Collecting horses

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RhaLoulou

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After agonising over buying a new horse I had a great year with my new horse until we ran into problems, long story short he has KS and SI inflammation. Vets have given the green light post injections to start bringing him back into work he may or may not be okay. He will never be the horse I bought him to be, he is difficult on the ground, he will stay with me for life. I already have two veterans, they are all at livery so I cannot afford another and we can't afford to buy anywhere with land. Feel utterly depressed about the whole thing, I am pushing 50 and honestly feel like throwing the towel in. Has anyone else been through something like this and popped out successfully at the other end?
 
I understand how you feel, I wouldn't swap any of mine but as it currently stands I have "too old", "too young", "too wild but also too small" and "too dangerous". The dangerous I can take in hand when life is a little quieter and get to grips with a bit but its really hard knowing that I can't just go and ride. I've had varying combinations of the above for about the last 15 years due to one reason or another I've only had short term ridden horses during that time, seems to be the way it goes. However one of mine was diagnosed many years ago as will never be ridden again by the vet. I realised then that it was more important to have him than to ride but these days I do wish that I could just go to the field and ride...one day that special riding horse and the right circumstances will come along. In the meantime I will remember how much just being with my motley lot does to make my heart sing, all of them are with me for life, if I had to choose between the 4 of them and one ridden horse, I'd still pick them.
 
Couldn't you put them on retirement livery or rent a field for them? I've got a big pet but I'm afraid if she was the only horse I could have, I would not.
 
What were your aspirations with your younger horse? At 10 years old my now 22yr old was diagnosed with SI problems and very close spinal processes. I wanted to do affiliated dressage but ended up just doing unaffiliated and riding club level stuff but I've still had lots of fun with him although I was very depressed about about it at the time. I'd had previous bad luck (see below) and my mum had just died. 3 years ago he also had an op in his hind annular ligaments and a sesamoidian ligament injury and now he's mostly a happy hacker. He's a very loving and easy horse to do though so is a pleasure to have around. He's totally with me for life.

On the other hand before him I had a 5.5 year old diagnosed with wobblers and retired by 8yrs after trying every treatment and therapy I could and in the end I had him pts because I can only afford one horse and I couldn't face however many years it might have been with a horse I could never ride and couldn't afford to do anything else let alone have another horse because of how much it cost. I can't say I felt good about it though.
 
this will sound awful, but i don't give horses decades of retirement anymore. I had one that lived to be ancient years ago, and he was retired for about 20 years enjoying himself in field. We kept him going as long as we could and the realisation hit me when he was being put down, that he hadn't know the difference between 10 or 20 years of retirement. i had an ex-racer with a few issues, and when we exhausted all vets options and the best prognosis was for him to be a 10 minute hacker who was very high maintenance. It was a tough decision but he got about 6 years of an easy retired life being loved and then pts before the winter. Same with another oldie we had, it had started to get very creaky and stiff, so the call was made. Personally, (and i'l probably get shot down for this i'd say) but you have to take into account your own life circumstances as well and find a balance.
 
Im the same, I end up with keepers although Ive told myself I wont keep any healthy horses past the age of 10 so they can be sold to other happy homes as I struggle to sell them past a certain point or if they're not in full health. I owe it to the horse IMO to give it a good retirement. 2 years ago I had 3 retired veterans (one of which was 17.1hh so cost me a fortune in feed and fencing...) and one riding horse. Then I had to have one PTS, so that made space for a pony for my son. I had to have another PTS a few months ago (the 17.1hh) after a very large vets bill too so Im now down to the "perfect" amount which is 1 veteran, 1 pony and the competition horse. I would never feel bad about keeping them through retirement, yes they cost me a fortune for no real gain other than for them to have a nice life. I owe them that, they dont deserve to have their lives cut short just because they're not rideable anymore. I keep mine at home though which is a lot easier than I imagine it is to keep them at livery. If I were you, I'd try to get the horse going and see how it is. It might be ok now if the vets have given you the go ahead? Or if its only up to hacking for example, why cant you sell it? At least it still has a purpose?
 
I know the feeling!
You can only do what you feel is the right thing in your circumstances.
Personally my horses fall into 2 different camps - those that I adore, have had a while and have done a good job for me. They stay with me until the end, whenever that may be. I lost one of those last year and recently one has gone from ridden horse to adored retired horse category.
The other camp is those that I don't owe much to. For them they have a couple of choices - they either do a job for someone else or they get put down. I have rehomed two in this catagory - one was unsellable so is out on long term loan and I cover his medical costs, the other I did a LWVTB on full disclosure and then sold to the loaner.

Personally, in your shoes, if it's a relatively new horse for you and isn't going to do the job then I'd be loaning/selling into a job it could do and if that was off the cards then PTS.
 
ihatework said:
I know the feeling!
You can only do what you feel is the right thing in your circumstances.
Personally my horses fall into 2 different camps - those that I adore, have had a while and have done a good job for me. They stay with me until the end, whenever that may be. I lost one of those last year and recently one has gone from ridden horse to adored retired horse category.
The other camp is those that I don't owe much to. For them they have a couple of choices - they either do a job for someone else or they get put down. I have rehomed two in this catagory - one was unsellable so is out on long term loan and I cover his medical costs, the other I did a LWVTB on full disclosure and then sold to the loaner.

