Chances of a good home ?

You have not really come across very well in this post TBH but I am now understanding what you mean. I am a real advocate of not 'passing the buck' for the horses sake. If I had a horse that was dangerous etc I would of course PTS once all other avenues had been exhausted.

But you haven't exhausted the posibilities yet so don't right him off. If I weren't going to uni in September, I would have him in a heartbeat. If you read any of my posts you will see how much fun I have with Zoom.

She is a one-eyed ex-polo pony who was meant to be shot since she was 'unsuitable' for riding club activites. It turns out, she just needed time to chill! She is still quirky as hell but a wonderful companion! Your horse could quite easily end up with someone like me but you have to give him that chance.
 
Farrierlover, see my above post about personal comments - there's no need for talk like that ! People should be able to post on here without receiving replies like that, I'm talking about unwanted tb's not myself.....and I'm certainly not advertising him !
 
Why are you so against the blood bank Bonny? Did you even bother to read the link I sent you? For your info the horses live in a natural herd outdoors in very large fields from May to October. Then in October they are all housed in their herds in huge barns with adlib hay. They give blood approx every 3 months and are given a token feed whilst donating which they adore. Their feet are trimmed and they are wormed as part of a proper worming programme. As they live out naturally as part of a herd (as they would do in the wild) the horses are extremely happy and stress free.

You strike me as being a little cold hearted and ignorant if you don't mind me saying. You should be aware of the facts before you point blank say "he's not going to a blood bank". This is your horse and he is your responsibility. Its what you agreed at the outset and it is your PRIVILEGE to have a horse so it is your RESPONSIBILITY to find a good home for him. If the blood bank can offer him a place grab the opportunity with both hands. If not sell him cheaply. Above all why not just be honest with us H&H forum users and tell us the proper story about why you want to sell him (the real story and not some made up stuff).
 
bonny said:
Farrierlover, see my above post about personal comments - there's no need for talk like that ! People should be able to post on here without receiving replies like that, I'm talking about unwanted tb's not myself.....and I'm certainly not advertising him !
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I said that is how you are coming across, which is my opinion and I suspect the opinion of many others who are reading this.

If we are not talking about YOUR horse then fine- in a general situation I would say "advertise the horse cheaply and honestly" you will find someone who WANTS a horse like this, there are many sports he could turn his hoof to and who's to say he won't make a happy hacker? I would never make such a sweeping statement about a horse, there are many far better riders than me who can make most horses into most things.

If a horse is unsound in mind or body then I have no problem with pts but that does not seem the case here. And I agree with applecart- how come you are so against any other option for the "possible" horse? If it were me I'd jump at any sensible option offered to me.
 
I'm not coldhearted and certainly not ignorant !
I'm trying to be realisitic and struggling with the decision, helpful replies welcome but no more like that !
It's a big problem with unwanted tb's
 
No need to PTS as it looks to me that ther are a number of people on here that would happily buy him for a sensible amount of money.
 
You have still not said why you are against the blood bank, prey do tell.

Apologies for calling you cold hearted, this is how you are coming across. Maybe you are not over sentimental which can appear to be similiar to cold hearted to some, so apologies if this is the case. However I do believe we may have previously clashed horns before now on the H&H forum.
 
How long have you had said horse? What have you done with him to date? What has he done that's caused you concern? I'm sure if you told us a little more we'd be in a better position to advise you whether PTS is your only option. As far as I can see he seems like he could go on to a nice home, a lot of people don't have much money to spend and are looking for the slightly more difficult horse at the lower end of the market.
 
have you tried the British Racing schools? they may take her on if she is suitable, usualy a waiting list though.
 
But he is only "unwanted" because you think he is. Plenty of people have already said he sounds their type of horse, or for people they know. If I was looking for a TB I would be looking around that height, as they can be very narrow a smaller type of around 15.2hh can feel like riding a 14hh pony to me! I work at a racing yard and the horses are around 17hh, they definitely feel a lot smaller than that!

