Do you owe your horse a retirement?

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Shilasdair

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Is it morally right to sell on an older horse, or do we owe them a retirement?
Views, please (but be nice - no biting
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S
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I felt after 8 years of hard work which resulted in him breaking his leg whilst on loan to a para rider that Murphy deserved a retirement, we only managed 18 months but he lived it as he loved to live, out with a bunch of girlfriends, I had him put down in the summer before the weather turned as he was not lying down any more. I am glad now that he had that time being a horse and that I put him down when I did.
 
I feel if a horse has given you happy years then yes its owed a retirement. I guess it depends on everyones circumstances as to weather they can afford to keep a big pet. But both my hores will live out there days happily in there field untill nature takes its course.
 
But you wouldn't keep a car that didn't run any longer - so why keep a horse which can't be ridden any more?
And if you can only afford one horse, then is it right to put your old, unsound horse down so you can have one to ride?
After all, you only live one life and have a right to enjoy it.
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I feel I owe my girl her retirement when we get to that point. I have had her 18yrs this July and I love her dearly and do feel I owe it to her, even if I can still not afford a second horse when I have to retire her, I would not pass her on.
 
IMHO I believe they deserve retirement.
My old gal lived her days out with us after being retired from work due to ill health, until she needed PTS.
All my other horses will do exactly the same thing.
 
I felt I owed my old horse a retirement. He'd given me so much it was the least I could do. It made me skint as I got another horse that I could ride but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

That's me but I know other people feel differently and have different circumstances.
 
I definitely owe my horse a retirement. She owes me nothing and I have had so much fun with her that I would be only too happy to keep her into her dotage.

I couldn't sell her anyway as she is loaned from a rescue charity - but I wouldn't dream of sending her back there, she has done me proud so far and I hope to repay that.

I have sold oldish horses in the past - my first pony was sold on aged 18 but only to a home where they would have a future (she taught a whole family to ride as was totally bombproof).
 
I got my old boy at 18, i had the best 5 years out of him!! I then kept him as an only horse till he passed away at 29. Best horse in the world as far as im concerned x
 
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But you wouldn't keep a car that didn't run any longer - so why keep a horse which can't be ridden any more?


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sentimentality.
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I can only afford to run one horse at the moment, but hope that when the time comes I will be able to afford to keep mine in retirement and get a new one too.
 
'I' don't personally, but someone has a lot to answer for and owes him a hell of a lot. Eleven years old and completely battered - he's far too young for the type of future he faces at this stage in his life.

He has his retirement now, with me, but he deserved better.
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My old man is retired (I last rode him 2 years ago, aside from last Christmas day when I hopped on bareback for a photo). In all honesty he does prevent me from having another riding horse but I don't feel I could get enjoyment from a horse knowing that I'd dispatched my old friend to make way for it. Hopefully at some point I will be in a position to have both.
 
Well one of mine retired last week (another in summer), I've bought one back so he can come home to retire... and the fourth is still going! LOL!
(I guess I'm the wrong person to be asking?
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Kate x
 
If I've kept a horse to an older age then it is for one reason - it is a good horse! For that reason yes I do owe the horse a suitable retirement. I would do everything in my power not to sell on an older horse, but have no qualms about loaning at all. Obviously depends on individual circumstances but I personally feel that it's my responsibility to do the right thing for my horses.
 
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But you wouldn't keep a car that didn't run any longer - so why keep a horse which can't be ridden any more?


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sentimentality.
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I can only afford to run one horse at the moment, but hope that when the time comes I will be able to afford to keep mine in retirement and get a new one too.

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Totally second this, and I hope I too can afford a second when I do have to retire my girl
 
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I don't feel I could get enjoyment from a horse knowing that I'd dispatched my old friend to make way for it.

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Think you've hit the nail on the head for me there.
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I have known mine since he was a 4 yo when a friend got him and he's 20 now, i was gifted him to give him a home for the rest of his life as he can be quirky but he means the world to me and even if i can't afford to have another he will be kept in comfort.
 
