Dilemma - help!?!

T

tangoharvey

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2009
Messages
843
Location
in the clouds
Visit site
I have just sold my 13hh gelding and had the deposit for him. For various reasons he is staying with me til mid december. I have owned him for 6 years and he is 9. I had a call from the buyer to say how is he doing, and he happened to mention that the yard where he is going has no turnout over winter, the horses are stabled 24/7 til spring. My pony has always lived out and had the run of 40 acres with a herd of others, the only time he is stabled is when he is ill. He is ok overnight but more than a few days he gets very fresh and a bit naughty - I have expressed my concerns about this as I feel its almost cruel especially as my pony has always lived out. so... should I
a) leave it as it is and let him go knowing I have done my best to warn the new owner he might be a git if stabled long term?
b) tell him the deals off and find a buyer that has 24/7 turnout which is what the horse is used to?
confused.gif
confused.gif

c) some thing else?!

I really am worried and only want what is best for the horse, am I being overprotective?
 
I would definately see if the new owner can find another yard with winter turnout either 24/7 or at the very least 12 hour , or possible consider forgetting the deal.
I know yards want to preserve ground but stabling is solitary confinement to horses and even if the had a big winter tunout yard for horses it would solve a lot of horses problems.
I am like you I actually refused to sell one of mine as this is what she would have been subjected to,It took me the best part of 18 months to get her to accept that she wasn't going to be stabled, now she is the sweetest mare going with no panic attacks, I can actually take her into the stable to groom and saddle up etc without her breaking into a sweat , weaving, shivering and getting so strung out.luckily I do rent my own land and can do this, I have a Winter paddock and although it gets muddy, The horses are out, well rugged , plenty of shelter -although they never use it, they use the trees.they are so happy and chilled, this includes my Cleveland Bay stallion too
 
That's a tough one especially if you're happy with the buyer you've found for your horse.

I personally think it's very hard on ponies to be stabled 24/7 unless box rest, etc, and maybe even harder on a pony that is used to be being out all the time so doesn't have a regular stable routine at all.

I know of one friend who had a Highland she sold and horse ended up being kept in a lot at the new home and the former owner got a call just a couple of weeks down the line to say the horse was being very badly behaved so the former owner retrieved her horse as she just wasn't happy seeing a good horse then develop issues from being stabled too much.

Could you explore with the new owner whether they can at all find a yard where your horse can at least be out daytime and stabled at night - would be cheaper for them possibly through the winter anyway to do this? If the horse is being ridden regularly then at least it gets to stretch its legs but otherwise it's a lot of standing in for a pony that's not used to it.

I have to say if it were my horse I just couldn't let it be stabled all winter unless it were due to health issues. I'm one of those who thinks you have to let a horse be a horse and have turnout at least for a small part of each day and I believe in the power of Dr Green! And I think turn-out or opportunity to graze is one of the basic needs that people list for horses. I think the welfare organisations talk about allowing a horse to express their natural behaviour or something like that.

Don't envy you the quandary you're in but hope you can resolve it for the best for your pony.
 
The problem with selling is that even if you sell to someone with lovely turnout they can always immediately, or later when their circumstances change, sell on to someone without.

If you want to ensure you maintain a degree of control over your pony's welfare really you should be considering a long-term loan (prefereably at his present home, to a place you can visit or a yard you know and trust).

Otherwise if this one doesn't come up with another potential home call it off (unless you have an agreement saying you can't). Return the deposit with heaps of apologies and interest if appropriate (won't be a lot but nice gesture) and finally compile a checklist of everything you regard as minimum standards you'd be prepared to sell to. That way when new viewers come you can 'vet' them and not have too many surprises later.
 
I don't like horses being in 24/7 either, but I think the more important point here is that your pony is likely to be too lively for the new owner if kept this way. If the new owner has problems with the pony they are more likely to try to sell it on, so this doesn't look like such a good home anymore.

I would discuss this directly with the new owner, try to get them to see that they would be getting themselves into trouble with this arrangement and if they can't or won't make other arrangements, don't sell them the pony.
 
personally id call it off, one of mine (Marley) lives out because he hates being stabled, he shakes, paces and sweats up if you put him in and if (not that i ever would now) i were to sell him or loan him i would never let him go anywhere other than 24/7 turnout all year round with company
 
I wouldnt call it off just yet - id say hes not going until he has 24/7 turnout and if they cant come up with it then call it off
 
You say the new owners aren't having him until December. Is there any particular reason for this? Why not speak to them and see if they can wait a little longer for him and offer to keep him liveried at your place until the spring (if you have the space and time, that is!) .
 
I would call off the deal.I think it shows an attitude to horse ownership that I wouldn't want a horse of mine to go to. They will tell you they will keep him out if they want to buy him, but next winter he'll be inside. I refused to sell a horse to people who wanted to keep her in a yard where she would have had one hour turnout in a paddock all by herself "so she didn't hurt herself".
 
Thanks all - all is well rang to discuss and i miss heard him - he will only be in at night which is fine, but its a good learning point to establish everything before you sell to avoid sleepless nights!! He will be in a good home and I can now sleep easy....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top