Personally, in your shoes, if it's a relatively new horse for you and isn't going to do the job then I'd be loaning/selling into a job it could do and if that was off the cards then PTS.
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Well put.
 
Yup. I have a 13 yo ex-racer & we've done the KS & ulcers thing & he's still a long way off right. He has a Shetland companion.

I only have 2 1/2 acres at home, which won't support a 3rd horse, & I'm half way thru a professional doctorate so don't really have the time or money for another. No point in getting rid of the Shetland as she hardly costs anything & is no trouble. When I've finished my course in around 18 months' time, I will have to have a think :-/ The ex-racer is healthy in himself, gleaming coat, good appetite etc... but he's only capable of 10 to 15 minutes in the school, mostly in walk, so that's what we do for the sake of my sanity.

Personally, I couldn't PTS, but that's just me being wet. What can I say... I'm a bunny hugger :-/ a non-competing, quietly seething with frustration bunny hugger...
 
Well I've had the horses I adore, they all got to a ripe old age but they were welcome to it. All those years lugging me about and looking after me.

Now I am left with two that through no fault of their own do not make my heart sing. Both are retired. After 38 years of DIY livery I can say I am tired of it all. Really I would like to spend the money on other things, get a riding horse, get a life.
But I won't end their lives, they are happy, it was my choice to buy 1 of them and breed the other so there we are. It is the poo picking that does my head in.

The takeaway from this dear reader is... don't have too many horses to begin with. Had I stuck to my original 2 and not collected 5 there would be 2 vacancies now.
 
I'm another who won't put to sleep and has three on livery, none of which can currently be ridden. The oldest is too small for me and currently too ill, the middle one had to be permanently retired at seven with grade five headshaking, and the youngest has decided to give me a surprise foal nine months after I bought her as my next riding horse. I'm lucky enough that she should be able to come back into work, but she's still having to have a lot of time off when she's just got going, and soon I'll have a baby to add to the collection too.

So I understand your frustration, really I do. But for me, when I go up to the stables on an evening and spend some time with the three of them, no pressure to do anything but enjoy their company, I find that it's a true restorative for the soul. I love each of them, I wouldn't be without any of them, and for as long as they're with me, I know that they're safe and happy. I feel privileged just to be able to give them that, especially my eight year old who had a truly horrendous start to life.

The thing to remember in your case is that his riding career is not over just yet, and he might give you many happy years of getting out and about, even if it's only happy hacking and the odd bit of low level dressage. Enjoy what you can do and try not to sweat over what you can't. I, for one, admire your commitment to keeping him around for as long as he's happy and comfortable, even though I understand what a searing disappointment a diagnosis like his can be.
 
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Yes I have two, my mare was 21 yesterday and has been retired since she was 7 years old (I got her at rising 6, she already had the injury but it was masked) and my gelding has just turned 10, I've never even sat on him after and accident as a baby meant he couldn't be ridden. They are out at grass on livery, there not going anywhere until the day comes they need to be pts. I've not ridden for years now, I would love to be able to, but I can't afford a 3rd (& my partner would kill me!) i miss ridding dreadfully but it's not there fault, just one of those things.
 
Every horse owner has the ultimate responsibility to their animal.

We cannot justify what is your decision. Horses have no conception of time or death.
 
I sympathise. I have 3 - two are unridden and under 10 years old. One is my old ridden mare who put me in a&e too many times - spent 3 of the 5 years I've had her trying to fix her issues and the other two fixing me after a fall. I could sell her but she's not talented enough for someone to put up with her rare but epic reactions. She's easy and sensible as a companion though which has its own value and I am believe it or not very fond of her. One is a charity horse I got as a companion, whilst backed she's had ulcers and has struggled since with work - I'm not sure she'll ever cope with being a riding horse. She's sweet, had a rough time and is settled with us so why change that. Third is newbie and currently perfect and gives me that extra spring in my step when I do my horsey chores. I'm a keeper though so she better stay that way!
 
Thanks very much for your replies here is a very belated reply / update. My attempt to get him back into work has not been successful. It has been really difficult as he has been impeccably behaved under saddle but his aggressive behaviour on the ground returned almost immediately once he was back in very light work. I am sure if I were sensible I would PTS but he is happy out in the field and I love him, he was my dream horse. I have put his name down for a beautiful, retirement livery. I am lucky enough to have been offered another horse on loan so will be trying to move on. Must be so much easier for people who don't get so attached to their horses!
 
