Home needed for two TB geldings!

_GG_

_GG_

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Not sure if this is the right place to ask, so mods, please move if necessary, but I am desperately wanting to find a new home for a couple of TB geldings.

They are kept on livery at the yard where I keep my mare. They are seen every morning and evening, given fresh hay and water, brought in when the weather is bad so they have their basic needs met, but they are 10 and 11 years old and have not left the yard or done anything at all in the past 8 years. One was backed as a three year old, but not touched since, save to bring them in and out of the field at this time of year.

They don't kick or bite, but, for instance, have never had their feet picked up. They have been brushed my myself and the YO a few times and I have done some work with them on their basic manners, but their owner is old, frail and will be unable to look after them for much longer. He has agreed that we can find them a new home, but they must stay together and the home must be extremely experienced and knowledgeable.

They would take an awful lot of work just to get them used to proper handling, let alone backing, but I do believe they both have the potential to make great riding horses in the right hands.

They would need to be sedated to be moved and I won't lie, they would need some money spent on getting their feet in shape and teeth done for a start.

They are very sweet boys, absolutely stunning, standing at 16.2hh and 16.3hh. Both wetherbys registered and passported and both have beautiful movement. If i had the time and money, I would have them myself, but unfortunately, I don't.


This is basically a call out for anyone that might have the land, time, experience and funds to help them. They have never been rugged and cope well through the winter, but they do come in in very bad weather. They are very sweet natured and I think with time and patience, they will make wonderful horses. They are both dark bay and stunning...they just need a lot of TLC and time.

Anyone able to help or that knows someone that may be able to help, please PM me. It has taken us a year almost to get their owner to agree. They need a better life than this.

Thanks in advance :-)
 
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You are going to have to be so very careful to ensure that they go to the right home and stay together as there are so many sharks out there that will tell a good story and promise the earth but then just split them up, sell them on or sell them to the meat man.
 
OWLIE185 said:
You are going to have to be so very careful to ensure that they go to the right home and stay together as there are so many sharks out there that will tell a good story and promise the earth but then just split them up, sell them on or sell them to the meat man.
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Oh, I am all too aware of this. I would rather put them to sleep than send them anywhere that I don't fully vet and reference. For example, I would require references from a vet, instructor, riding club etc to cover a period of at least 5 years. I also have a solicitor that will take care of contracts or sale or loan and any clauses/conditions that we set.

The chances of finding them a suitable home are extremely slim, but I have to try.

amymay said:
I would contact a reputable charity to see of they can help. Good luck.
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All charities are full to the brim unfortunately and none will consider them. When you have charities advising you to PTS, you know they are in a bad situation. Too many horses, not enough homes :-(
 
OWLIE185 said:
You are going to have to be so very careful to ensure that they go to the right home and stay together as there are so many sharks out there that will tell a good story and promise the earth but then just split them up, sell them on or sell them to the meat man.
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I agree, they are better off slaughtered than giving them to someone who will tell you anything, at least the owner will know where they have gone to.

My English friend knew of a couple who set up a 'horse Rescue in the UK, everyone was dumping their horses on them, what could be sold for riding or breeding was, what couldnt was sent to kill.A lot of really heart broken owners.
 
bobajob said:
I agree, they are better off slaughtered than giving them to someone who will tell you anything, at least the owner will know where they have gone to.

My English friend knew of a couple who set up a 'horse Rescue in the UK, everyone was dumping their horses on them, what could be sold for riding or breeding was, what couldnt was sent to kill.A lot of really heart broken owners.
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Yep, as I said, I would rather them be put to sleep than go to the wrong home and charity is my preferred option.

Pinkvboots said:
Try the thoroughbred rescue places you have more of a chance with them there are quite a few, they will re educate them and re home, good luck
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Thank you. Am waiting for some call backs.
 
Poor buggers why horses are left like that is beyond me. I know u say they have had hay/water, but basic care and well being and even to set a horse up to have a furture goes further than that.
I wish them luck but pts would prob be the best. If they were handled more and ridden they may have more luck
 
Firstly, well done for getting involved and trying to help. I wish I could help, but other than another suggestion, I can't be more use, I'm afraid.

