Have to sell my gorgeous girl... :(

chessy

chessy

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I guess not many here will be interested in this but I needed to vent somewhere with people that understand...

I am going to university next year to study nursing so will no longer have a full-time income to pay to keep Rosie. I also need to start saving money ASAP while I'm still working so I can pay off my overdraft and credit card before I go to uni. So unfortunately I have come to the decision that I have to sell :(

I have considered putting her out on loan, however if anything were to go awry I would not be able to afford to take her back, I work hard to pay for everything myself and my family could not take her on. I also considered grass livery but the demands of my course are going to be very tough, and I won't be able to give her the attention she deserves. I want a 4-star home for her where she can get all the love she needs.

I'm totally heartbroken and keep crying! Pathetic really, I mean it's my choice so it's my own fault :( I know some will think that I'm selfish, but honestly when I bought Rosie I wasn't planning on university, but events and circumstances this year have changed and now I have the chance to go and pursue the career I want.

I'll probably never get over it but I have to let my head rule instead of my heart in this case.... I just wish it wasn't so damned painful! :( I feel like I've let her down somehow...

Anyone else been in the same situation?
 
Not in that situation, yet. Unfortunately off work sick and not getting better so I may end up in a similar situation. I really feel for you, I have no advice, but please PM me if you just need a sympathetic ear.
Best wishes,
FDC
 
So sorry to hear this. I was in this situation last year with my girl. Though I in the end chose not to go to university because pony was diagnosed with cushings.
Feel for you right now x
 
I think that you are being really sensible, have thought everything through, and have made the correct decision.

I had to sell my two when I went to college many moons ago. I can't say that it was nice, but it left me without any "dependants" to go out and enjoy the next ten years of my life. I wouldn't change those years for anything. Later, when I was settled again, I bought more horses - with an income that allowed me to.

Its always horrible to see them go. We just sold my son's pony last month, and despite being in my early 40s and having worked with horses for many years, I was still in bits before he went! You have to think that its better for your horse to be someone's No 1, like she is/has been to you, than stuck out on loan/grass livery etc. You're quite right, loans could mean that she came back in the middle of winter/exams etc. Let her go to the next person that will adore her..

Hugs to you. Bet she goes to someone really nice and you'll be able to visit now and again. I also bet you'd find someone with a horse to share while you're at uni... Best of luck with the next chapter of your life. It will be fun.x
 
what a shame, must be so hard to do. I am sure you will find her a great home and will be able to keep in touch. True what honey said about being someones no1.

Good luck with uni. x
 
I would sleep on it. I am a nurse and my daughter starts her training next March at the moment she does care work.
Winter is not an ideal time to sell so would find some cheap grass livery, rug her up, take off her shoes and do so care work to pay the bills. Its not well paid but you should be able to sort out your hours so you can work a shift pattern so you should be able to see your horse at least once a day. Then come the spring reasses the situation.
I did the old training when you worked on the wards doing shifts, it is possible to keep a horse and do this. When I qualified I worked nights and rode 5 days a week working full time.
My daughter is intending to keep working for the care agency while she is studying, you will find a lot of the students do this.
Good luck, beleave me the 3 years will fly by.
 
I'm so sorry - what a hard decision to have to make! It sounds like you've really given it a lot of thought though and are determined to find her a wonderful home. Your education is so important (not that your horse isn't).

Good luck with it all. I'm sure nothing I say will make you feel any less pain but I do think you're making a logical and mature decision.
 
What type is she? When I was travelling and at uni I put my pony on loan to a friend's riding school. If she is the sort that would cope well in that environment (mine did) then the chance of her coming back before the end of the loan is really very small indeed compared with a private home. It really worked for me as obviously when I was uncontactable for weeks living in Africa it would have been pretty tricky to have mine come home, never mind when I was at uni. Just something that might be worth looking into.
Good luck and I hope that it all works out whatever you decide and that your course is great.
 
unbalanced said:
What type is she? When I was travelling and at uni I put my pony on loan to a friend's riding school. If she is the sort that would cope well in that environment (mine did) then the chance of her coming back before the end of the loan is really very small indeed compared with a private home. It really worked for me as obviously when I was uncontactable for weeks living in Africa it would have been pretty tricky to have mine come home, never mind when I was at uni. Just something that might be worth looking into.
Good luck and I hope that it all works out whatever you decide and that your course is great.
Click to expand...

This is quite a good idea, this or loaning to an equestrian college as, in both these situations the loan is very unlikely to end suddenly leaving you in the lurch. My horse was used at college (I was at the college studying) and he did really well from it. I also rode him in my lessons whilst I was there and could hack him out at the weekends. Quite a few of the horses who were on loan there were ridden by their owners at the weekends too so you could do that. If she's the type of horse who could cope with an equestrian college then it may be something worth considering if you're really going to struggle selling her.
 
