Free to a good home

[mymare]

Who the hell advertises their horse Free to Good Home on FB for christ's sake?! Has the "loving home" been vetted?

 

[shortstuff99]

Just as a thought why because the horse is old does that mean the horse can't find a nice home? If this horse was 10 years younger no one would care that she was being sold! And the horse could end up in a bad home and still be passed around.

Not my personal view as I still have all of mine but just wondering!

 

[Goldenstar]

Because IMO most horses land in that forever home when they are younger people bulld up that bond that sees the horse through its whole life and because old horses like old people tug at the heart strings

 

[shortstuff99]

I guess so, but if they can find a loving permanent home then this is better then PTS? I worry more when people don't care who buys their horse whatever the age and they end up in unsuitable homes!

Maybe this is more common with older horses or sellers with financial issues.

 

[Goldenstar]

I guess so, but if they can find a loving permanent home then this is better then PTS? I worry more when people don't care who buys their horse whatever the age and they end up in unsuitable homes!

Maybe this is more common with older horses or sellers with financial issues.

The key thing in your post is the IF and there are worse fates than being PTS .
A companion home where the owner knows the people or of them though friends is one thing but posted on Facebook is another.

 

[stencilface]

Currently have a friend looking for a companion pony after her old old passed away this week - perhaps she'll use fb to find one?

We got an old horse aged 19 (and previously took on a blue cross horse aged 22) and current horse (now 27) is still living the life of riley. I think tbh my mum just likes buying veteran feed and then moaning about the cost

 

[shortstuff99]

I guess people will always do what they are happy/comfortable with. Some people have different attachments to horses then othersand therefore will always see things diferently.

I however, am a terrible sentimentalist and still own my 25yr old pony and 18 year old horse and now a 3 year old as I can never bring myself to part with them as they are like family to me! But I guess not everyone feels that way and we should take that into account.

 

[Goldenstar]

Currently have a friend looking for a companion pony after her old old passed away this week - perhaps she'll use fb to find one?

We got an old horse aged 19 (and previously took on a blue cross horse aged 22) and current horse (now 27) is still living the life of riley. I think tbh my mum just likes buying veteran feed and then moaning about the cost

if your friend asks around she will find one no trouble , one of my friends keeps one horse at home and has given a series of oldies a lovely companion home including who arrived in a bit of a state and with a bit of TLC ended up going on loan to a family with kids and having a great time.
Don't think a good idea to encourage the FB thing.

 

[penhwnllys_stardust]

Currently have a friend looking for a companion pony after her old old passed away this week - perhaps she'll use fb to find one?

We got an old horse aged 19 (and previously took on a blue cross horse aged 22) and current horse (now 27) is still living the life of riley. I think tbh my mum just likes buying veteran feed and then moaning about the cost

It's such a shame there aren't more people like your friend and mum in this world. there are genuine people out there but advertising a older horse as free to good home on facebook will attract the wrong sort of people.

 

[cc14]

I have to say, if I was faced with the prospect of an older horse which I could no longer realistically fund or look after, I would happily look for another home. Even over Facebook *Shocked Face*.

A 23 year old horse could provide a companion for another horse for several years to come, happily living out its days in a nice field, as horses are meant to do. Advertising on facebook may well mean the home is found through word of mouth, something I would far rather than a random person an a random website.

Dont get me wrong, I have never had to be in this situation, but I am in no doubt that I would not put down a perfectly happy healthy horse unless I had exhausted all other options. And as for people saying "when horses are no longer good for you, you just get rid" I think this comment may need to be re-examined. If someone looses interest in riding and horses, is it sensible for them to keep them? These things happen...I rode for 10 years but various factors meant I lost interest. Had I had my own at the time, keeping them would have been hurrendously unfair. Secondly, none of us know what is round the corner. Jobs can be easily lost, circumstances change. We may not want to part with our beloved pet, but often we have no choice.

I am aware many people go about selling in the wrong way, and there are times when a horse would be better of PTS. I just hink some people on here need to consider the full picture and not jump on the bandwagon as soon as they see the words "Free to a good home". We do not know the full situation, so please, please do not judge. The seller may be having a difficult time enough as it is.

 

[penhwnllys_stardust]

I have to say, if I was faced with the prospect of an older horse which I could no longer realistically fund or look after, I would happily look for another home. Even over Facebook *Shocked Face*.

A 23 year old horse could provide a companion for another horse for several years to come, happily living out its days in a nice field, as horses are meant to do. Advertising on facebook may well mean the home is found through word of mouth, something I would far rather than a random person an a random website.