I have currently 2 horses a 7 year old TB who i ride and a rising 14.2hh 12 year old welsh x pony.

I've had my pony for 7 years since i was 13, he is now semi retired, almost fully retired. He has had alot of problems over the years and isn't up to hard work, only hacking occasionally.

He is with me for life, i couldn't bear to part with him and with all his problems i'd worry where he would end up.

Infact if it came to parting with him or the TB which i'd ride the TB would actually go first.
 
As many of you prob know Lucy has been resently diagnosed with a rare illness and the vets gave her a less than 50% chance of servival and if she does beat the odds noone knows what is going to happen. Some of my friends have told me i should just put Lucy down but i could not do that she is my best friend we have been through so much together over the last 12 years. She has worked hard for me and now i owe her a retirement. Even if i couldn't have another horse i will keep Lucy for however long she is happy to stay around. If she was in pain it would be another matter. But when i see her playing in the field it makes me so happy. I don't know how long i have left with Lucy but i make everyday count and if she is still here in the summer she will spend her time playing auntie to the foals at work. She does love babys but sadly her illness is hereditary (sp?) so she can't have her own.
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How long is a piece of string?

For me it would depend entirely on WHY I was retiring the horse, for instance if he was on daily pain medication, then no, I wouldn't retire him I would pts, I live in a country where the climate is not kind to old, achey bones, or delicate legs and feet, it would be cruel. Simply old age, wear and tear, then yes, and play it very much on a day to day basis.

But then, could I afford it? If I could, all well and good, if I couldn't, then again, I'd PTS because I will not sell a horse and have heaven knows what happen, I don't loan. I am damned if I will chicken out pass the buck to someone else when it is my horse, my responsibility.

I had a fit, healthy, but almost completely blind 14 year old pts because I couldn't keep him, and couldn't take him with me. I knew then, and still feel now, that I did the right thing for my horse, his future was secure. He went with his head in a bowl of oats at the kennels, food and hounds, he was a very happy horse at that particular moment.
 
From the other side I have bought an older horse that was semi retired, she had six happy years with me, the final one in full retirement before ill health meant it was best have her PTS.
There very often is a job and a good home for the older horse, although those homes do need to be carefully vetted
 
Each to their own. My horses owe me nothing, but I owe them alot, so yes I do keep them in retirement and have them pts when the time comes and no I would never sell them on, only a person with a cold hear and no morals would do that.
 
I dont owe one of my horses a retirement. I bought him as a 16 year old and very soon after he showed his true colours. He was a complete nightmare to handle. Had never been reprimanded by his previous owner for this behaviour so it was hard to get him out of it. He also had an old tendon injury that crept up when I started riding him (all i did was light work). My fault for not getting him vetted I guess. Im only 25 years old myself.

Anyway he is now 20 years old. Slightly better to handle after consistantly disciplining him for 3 years. Ive only been able to ride him a handful of times.

He is now a field ornament but if there ever comes a time where I am struggling with money he will be PTS with out a doubt and unfortunately I fear that time is coming slightly faster than expected as my one remaining parent hasnt got much longer left so I will have to find somewhere to live.

On the other hand my youngster who is nearly 4 years old will always be with me til the day she dies. I am going to ride her and enjoy her for many years to come so it's only right in this case that I keep her when she is an old timer.
 
I have 4 retired ponies, 3 of which went on loan after my daughter grew out of them but they have all come home when retired. The other one we bred from and we have 3 offspring in total, she is now 20 so wont have any more. Judas, the oldest is 32 and we all love him, he deserves his retirement having taught loads of children the ups and downs of riding. We have 11 just now which is far too many in this weather! I love my oldies.
 
I think so yes, I bought a 3 year old who went on to give me so much fun, she is now 29 & has earnt her pension.
I think it is my moral duty to care for her in her old age & then make the decision to put her down at the right time.
I have no intention of shirking my responsibility to her.
 
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