CHH
Well-Known Member
Recently with the economy and it's dire affects, plus someone's personal circumstances a horse became ours through a livery debt issue.
Being kind we didn't want the horse to be put through an auction so it came to live with us at our private property over winter.
We advertised (horse is gone this is NOT an advert!) the horse very cheap, as we just wanted a good home.
We've been amazed about the people who enquired after this horse. The abuse we recieved when we told people they were not suitable or that we thought the horse would be too much for them.
He was a quality animal, just being sold from the field.
My foolishness was that some competant, lovely person would come along who was on a budget and give him a lovely home...
Out of the 100+ interested, my concerns that most would not be in a position to financially look after the horse should needs arise.
e.g. feed costs, a decent saddle that fits an awkward shape, or anything else that may arise.
Most also were a little clueless around the horses in terms of handling etc... yet claimed to be 'fully competant'.
So we began to question:
Are people who really can't afford to be 'steward' of a horse buying the low price ones, which either have problems or are unsound?
What happens when a big cost occurrs?
How would ownership ever be regulated in the UK?
At less than a £1000 I would not expect an Olympic performer who was also quiet enough for every grandchild to ride out alone on the M25 and then box, clip and groom itself while doing the ironing and feeding my kids!
I would be interested to understand what people thought, as this was our first experience of selling a horse - low cost with good intention, and it was alarming!
Being kind we didn't want the horse to be put through an auction so it came to live with us at our private property over winter.
We advertised (horse is gone this is NOT an advert!) the horse very cheap, as we just wanted a good home.
We've been amazed about the people who enquired after this horse. The abuse we recieved when we told people they were not suitable or that we thought the horse would be too much for them.
He was a quality animal, just being sold from the field.
My foolishness was that some competant, lovely person would come along who was on a budget and give him a lovely home...
Out of the 100+ interested, my concerns that most would not be in a position to financially look after the horse should needs arise.
e.g. feed costs, a decent saddle that fits an awkward shape, or anything else that may arise.
Most also were a little clueless around the horses in terms of handling etc... yet claimed to be 'fully competant'.
So we began to question:
Are people who really can't afford to be 'steward' of a horse buying the low price ones, which either have problems or are unsound?
What happens when a big cost occurrs?
How would ownership ever be regulated in the UK?
At less than a £1000 I would not expect an Olympic performer who was also quiet enough for every grandchild to ride out alone on the M25 and then box, clip and groom itself while doing the ironing and feeding my kids!
I would be interested to understand what people thought, as this was our first experience of selling a horse - low cost with good intention, and it was alarming!