Decision time :( Should I think about a hacking home

[cheekywelshie]

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately; I love my boy to pieces but deep down I dont think he will be able to do what I would like to do in terms of XC and some BE. He had a splint fracture a few years ago which he fully recovered from and then a suspected suspensory in the foreleg, although nothing was found on the scan or xray. I am currently bringing him back into work and we are now doing trot work - he is hacking sound and shown no sign of lameness. He has given me so much confidence over the six years I have had him and last year took me round my first BE 80!

I have been thinking he may be better off having a more laid back life and be happier in a hacking home. But this is a big decision and I feel very sad about it....but I think he might like an easier life, particularly if he could live out more.

I plan to get him into full work and then think about his future in Summer - but if the right home came along I would consider it earlier. I had thought about sharing him with a view for that person to perhaps buy if they were the right one and wanted a good horse who could hack out alone and in company - or loan if he was kept at my yard. It would be great to hear from anyone who has been in this position and what decision they came to - did you keep their horse and loan out as hacking pony or did you find another home?

 

[Abacus]

I had to consider this also with my older boy. He was the same sort who got me to BE100 and I think would have gone further. He was diagnosed with DDFT damage and eventually was denerved in both front feet. Although opinions are divided I didn't want to go XC on a denerved horse, and technically it is banned BE in any case.

I deccided to loan him and he spent a year being a hack with a lovely lady. I was sad to see him go and regretted that he couldn't do XC any more, which he adored, but it was safer for everyone and he was pretty happy. He came back to me when she couldn't afford him any more, and then had a disasterous loan - I have no idea what happened but he wasn't happy and came back after a few weeks. I then found a girl to keep him with me and loan him, and it has been the best solution for us all. I was lucky enough to be able to buy a youngster that I hope to event so didn't have to stick to one horse, but letting go my old friend has been hard to do, even though I see him every day.

I can't sell him as I wouldn't trust anyone, just in case they decide to take him XC, or worse, sell him on without disclosing the denerving. So this is the best solution for us.

You haven't said if you would then get another horse? If you are able to, and your chap could do a job for someone at a lower level, then perhaps it's time to let that happen. Better than being frustrated because you can't compete as you wish to, or risking him being injured again.

 

[kc100]

I havent been in your position so I cant offer advice in that respect. However what it all boils down to is the usual with horses - time and money. Do you have the time and money to keep him if you bought another horse to event with? If yes, then great - keep him and get a sharer or someone to loan him from your yard, get him living out more and he will be a happy boy.

Alternatively if you are being realistic and even with a sharer/loaner you still couldnt really afford him as well as another eventer, and you wouldnt have the time to keep an eye on him as well as the 2nd horse, then the fairest thing to do would be to sell. If you dont have the time or the money once a 2nd horse came along then its not fair to your current boy to leave him standing in a field 24/7 when he could be making someone else very happy.

He could be a great confidence giver for someone's first horse, with lots of hacking and perhaps some very low level dressage if they wanted to go competing. Or even a bit of showing, he could always do in-hand or some ridden horse classes - so there is still potential for him to have lots of fun with a new owner if they wanted to do these kinds of things.

It all hangs on your responsiblities when a second horse comes along, keeping him will only be right if you know you have the time and money to keep on caring for him properl - if not take your time, find the right person to buy him and he will carry on making someone else very happy.

 

[cheekywelshie]

I cant afford to keep two but worry about finding the right home... but I am finding myself getting more frustrated. I have put word out to friends. I am not sure if I can even afford to buy another sadly as don't have much spare cash and doubt I would get much for a light hack? He is 14.3 welsh x hacks alone and in company 12 years old very handsome and cheeky ! However he has had a mild suspensory in past hence why not wanting to jump although vet said he could return to it I don't want to risk it. He is verysafe and fab jumping and low level may be ok ( ie not pinging round a BE course!) he had a splint fracture a few years ago was operated on and fully recovered.