Dont get me wrong, I have never had to be in this situation, but I am in no doubt that I would not put down a perfectly happy healthy horse unless I had exhausted all other options. And as for people saying "when horses are no longer good for you, you just get rid" I think this comment may need to be re-examined. If someone looses interest in riding and horses, is it sensible for them to keep them? These things happen...I rode for 10 years but various factors meant I lost interest. Had I had my own at the time, keeping them would have been hurrendously unfair. Secondly, none of us know what is round the corner. Jobs can be easily lost, circumstances change. We may not want to part with our beloved pet, but often we have no choice.

I am aware many people go about selling in the wrong way, and there are times when a horse would be better of PTS. I just hink some people on here need to consider the full picture and not jump on the bandwagon as soon as they see the words "Free to a good home". We do not know the full situation, so please, please do not judge. The seller may be having a difficult time enough as it is.

You know what, you are right. Perhaps I did jump the gun so to speak. Maybe this persons reasons for offering her horse as free to good home is valid. When I see oldies advertised as free I instantly think the worst, although I'd rather do that than be naive. A few weeks ago a man was advertising a shetland colt as free to good home on facebook after it was apparently dumped on his land, a young girl offered to take it (I think she was 13?) and the first thing he said was 'when can you come for it?' she could of been anyone! Those are the people that really bug me.
There are even people who lurk on here looking for freebies.. Nowhere is safe.

 

[cc14]

penhwnllys_stardust - Dont get me wrong, people who throw an ad up and give to the first person who enquire rub me up the wrong way as well. But I just think we need to remember that this is only a very small minority of people, but it is those cases which get the most publicity. Not many people will come on here and start a thread entitied "I JUST GOT GIVEN A HORSE OVER THE AGE OF TWENTY FOR FREE AND EVERYTHING HAS TURNED OUT ABSOLUTELY FINE SO NO NEED TO CRITICISE", yet how quick will people post on here when free horses end up being passed from pillar to post? Think the older ones deserve just as much of a chance as the rest of them, and putting them to sleep unnecessarily is just as bad as when people claim you are passing them on as unwanted goods. Every horse has a use for someone or something out there, but I suppose it is down to us to decide honestly and fairly when their time is up, whether it be with us or with any one else. But thankyou for not jumping down my throat and telling me what a bad person I am and reporting me to the RSPCA so that in 20 years time they can track my boys movements to make sure he does not leave my side

 

[penhwnllys_stardust]

I think the least that can be done is advertise them just above the meat value, at least they won't have to go down that route. I wouldn't bother reporting you to the rspca, we all know how useless they are
Me personally I would rather have my two pts than give them away for free. There are those decent people out there but I'd rather not take the chance of them ending up god knows where.

 

[Shantara]

One of the old mares at my yard found a beautiful forever home for her retirement.
I would have been disgusted if her owner had just shot her in the face, instead of looking for a home first. Though, she would have had a forever home at the yard, someone offered to take her and they had better facilities to cater for a horse who wouldn't be ridden again.

It's not impossible to find a good loving home for a free old horse.
Sure sometimes PTS is the best option, but not always.

 

[PingPongPony]

This is honestly not as bad as i've seen before! At least she's taking the time to find the horse a home privately. At the last melton market there was a small, skinny chstnut pony, description said ''25year old mare, taught my kids to ride, now has to go as children are not interested in her anymore and have a pony to compete sj on.'' now how sad is this? she brought the poor thing to the market because her kids would rather have a new sj pony and did not care enough about the pony that taught them to ride. now that is sad and heartless.

 

[Goldenstar]

This is honestly not as bad as i've seen before! At least she's taking the time to find the horse a home privately. At the last melton market there was a small, skinny chstnut pony, description said ''25year old mare, taught my kids to ride, now has to go as children are not interested in her anymore and have a pony to compete sj on.'' now how sad is this? she brought the poor thing to the market because her kids would rather have a new sj pony and did not care enough about the pony that taught them to ride. now that is sad and heartless.

AGREE THAT IS very heartless

 

[penhwnllys_stardust]

This is honestly not as bad as i've seen before! At least she's taking the time to find the horse a home privately. At the last melton market there was a small, skinny chstnut pony, description said ''25year old mare, taught my kids to ride, now has to go as children are not interested in her anymore and have a pony to compete sj on.'' now how sad is this? she brought the poor thing to the market because her kids would rather have a new sj pony and did not care enough about the pony that taught them to ride. now that is sad and heartless.

That is a great example of what I hate.. makes my blood boil, poor mare.

 

[rockysmum]

As the owner of a 35 year old and a 21 year old who I love to bits and wont part with, can I ask a question.

What exactly is the problem with where she was advertised?

I hate to see such ads in the free papers or poor old girls like this in horse sales. But advertised on a facebook rescue page? Hardly where every Tom, Dick & Harry is looking for Christmas presents for the kids.

The charities re-home all the time, OK they put checks in place, but still let horses go to strangers, and we know how many horses go missing on loan.

