Dilemma - what should I do? - (Sorry...long)

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jumpthemoon

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Ok so I have a dilemma. As well as my main horse I have a 13yo TB mare who can't really be ridden due to back problems. She is capable of hacking in walk and trot but thats about it. My other horse has to be kept in livery because I need the facilities, which means she is kept on her own at my dads house. She doesnt seem to mind too much but I feel a bit sorry for her not having a companion
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and I dont have much time to spend with her. I still check her every day and she comes in at night if the weather is bad. She gets a good groom and has a nice big field to run round in. I worry about selling her because I don't want her to be used as a brood mare and she is so sweet I want her to be looked after.

My dilemma is what to do with her - should I...

a) keep her as she is and stop worrying about it
b) put her on loan
c) sell her for a small price - find a nice home

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keep her where she is if ur happy and she is. U wouldnt want to sell her not knowing if she is gunna be better off or not. Reality is that she may well be used as a brood mare and may ruin her kind nature! Stay put!!!
 
Could you not try and find a pony as a field companion. You could advertise and perhaps get one really cheap or free even.
I would defo keep her though x
 
Honestly....I would keep her if I were you, she doesn't seem bothered on her own really, and over the winter it would be much easier if you just had one down there because of the fields. You could always get her a little pony for company though, if it might stop you worrying and make you feel better. She seems so content and happy with you, and you give her such a good home.
 
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how about
d) offer space in field to a small pony companion?

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I've thought about this but it's a bit difficult as the access is through my Dad's remote controlled gates, so they would need a remote and it does disturb him a bit. I also considered loaning a companion but I think its a bit silly to loan a companion for a companion, if you see what I mean? Also, I have my work cut out with two horses so three would be a nightmare!

I really want to keep her and I'd love to be able to work her enough so that she can go on short hacks agian, but I just dont have the time to spend with her at the minute
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if she is happy as she is I would either leave her as she is why change something that doesn't need changing or would find a companion for her if you are worried about her being lonely. I would be too worried about selling her but then I am a big softy
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keep her as she is an unrideable 13 year old tb has a very uncertain future if you decide to move her on.

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OMG thats it - she's going nowhere! I think I'm going to have to convince my Dad he likes mucking out when the winter comes!
 
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Get a few sheep.They will keep the grass down and provide abit of company for the horse.My horse loves sheep.
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I hadn't thought of that....are they hard to look after? Do I chuck them in a stable in the winter? What about a goat? oooh My dad would love some sheep or a goat....
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I would keep the TB as she is if she's happy. If she's not and she's crock I'd have her put down. I certainly wouldn't pass her on. God knows where she'd end up.
 
Avoid goats! They eat EVERYTHING! Your hedges, fences, buckets will all be ruined!
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Sheep are pretty easy to look, you could just have 2 or 3. They're pretty low maintenance, you feed them hay and sheep nuts in the winter, and you could either bring them into a stable or just put a field shelter out for them.
They'd need shearing in the summer, and they need worming and their feet trimming every so often, but I'm sure there's a smallholder or farmer local to you somewhere who'd help you out with that.
A bonus is that they keep the grazing so much nicer than it will be with only being grazed by a horse, and they break the worm cycle too!
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i vote for option e) find a nice person (maybe elderly lady) that wants to potter around the country side and spend time around her then you get to keep her but can stop worrying and she would have the attention.

Just a thought

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I have thought about trying to find someone who wants to hack (in walk/trot only!) but she is a bit sharp, although 110% bombproof in traffic, so I think I'd struggle TBH!
 
I definitely vote for the sheep idea! My friend's miniature shetland thinks he is a sheep! He is so attached them now!
When I had mine at home and my pony needed someone to live out with I contacted a local sanctuary and looked after a pony for a while - when I didn't need her anymore she went back and I used to go and visit. That way your dad wouldn't be interrupted... or a sanctuary might have a donkey!!!
 
Ilfield - I have thought about contacting the RSPCA / local animal charity and offering a place for a rescue case. I wasn't sure if they did this or not. I know the RSPCA are usually pretty unhelpful....
 
There is a sanctuary near epping forest that was recommended to us and we contacted them to see if they had anything that could come and live with us. They did a home visit and then offered us Trixie who was perfect. I guess if you wanted to go down that route you would probably be better off contacting the actual sanctuaries rather than the RSPCA, I think you may get a better response.
I would keep your horse though, my boy had been badly treated when i got him and it was so sad. (not that that happens to them all but i'd be so worried about him slipping back into the wrong hands - which is why i still have my pony 20 yrs on!!)
 
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I would keep your horse though, my boy had been badly treated when i got him and it was so sad. (not that that happens to them all but i'd be so worried about him slipping back into the wrong hands - which is why i still have my pony 20 yrs on!!)

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I think I will have to keep her - when I got her she was so nervous she shook all over when you touched her and she was so headshy you couldnt get a headcollar on her. Now, you wouldn't guess she had been like that, but I couldn't live with myself if she fell into the wrong hands...
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i had a neurotic tb ex racer as a companion, he was a bit nuts for a year or so when i got him, used to hide down the field behind a tree, thought that if he couldnt see anyone they couldnt see him either
 
mine is a bit neurotic, too - when I get to the yard she will be grazing away but as soon as she sees me she gallops flat out to the gate. She also weaves in the field when she wants to come in - never in the stable - odd horse!
 
Difficult isn't it. I know people that are very matter of fact about the whole thing... when 'it's' not of use anymore get rid of it. I just don't think it is that easy. I have my darling little pony who was retired far too early but i'd had enough of horrid kids pulling her around and then one day i'm going to have to retire my boy too... not sure how i'll ever have the time to get something else but i've decided not to think about it and i'll cross that bridge when i have to!
Hope you find a solution...
 
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mine is a bit neurotic, too - when I get to the yard she will be grazing away but as soon as she sees me she gallops flat out to the gate. She also weaves in the field when she wants to come in - never in the stable - odd horse!

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Sometimes it's enought just knowing that you have given them a home for life. A little companion definately sounds the way to go.
 
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