Controversial but am interested...

i kept my amazing cob - he went slightly lame which was cured by bute and we pottered out for 20 mins once a week. he got worse so retired fully and spent his time on livery. i still got so much plesasure from looking after him as i had him such a long time. getting rid was out of the question- i could never do it!!!! he fortunatly made the decision not to stay on this earth forever so it made my life a bit easier as i didnt have to make it for him. i am devastated he's gone but i am so glad i didnt send him off to be a 'companion' we let one out on loan as he was permenantly lame only to meet him at a joint hunt meet. i dont think i have ever cried so much out of horror and anger in my life!!!
 
When I brought my mare - I brought my mare for life. There is no way I would ever sell her, at least of all if she couldn't be ridden. It wouldn't be her fault. Everyhorse I buy in future will always have a home for life with me. No matter what happens financially life is far more important to me than anything material and that inlcudes my house!

I couldn't even imagine selling my horse as a companion or worse having her pts for even a moment

If she was in serious pain that wouldn't heal or get any better then I would have her pts.

xxx
 
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I have to quote scribbles here as this sums it up for me.
Had my girl 17yrs now, she has pedal bone rotation and we can only walk, and the current soundness is unlikely to last long, i cannot afford another.
But i owe my mare a nice life, if she is field sound and healthy i could not PTS or pass her on as there are no guarantees she will be cared for properly.
I would have to look into riding a share horse or simply paying to go to a riding school/trekking centre to get my fix.
There is a very high chance i will face this soon as my mare is getting on a bit and has underlying problems that could become a problem at any time. Well thats my take on it

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Totally agree, if thats what is right for you and your horse, BUT what if your cicumstances change, and you can no longer look after your horse?
I have 3 that are unridable due to either age or health issues.
Here is their last stop. I cant be asured that they would be properly cared for anywhere else due to the time and cost.
With that in mind i would have them PTS if i could no longer keep them myself.
As already commented on another thread, better PTS than even one day suffering at the hands of someone else.
 
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I would keep him, and find a horse to ride as a sharer. I know rationally people would say PTS, but I could not do that. When I bought a horse I took on the responsibility of owning an animal. The discomfort of not being able to ride would be a lot less than the guilt for being shallow and soul-less.

If I had a child I wouldn't have it adopted or killed just because it was disabled.

ETA - if it was in discomfort/pain, then I would comsider PTS if needed. But NEVER for my own benefit.

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Ditto this- my horse is a part of my family as far as I'm concerned and far more important to me than simply ameans to a hobby. I took him on as a lifelong commitment and he will be with me to the bitter end.

The only time I would part with him, or any animal, would be if i could no longer meet their welfare requirements.
 
I have had my yearling since he was 5 months (he was weaned early for various reasons) and i will keep him until he draws his last breath if, god forbid, nothing happens to me! I cannot ride him for a good few years yet and so it really wouldn't bother me if something happened to him and i couldn't ride him in the future or to never be able to ride him actually. My love for horses is not just about riding and if i just had to own a horse that i could not ride this would also suit me fine. However, like others have said if they were in pain or a danger to anyone then they would have to be PTS.
 
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I have to quote scribbles here as this sums it up for me.
Had my girl 17yrs now, she has pedal bone rotation and we can only walk, and the current soundness is unlikely to last long, i cannot afford another.
But i owe my mare a nice life, if she is field sound and healthy i could not PTS or pass her on as there are no guarantees she will be cared for properly.
I would have to look into riding a share horse or simply paying to go to a riding school/trekking centre to get my fix.
There is a very high chance i will face this soon as my mare is getting on a bit and has underlying problems that could become a problem at any time. Well thats my take on it

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Totally agree, if thats what is right for you and your horse, BUT what if your cicumstances change, and you can no longer look after your horse?
I have 3 that are unridable due to either age or health issues.
Here is their last stop. I cant be asured that they would be properly cared for anywhere else due to the time and cost.
With that in mind i would have them PTS if i could no longer keep them myself.
As already commented on another thread, better PTS than even one day suffering at the hands of someone else.

