Do we think 'field ornament'

carthorse

carthorse

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Long story cut short.
Friend rescued from going to sales a 12 year old TB broodmare. History vague. Soft lump like half a tennis ball on point of croup sometimes. My friend is 65 and looks after mare like the best comp horse.
She is worried that as her own health has not been too good that the mare may out live her. She contacted the race horse rehab. Place but was worried that if they find the mare cannot be ridden they will have pts so she decided to see if someone could try from beginning to back her.
Asked vet when doing vacs about back and should she have it xrayed but advice was see how it goes first as it will cost £500.
She has set aside £1000 to give the mare a chance. She found someone she liked to back the horse. He came and lunged her. She seemed to understand lunging, was fast at first but settled and was happy with roller and loose side reins. Makes me think someone has tried before.
Then the snow came and arena couldnt be used. Now she cant get hold of this chap at all.
I offered to do some of the lunging and teach her. First day great. Second day she went out on left rein fine, bit fast a couple of times then relaxed and trot walk trot lovely. Right rein super. My friend took over right rein excellent. Left rein just kept turning in. I took over but could only just keep her out at walk and she really didnt want to trot. Changed back to right rein perfect. Changed back to left rein no go. I feel she is saying it hurts.
We have heard that someone tried to ride her before and she reared but my friend thought maybe she had never been ridden before that and she needed to completely start from beginning.
I said I will lunge today to see how she is and my friend wants my physio to check her but I am worried my friend is just chucking her money away which she can ill afford and maybe she should just keep her as a field ornament and if my friend becomes to ill she will have to have her pts. My friend would never ride her anyway but thought if she was backed the mare would have some chance in life.
I work full time so cant carry on lunging after today as I have just had a weeks holiday to help her.
Feel sorry for my friend and the mare maybe she should tell vet to xray but maybe she should just let it be. The mare is happy and lovely to handle and is sound
 
If she's mainly worried about the mare's continuing care after her death I suggest that she leaves the mare as she is for now, puts the money that she would be prepared to spend on treatment into a separate account, looks around at retirement homes and / or charities and asks someone to draw her up an agreement with trustees (or whatever the legal term is) that the mare is looked after using these funds in the event of her (the owner's) death. If she can add to it a little every month then her mare's future is more assured.
 
If your friend keeps her as a pampered pet as long as she can and if she is no longer able to keep her in a few years have her PTS. I would think many a horse would be happy with that.
 
hobo said:
If your friend keeps her as a pampered pet as long as she can and if she is no longer able to keep her in a few years have her PTS. I would think many a horse would be happy with that.
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Totally agree.

I have a very precious 19 y/o who's 'tricky' If I get ill/ too old I'm going to approach national charities and ask them if they will take him on in return for a substantial donation (I know they are full and would typically say no) I think if they were offered £10k ish that is plenty to look after him in retirement for a few years and to help other horses at the same time so they may well think about it. I'd be happy if they loaned him out as a companion as I trust their loan schemes to keep a good eye on him.
If they say it has to be £15k - oh well my family will have less inheritence from me but they will understand!
 
As someone has said there are several charities that you can bequeath your horse to in the event of your death, the charity then takes care of the horse/finds a loan home or would euthanise if in the horse's best interests.

If the owner is ill then the added stress of breaking her horse and trying to delve into any physical problems will probably not be helping her.

I'd be inclined to leave the horse as she is and either pts in the event that she can't be cared for or go the charity route.

I'd normally agree that backing and riding away would be beneficial, but with a horse that age it will probably still be difficult to rehome as she'll have done so little, even excluding any physical issues which would lower her value and affect the type of home she could go to.
 
You are thinking like me. My friend is a lovely lady and I think she has dreams of this mare being ridden by a lovely rider and going on to be happy.... In the real world this rarely happens.
My daughter used to jump this lady's pony . He was an amazing jumper and she loved to watch him. Sadly I have to give her my best advice but I know she wants to give this mare every chance but I feel she is wasting her money. I will see how the mare is today but I dont know how much she should spend its her money. The mare doesnt seem in pain in her life but maybe work will give her pain. She is stabled and rugged and loved.
 
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