I would be looking into finding a home for him, be very honest about him, give it some time and I am sure he will find a nice home. Although it does sound like you have already made the decision. I have no problems with pts a horse that could be past from pillar to post, be sold onto an unsuspecting young rider and causing an accident etc. But from what you have said I know plenty of riders including myself that would enjoy him and his quirks. He sounds like he may suit team chasing for example, or with work could hunt. Lots of people are out looking for the more difficult and challenging horses at the lower end of the market, who wants a 100% perfect horse anyway...it gets boring :)
 
TBH he sounds like my type of horse, and I know many people who would give him a loving home.

But you know better.
 
TS - I don't want to be identified on here so I don't want to say too much about myself but I am involved with racing and do know what I'm talking about. There's nothing very wrong with the horse but he's not easy either to handle or ride and I think that's more of a problem when horses are big. He could be scary in the wrong hands. I have bought and sold many tb's in the past and always worried about where they end up ....but this horse is not exactly lovable, I can't see what job he could do that lots of other similar horses couldn't do alot better. He could live for another 20 years but he'll always be high maintence. I know lots of people like exracers but there are many horses looking for a good home that are better than him. I don't even know anymore why I posted on here or what I expected. I think there isn't an easy answer with horses like him and I don't know whether I would feel better making the decision for him or just hoping he goes and I don't know the outcome. Alot of people maybe need to be more realisitic about what happens to horses at the end of their racing career, it's easy to find a home for the ones who are just too slow or whatever but the older ones are different.
 
Why are saying you would be passing on the problem? People buy horses because they like them, they are not problem to us.

Without being rude, this whole scenerio sounds really odd to me. Even if you don't particulary like this horse why would you not want to do right by it and at least try and find him a home suitable (which by the way doesn't sound like a big task)

x
 
Bonny I think you need to explain yourself again, you aren't coming accross clearly.

Unwanted TBs are a problem, hence the various retraining and rehoming charities. However if they are sound and free from major behavioural problems most can be rehomed successfully, ok so they may not be as easy to sell as a WB or an ISH but priced accordingly there are homes out there. Several people on here have ex-racers doing a variety fo jobs.

I shared an ex-racer who was given away on permanent loan to the lady I shared with. She was sound but moody and with the usual TB quirks like not standing to be mounted etc. She became unwanted when she became unsuitable for breeding and she'd done nothing but be a brood mare since coming off the track. When my friend got her she was a similar age and size to yours. My friend was a BHSAI with some experience of working on a racing yard many years before, she had not ridden for years and wasn't looking for a horse, she couldn't afford to buy one but was pleased to have the mare as a hack and gave her a permanent home. When I started sharing her I'd not ridden for three years and had never ridden outside a riding school and had never hacked alone, although the mare could be a handful nothing awful happened and it was a good experience. This mare was a worse prospect than yours, she hadn't jumped at all, was a right old cow in the stable and was very touchy about her rear end being handled or having anyone behond her. She was also a bugger to catch. But she had a loving and permanent home.

Your horse could easily find a suitable home, if I wasn't looking for something suitable to share with my husband I'd consider him. His issues don't sound like anything beyond the capabilities of a reasonably experienced rider and there are plenty of those about who would take him on to turn into a RC horse or as a project.

If we are talking about unsound horses or horses with behavioural issues then PTS is the kindest option but your horse isn't one of these.

I don't think horses should ever be given away, it does them no favours to be sold for less than meat money unless you are very sure who you are giving the horse to. For every happy example like montyandzoom there are many more who end up with unscrupulous dealers.

But your horse is a useful riding horse who just needs an experienced home, he isn't a useless unwanted TB.

And the question has to be asked, if you think he is so worthless why did you buy him??
 
16.3 isn't big and 12 isn't old...