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Totally agree, its better to PTS then pass on, so many horses being passed on looking at the other thread, its so sad, i would not put my girl forward for an uncertain future as much as i would love a fully fit and healthy horse, she stops with me until the end
 
i actually had a convo with the OH this morning about this.
if anythingf happens to me, he can keep or sell the horses as he wishes, except my old boy, 22 yrs, who is to be looked after or PTS, never sold

ive had him all his life and under no circumstances is he going anywhere, i will not risk that he ends up in bad circumstances
 
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Do companion homes exist for all these horses? Would anyone willingly take on a horse with problems even it is a loan?

So what would you do if your horse went incurably lame / ill and meant that it no longer had a 'useful' life as a riding / driving / breeding horse AND if you could only afford to keep one horse (maybe because you dont have your own land) and you wanted to ride?



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I have taken on a couple of neds with problems
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I would not have a horse PTS for my own convenience...only ever if it were best for the horse...if that meant I couldn't ride...tough!
 
I have four horses and one of them, my 17 year old TB mare, is permanently lame but not in any real pain. The vet said she could be ridden but I wouldn't be happy riding her so she is now retired permanently. We have our own (rented) yard and can afford to keep her for now. If we ever decide to move or get given notice then I don't know what we'll do as she is full of beans, she plays with the youngsters, they all gallop, buck, rear and generally behave like loonies together. I couldn't have her PTS, she's too full of life. But if we could only afford to keep two, I couldn't choose to keep her as a very expensive pet and let another perfectly sound and rideable one go to a new home. I work hard to afford the horses and for me riding is an essential part of owning.

So I just don't know what I would do and I can see why people look for companion homes. My mare doesn't need medication and if somebody needed a companion horse then why not? Obviously I wouldn't sell her to them or gift her, she'd remain mine and I'd keep an eye on her. Genuine homes are few and far between but they do exist out there.
 
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we let one out on loan as he was permenantly lame only to meet him at a joint hunt meet. i dont think i have ever cried so much out of horror and anger in my life!!!

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what happened?
bet they were shocked to be caught out eh?!
 
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we let one out on loan as he was permenantly lame only to meet him at a joint hunt meet. i dont think i have ever cried so much out of horror and anger in my life!!!

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what happened?
bet they were shocked to be caught out eh?!

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I would have yanked the rider off him and taken him home then and there. Agreement or no agreement.
 
Why do so many people assume a horse diagnosed with navicular syndrome is of no use ? Ok they may need a year in the field getting used to a new way of shoeing (mine has the old fashioned raised heels - she was diagnosed 14 years ago) or for the syndrome to settle down (navicular is often diagnosed when the vets dont really know what is wrong in the hoof).

I have had my girl for 12 years and she has always had "corrective shoeing". This has not stopped us doing pleasure rides, a little show jumping - always dependant on the ground, a few cross country jumps and loads and loads of schooling and dressage comps. I have only just (in the last 3 months) semi retired her so I have stopped schooling her, and we now plod out a couple of times a week (knee boots on always), and is happy being long reined - we have just completed a yard walk, trot dressage test (for fun) and she loved it AND i learnt more about long reining in a few weeks than a year of young horses would have taught me.
She is with me until she is struggling - she owes me nothing, she has been my best friend, and has never complained when I got so many things wrong.

When my horse was ill for a few months i went to a good riding school and really enjoyed riding a couple of their horses, this gave me chance to see how I felt about getting rid of the old girl, and my decision was to keep her till the end of her days but I am extreamly lucky and could afford a second horse.

Good luck
 
Providing there were no pain or discomfort issues that could not be treated adequatly, I would keep it until it's time had come to let him/her go. If it left me with nothing to ride or drive, it wouldn't bother me.
If pain were a real issue, then I would have it pts.
 
