AshTay
Well-Known Member
What would you do...
I have two horses. I used to have 3 but now i have 2. Looking after them both is fine but I need to face up to the fact that both need more work than I alone can give them (well, I could really but I also don't want to be knackered all the time).
My mare - 9 years old, cracking little thing - I'd ride her anywhere. Started doing local RC show dressage with her last year and all was going well until September when she went suddenly lame and she's not really been truly right since which culminated in laminitis on New Years Day. She's on the mend now, no lasting damage but I'm going to have to restrict her grazing and work her more to keep weight down (she wasn't even really overweight when she got lami but obviously needs to be kept slim from now on anyway and she is a good do-er).
My gelding - 7 years old. Lovely lad but "special". Very nervous although has improved loads with lots of in-hand work. Has badly knocked my confidence in the past and has also been plagued with abscesses and random back pain, etc, over the last few months and so we've not really done much more than trot round the school a few times in the last year. Badly put together and so would need regular work once brought back.
If I just had one I could focus my efforts. Before my mare got lami she was the sort who didn't need riding more than a couple of times a week if that was all the time I had but now she does. And I can't advertise her now as she's still on boxrest (building up turnout) so very poor-looking in terms of muscle.
So what do I do? My head says sell my mare as she's the sort that will do well as she's fab. I'm in awe of my mare but in love with my gelding. But I accept that I may well be out of my depth with him and could end up with a field ornament if I can't get him right (not a problem either but...). I wouldn't get much if I sold him as he is now and I'd worry where he'd end up if he didn't go to the right person. And I do think there is hope for him - just need a bit of help with him. If I had one horse I'd be in a better position to get that help.
I've thought about getting a sharer but I've been advertising for a rider for a friends horse I've been riding over winter while both of mine were out of action and had very little suitable interest. And this friend's horse is something truly unique and every girl's dream but still no one wanted him.
I have two horses. I used to have 3 but now i have 2. Looking after them both is fine but I need to face up to the fact that both need more work than I alone can give them (well, I could really but I also don't want to be knackered all the time).
My mare - 9 years old, cracking little thing - I'd ride her anywhere. Started doing local RC show dressage with her last year and all was going well until September when she went suddenly lame and she's not really been truly right since which culminated in laminitis on New Years Day. She's on the mend now, no lasting damage but I'm going to have to restrict her grazing and work her more to keep weight down (she wasn't even really overweight when she got lami but obviously needs to be kept slim from now on anyway and she is a good do-er).
My gelding - 7 years old. Lovely lad but "special". Very nervous although has improved loads with lots of in-hand work. Has badly knocked my confidence in the past and has also been plagued with abscesses and random back pain, etc, over the last few months and so we've not really done much more than trot round the school a few times in the last year. Badly put together and so would need regular work once brought back.
If I just had one I could focus my efforts. Before my mare got lami she was the sort who didn't need riding more than a couple of times a week if that was all the time I had but now she does. And I can't advertise her now as she's still on boxrest (building up turnout) so very poor-looking in terms of muscle.
So what do I do? My head says sell my mare as she's the sort that will do well as she's fab. I'm in awe of my mare but in love with my gelding. But I accept that I may well be out of my depth with him and could end up with a field ornament if I can't get him right (not a problem either but...). I wouldn't get much if I sold him as he is now and I'd worry where he'd end up if he didn't go to the right person. And I do think there is hope for him - just need a bit of help with him. If I had one horse I'd be in a better position to get that help.
I've thought about getting a sharer but I've been advertising for a rider for a friends horse I've been riding over winter while both of mine were out of action and had very little suitable interest. And this friend's horse is something truly unique and every girl's dream but still no one wanted him.
