much and seen change in her) but she wil never be sold on if things bad but PTS - My daughter understands and said to me if she is PTS "i willl stand by her side like you would srong and loving " thank you daling xxx
 
missieh said:
I find it a bit worrying that you can refer to a Will as not "legally binding". Of course it is legally binding, but of course you can refuse to accept any bequest in a Will. The beneficiary is not obligated to accept, but it is misleading generally to refer to a Will as not legally binding.
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Sorry I should re-phrase, a gift in a Will is your wish, i,e, if you wish so and so to have certain jewellery (a horse) etc, it doesn't mean that they have to accept it, of course the WILL itself is a legally binding document.

And just the same as if you left Joe Bloggs your engagement ring and he decided to sell it once he'd taken possession of it, he could also do the same with your horse/dog etc, it was just a warning to OP to ensure if she is leaving money for the care of the horse for life, then the person taking the horse has to take it and has to keep it for life to recieve the money.
 
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Mine are left to my daughter and husband, in the event we all die together I've arranged for the horses to be sold and the money given to someone who I know will put it to a good use (if there is anything left after my debts have been paid! haha)

I know a lady who arranged for her horses to be shot and cremated and all buried together. It was heartbreaking as at the time of her death, one horse was 6yo, but she couldn't bear the thought of someone not treating them right. Why should they not be sold to a good home? I know there are no guarantees but I think most people do give horses a good home, its the minority that dont and why should a perfectly useful, lovely horse not have that life?
 
my boy is approx 7/10 years old & is bequiethed to a very dear friend (& his former owner) however if she cannot have him then there is the cash set aside for him to be PTS.
He has been so badly abused that he has very little fight left in him, he will keep as far from strangers as possible, can only be ridden by my sons & daughter (anyone else gets evicted quickly), doesnt load & cant be caught unless its me or his former owner & i will not risk him being sold on & having what little trust he has regained in humans destroyed so if we cant care for him then sleep time it is & at least that way he will have only known love & affection for his last days.
 
This has just happened to us! My friend died unexpectedly leaving 2 horses to be provided for, we have manged to rehome 1 with a charity and 1 with a new home but it was a very stressful experience to me and other friends plus the family in what is a very difficult time, especially when it is an unexpected death. We were hoping not to have to pts but it was looming until the solution was found by another friend.
 
My retired boy would be PTS. Even though atm he's not an elderly horse, he can't safely be ridden as he has KS, Navicular and some other issues. He's high maintanence to keep and being so huge and a TB, he needs a colosal amount of feed and forage to keep him in good condition, and he still plays with other horses in the field like a colt on speed, so he either needs individual t/o, or has to have a very special benign companion (like he has got now) otherwise he comes in covered in kicks and injuries.
Oh, and I nearly forgot, he's alergic to fly bites, so in the summer he has to stay in during the day, and has a special rug, which has a special rouched layer so that horseflys can't sting him through it. If he gets stung, it usually swells up, sometimes to the size of your hand, then turns hard and is very painful for him, a couple of times they have become infected too, so it's important not to allow him to be bitten by a horsefly!

I don't see how anyone apart from me, would tolerate looking after him like I do, so it would be best to pts if I was not around I think.
 
I have made provisions for all my horses in my will. I discussed this with all concerned and they were happy. Any I own in partnership with people (4) go in full to the other person and the other 4 go to my friend who has land (and a stallion). She is free to use them to breed from or sell them, but I trust her totally and I know she would make sure they are well cared for.
These things should be discussed openly and honestly - while we still can!
 
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