Horse scrappage scheme idea.

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pennyturner

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A response to the 'who has horses they can't ride' thread...

Would it ease the current horse welfare crisis for the rescue charities to offer an incentive to experienced homes willing to PTS their elderly/sick/lame horse, and take a rescue horse in their place?
 
No.

I can't speak for others but there is no way on this earth that I would do that to my old boys. It's time for them to enjoy some quiet years in the field having provided me with many years of riding happiness. There's more to having a horse than just riding.
 
Nope not for me either. If I had a sick or lame horse that was never going to get better, I would PTS that anyway to ease their suffering. But when my horses get old, providing they're still healthy and happy, then it is my duty to offer them a nice retirement.
 
They aren't here just for our pleasure, although they give a lot, hence no. They work hard for us, make us smile, make us pi55ed off when they misbehave, make our hearts swell with pride when they do good.

No. My lass is going to have happy time when she can't be ridden any more.
 
NellRosk said:
Nope not for me either. If I had a sick or lame horse that was never going to get better, I would PTS that anyway to ease their suffering. But when my horses get old, providing they're still healthy and happy, then it is my duty to offer them a nice retirement.
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Absolutely agree with this ^^^.
 
You're all a bunch of old softies! But would everyone think the same? I can imagine a situation where it might be enough to make someone think about taking a rescue, rather than keeping a horse beyond his time, and would be a better for both horses.
 
How about this? ALL horses which do not have a purpose should be put down; that would ease the horse crisis lickety split.
 
I don't believe in keeping a horse 'beyond his time' my old boy was PTS when he was ready, he was retired about 3yrs before that and he deserved his retirement for all the wonderful years he'd given me, it's the least I could offer him. If that makes me a softy, so be it, but I wouldn't class myself as particularly soft
 
pennyturner said:
You're all a bunch of old softies! But would everyone think the same? I can imagine a situation where it might be enough to make someone think about taking a rescue, rather than keeping a horse beyond his time, and would be a better for both horses.
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When you mentioned incentive in your first post, what kind of incentive are we talking? Financial?
 
I'd guess most horses in need of rehoming can't be ridden themselves? Of course some can but I bet those ones get new homes pretty easily.
 
Camilla's Aunty Em said:
What's the benefit in taking on a rescue that probably cannot be ridden either in place of your old faithful companion?
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There's no shortage of rideable rescues. Likewise, nothing stopping someone trading in a pet with poor quality of life for a 'pet' rescue horse if that's what they want, or one more suitable as a companion etc.

Cortez said:
How about this? ALL horses which do not have a purpose should be put down; that would ease the horse crisis lickety split.
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Very pragmatic, but not very nice (Cortez, I didn't take you for a troll!) I didn't envisage this as universal and compulsory - just as a proposal which might help to address the problem of too many horses, too few homes.
 
NellRosk said:
When you mentioned incentive in your first post, what kind of incentive are we talking? Financial?
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Doesn't really matter for the purposes of this debate, but that was what I had in mind. Anything to make someone consider the future and comfort of the poor old thing they've got in the field, and start to think about the possibility of taking a rescue.
 
Whilst I won't be 'scrapping' any of my 3, I won't be purchasing any replacements either, as I'm getting too old and creaky to start out with another riding horse.

However, I've previously fostered a youngster for the RSPCA, and I will do so again in the future, rather than look out onto empty paddocks. I love looking after youngsters, and by fostering for a charity, I do not have to worry about finding a home for them myself :).
 
pennyturner said:
Doesn't really matter for the purposes of this debate, but that was what I had in mind. Anything to make someone consider the future and comfort of the poor old thing they've got in the field, and start to think about the possibility of taking a rescue.
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Surely if they can't see what is best for their old horse, should they be taking on another - it will be old soon too.
 
Isn't this kind of already in place though - The meat man?
Hopefully all 'experienced' homes wouldn't be keeping horses uncomfortable for any length of time. (Yes i know it does happen still)

The pinch comes when you are a rider, with a 6 year old field ornament. That 6 year old is not in pain now, but cannot handle any workload... Or is that what you mean PennyT?
 
Ther's currently nothing to prevent you from PTS yourself and getting a rescue horse if that's what you want to do. Personally i couldnt do it - i retired my mare two years ago and given id had her 16 years (as my first horse she taught me an awful lot and could have taken far more advantage of my novice ways than she did) not only did i feel i owed it to her to give her a quiet and peaceful retirement but i also wanted her around. We knew each other and like any good friend, i couldnt trade her in for another. Seeing her face at the fence in the morning cheered me up - she was part of the family. I also have a rescue pony and whilst she's very sweet, she's not my retired mare and would never be able to replace her.
 
pennyturner said:
There's no shortage of rideable rescues. Likewise, nothing stopping someone trading in a pet with poor quality of life for a 'pet' rescue horse if that's what they want, or one more suitable as a companion etc.