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we let one out on loan as he was permenantly lame only to meet him at a joint hunt meet. i dont think i have ever cried so much out of horror and anger in my life!!!

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what happened?
bet they were shocked to be caught out eh?!

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I would have yanked the rider off him and taken him home then and there. Agreement or no agreement.

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My freinds dad dealt with them - it was years ago and i was only 10 he then went to live with another friend who didnt ride but enjoyed looking at horses out of her window he had a very spoilt rest of his life!! fortunatly no more damaged.
 
If Brooke couldn't be ridden for whatever reason, she would be retired and live out her life with me. If she was in pain or discomfort, then she would be pts. As much as i love riding, if it meant that I couldn't ride again whilst I kept her, then so be it.
No way would she be palmed off on somebody else.

I do know a few people who have taken on horses that were unable to be ridden. Most have been racehorses and it is people with their own place. These horses will live out their lives in luxury.

As for your navicular problem. My friends horse has navicular, she tried all the usual thingsm remedial shoeing, injextions etc. She then just took ehr shoes off and the change was instantaneous. They haven't looked back, she is now totally sound. The farrier gives her a wee trim when necessary. They have boots for hacking.
 
I have two in retirement at the moment.

My pony, who i have owned for 12 years, has injured her cruciate ligament in her stifle. She is retired in the field, happy as larry and unless she was in pain or miserable, i would never have her PTS, she owes me absolutely nothing.

My horse is 17 and I have owned her nearly 9 years. She has navicular and she has had more time off work in the time that i have owned her then being worked!
It is a bit of a vicious circle with her though, She is a head case to be ridden so she needs to be in hard work but she can't stay sound on the amount of work she needs. I can't 'quietly' hack her out because she would kill us both
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So she is retired as well, 'happy as larry' living the life of Riley!

I desperately would like another horse to ride but i can't afford it with my two, and i am not hard enough to have my horse PTS just so i can get another one. I would never give her away to a 'rescue home' or anything like that either because i couldn't bear to see her end up in the wrong hands which is what would happen. She stays with me 'till the end of her days even if that means i have to sacrifice getting another horse at the moment.

Although i am trying to work around it
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Personally, if this happened to me, I would keep my boy whilst he wasn't in pain and was field sound. If he became lame in the field, the vet told me he was in pain, or wasn't happy being just a field ornament I would PTS.
I don't see my horse as something I have bought to 'use' by riding them, I seem them as a member of my family and as a friend. For me, it would be like saying, oh well my *insert relative here* doesn't have any use anymore because they can't work as they have *insert disease here*, so what is the point in them being here? I realise not everyone sees their animals this way, but for me, riding is more of a bonus than the reason I have my boy, I just love having a bond with him.

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Im not sure if your comments and other posters were directed at me or just a general feeling i seem to have a abundance of replies.
I would have loved to keep my horse it was my intention but generally he wasnt happy in small paddock.I didnt really realise that he had become depresssed until I moved him and my mare to borrowed paddocks they had so much fun and played and mutually groomed each other.I realised then that although he would be happy as field ornmament he needed much more space and stimulation from other horses than I could offer him.The livery I use doesnt have much grass the paddocks are fine for a horse in regular work but not suitable for 24 hour turnout or turning away.There was nothing suitable in our area for both my horses.It was a really hard decision that I made for his benefit.I think it was kinder to turn him away with company and give him a few years and chance of recovery rather than pts as others have suggested he is only 8.The new loaner/soon to be owner has a wonderful set up with huge amounts of grazing.I took advice from vet and made the decision not to keep bringing him back into work to keep breaking down.His injury is soft tissue within the coffin joint and after reading up on it and making lots of enquiries the outcome is good with lots of rest possibly years.I contacted new owners vet and the rspca as she has worked for them in past to make sure it was a good home and she came with glowing references..
It wasnt about money initially as I have spent £11000 trying to get him better .Not having facilities to keep him and being cash strapped after spending all my savings on trying to give him a chance of recovery I made very hard decision to give him to someone else who isnt interested in ridden work and were he will have home for life. If he comes sound after couple of years rest then I will be ecstatic.He goes for walks in hand round the village and as far as Im concerned has better quality of life .It wasnt because he didnt have use anymore I genuinely felt it was not beneficial to his state of mind keeping him on our yard.I should stress that he is comfortable in the field but not being ridden the concussion from work kept making injury flare up.
I will never have the same bond that I had with him with another horse he was my first horse .I still feel bereaved from losing him but giving him away to the right person was a far better option.
 