I actually think a facebook group, which in theory is full of people with the same interests as yourself, is not a bad idea. Why is it so much worse than anywhere else? To be honest she would be more likely to go to a friend of a friend, or local than using other methods.

 

[LauraWheeler]

Only those who have ever been in this desparate situation are qualified to comment on this thread

I have been in this desparate situation before infact I've been in worse several times over the 12 years I owned Lucy. Once I was earning £75 a week as a working Pupil and due to a change in yard policy my rent and livery was £90 Figer that one out then I was stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place. I couldn't afford to stay and I couldn't afford to get to interviews to find a new better job. I couldn't afford feed for Lucy, Shoes, bedding, Oh and I couldn't afford to feed myself.
So what did I do? Give up? Give Lucy away? PTS? No I fought tooth and nail to keep her. I got some more work at the yard next door on my day off. So I was working 7 days a week with horses and I got a job at the pub 7 nights a week. Eventualy I managed to save enough money and managed to find a new job
Most on here know the story of Lucys last 8 mounths. She cost me over £4000 in those last precious months. She wasn't insured and i'm not rich. She was PTS in July 2010 and I only just finished paying the bill afew months ago. I had people telling me I was wrong for keeping her going and spending all that money keeping her alive when we all knew she was going to die. But when I desided to let her go before she started to suffer I had people telling me (some of them the same as before) I was wrong to let her go and should keep her going for as long as possable.
And more recently I got offered a job that seemed almost to good to be true. I do believe it would have been a fantastic opatunity for me but once again I put my animals first. The situation wasn't right for them so I turned the job down.
Maybe it's just me but I think we have a responsibilty to our animals and they should always come first. Whatever that means for us.
I do find it very sad that this poor mare is being passed on after just afew months I truly hope she has found a lovely forever home. They are out there. Merryn was free and he'll be with me forever nomatter what happens Yes I don't know the egsact situation this owner is in But I just hope she has vetted the home well and has done her upmost to ensure it is a good home. The poor old mare deserves that atleast. Her old owners abviously gave up on this poor mare and passed her on either selling or giving away Now this owner is doing the same for whatever reasons they have. I just hope it doesn't happen again and this poor mare can have some stibility in her life once more.
Anyway I'll get off my soapbox now. Rant over

 

[cattysmith]

I sometimes wonder if those who get so very wound up about this are confident that they'll never ever be in a situation where their lifestyle may change suddenly in the blink of an eye and they need to rehome their horse (no matter what their age) ASAP.

Or perhaps those who are so appalled at the situation are not confident enough to judge a suitable home for a horse they would have to rehome in such a situation.

I bet when push comes to shove and if YOU were left with your perfectly healthy horse which was 22 years old and you could not afford to keep it, you would do your bloody best to find it a loving home first before having to put it to sleep no matter what, and this may include testing the water for interest from a "free to good home" advert. I know there are no doubt people who have read this who have pts, and that's fair enough it's a hard decision to make in any circumstances. But I bet that most of the disapproving posters in this thread would find their heads in a VERY different place, god forbid, this situation was ever to arise.

Good luck to the old girl.

 

[Nettle123]

agreed

Even with your own land it is just not possible to rehome all the poor deserving cases.
We have gone from 3 to 7 in just over two years. Peoples life styles do change and this is where we have been able to help.

Today on preloved their is a lovely grey 25 year old mare looking for a home, she should be looking for gentle work or retirement. but the advert mentions she has done BSJA in the past. You do have to wonder where she will end up.

Its not just horses and ponies, the number of dogs we have been offered is upsetting too but at the end of the day we have to be able to care for them and feed them properly.

I would have lots more but I think my Husband would leave home !.

 

[Welshie Squisher]

Peoples lives change for the worst and often someone finds themselves in a position whereby they can no longer keep the horse.
Age is irrellevant in these cicumstances.
If I ever found myself in the same boat, I would first choose to rehome to a good home, second choice PTS.
I am not arrogant enough to think I am the only one who could provide a good home, nor happy to just shoot my horses because of fear of the unknown.

For those that harp on that we owe our horses a certain future, I struggle to see how dead makes the horse happy!
Yes there are fates worse than death, but hell some wouldn't even give their horses a chance of another loving home, they wouldn't even consider it and death is the only option.

And yes some will punt anywhere and not even consider their responsibility to the horse.

To me the "death only" and "punt anywhere" owners are just as bad as each other, neither stop to truely consider the horse.

 

[Ibblebibble]

While i understand why it is distasteful to some to see older horses rehomed do they honestly believe that every younger horse sold or rehomed is guaranteed a wonderful future purely because of their age we know it doesn't happen that way so because none of us can guarantee any horse of any age will have a good future if we sell/rehome it, should we not sell any horses ever, just have them all PTS when we have finished with them just in case someone, somewhere in their future mistreats them!