Suggestion would be that you post on the IHDG as well. There are a couple of people on there who are directly involved in charities and horse rescues and they may be able to help. There may also be some who could help with moving them and/or rehabilitating them. Just a thought. http://ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gh11
 
thatsmygirl said:
Poor buggers why horses are left like that is beyond me. I know u say they have had hay/water, but basic care and well being and even to set a horse up to have a furture goes further than that.
I wish them luck but pts would prob be the best. If they were handled more and ridden they may have more luck
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That's the predicament we are in :-(

If we mention pts, the owner shuts down and if we mention it as a welfare issue, he shuts down. Last time we broached the subject, he almost took them away. We can't let that happen because at least, while they are at this yard, we can give them the extra attention and make sure they are not in actual need of anything.

They are better off than many horses. Their owner is there at 8:30 every morning, turns them out with masses of lovely quality hay, scrubs out their water buckets and fills with fresh and does the same every evening. He poo picks the paddocks twice a day as well and in that sense, they want for nothing. It is just that they don't actually do anything and they are bored. The YO and myself do as much as we can with them and they are beautifully behaved in the stables and love the attention, but they need more.
 
Vetwrap said:
Firstly, well done for getting involved and trying to help. I wish I could help, but other than another suggestion, I can't be more use, I'm afraid.

Suggestion would be that you post on the IHDG as well. There are a couple of people on there who are directly involved in charities and horse rescues and they may be able to help. There may also be some who could help with moving them and/or rehabilitating them. Just a thought. http://ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gh11
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Thank you, very useful info :-)
 
How sad......He sounds as if he loves them very much & looks after them ok & they are probably a very big part of his life. I can understand there may be a welfare issue with the feet but other than that it sounds as if he looks after them very well.What makes you think they are bored? I wish you the best of luck in finding a new home for them but sadly if he is no longer able to cope with them then i think pts would be the best option...although i do understand he's not going to let you do that anytime soon,I can totally sympathise with the chap & im sure the highlight of his day is to do the horses like soo many of us.x
 
Sorry just read a post further up where you tell us how beautifully they are looked after.

How is anything else your business????
 
Is it an option for him to pay to have some training done first? Two green horses will go easier than unbroken ones. Or, if he has the money to pay basic keep, some type of longterm share? Not local numpty, but perhaps someone local with experience & only retired horses, or none of their own? If it was a long term arrangement whereby someone got 2 horses to ride & do stuff with for only the cost of extras & the effort of bringing on, you may find someone.
 
flitz02 said:
How sad......He sounds as if he loves them very much & looks after them ok & they are probably a very big part of his life. I can understand there may be a welfare issue with the feet but other than that it sounds as if he looks after them very well.What makes you think they are bored? I wish you the best of luck in finding a new home for them but sadly if he is no longer able to cope with them then i think pts would be the best option...although i do understand he's not going to let you do that anytime soon,I can totally sympathise with the chap & im sure the highlight of his day is to do the horses like soo many of us.x
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The highlight of his day is seeing his other horse Lucas, who is really his horse. He would never let Lucas go anywhere. The boy were bought for his wife, but she fell ill and never got to do anything with them. She is ok now, but has only visited the yard once in 8 years and so she can't do anything with them. He is left to care for all three and do it on a pension.

He does love them, but they are much more work than pleasure for him.

They are bored, no question. They pace the paddock, one weaves and one windsucks as soon as they are stabled and it is a routine they have had for 8 years, so nothing stressful. The only saving grace is that they don't know any different. They are always desperate for attention, but don't really know what to do when they get it. They like it, but it's as if they don't really understand it.

amymay said:
What charities have you spoken too op?
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I could list them, but I would be here all night. I have spoken to all major and regional centres, all sanctuaries etc. Have a few calling back, but the problem is that there are so many horses needing their help, they are all over capacity already.
 