He isn't unsellable, but then you seem to have already made your mind up and have just been looking for the 'shoot it' comments :(
 
You seem to have recieved a bit of a hard time on here for someone just looking for a bit of advice. From someone who has recently rehomed a horse I have some experience. If you can no longer keep the horse then it is your responsibility to find a good home for him instead. I have rehomed my horse on long term loan to a loverly home which I vetted first, had a 3 month trial period with then went to the long term agreement I go and check him as offten as I can and keep in touch, via phone and e-mail. I have had a friend with a horse that needed a "tie back" operation to be ridden agian and she gave him away free to good home, again she strictly vetted homes and is still in contact with the new owners.
I would say if you really want to find him a new home, then there is certainly a good chance of getting him one but, as the current owner you must be responsible and careful to who you give him too. Advertise him for long term loan/view to buy, be honest about him and I'm sure you get some interest, which will include the usual "numties" that you will have too weed out.
 
bonny said:
TS - I don't want to be identified on here so I don't want to say too much about myself but I am involved with racing and do know what I'm talking about. There's nothing very wrong with the horse but he's not easy either to handle or ride and I think that's more of a problem when horses are big. He could be scary in the wrong hands. I have bought and sold many tb's in the past and always worried about where they end up ....but this horse is not exactly lovable, I can't see what job he could do that lots of other similar horses couldn't do alot better. He could live for another 20 years but he'll always be high maintence. I know lots of people like exracers but there are many horses looking for a good home that are better than him. I don't even know anymore why I posted on here or what I expected. I think there isn't an easy answer with horses like him and I don't know whether I would feel better making the decision for him or just hoping he goes and I don't know the outcome. Alot of people maybe need to be more realisitic about what happens to horses at the end of their racing career, it's easy to find a home for the ones who are just too slow or whatever but the older ones are different.
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I understand, and you don't need to go into masses of details that's fine. I'm just curious, I can definitely see where you're coming from because 16.3hh worth of horse that decides it doesn't want to play ball can be a nightmare. I do believe though that he could have a chance of a nice home. I know no one wants to be responsible for selling a horse on that could have the potential to be dangerous in the wrong hands. But you could give give him a month - advertise him, being totally honest (but not negative) see if anyone turns up. Don't ask too much for him, but just give him a chance, every horse deserves a chance. Vet any prospective buyer the best you can and see what happens. Surely that's better than putting to sleep, but at the end of the day you know the horse and it's your decision. So do whatever feels right, and what you could live with.
 
She definetely sounds shady to me Heidirusso. She has still not answered my question although I have asked her twice now. She skirts around the issues and is not forthcoming in her answers. She sounds like she has already made her mind up about having the horse PTS and just wants to either justify herself or make people say "yes we agree with your dear".

If I were you I wouldn't bother to reply as she is obviously incapable of telling the truth and not worth pondering over. Save your breath for the posters that do need your help.
 
- I have to say I do see where bonny is coming from. From what they've said it sounds as if they have a horse who isn't particularly easy, has already been returned once, and is likely to have an uncertain future. Yes, he may not be that old, or that difficult...but from what the OP has said, he certainly isn't special either. Although I'm sure someone out there that could love him & give him a home for live, it's not exactly guaranteed. I don't see why having him pts is so awful - he would be saved from an uncertain future, and it's not as if the horse is going to know anything about it once its gone?

In a way, I don't see how this is different from all the debate about breeding unwanted foals? I think the OP is being quite sensible in considering having it PTS if they can't see another future for it?
 
bonny said:
Alot of people maybe need to be more realisitic about what happens to horses at the end of their racing career, it's easy to find a home for the ones who are just too slow or whatever but the older ones are different.
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Not necessarily. I also work in racing and we successfully re-home all of our horses. They can be around 17hh, and we have re homed horses that have been up to 15/16 years old. 12 is not old my any means, and ours do all come with their quirks. I think he does stand a chance of re-homing, you just have to weed out all the numpties.

If you think pts would be better, and are very sure that there is no one out there that would love him and secure him a future, or if you do re home then he could be dangerous then do so.
 
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Bri thanks for your reply ...a voice of reason ! and Applecart, I know alll the arguments about a public forum and all that but please go away !
 
bonny said:
TS - ....but this horse is not exactly lovable, I can't see what job he could do that lots of other similar horses couldn't do alot better. He could live for another 20 years but he'll always be high maintence. I know lots of people like exracers but there are many horses looking for a good home that are better than him.
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I have got a fairly unlovable, high maintenance 21 year old TB who I bought off the track at the age of 3. He can be rather unpleasant a lot of the time, although he does have character and quite likes hacking. There are loads of other TBs/ex-racers who could do a much better job than him but I didn't find them, I found him.

