Do you follow your head or heart....?

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serena2005

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I fell in love with a horse a few years ago, hadnt been ridden in years so I said Id help them bring her back into work. a few months down the line shes going lovely, amazingly schooled horse, shows off her dressage skills at any chance given!
But my situation changed, I moved and stopped riding her, her work carried on for a bit but has fallen back in to the rut of no one having time.
I almost convinced my OH to let me have her as my own. didnt happen!
So visited her recently with intention on picking up where I left off... and shes in a right state :( skinny, no muscle actually looks like a rescue case, still got her spirit though!

I want to sort her out and make her into the horse she could be, but is that just my heart talking? is 15 too old?
Iv convinced my self I can afford her and have the time (ok maybe with a little help!) or do I walk away what would you do?
 
Similar story to one of mine, helping back/etc but the opposite problem weight wise.

Never looked back with her.

Broke my heart to sell her last week.

Do it if you can and you feel 'something' there [providing no 'problems' causing it]. You rarely get second chances.
 
Heart. If you want to get her back to her former self then go for it.
This is what my loan horse was like, passed from pillar to post after owner lost intrest. A local girl used to take her hunting showing and did cross country with her. She ended up stuck in a field being hacked a few times a week, she was a mess with ribs showing and no muscle. Shes lovely so I took her on in October and havent looked back! People said she should just be retired at her age- 14!? Nothing to me. Careful hacking and schooling means I now have a wonderful horse that schools and jumps properly. Hoping to maybe enter her in a comp in summer!
Go for it and good luck. Horse is not too old! :)
 
15 really isnt anything! Thats the youngest at the yard I am on and oldest is 34! We have super none ageing ponies! Only one is retired. As long as she is in reasonable condition and has 4 legs then I think you should be fine :)
 
Maria13 said:
As long as she is in reasonable condition and has 4 legs then I think you should be fine :)
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I suppose on a 0-5 body scoring chart 0 being a skeleton 5 being obese shes probably a 1 and a half you can see her spine and ribs but not her tail bone, she has a bit of a belly but im reassured shes wormed! she has all 4 legs in reasonable condition, the old lump or bump!
and an awfully skinny neck.
 
Get her, it's rare to come across a horse you have that sort of connection with and if you don't you''ll always be thinking what if.
Btw my old boy was given to me when he was 16 by my mum and I had 10 fantastic and productive years with him. My little mare I got aged 5 and sadly only had her for 4 years before the died.
Age is no guarantee of longevity unfortunately.
It also sounds like she is low mileage so you may find she's more like a normal 10yr old than a 15yr old :).
 
Firewell said:
Get her, it's rare to come across a horse you have that sort of connection with and if you don't you''ll always be thinking what if.
Btw my old boy was given to me when he was 16 by my mum and I had 10 fantastic and productive years with him. My little mare I got aged 5 and sadly only had her for 4 years before the died.
Age is no guarantee of longevity unfortunately.
It also sounds like she is low mileage so you may find she's more like a normal 10yr old than a 15yr old :).
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Thats how I see it!!
 
I got my old boy when he was 21 and I was just turned 13. We competed throughout our time together, had an amazing time and he was my horse of a lifetime. He was PTS aged 27, and if we hadn't gone to see him because of his age I would have missed those years of utter joy.

15 compared to him is nothing. We were winning at RC level merrily right up until the end. Without him I would have quit ages ago. I miss him so much and I wouldn't have been without those amazing years.
 
Heart definitely :)
I got my boy in similar circumstances to yours he was 14, been left in a field for 3/4 years no neck, in fact no muscle really anywhere. But now hes doing really well, he's gone from barely filling a 5'9 rug to filling a 6'3 - we've done a bit of everything and going to try some endurance in the summer hopefully.
15 is no age these days, lenamore is still going round badminton at 19!

If you can afford it, then take her, life is too short to wonder what if... :D
 
Heart , every time .

When looking for first pony, I wanted a bombproof , totally reliable , steady cob. And ended up with a 3 yr old Arab x welsh, because I fell in love with her the moment I opened the stable door and there she was grinning at me . I lost her two years ago at the age of 34 , and she wasn't retired then .

My big horse I knew would be mine the day a new livery came onto the yard , and six months later he was , even though I was 7 months pregnant at the time. After bringing him back from neglect , he's now a thoroughly spoilt creature who thinks he should have staff .