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I wish owners would face up to their responsibities and have the poor things PTS instead of thinking that someone else will take over the problem/unsound animal. If an owner cannot afford to keep an unsound/older horse and really wants a horse they can ride then the best thing is to give it a dignified ending at home, in familiar surroundings with its owner who has its best interests at heart.

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I couldn't agree more!!

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Yes me too exactly, very well put.
 
My honest answer is that I really don't know. There are a couple of factors that should influence my decision.

The reality of the situation is that I struggle financially to keep a horse. This also has an impact on my OH as he has to pay more than his share of the bills. He is happy to do this as he knows how much I love my riding, and I know would go on doing it without complaint even if my horse was a field ornament. But I'm not sure that would be fair.

Also, I'm now in my mid 40s. Although I rode as a child I didn't have a horse until I was in my late 30s and hadn't done any competing before then. I love competing (nothing grand only riding club stuff) and this is the main reason I keep my own horse. If I was 20 years younger then I could say it doesn't matter if I don't ride for 5 years - but age is now definately a factor.

So, my head would say PTS, but whether I could do it or not (assuming my horse was pain free) I really don't know. I suspect not and he would make a very good lawnmower. But whatever I did, retire or PTS that responsibility lies with me. He will definatly not be passed on.
 
Thanks for all your replies everyone. People have obviously given this a lot of thought and it is interesting how there are people at both ends of the spectrum. Not sure where my feelings at the moment. I do know that I WILL NOT pass him on - he is with me until the end or maybe with someone I know (but still be my responsibility / in my name). If he is pain I will PTS. If I can ride now and again I will be happy. If he cant ever be ridden again, not sure.... I my situation is very much like Hullabaloo.

Anyway, thanks again - its one to ponder...
 
I am lucky that I rent fields and pay per field, not per horse. So all mine when they're old and infirm, or young and infirm will stay and live the life they've always led.
 
I had my boys companion pony PTS last December. The decision was not taken lightly. She had quite a few issues and was only 22 yrs old.

However, in hindsight I would have had her PTS a lot sooner.

As soon as she had gone my boy changed, for the better, even before a new companion had been found. I think her problems somehow affected him and depressed him. Someone since has pointed out that if a horse is not up to scratch, in the wild, they remove themselves from the herd for the herds protection.

True or not, my boy seemed relieved at her departure. He had the opportunity to say goodbye to her, and didn't, but he was aware at what was happening on the day of her death.

If and when it is his turn I will have him PTS sooner rather than later, for his sake and any other horse here.

Jane
 
I currently own four horses, two of which are not ridden. Our 30 year old Thoroughbred retired just over a year ago. He has arthritis and so has problems with stiffness (especially during the winter) He is on Cortaflex and one Bute everyday to help this. He seems very happy and loves getting attention. We wouldn't sell him for anything! The other pony which isn't ridden is an 11.2 hh Welsh Section A rescue pony. She isn't young and we haven't got anyone small enough to ride her so she is just a pet and we wouldn't sell her either.

I also have my eye on a mare who seems to be permanently lame. I want to buy her to look after and give her a good life.

I can understand that if someone couldn't afford to take on a companion horse or a horse with problems that it would be unfair to do so, but if you have the money and the time then why not? There is more to horses than just riding them and if any of my other horses were to go permanently lame or be unrideable I wouldn't sell them - I'm too attached to them!
 
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