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Gracie21

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Help.

Uni workload is crazy. I'm working all the hours I can to pay for the horse but it's taking it's toll. I don't have any money, at all. I have -£6 to last me this week! My student loan goes on fuel and my wage goes on Jack. I constantly have a headache and I'm getting grumpy and snapping at my poor mum. I'm so stressed out I can't focus on any uni work when I have time, I just want to sleep!

I love my pony. I've done all the hard work and he's going to be a little superstar. I was determined to get him out to some PC over the winter but I'm not going to have the time or money looking at it now.

The obvious answer would be to sell him. But who would want to buy a 4 year old going into winter? He's definitely not the hunting type! Do I turn him away? If I do that I'm going to have to bring him back into work in the spring... He's working quite sweetly now, wouldn't turning him away be a total waste of our hard work? Do I put him up a crazy low price and hope I attract the right sort of people? It's not about the price I get for him. It's the hours I won't have to work if I don't have him...less pressure. Maybe I should turn him away... Oh I don't know!!

I feel so guilty, and horribly irresponsible. This little horse means so much to me. I'm confused, it hurts my head! My mum won't even entertain the conversation about selling him, or even that I'm struggling to afford him.

Money is a horrible thing!

I'm sorry for the ridiculous post so early on a Monday morning but I don't know who else would understand! I can offer an endless supply of chocolate, and half a flask of cold tea.
 
How about loaning him out? That way you have the best of both worlds - You get a chance to study and get some money behind you whilst your horse still gets worked and looked after
 
And breathe!

I would perhaps put him up for sale at a cheap, but not stupidly cheap, price and see if you get any interest. If not turn him away for the winter, it won't do him any harm, and see where you are when spring comes round.
 
Honey08 said:
And breathe!

I would perhaps put him up for sale at a cheap, but not stupidly cheap, price and see if you get any interest. If not turn him away for the winter, it won't do him any harm, and see where you are when spring comes round.
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This^^^, he will not forget what he has learnt if turned away, yes he will need to start again fitness wise but it really will do no harm and at 4 rising 5 may well be good for him and certainly let you have a break, loaning such a young pony is a risk I would prefer to turn away.
 
If you love him and want to keep him then find gerass livery, whip his shoes off and let him have the winter off. You can reassess your situation in the spring.
If your Mum wants you to keep him could she pay towards the livery, or even just feet trimming or whatever?
 
I complete understand where you are coming from OP. I am in a similar situation. Work 40 hours a week, do 30 hours a week on an OU degree as well as have my pony and home to run. I am also saving for my wedding so am completely skint all the time as well as hardly sleping or doing anything other than work. I would never sell my boy so instead have taken on a sharer 3 days a week. She doesn't pay much but enough to cover the additional hay/feed he needs for winter. What it does do though is give me 3 evenings a week where I can catch up on my life! I am saving a little on fuel too and my pony is happy so all in all it is win win for me.

Could you consider a sharer?
 
Traditionally horses would be turned away over the winter after breaking and benefit greatly from it. For your own sanity and health - and because you NEED to do well with your Uni work - I would turn him away. he will be ready for you to bring him back into work in Spring, without you having the extra pressure of all the mucking out etc over the winter. If your Mum doesn't want you to sell him, would she contirbute to some of the costs, so that you can cut your work hours down?
 
Thank you for all your replies so far!

HaffiesRock said:
I complete understand where you are coming from OP. I am in a similar situation. Work 40 hours a week, do 30 hours a week on an OU degree as well as have my pony and home to run. I am also saving for my wedding so am completely skint all the time as well as hardly sleping or doing anything other than work. I would never sell my boy so instead have taken on a sharer 3 days a week. She doesn't pay much but enough to cover the additional hay/feed he needs for winter. What it does do though is give me 3 evenings a week where I can catch up on my life! I am saving a little on fuel too and my pony is happy so all in all it is win win for me.

Could you consider a sharer?
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Okay, your life is 1000x more mad than mine is!! How do you do it?! I would happily consider it but not sure I'd have much luck, think I will give it a go though!

Clodagh said:
If you love him and want to keep him then find gerass livery, whip his shoes off and let him have the winter off. You can reassess your situation in the spring.
If your Mum wants you to keep him could she pay towards the livery, or even just feet trimming or whatever?
Click to expand...

I can take him back to my dads fortunately if it all gets too much. He only has his feet trimmed every 10 weeks or so, clever little pony has lovely cheap feet! She has said she will help pay towards him but nothing has ever come of it, I'm not sure she has the money to spare either though.

JennyConnor said:
How about loaning him out? That way you have the best of both worlds - You get a chance to study and get some money behind you whilst your horse still gets worked and looked after
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I don't really want to loan him out. Too may bad experiences. He's quite precious and worried he'd come back ruined!!

Honey08 said:
And breathe!

I would perhaps put him up for sale at a cheap, but not stupidly cheap, price and see if you get any interest. If not turn him away for the winter, it won't do him any harm, and see where you are when spring comes round.
Click to expand...

be positive said:
This^^^, he will not forget what he has learnt if turned away, yes he will need to start again fitness wise but it really will do no harm and at 4 rising 5 may well be good for him and certainly let you have a break, loaning such a young pony is a risk I would prefer to turn away.
Click to expand...

How much would you advertise a 14.2hh 4 year old PBA show pony for? He's smart, potential's there. Plodded round some shows and hacks out. Can be a bit of a baby...scared of puddles but walks down a stream no problem! Classic arab trait...

I think maybe I'll man up put him up for sale at a realistic price then if I get no interest I'll turn away...does seem sensible!!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Traditionally horses would be turned away over the winter after breaking and benefit greatly from it. For your own sanity and health - and because you NEED to do well with your Uni work - I would turn him away. he will be ready for you to bring him back into work in Spring, without you having the extra pressure of all the mucking out etc over the winter. If your Mum doesn't want you to sell him, would she contirbute to some of the costs, so that you can cut your work hours down?
Click to expand...

Sorry only just seen this one! He was broken last winter and then turned away til April, did him the world of good! You're so right. You really are. Think I might print off this reply and stick it on my head!
 
As someone who chose to live at home while at uni so I could keep my horses (but had to work nights and weekends to pay for them) I have to say, my time at uni was not fun. Which it is supposed to be. Hard work, obviously, but fun. And between uni and my various jobs I didn't actually have time to do anything with my horses anyway. So if I had my time again, I'd sell them and concentrate on uni and non-horsey stuff for a few years.

But...if you decide to sell, I wouldn't recommend underselling him. Your priority will be to find the best owner you can for him, even if it takes time.

Could your mum not help out? If not financially, then with some of the day to day stuff during term time, to give you more time to study?

Maybe the best option would be to find a sharer who could help out with costs, would save you time and money.

Good luck whatever you decide!
 
I sold my horses when I went off to college (nobody really kept them or took them 20yrs ago) and I don't regret it. I changed a heck of a lot in those ten years until I got a horse again. I worked with horses for a while, so still had contact. It just meant that when I got a horse later on I had a house and car sorted first, then got the horse I'd always wanted when I could afford it! I had a fab time at college, then again at uni a few years later. My money and time went on me, my studies and fun. Nowadays its even easier, there are loads of horses to share. As for loaning - well, there are already two threads on here today about horses going back when the owner can't afford to take them back... Food for thought..

Re valuations, I have no idea about that type. I think the best way to value a horse is to type their age/type/experience into a horses for sale website and see what others are going for (especially good if some have sold - what people ask is often not what they're going to get!)
 
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