And tomorrow , I'm going to look at a new horse in a similar situation to yours . I suspect what the outcome may be :D :D :D :rolleyes:
 
I love your stories!!
It's making me determined to do it.
Timing is pretty bad for me at the mo. But getting weight on her is the 1st job, then hopefully in a few months ill be In a better position to take her over full time.
 
Get off the forum and start shopping for her lol! Seriously, 15 is nothing and if you like the mare and you have a connection I wouldn't hesitate. Ok so she's probably not going to take you to the next Olympics at that age and with a recent history like that but like my other half would say, that's only a problem if you want to go to the Olympics! Similar to another who posted on here I took on a 6 year old rescue case who sadly had to be PTS due to a tumour at the age of 9, the 7 year old that I took on I still have to this day (he turns 18 in two months time) and still does local level dressage, hacks out, t*ts about in the field with the youngsters, gives the farrier more trouble than my other 5 put together and gives better advice than any therapist or psychiatrist could ever hope to. If you like her and she likes you go for it, enjoy every minute of it and don't look back. It's far better to live life than regret it ;) Good luck to the pair of you!
 
I go with my gut instinct. My heart would get me into all sorts of problems and my head is far too rational. Somewhere inside is that feeling that won't be budged or persuaded. That's when you know ;)
 
Yes cambrica I know what you mean. Half of me wants to go get her now! The other half says don't be stupid. But I can't help but think everyday of how I can have her, what I'm gonna feed her, going to our first show! Ok dreaming far to far ahead! Lol
 
I think the question of whether you should take the horse on is a no brainer...yes. However, you mention that you OH is not convinced....this is a problem that needs addressing to prevent agro down the line...you need him on board also. What are his concerns?
 
He's just not a horse person! And knows how obsessed I get with them and how much time they need.
The main problem is my situation at the mo is not ideal for me to have her. I haven't the time she needs really.
The owner has offered to give her to me on more than 1 occasion, so not really buying her.but I understand the whole £1 thing.
I'm obviously not going to have her if I honesty think I can't manage, I'm gonna spend the next few months getting weight on her, and hopefully be in a better situation to finally call her mine!
 
Heart here (although used to be head - I've softened!)

I bought Alf for £1 last year - he's 15, high maintenance, and had long term soundness issues. He's been off work most for the time I've had him while I poured money into the vets/physios/farriers/dentists/supplement co's pockets - but if it comes off, I'll have a very nice PSG horse - for £1.

If it doesn't, I have an absolute sweetheart of a happy hacker/large pet, who flutters his nostrils every time I talk to him.

Win Win situ...
 
She has had no issues as far as I'm aware, but what issues can they have after not being ridden for years? Minus the past year she's all ways been in good health.
 
My mare will be 19 this April. She was retired for three years due to injury. I am just starting to bring her back into work again now (keeps getting postponed due to various issues, saddle fit and weather being the latest), but when I do get on her, she feels better than ever. So no, 15 is certainly not too old!
 
Haven't read any of the other posts but I say buy her! Sounds like your horse of a life time :)
I fell in love with a skinny, dull little ex racer, 5 months later and he was mine :)
Get her weight up, bring her back into work slowly and by autumn you'll have a fab horse :) I don't regret a thing about taking on a horse in poor condition, it's so rewarding :)
 
That's great wagtail!
I don't think she's too old, she certainly doesn't act it!
She's so well schooled I can't wait to find out how much she really knows!
Iv just heard stories of what she's done!
 
As long as you have the time money and commitment to feed keep clean and care for her she wont care if she isnt ridden and will be happy for you just to be her mum but I would be wary of pouring money for feeding her into her without at least a commitment from her owner in writing that she is to be yours I would hate for her to get fit and well and the owner to ask big money or sell her from under you. Maybe a half share and buy her for a fiver rather than a pound give her the two pounds fifty and get a written receipt for it. Then it would mean you either finish paying the other two fifty or if she is sold for any other reason you get half the money.
Cynical yes but have been done over by so many friends I dont take the risk any more
 
windand rain said:
As long as you have the time money and commitment to feed keep clean and care for her she wont care if she isnt ridden and will be happy for you just to be her mum but I would be wary of pouring money for feeding her into her without at least a commitment from her owner in writing that she is to be yours I would hate for her to get fit and well and the owner to ask big money or sell her from under you. Maybe a half share and buy her for a fiver rather than a pound give her the two pounds fifty and get a written receipt for it. Then it would mean you either finish paying the other two fifty or if she is sold for any other reason you get half the money.
Cynical yes but have been done over by so many friends I dont take the risk any more
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Agree. You can't trust anyone when its something like this.
 
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