Daughter's horse is kaput - help me decide what to do for the summer

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DuckToller

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Daughter's horse has sheared heels, which I have been struggling with for some months, but with vet and farrier and advice from here, we got him back sound and did lots of flatwork over the winter rather than jumping, so that he would be properly sound for the summer.

But the heels didn't really repair and the infection came back a few weeks ago, farrier put egg bars on, I have been cleaning them out religiously and we expected him to come sound as he did the first time, but he didn't.

So vet came today (different one), and said the sheared heels were only a symptom, not a cause, and after nerve blocking the heel area he was still lame. When whole hoof was blocked, he trotted up lame on the other leg :( so its either arthritic changes or navicular (need more investigative work to find out which, but either is hardly good news). He is 18, so that is basically it for his competitive career and I have another field ornament bless him.

So now we are in mid July, I have a teenage daughter going to uni next year, and all sorts of PC things coming up that we are supposed to be doing - Area this and that, B test, team stuff etc. Now what do I do?

Is it worth spending money on buying a decent horse for just a year? I am hopeless at selling anything, and still have her 11.2, 12.2, 13.2 and 14.2 'ornamenting' the field so I fear if I buy anything older, I will end up with it for life. But she hasn't got the time this year to bring on a young horse, and anything 7-10 that jumps 1.10m level is going to be expensive. Is it worth it for a year?

But otherwise she might give up and we will have missed her last year in PC doing all the team things that she has been building up to. Nightmare - I hate decisions, and I hate trying to buy horses.

What about leasing - do people lease good horses for a year? If so, how much should I be looking at?
 
Is there anyone you know who has a good horse but is pregnant and looking for a short term loan arrangement? Something like that might work out well.
 
Have a look around for something on loan. I got a lovely hunting horse for my daughter through the Freeads website - he's Manni in my signature and I've had him on loan now for a year and a half.

Or ask around at Pony Club and see if anyone has a 'spare' horse.

Can her 14.2 still be ridden? Perhaps she can have a last fun year on him/her?
 
boxers said:
Can her 14.2 still be ridden? Perhaps she can have a last fun year on him/her?
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No, sadly she has outgrown him both in ability and size, and he is fairly old (at least over 20) and he is very slightly unlevel so he wouldn't cope with being ridden.

Yes, think a pregnant friend is needed!
 
Even if people are moving house, or going through personal situations etc? I've known it happen a few times one of my friends took on a horse for 3 months while the owners moved down the country and settled in. They might need someone to keep their horse ticking over for 12 months or so, who'd be perfect for your daughter to have a good year on?
Try advertising maybe?
Good luck! :)
 
i have a lovely dales 15hh ready 2 go and jumps for fun.....but cnt find suitable rider as he needs confident rider as can dance and spook now and again out hacking but great in arena etc. would never sell him as had him since 6 months old but hes just sitting at home now ready to go....his rider just had a baby !!! altho i may be toooo far away !
 
KellysHeroes said:
Even if people are moving house, or going through personal situations etc? I've known it happen a few times one of my friends took on a horse for 3 months while the owners moved down the country and settled in. They might need someone to keep their horse ticking over for 12 months or so, who'd be perfect for your daughter to have a good year on?
Try advertising maybe?
Good luck! :)
Click to expand...

Yes, my only problem with loaning is that I really need something that will do the job now, which is why I thought of leasing, but not sure where to look. Anyone ever leased a horse to do a job?
 
horseandshoes77 said:
i have a lovely dales 15hh ready 2 go and jumps for fun.....but cnt find suitable rider as he needs confident rider as can dance and spook now and again out hacking but great in arena etc. would never sell him as had him since 6 months old but hes just sitting at home now ready to go....his rider just had a baby !!! altho i may be toooo far away !
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Ah, that's kind but yes bit tooo far, and bit small as she likes 16hh - he/she will also have to cart me about, although perhaps a dales is more up to my weight than a poofy tb or warmblood!
 
It's worth checking whether she would actually be eligible to do any PC events at area, if that is what you are debating. She would have to be rallied up on the horse she is competing on. Doesn't affect her for other stuff of course.
 
Put the word out - especially around the pony clubs, maybe someone has two horses they want to keep fit and in competition, but only one rider - I would imagine that scenario isn't uncommon, and if its a pony club type home they will likely have transport for 2 + horses and if they are going to an event anyway whats one more?

Good luck x
 
Yeah I understand that, what I mean was the horse's original owner was competing him regularly and my friend took him on for those few months to carry on competing at the same level to keep him in it :) he was definitely upto it, just that his owners had literally no time or choice of being able to keep him at it while they moved, but didn't want him to be sold - there may be someone out there looking for similiar whom you and your daughter could take on for a while?
I know that people have done it in the past it does happen :)
 
People do lease out decent horses, im thinking of leasing out my novice mare next season, if i can find the right person. Are you on facebook ? maybe you could start a group on there to help spread the word.
 
I have a similar problem. When my son goes to Uni next year I will take over his horse. In the mean time I am horseless. Mine was pts this week, although she hasn't been up to more than a very light hack in a while, & I do miss hacking out together.
So my options are:
1) Sit it out & we take turns to ride.
2) Get a horse on loan which may prove difficult as we would weant to bring it to the yard where we keep our other 2. Anything that looks suitable is always the other end of the country. So far I've been offered a broken 16.2 tb & what I want is a 14-15 cob!
3) Buy another with the prospect of selling it in 12 months which I'm not sure I could do & OH has been made redundant for the 2nd time this year so don't really want to hit the savings pot until he has a job again. Also when I look at the ads the ones I'm drawn to look too much like Pickle which makes me think my judgement would be squiffy.
 
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