Originally Posted by unbalanced View Post
What type is she? When I was travelling and at uni I put my pony on loan to a friend's riding school. If she is the sort that would cope well in that environment (mine did) then the chance of her coming back before the end of the loan is really very small indeed compared with a private home. It really worked for me as obviously when I was uncontactable for weeks living in Africa it would have been pretty tricky to have mine come home, never mind when I was at uni. Just something that might be worth looking into.
Good luck and I hope that it all works out whatever you decide and that your course is great.
Click to expand...

^5 this why dont you try a college near where you will be or a riding school def dont throw int he towel yet think on it post a few more threads asking for other suggestions but this is the first i would try :)
 
honetpot said:
I would sleep on it. I am a nurse and my daughter starts her training next March at the moment she does care work.
Winter is not an ideal time to sell so would find some cheap grass livery, rug her up, take off her shoes and do so care work to pay the bills. Its not well paid but you should be able to sort out your hours so you can work a shift pattern so you should be able to see your horse at least once a day. Then come the spring reasses the situation.
I did the old training when you worked on the wards doing shifts, it is possible to keep a horse and do this. When I qualified I worked nights and rode 5 days a week working full time.
My daughter is intending to keep working for the care agency while she is studying, you will find a lot of the students do this.
Good luck, beleave me the 3 years will fly by.
Click to expand...

Very good advice, I've done lots of care work over the years to supplement my income, hard work but rewarding and it did bring me in a regular income when the saddlery trade was bad!
Good luck in whatever you decide to do, Oz :)
 
I sold my horse when I started university, I was unwell too at the time and I didn't think that I would be able to cope. It seemed like the right decision at the time, and I did let my head rule my heart.

It's something I have regretted for the last decade. If I could get my horse back I would pay anything to do that. With hindsight, I should have done anything I could to keep him. While it seems like a sensible decision at the moment, just make sure that it is the right thing for you in the long run. For me it wasn't.
 
I am in a similar situation... My horse is also called rosie! However it is not through education, a change in circumstances and its a case of scrimp scrimp scrimp for everything and sell things for extra so she is for sale too and it almost went ahead until she had an acident in the field and needed time off. She's back in work now so back for sale but I wouldove a sharer insead as it is going to be suuuch a hard decision
 
honetpot said:
I would sleep on it. I am a nurse and my daughter starts her training next March at the moment she does care work.
Winter is not an ideal time to sell so would find some cheap grass livery, rug her up, take off her shoes and do so care work to pay the bills. Its not well paid but you should be able to sort out your hours so you can work a shift pattern so you should be able to see your horse at least once a day. Then come the spring reasses the situation.
I did the old training when you worked on the wards doing shifts, it is possible to keep a horse and do this. When I qualified I worked nights and rode 5 days a week working full time.
My daughter is intending to keep working for the care agency while she is studying, you will find a lot of the students do this.
Good luck, beleave me the 3 years will fly by.
Click to expand...

Agree with this, im a nurse and you can usually work your way round things.
Its your decision in the end though, and you'll decide what works best for you and your horse,good luck
 
I agree with honetpot. I am at the end of my nurse training, and placement is full time hours, but in lecture time we are in an average of 3 days a week, with lots of weeks where we have only 1 or 2 lectures, so you would have plenty of time to work bank shifts as a HCSW at the hospital you are training at, if you really don't want to sell your girl. I couldn't even consider selling my horses, but have been very lucky that mine can all live out, and my mum helps me on the very rare days I can't get down to the yard.
Have you considered a sharer, who can split the costs with you to help money-wise?
x
 
Sorry to hear, have been in similar situation,o/h out of work and trying to pay everything on one part time wage..horrible.. horrible..sold the best horse in the world b4 it got to the stage that I could no longer afford feed. The home she is in now suits her to the ground,that was two years ago and it has got better. Did buy another horse ended up being overhorsed, my livery owner fell in love with her and bought her.( think I was rushing back in to get a horse again) I belived what they said about her (quiet as a mouse, novice ride)..her new owner is still working with her and she is getting better.
Did go with others to view from then on and now have a fantastic pony, she is 18 yrs we bonded straight away from day one she follows me everywhere.
You can only do your best for your horse, yes it hurts like hell, keep in touch with owner/ loanie.
I wish you well in whatever you decide x
 
How sad :( But sometimes we need to make the sacrifice for our own benefit however painful it may be.
Hope you find somebody who loves her as much as you x
 
Not trying to be difficult but i wouldnt put any horse of mine on loan to a college purely because i have a horse who came from being on loan to a college. He hated every minute of it and started biting when tacked up so they gave him back. Only started biting cz he had a bad back which they failed to sort. They see sawed at his mouth, and most days he did 3 jumping lessons each 2 hrs which is a hell of a lot i think-plus he had no turnout. In result he turned sour,bad mannered,bites all the time, is hard mouthed and just unhappy. Of course this is just one college and my experience but the
collegei live by is
 
*(cont)
is the same... However if the college was good i guess it is a more secure home but think about it carefully and research the college if u chose that route :)
Dont mean to put a dampner on things just sharing my views.
(ps college he came from is well respected and MEANT to be good)
 
SarahRicoh said:
*(cont)
is the same... However if the college was good i guess it is a more secure home but think about it carefully and research the college if u chose that route :)
Dont mean to put a dampner on things just sharing my views.
(ps college he came from is well respected and MEANT to be good)
Click to expand...