All I can say is that you might think if only you had your own land it'd be ok, but Ive got my own land - problem is I dont have enough of it and the local farmer wont sell any land surrounding my field so no chance of increasing it. 18 months ago I had 3 veterans and the horse I competed. It was a struggle land-wise, but like you I ended up collecting oldies. 2 were retired ones Id had for years and wouldn't have sold, 1 was a horse I took on and like you, got a year of competing out of him before he went mechanically and permanently lame, he then became another very expensive field ornament (17.1hh WB bad doer). Its horrible as in effect you're sort of waiting for them to die off before you can move on and buy something suitable again. 2 of those veterans had to be PTS in the past year. Im now in a position where I have 1 veteran, 1 competition horse and 1 pony for my son. But Im in an unsure place right now - I am 4 months pregnant. After getting into the last position with too many veterans (and the pain of having to PTS eventually which I absolutely hate), I am keen to not have a horse who I may end up with once retired again as I cant have as many horses as I ended up with before. I want to sell my competition horse (and then buy a new one once Ive had baby) as she's 12 yrs old now. BUT I adore her so its extremely tough to even think about... :( So hard to not get attached, but also so hard to not have a horse to be able to ride/compete as that for me is the main reason I have horses. Its quite depressing when you have all these horses to pay for and look after (which you love) but dont get much enjoyment out of it.
 
MagicMelon said:
All I can say is that you might think if only you had your own land it'd be ok, but Ive got my own land - problem is I dont have enough of it and the local farmer wont sell any land surrounding my field so no chance of increasing it. 18 months ago I had 3 veterans and the horse I competed. It was a struggle land-wise, but like you I ended up collecting oldies. 2 were retired ones Id had for years and wouldn't have sold, 1 was a horse I took on and like you, got a year of competing out of him before he went mechanically and permanently lame, he then became another very expensive field ornament (17.1hh WB bad doer). Its horrible as in effect you're sort of waiting for them to die off before you can move on and buy something suitable again. 2 of those veterans had to be PTS in the past year. Im now in a position where I have 1 veteran, 1 competition horse and 1 pony for my son. But Im in an unsure place right now - I am 4 months pregnant. After getting into the last position with too many veterans (and the pain of having to PTS eventually which I absolutely hate), I am keen to not have a horse who I may end up with once retired again as I cant have as many horses as I ended up with before. I want to sell my competition horse (and then buy a new one once Ive had baby) as she's 12 yrs old now. BUT I adore her so its extremely tough to even think about... :( So hard to not get attached, but also so hard to not have a horse to be able to ride/compete as that for me is the main reason I have horses. Its quite depressing when you have all these horses to pay for and look after (which you love) but dont get much enjoyment out of it.
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I am the same I do have horses to ride not just to play with and my gelding whilst being a fantastic ride is not much fun on the ground which I think is partly due to his pain issues which I am still not sure have been resolved so may lead us to a different solution especially when the weather turns colder. I have been so lucky with my previous horse who is now 30, she has never been sick or sorry in her life I thought broken horses was something that happened to someone else, how stupid. Having my own land wouldn't resolve the issue completely, I am away with work quite frequently and would need to employ some help anyway along with all the work that having your own land entails too. I hope you manage to sort out your herd of horses and good luck with your baby. X
 
RhaLoulou said:
Feel utterly depressed about the whole thing, I am pushing 50 and honestly feel like throwing the towel in. Has anyone else been through something like this and popped out successfully at the other end?
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You need to do whats right by you too. Do you really want to spend the rest of your riding days looking after a horse that you've only owned a short amount of time, who can't do the work intended and isn't nice on the ground?

I can totally understand keeping horses in retirement that have "earned" it, like your other two. I have an ancient connemara who taught my sister to ride; he took the role of lead rein, first ridden and second pony and so owes our family nothing! Sometimes we joke that he's only got a year left of retirement as he's almost been retired for as many years as he was ridden but in all seriousness perhaps you could give this horse a year of retirement and then do the deed, as another poster said... they don't know whether they've had 1, 10, or 20 years retirement.
 
paddi22 said:
this will sound awful, but i don't give horses decades of retirement anymore. I had one that lived to be ancient years ago, and he was retired for about 20 years enjoying himself in field. We kept him going as long as we could and the realisation hit me when he was being put down, that he hadn't know the difference between 10 or 20 years of retirement. i had an ex-racer with a few issues, and when we exhausted all vets options and the best prognosis was for him to be a 10 minute hacker who was very high maintenance. It was a tough decision but he got about 6 years of an easy retired life being loved and then pts before the winter. Same with another oldie we had, it had started to get very creaky and stiff, so the call was made. Personally, (and i'l probably get shot down for this i'd say) but you have to take into account your own life circumstances as well and find a balance.
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I'm with you on this one, but people will do what feels right to them and that is good and proper. My horses are cared for to the utmost of my ability to do so, but when they are finished working they are either sold to an easier life, retired if possible (and it's not always possible; they are working horses and sometimes don't take to life in the field), or put down if not.
 
I really appreciate these thoughtful, kind and straightforward replies. The comment that horses don't know how long they have been retired has struck a chord. I am still working through what to do and you have all given me food for thought. X
 
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