Could You Have A Horse And Deal With Not Riding It?

I bred my own 23 years ago unfortunately she had to be retired at the age of 7 due to health issues and I judt accepted that riding was no longer an option. Still have her and walk her in hand. Did buy a cob 9 years ago and to be honest hardly ride him either, he is happy and healthy. Also have 3 miniatures that I obviously don't ride so got 5 pets!
 
There are a lot of folk saying it's better to keep a horse in this situation then sell it and risk it ending up in a terrible home. Which is always a risk when you sell a horse for any reason. I guess I have different view: I'm very happy that my horse's previous owner, a doting, caring horsewoman who loved her and brought her on from a 2 year old, decided to sell her because she (owner) had a medical condition that made it almost impossible for her to continue riding a big-moving ShireX. My horse was 7 at the time, and she was (and is) and sweet, amiable person on the ground and under saddle. Previous owner could have kept her as a cuddly lawn ornament, loaned her, found a rider, etc. etc., but she decided to sell on the grounds she thought the horse would be wasted staying with her. And she sold her to me! She knows I still have her 16 years later, as a I friended her on Facebook and she always 'likes' photos of the horse.
 
I have a few field ornaments/ones i dont or cant ride and it doesn't bother me atall, i do have one i can ride still but I very rarely do (only ride twice in the last year!) I don't mind not riding I just like having them and knowing that they (the quirky ones) are safe from an otherwise uncertain future. I know quite a few who keep them as pets and don't ride and it doesn't bother them either
 
Whilst I do agree with everyone that her current horse will be happy non ridden.
She's actually doing a lovely selfless thing. Her horse is rideable and therefore home- able/sellable. The horse she takes on is really going by to have a second chance at a perfect life which a lot of companion rehomers might never get.
 
I had a similar situation a couple of years ago - met a strong and opinionated Highland mare at my friends yard, she was there for schooling but YO gave her to me to ride that day. to cut a long story short, the owner was a lovely lady who had had her confidence knocked by this pony and I rode her for the next 6 months while we became great friends. The lady didn't ride but she often came to watch me ride. In the end, the lady transferred ownership to me and the pony came to live with our other Highland. The lady has a small WHW rescue and 'swapped' with me to take our retired welsh sec A. But realised she missed riding and later bought the loveliest, most genuine ex-riding school cob you could ever imagine, she now enjoys riding. Very similar to your situation where the lady loves the pony(s) to bits, is very knowledgable and just loves looking after them. I guess whatever the lady feels is right - keeping him as a pet, selling, or loaning all sound fine. Loaning/sharing may be the best option to begin with but if she finds someone genuine to keep him forever then she could sell and perhaps get another one, whether as a pet or for riding.
 
My 13.2 pony is currently sat doing nothing. I have a youngster so she takes up a lot of my time. My pony is as happy as can be though enjoying the summer in his massive paddock with his friends. A few people have made comments about him being wasted just sat in the field but Ive now realised I couldn't give a toss :) he's happy and we'll looked after and imo that's all that matters
 
I've always felt that most horses don't give a toss about being ridden as long as they're in roughly the same routine as their mates and loved and cared for that's the main thing. I have 3- one has been turned away over 3 years but my daughter has decided to ride her again (God knows why) I have one whose been retired for 2 years, he's toward the end of his time but if I could I'd give him longer, and I have my own horse, he's not ridden as much as he was. I've been ill, he's been lame, I lost my confidence for no real reason- he seems pretty happy too.

In short- I wouldn't blame anyone that didn't want to keep a horse that couldn't be ridden for any reason. Equally- I wouldn't blame anyone who kept a horse but could be ridden but is not. Mostly, as long as the horse is properly catered for and everyone is happy- I'd say it's all good.
 
I have a horse to ride so therefore, if I lost my love of riding I would be inclined to sell the horse. But that's just me.
 
I have a well bred but very quirky mare that I don't ride.

It doesn't bother me or her, she doesn't stand there thinking "I am wasted" and I enjoy just faffing and doing bits and bobs with her.

As it so happens I have a young lass starting to ride her and they get on really well, but I am not hugely interested in loaning or selling her. Young lass can't afford a horse, so it works for us both at the moment.

I get all the enjoyment of seeing horsey out and about and enjoying life, at the same time I'm not that bothered about being the one who gets her out and about!

Horses don't stand there thinking "Oh I am wasted" or any of that, my mare isn't stroppy or hyper to handle as a result of no work - she knows she has to behave regardless.

Its up to the woman what she does - if she sells to get a companion then she is giving a lovely horse the chance to make another owner very happy. If she doesn't sell her and keeps her, then she will give her horse just as good a lift I am sure.

No right or wrong answer.
 
ihatework said:
OP I think you are in danger of trying to inadvertently push your feelings onto the current owner.

The owner sounds like an experienced horse owner. There is no rule to say they should ride their horse and if they can't they must move it on.

They could either keep the horse as a pet, or another option would be to support a young rider and let them compete the horse. Whatever will give the owner the most pleasure / satisfaction.
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It is an interesting question, I have stopped riding my horse while I am pregnant and I was really worried about him being 'wasted' as I couldn't find someone else to ride him and assumed it wouldn't be much fun for either of us just to walk out in hand and do ground work as he is capable of so much more. But he doesn't mind at all as long as he has plenty of turnout and fuss when he comes in, and I am really enjoying walking him out and loose schooling, we are developing a stronger bond. In fact other than missing a good canter, walking him out makes me almost as happy as hacking out. I can now see why people are happy to have unridden horses, perhaps your friend will feel more confident over time and just hop back on one day and if not, its unlikely the horse will mind either way as long as it is cared for.
 
I wonder whether the lady wants to send her horse to a new home precisely because it can be ridden, and if she keeps it she'll be under pressure with everyone saying 'why aren't you riding such a lovely horse' etc. Whereas if she gets a horse that can't be ridden, then no-one can say that to her!
 
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