Dilemma - been offered a horse I don't want.

The Virgin Dubble

The Virgin Dubble

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A friend of ours has recently been suffering ill health, and has asked if I will have her horse (free), as she is no longer able to look after him.

He is 15 years old, and has rather stiff hocks, and although he's a good boy, and is fine for hacking and pleasure rides, I am not doing enough with mine as it is, so it would be daft to take another on.

However, if I don't have him, the chances are that he will be PTS, as she won't let him go to just anybody.
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Advice please?
 
He is one of those horses who would go stir crazy doing nothing.

If he was for retirement, I might have considered having him, but he loves to go out, and sadly, I just don't have the time to take on another ridden horse.
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Maybe if you agree to have him and look after him would she consider finding someone else to just ride him? Maybe even she could ride him if she doesn't have to do all the looking after etc which may be what she cant cope with? She may not of asked you this as she wouldnt want you to feel like you were looking after her horse for her to ride when she wanted but if you happy to have him as a companion then that is basically all he would be to you. I hope that makes sense
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!!!
 
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LOL, yes that made sense!
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She is unable to ride him though because of her health probs (back problems
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In that case I am out of ideas, sorry
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! Good luck though, I hope it works out ok for everyone.
 
TBH - there's no point agreeing to take a horse on just to help out a friend if its going to be a burden and not get the exercise it requires - if you haven't got time to ride it, then its not going to be happy anyway. It would put too much pressure on you to keep this horse with your friend watching what you do.

I feel dreadfully sorry for your friend if she is too unwell to keep her horse any longer but I bet there are plenty of good loan homes or sharers who could help out.
 
Contact the VHS, they will take horses and put them on loan to homes that will suit the horse. the loan is highly supervised and should the loaner have to give the horse back they will find it anouther suitable home
 
We all know it's not so much the purchase of the horse that is the main cost burden but the looking after it. I personally think it's quite unfair of your friend to put you in this position, harsh though that will sound. If you cannot take on the responsibility, cost and time commitment that this horse will entail, then you must refuse. It's sad, but a horse is such a huge commitment that it wouldn't be fair on either you or the horse for you to agree out of guilt.
I can of course see why your friend would want to give you her horse - and it's a lovely compliment to you - but I am sure she will understand your refusal. I hope she can find him a good home, but you are not responsible for what happens to him.
 
The horse would possibly find a great home thru project horses.A lot of people would give their eye teeth for a mature happy hacker, he could have the best of both worlds then, lots of tlc and still getting out and about.

The owner has to think what is best for the horse at the end of the day.Sorry if it sounds a bit harsh but it's a bit selfish if she won't consider putting the work in to find the right home for him.There's a huge difference between letting him go to 'just anybody' and letting him go to a properly vetted,5star loving home.

These homes are out there, she will just have to put the work in to find the right one for him.

It is heartbreaking to have to part with a horse,but it can be done and everybody can be happy with the outcome.Best of luck with this.
 
oh god no Dubs...don't put him on PH..

That website is full of messed up horses (usually Parrelli'd to death!!) with muppets for owners...

would you like me to ask around down here? i know she said only you....but....

if there is no joy, then rather than him being passed around, PTS will be kinder.
 
Thank you for the replies and suggestions, and no JM, I agree, I would definitely not put him on PH.

I can report that after a hectic day, and a brainwave, I have found him a local home with a lady (a primary school teacher at the village school) who runs a little riding club for horse mad, but horse-less youngsters at the weekends.

He will do hacks out, local shows, and the occasional fun ride, and my friend can see him whenever she wants to, and is over the moon.
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Phew!
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