Yes there are some colleges that are not maybe as good as others - there are certainly ones I would not send my horse to and maybe it helped that I was at the college my horse came to but I was pretty happy with his care and he seemed content and his flatwork came on brilliantly. Some colleges - ie Bishop Burton do not turn out the horses at all which i do not agree with at all. The one I was at, ALL horses got turn out and all seemed very pleasant (ok there were the few 'grumpy' ones but then there were 40 odd horses on the yard, they can't all be cheery! Lol)
 
Thank you all so much for all your kind words and advice :)

A friend knows the owner of a nearby riding school who is interested, however I don't think it's going to come through to be honest as she doesn't seem that keen and the longer I spend waiting the more it hurts. Of course I'm not going to sell Rosie to the first random person that comes along, she needs a 4-star home and lots of love and attention. I know I can't control where she goes after that, but I'd like to have some say at the moment at least.

Rosie also has trust issues especially around her back end, needs sedating for farrier and 99% of the time won't let her back feet be handled. I am going to be totally honest about this when selling, as she needs someone who will be able to handle her. It's her only vice from the ground, she's lovely under saddle, a great confidence giver and bombproof.

I have a sharer, she is a great help but outgoings are so high and I don't earn a lot of money as it is and will be earning less next year - hoping that I'll be able to get a part time job to pay for my living expenses at least.

I really need to save money for Uni and pay off my debts before I go, I feel I can only do this without the monthly outgoings I currently spend on my horse.

As much as I want to keep her, I have been thinking about this for a very long time and have weighed up all my options. I really want to be able to concentrate on Uni fully, though would love to find a share for a weekend day or something as I'd like to keep riding.

I have some people interested and a lady coming to view on Saturday who seems nice, I've also asked my sharer if she would consider a loan.

Still upset but hopeful that I can find a great home for my much-loved girl...
 
I'm a nurse. When I trained it was a bursary that u got which was fairly decent. And you are only on placement some of the year. Get on an agency or nurse bank. I would never expect a student to work weekends so it's possible to get extra shifts. I managed horses through it. It is doable x
 
Bursary won't be a lot for me as its means tested, I'm doing the degree which is 50% placement 50% study. Considering I'm currently earning around £1200 and struggling its going to be much worse at uni :( I have to be frugal as living away from home
 
I still think that you are making the right decision.

I also think (please don't be offended!) that you may be better in the future with a slightly bigger horse - you're just looking on the cusp of growing out of her.
 
Ah on phone so don't know ur location. It was about £500 a month for me. I also had support of oh. You sound as tho u know ur decision is right for u. I found it easier having horses doing my training than it is now working ft!
 
Well I've had SO many people interested in her, it's great but I'm getting a bit overwhelmed! Had a dealer who wanted to pick her up tomorrow but I said no. Have a couple of people coming to view on Saturday but it seems my sharer is very interested in loaning.

Honey08 said:
I also think (please don't be offended!) that you may be better in the future with a slightly bigger horse - you're just looking on the cusp of growing out of her.
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I'm 5'7" with no more growing left to do (unless I put on weight!) and she is 15.1hh, half draught with lots of bone and great weight carrier :)

My first horse was 17.1hh and I don't think bigger horses are right for me unfortunately, though I wouldn't go smaller than 15.1. Don't worry, I'm not offended, just amused as it's never been mentioned to me before :D
 
LOAN!!

Try a college or university that offers riding and see if they will take her.

I loaned Lottie out while I went to uni. We were 18 then, we're 32 next spring and I can;t imagine being without her, though I know I will be in the next year or 2.

There were 1 or 2 hicups dring the loan, but as a decent horse, it was easy to find a replacement loan when 1 went belly up. Rosie looks like the sort that will easily make somone happy, I would really consider loaning.

So many people want horses but an't afford to buy that loans are in demand. You might find one near your uni and be able to still ride her once a week or something. I rode Lottie in my uni holidays.

Just read that Sharer interested in Loaning, Please go down this route, she looks like a chunky version of my Lottie and I just get the feeling the loan will work. Don't sell in a panic. You can have everything longer term so find a short term solution but don;t lose sight of the bigger picture.
 
I managed to keep my 2 on grass while doing midwifery training for 3 years, did have help from,mum but just visited once a day.rather than two unless I could. It is possible. I v almost sold but so glad I didn't
 
Sharer no longer wants to loan, feels she is too inexperienced and cannot commit to it unless she gets a sharer herself to supplement – I’m disappointed but am glad she’s been honest about it.

Riding school loan plan fell through also, not prepared to take on loan and can’t afford to buy – I will try other riding schools though, thanks for advice :)

Also Rosie does have issues with her back feet which obviously puts a lot of people off, despite being great to ride.

I just don’t want to be in the position when I’ve started uni to have a horse I can’t afford because a loaner no longer wishes to continue. I also don’t want to stick her out on grass livery for 3 years, she is a loving horse that adores to be ridden and loves attention. Hopefully I can work out something soon.
 
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