I have stuck with him all these years and I do love him really, although he doesn't give an awful lot back and has several issues which drive me mad.

There must be more people like me who are willing to give him a chance. If you don't even advertise him you'll never know.
 
Katt said:
I don't think horses should ever be given away, it does them no favours to be sold for less than meat money unless you are very sure who you are giving the horse to. For every happy example like montyandzoom there are many more who end up with unscrupulous dealers.
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Don't agree with this at all. I have sold two horses on for less than meat money and both have great homes. One a mare with a Loss of use claim against her due to a bad fall XC, she was well bred with papers and is now a broodmare, a very well loved one I may add, the other a gelding only suitable for hacking lives on a 9000 acre estate used as companion/hacking horse for an old lady who adores him, still in contact with both.

Its how and who you rehome horses too and how responsible you are about vetting new homes, doing trials and visting the horse (without an appointment). Rather than how much money they pay. The horses that end up at various dealer yards are more often than not been rehomed quickly and without much thought and these kind of people are as much of a problem.

Bonny at least you are giving this much thought... enough to post on hear for others thoughts too. Even if PTS is what you want to do you are obviously reading and open to others opinions, good luck with your decision.
 
flojo1 said:
Don't agree with this at all. I have sold two horses on for less than meat money and both have great homes. One a mare with a Loss of use claim against her due to a bad fall XC, she was well bred with papers and is now a broodmare, a very well loved one I may add, the other a gelding only suitable for hacking lives on a 9000 acre estate used as companion/hacking horse for an old lady who adores him, still in contact with both.

Its how and who you rehome horses too and how responsible you are about vetting new homes, doing trials and visting the horse (without an appointment). Rather than how much money they pay. The horses that end up at various dealer yards are more often than not been rehomed quickly and without much thought and these kind of people are as much of a problem.

Bonny at least you are giving this much thought... enough to post on hear for others thoughts too. Even if PTS is what you want to do you are obviously reading and open to others opinions, good luck with your decision.
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As I said "unless you are very sure who you are giving them too" if you have done your homework on the potential owner and/or you know them and/or they have had an extensive loan period then selling for £1 for a lovely home for life, like monty and zoom is brilliant, but in general advertising a horse for sale for less than meat money is likely to bring forth the undesireables.
 
Hence my perivous post explaining you will have to Weed out the "numpties" that will always phone. Like those who phoned for my broodmare wanting a cheap riding horse. The people who don't weed out these "undesirables" are the people who are the main problem, not those willing to take on a horse as it is for less then meat money.
 
There you go bonny, martlin has given you an out. In fact a few people have said they would have him. Give him to martlin and give the poor horse a chance.
As for 16.3 being big, well i would never buy a horse under 16.2 so to me that isn't big. As for 12 being old, fair comment if you are looking for a 'prospect' but if not, then that is when a horse has matured and starts to come into its own. My mare is 16.2 ex racer aged 13 when I got her, he can't be any worse than she was but she has now been re schooled and is the best hacking horse, will pass any weird and wonderful vehicles, tree felling, kamikaze pheasants, pigs, sheep blah blah blah. She is now 20 and still 'useful'.
If the horse is totally nuts or totally unsound then pts is probably an option, but you have described what myself and many many friends have and adore. I am not a superstar rider either.
There are lots of options here. I am involved in an ex racehorse club and I am sure we could find the right place for him if all else fails.
Just because you find him 'unloveable' doesn't mean to say nobody else would love him.
I feel so sorry for this horse.
If you are involved in racing, you will know of all the various charities and clubs that help with horses coming out of training. I am not sure why you are considering pts, also if you are involved in racing, why would you think that 16.3 is big? Lot's of racehorses are bigger than that.
 
I am involved in racing and have been for years and he's alot bigger than most ! I don't think height is necessarily a problem but in his case it is an issue and does make him harder to handle. I once advertised a horse his size that was also difficult to mount and not one person who came out could get on him. Alot of people overestimate their horse riding and handling skills and horses like him who have been in racing for years are pretty set in their ways and not easy in a normal weekend rider type home. I know I'm generalising but I'm also talking from experience.
 
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