tbh I would see if I could rehome them separately and fudge the issue if the owner asked. They have a far better chance of finding homes that way and the loss of their friend is something that many horses have to go through, provided they are given love and understanding and have the chance to make new friends they will get on fine.
 
i know the 2 geldings as i livery very close to the livery yard in question!
Does the poor chap want them rehomed or is he being pushed into it to free up space on the yard? if he's paying his livery on time and looking after them on a daily basis i can't see that it's anyone else's business:(
 
Ibblebibble said:
i know the 2 geldings as i livery very close to the livery yard in question!
Does the poor chap want them rehomed or is he being pushed into it to free up space on the yard? if he's paying his livery on time and looking after them on a daily basis i can't see that it's anyone else's business:(
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I was thinking this tbh... if the horse are well looked after, and the owner wants to keep them, I don't see what the problem is...

I dont think horses stand in the field and think "oh, I wish I could go for a hack right now..."
 
_GG_ said:
That's the predicament we are in :-(
They are better off than many horses. Their owner is there at 8:30 every morning, turns them out with masses of lovely quality hay, scrubs out their water buckets and fills with fresh and does the same every evening. He poo picks the paddocks twice a day as well and in that sense, they want for nothing. It is just that they don't actually do anything and they are bored. The YO and myself do as much as we can with them and they are beautifully behaved in the stables and love the attention, but they need more.
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I was going to suggest that people like myself, sometimes need a TB type as a companion rather than the typical little good doer. I have a beloved old TB who I needed a companion for recently, and it was important to me that it was a horse that would strive on the same rich grazing and plenty of hay that my TB has, to avoid having to separate the companion for fear of it getting lami, etc. However (I've found him a suitable friend now), even though I would have offered extremely good care, I wouldn't have done a lot more (apart from regular feet trims, picking out, and an annual teeth check) tbh than what it sounds like the owner is already doing.

I would worry that by selling them on, at their age and unsuitable for any immediate use, they would be subject to a far more precarious and uncertain future than they are in now, and if you could ask them, they would probably want to stay safe and well fed in the environment they're in
 
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Ibblebibble said:
i know the 2 geldings as i livery very close to the livery yard in question!
Does the poor chap want them rehomed or is he being pushed into it to free up space on the yard? if he's paying his livery on time and looking after them on a daily basis i can't see that it's anyone else's business:(
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My feelings exactly.

Me and OH have a couple of mares who do nothing except be loved and cared for, although they do see farrier on a regular basis. Maybe we should rehome them as well? OTOH, most people see that they are a necessary part of our lives and are very happy and content where they are.

So easy to judge isn't it? Especially when you have never walked in the other person's shoes.
 
If they had been at livery on my yard for 8 years they would have had their feet attended to regularly it is not hard to get reasonably well handled horses that are in a daily routine to accept a trim now and again, secondly while the owner is paying and caring for all 3 I would be happy for this to continue, the time to have intervened really is long gone.

I would get something in writing to give me the authority to pts if anything happened to the owner, possibly with some way of having payment lodged so I would be covered if this had to happen, which it may well do.

I feel it is too late to make a fuss now, they are unlikely to find a home together where they will stay and be any more than companions, not many people want 2 unbroken projects that they have to commit to forever, I know they can do whatever they want once they own them but it is a big deal taking on horses of that size and age hoping to do anything useful with them, there are plenty of cheap youngsters that would be a more sensible project.
 
Ibblebibble said:
i know the 2 geldings as i livery very close to the livery yard in question!
Does the poor chap want them rehomed or is he being pushed into it to free up space on the yard? if he's paying his livery on time and looking after them on a daily basis i can't see that it's anyone else's business:(
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^^This, it doesn't sound like a genuine neglect case, and the owner does sound as if he is being pressurised. I'm sure he is the one to decide when enough is enough work wise, and Ive known horses that are in plenty of work that still pace and and windsuck.

I think that there is a huge risk that they could end up worse off not better being passed on.
 
Someone I know is looking for horses to work with just now. She would intend to sell in the future but is very good at working with difficult horses and sorting out problems and would make sure they went to a good home (separately). Pm me if of any interest and I will mention it to her.
 
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