Very pragmatic, but not very nice (Cortez, I didn't take you for a troll!) I didn't envisage this as universal and compulsory - just as a proposal which might help to address the problem of too many horses, too few homes.
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But people can do that if they wish now anyway?!

pennyturner said:
Doesn't really matter for the purposes of this debate, but that was what I had in mind. Anything to make someone consider the future and comfort of the poor old thing they've got in the field, and start to think about the possibility of taking a rescue.
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If someone is keeping a poor old thing that needs PTS am not sure I would want to hand them another horse...

As for Cortez's post- there are many purposes, not all ridden/in work! but there are a lot of young coloured cobs in rescue, that have been there a while and will likely stay a while. I think she has a good point.
 
No, the problem starts from the top! Strict breeding regulations need to be put into place! Not having people breeding just because they think "they have a nice mare"!!

Rescue homes should be just that, not places where people who are gutless wonders and don't do the best for their horses that have kissing spine and lami dump their horses claiming that they can't cope!
 
pennyturner said:
A response to the 'who has horses they can't ride' thread...

Would it ease the current horse welfare crisis for the rescue charities to offer an incentive to experienced homes willing to PTS their elderly/sick/lame horse, and take a rescue horse in their place?
Click to expand...


No the responsibility for these horses lies firmly with the people who owned them when they were 'rescued'. It certainly doesn't lie with those who have taken responsibility for their own old/infirm but not in pain animals, who wish to keep their old friends in the manner to which they have become accustomed for as long as they can.
We had a mare who was mostly unridden for 12 yrs because behaviour problems caused by food intolerances made her unreliable, as we could never guarantee that passers-by hadn't fed her. She was a perfect companion to her best friend, a happy valued member of our small herd, who was more than happy to spend time with any horse which had been left at home when the others went out and was actually a generally easy horse to keep and gentle personality.

Perhaps the charities should look at pts all those equines that they deem companion only when they are looking to place them in new homes. That would free up a LOT of space and resources to care for animals which can be worked.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
No the responsibility for these horses lies firmly with the people who owned them when they were 'rescued'. It certainly doesn't lie with those who have taken responsibility for their own old/infirm but not in pain animals, who wish to keep their old friends in the manner to which they have become accustomed for as long as they can.
We had a mare who was mostly unridden for 12 yrs because behaviour problems caused by food intolerances made her unreliable, as we could never guarantee that passers-by hadn't fed her. She was a perfect companion to her best friend, a happy valued member of our small herd, who was more than happy to spend time with any horse which had been left at home when the others went out and was actually a generally easy horse to keep and gentle personality.

Perhaps the charities should look at pts all those equines that they deem companion only when they are looking to place them in new homes. That would free up a LOT of space and resources to care for animals which can be worked.
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^^^^^
 
Jazzy B said:
You have to wonder... I know that PTS a healthy animal is not in the rescue homes remit... but when you see an advert for a pony that is described as "He is a great field companion to other horses but would always need a friend as he gets very anxious if left alone". How is that going to work?
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I wondered about that. Perhaps they are hoping someone will take him and, er, a companion for him!
 
No - the people who choose to put down to replace with a shiny new model will do so anyway. People who choose to care for a treasured friend in their twilight years would also continue to do so.

Most rescues seem to only have companions - so how would that work,you offer someone to PTS their horse, replace with a rescue companion. What's to stop that horse being PTS and then replaced,etc etc?

I tried to rehome a companion pony from various rescues - started looking in Jan, needed one by May - nothing suitable. RSPCA were useless, did not return my calls, despite me chasing and leaving messages, when I did speak to them, they said they had hundreds needing homes, but apparently did not have a small, mare (my requirements). In the end I gave up and bought a pony, three weeks before I 'needed' her. I am completely disillusioned with rescues!
 
I do wonder why there is also a 7 yo welsh d with only companion usage as they don't mention any physical issues (he just sounds welsh!)

non lone companions are for when you have 2 and want to take one away and can't, the companion is there ;)
 
I've just replied to the other thread in regards to retiring horses and agree here that if our horses have given us years of fun and pleasure then we owe them a happy retirement, however if this can not be performed then the best option by a responsible owner is to pts. On that post the bigger issue seems to be if you've got a younger horse that has to be retired due to medical or mental issues deeming it unsafe to ride. That scenario could last for 20 years and if you have to still pay livery bills, vet and farrier fees and feed bills your horse becomes a very expensive field ornament, which is fine if you can afford that. Unfortunately the welfare charities just seem to be a dumping ground for all the useless people who aren't prepared to look after their horses properly and the indiscriminate breeding is a huge part of that.
One thing I don't understand at the moment though is all the magazine's are saying how much of a crisis is going on yet one of the has got a "win a horse" competition!!!!
 
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