companion/free to good home

[kombikids]

has anyone had any experiance of this? my gorgeous boy is about to be retired and sent off to a lovely retirement home but (non horsey) OH has asked about the possibility of giving him away either as a companion of a light hack. I am really unsure of this - he is 16.3hh irish confidence giver but i dont think that anyone would want to take on a horse that big as a companion. (he has arthritis). I would worry about him being ridden too much or what would happen to him.

I think he has given me a lot - he has totally restored my confidence and i want to take responsibility for him, but OH thinks we could find a home where he is loved as a companion.

Can it be succesful, I dont want to loan him out.

 

[BBH]

I would love to say yes and I'm sure there are some out there.

I am also sure there would be more out there willing to take advantage of him, so my thoughts are stick to your original plan safe in the knowledge no harm will come to him.

 

[brighteyes]

I think you are right to be worried and what's so bad about loaning?

Yes, I agree there are some terrible stories about but also masses of very happy owners and loanees (me for instance

) with nothing but good to say about the experience. You need to have a few plans of action from send to a paid for retirement home - perfectly fine option - to pts. I'd think at this stage a fairly drastic, last resort but also a responsible route to go down.

Advertise him for loan and see what response you get. As with buying you can always say 'no' and the decision rests with you.

Do not, under any circumstances, give him away.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
OH has asked about the possibility of giving him away either as a companion of a light hack

[/ QUOTE ]

I would do this if it was someone I knew, or a contact who had been recommded. I would never advertise a horse publicly as free to a good home, no. God knows where it could end up.........

 

[Sooty]

You are right, your OH is wrong - simples! It is heartening to read of someone who takes responsibility for their horse when it can no longer be ridden, rather than just sending it away to an uncertain future.

 

[Megan_T]

I would jump at the chance to give a retired horse (big or small) a home as a companion. Although I've owned my own horse in the past and am having lessons again now, I wouldn't have the confidence to ride on my own again and have always preferred looking after them than riding them! Lol. If I had the space at home, I'd quite happily spoil and pamper an elderly horse

 

[Dubsie]

I'm sure there's someone out there that would suit, I'd just ask about the poeple you know and trust locally if they know of someone who wants a companion/light hack. Might take a few weeks to find someone but it's got to be worth a try. I'm sure there will be some mums who take up riding again when their children do, and just want a light hack perhaps ? Or mothers like me will need a companion to daughters pony when we get her one, and it would of course have to be a safe hack to accompany her, who is happy to saunter while daughter bobs off into the distance and back, and won't freak when the drains lorries come past from the firm down the road, rather than a cute but boring mini field ornament. Recommendations are much better than the totally unknown.

 

[BID]

I have a companion horse on loan whcih I found through word of mouth, he cannot be ridden due to a knee injury and his owner gives me a very small contribution towards his keep every month and comes to visit him once a month. Due to the fact he has an injury his owner also pays for his medication. I have had him a year now and both his owner and myself are very happy with this arrangement and I think he is too so I think it is possible to find a nice retirement loan home but would advise to try to do it via someone you know/word of mouth.

 

[ihatework]

It can be done, and I am sure sucessfully, on the proviso that you are still willing and able to take overall responsibility for your horse.
There won't be many homes out there but there will be some.

I have one at the moment that I am in a similar position with. Was going to put him on retirement grass livery but decided to put a speculative loan add on horsemart as a companion/light hack and actually have soemone interested. However I will visit regularly and will cover vets/insurance/shoeing and medication to ensure these things are not skimped on.

 

[Teabelly]

I am on the other end of the equation, I am looking for a companion for my youngster , and if the horse can be ridden by my OH maybe once or twice a week around the lanes then to me that is an added bonus.

Fingers crossed we have found one, but its been hard trying to find one, incidentally the lady in question would never sell her to us , as ultimately she still has control over her, but is happy for her to be with us for as long as it suits both parties.

We had what seemed a full interview and home visit in order to get the mare, but tbh I wouldn't want it any other way.

So yes there are homes out there that could offer a lovely home to your horse but maybe a little harder to find.

Good luck.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I am sure there are some wonderful companion homes out there, but sadly there also seem to be plenty of unscrupulous people who sell horses on etc. I think you are doing the right thing in placing him in a retirement home, at least you will know he will be safe and well looked after, and presumably can keep in contact with him.