 

[BlackVelvet]

I cant actually believe some of the attitudes of some people! All the poor girl is doing is offering someone the chance of a horse, why should she pts a perfectly good horse because shes not in the position to care for her anymore? What about a loan home instead?

Wish you the best of luck, she looks like a lovely horse who deserves a nice caring home. I would like to think there is some people out there who arnt just after making a quick buck. If i was to sell my boy i wouldnt ask for any money either, just that he got a good home out of it.

 

[Mynstrel]

I am aware many people go about selling in the wrong way, and there are times when a horse would be better of PTS. I just think some people on here need to consider the full picture and not jump on the bandwagon as soon as they see the words "Free to a good home". We do not know the full situation, so please, please do not judge. The seller may be having a difficult time enough as it is.

Well said

 

[FairyLights]

I've have loaned out horses in the past ,the most recent one was a lovely arab mare,we found her some [apparently] nice people experienced with horses including arabs ,they had another arab and a TB. They owned their own small holding with lovely fields and buildings. Great. Mare went out on loan. 6 months later I took her back,covered in mudfever and rainscald, and cellulitis, through sheer neglect.It took a full year to get her right and many vet visits, I was much praised by my vet for my nursing skills, the vet confiding in me that at one point he was going to recommend PTS,it was that bad. This sort of thing saps the confidence in people. I hear too much bad stuff like this on the internet,then theres loan horses being sold on to goodness knows where often for meat. So do I loan out or PTS? If it was to a known friend then yes, I would loan,otherwise PTS would be foremost in my mind so no horse of mine would ever suffer this kind of fate.
ETA I hope this oldie finds a perfect home.

 

[cc14]

Well said

Thankyou Fed up of reading all the anti-selling posts and biting my tongue so after a few glasses I had to say something

 

[Fii]

No there are no garentees that any horse you sell or give away will live happily ever after.
The difference is an old horse that has been retired for whatever reason, and shouldnt be ridden , could be sold on and on and on, it could be sold as perfect to ride, when it has issues that mean it is detramental to its health, in cases like this i truely beleive that the owner owes it to the horse to pts.
A younger horse, or one where it can do a job ( there are plenty older pony club ponies doing the rounds especially lead rein/first ridden) has a far better chance of finding a good home.
RE FB ads, there are a lot of people in this world who would see that ad and think, ker-ching!!! £££££££££££!!! and plenty who actively trawl FB looking for them!
And for the record i have one horse getting on in years and i would, never give him away or sell him, i couldnt live with myself, he is not trustworthy to ride, he has trust issues, and is generally loopy ( wont even let OH do his rugs) so yes i would have him pts!
And " dead wont make a horse happy" What a stupid thing to say. The horse has no sense of happy or sad if its dead!

 

[henryhorn]

Haven't read all of the replies but I think under the circumstances this lady was doing her best.
If the horse is currently ok and can be used as a companion or even for gentle hacking then yes of course it needn't be euthanised just yet.
I expect she thought it was kinder to at least give the mare a chance of a new home rather than have her pts without trying.
I think the type of home however is very important to this horse's welfare.
Some old horses can struggle moving homes. The older they get the harder they find it to integrate into any new group which is why we try to not accept any horse much over 20. A new home where she can be with just a couple of others to start with is preferable, and the worst kind of situation is a big livery yard where there many shod horses are stuck together on too small a field.
What would you prefer, for Daisy to get another 5 happy years perhaps or pts now just to safeguard her?
I'm firmly on the side of try and find somewhere, but be incredibly careful the person is genuine not someone trying to make money or overwork her.
Now if the owner had sent her to a sale I would be the first to suggest euthanasia instead...

 

[M_G]

Haven't read all of the replies but I think under the circumstances this lady was doing her best.
If the horse is currently ok and can be used as a companion or even for gentle hacking then yes of course it needn't be euthanised just yet.
I expect she thought it was kinder to at least give the mare a chance of a new home rather than have her pts without trying.
I think the type of home however is very important to this horse's welfare.
Some old horses can struggle moving homes. The older they get the harder they find it to integrate into any new group which is why we try to not accept any horse much over 20. A new home where she can be with just a couple of others to start with is preferable, and the worst kind of situation is a big livery yard where there many shod horses are stuck together on too small a field.
What would you prefer, for Daisy to get another 5 happy years perhaps or pts now just to safeguard her?
I'm firmly on the side of try and find somewhere, but be incredibly careful the person is genuine not someone trying to make money or overwork her.
Now if the owner had sent her to a sale I would be the first to suggest euthanasia instead...

Very well said HH & I agree 100% (couldnt write it nearly as well) Old does not mean useless.