Horse scrappage scheme idea.

I have a companion from WHW too. He's very easy to keep. No hard feed, shoes or rugs. And he's a lovely horse who gets on with whoever I put him with.

He can be on his own in the field too if needs be, but I got him as a friend for my retired horse and they are happy mooching about together.
 
I can understand your way of thinking of trying to free up room in rescue centres, but horses are animals, not inanimate objects.

We don't ask people to PTS their old dogs when they're a little bit stiff to go and get a new one from a rescue centre, infact we're taught a dog is for life. I sell a horse if it's unsuitable for me, i.e. when I was younger when I outgrew it, but my boy at 16.2hh will be with me for life (I've only had him 9 years at the moment though!). I think most horse lovers are of a similar opinion. Most owners keep their horses at livery yards as well, so don't have a lot of need for companion ponies.
 
Just for reference: "Pet" absolutely does come under the heading "purpose", but sadly there are many, many horses which don't even fulfil that remit, and those are the horses which will not receive the care they require and deserve. I believe these horses are the ones which should be humanely euthanised, and not replaced with other unwanted horses either.
 
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I have never done this but I have thought about it. Most of my old ponies I have had since they were 3/4 and they are now in there 20's, well the last one is. They have had full lives and owe me nothing, but in the same way I owe them nothing, they have shod, fed, watered, lived in a herd and generally never see the vet and have had pretty much a stress less life. So when the last but one had to be PTS I took in a young rescue pony, to give him the opportunities that they had. I would never buy a rescue, I think the best should be taken out and the rest culled.
I have been really lucky with my animals and have never had a really big vets bill, and my feeling is that I would never spend thousands on vets bills on one animal they would be PTS, like I never buy dogs I rehome them, I think my money and knowledge is best used on the many not the few. That's why I have problems with animal charities that spend small fortunes on expense treatment which benefits only one animal. Like the we are seeing with the NHS, money is not an endless resource and we have to spend it wisely.
Perhaps my attitude stems from being older, having seen a lot of suffering in people, and I also have farm animals which end up as meat. If you talk to most farming families they care for their animals but are pragmatic about their end. I have bought ponies and had brood mares given to me and I am always honest that if they are ever seriously injured or ill they will be PTS on my land.
You may not want to lose you oldie and replace it with a younger deserving model, its your time and money and your choice, but the horse will not know if it lives for five months or fives years and you will lose it in the end anyway.
 
honetpot said:
I have never done this but I have thought about it. Most of my old ponies I have had since they were 3/4 and they are now in there 20's, well the last one is. They have had full lives and owe me nothing, but in the same way I owe them nothing, they have shod, fed, watered, lived in a herd and generally never see the vet and have had pretty much a stress less life. So when the last but one had to be PTS I took in a young rescue pony, to give him the opportunities that they had. I would never buy a rescue, I think the best should be taken out and the rest culled.
I have been really lucky with my animals and have never had a really big vets bill, and my feeling is that I would never spend thousands on vets bills on one animal they would be PTS, like I never buy dogs I rehome them, I think my money and knowledge is best used on the many not the few. That's why I have problems with animal charities that spend small fortunes on expense treatment which benefits only one animal. Like the we are seeing with the NHS, money is not an endless resource and we have to spend it wisely.
Perhaps my attitude stems from being older, having seen a lot of suffering in people, and I also have farm animals which end up as meat. If you talk to most farming families they care for their animals but are pragmatic about their end. I have bought ponies and had brood mares given to me and I am always honest that if they are ever seriously injured or ill they will be PTS on my land.
You may not want to lose you oldie and replace it with a younger deserving model, its your time and money and your choice, but the horse will not know if it lives for five months or fives years and you will lose it in the end anyway.
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Very good, wise post. And yes, I am of a farming persuasion too :-)
 
Well I run a Semi Retirement for young horses (my lot) they and me enjoy life, I ride when I want or not. But all of my old horses I've kept to the end of their lives as will this lot, I don't replace they just seem to turn up, my youngster is coming up 4.
 
No I couldn't just "throw mine away" like that.

Also if you are swapping one for a rescue then you aren't actually lowering the number in rescues as your old horse will be taking the rescue horses space.
 
My girl is retired but I wouldn't have her PTS to take on a rescue horse. The better plan for me would be for people to stop breeding just because they can.
 
My oldie is going to sleep at the end of this month and I know if I was given another soon after I would hate it for no better reason than its not her. I know people who have sold up and quit on losing a good horse so I can't see many people giving up a horse who earnt its retirement and taking on someone else's in exchange. We would do better to halt the breeding of unwanted mediocre ponies.
 
me&Harvey said:
No I couldn't just "throw mine away" like that.

Also if you are swapping one for a rescue then you aren't actually lowering the number in rescues as your old horse will be taking the rescue horses space.
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No it won't I think you are suppose to be PTS.

I thought that is what you meant cortez :D
 
Pebble101 said:
I had one from WHW and I don't remember them worrying when I took his shoes off.
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I didn't say 'take shoes off', I said they will not rehome to anyone who chooses to use a barefoot trimmer rather than a farrier. That is a fact I'm afraid. Plus I was speaking generally not just about WHW.

I think the Blue Cross are a little more relaxed these days.
 
Cortez said:
Just for reference: "Pet" absolutely does come under the heading "purpose", but sadly there are many, many horses which don't even fulfil that remit, and those are the horses which will not receive the care they require and deserve. I believe these horses are the ones which should be humanely euthanised, and not replaced with other unwanted horses either.
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The voice of reason.
Why do the charities go on about the equine crisis yet keep useless animals going for years. Why not cull the ones that are never going to be useful & break the ones that could be - perhaps giving people more support to bring on newly started youngsters, rather than trying to rehome all the half wild 11hh ponies and lame tb's....

Also, there is no way in hell I would pts my old horse in favor of some 'companion pony' - or a five star eventer for that matter.
 
lastchancer said:
Why do the charities go on about the equine crisis yet keep useless animals going for years. Why not cull the ones that are never going to be useful & break the ones that could be - perhaps giving people more support to bring on newly started youngsters, rather than trying to rehome all the half wild 11hh ponies and lame tb's...
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Some charities already do this. The RSPCA centre that I fostered a gypsy cob filly from do start work with the youngsters that are capable of it. They will also assess older horses with unknown backgrounds, to see if they may make riding horses.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/local/petse...p_p_col_pos=2&p_p_col_count=3#onSubmitSetHere

I returned her, aged 3 1/2, having got her bitted, wearing a roller, and starting to lunge. They carried on with her, and she went to Your Horse Live 2013 as part of a demo. She has now found a 'forever' home with people who adore her.

I seem to pop up to defend the RSPCA quite often on here, but I found them excellent to deal with, and the home check was very sensible, with no unrealistic expectations.

I only picked them as there were the nearest rescue centre, and this was my first dealings with them.
 
NO WAY

I love my old retired lad who has the best of everything and nobody would be able to replace him. Riding days may be over but our love will be strong until the day my heart has to break and let him go. Wouldn't want any other in his place.
 
No, this sounds horrible. It should be up to the owner to make a decision as to when they pts their horse, and they should not have incentives of a new rescue horse that could potentially break their heart all over again.
 
equi said:
Also the words "scrappage scheme" are horribly insensitive.
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That...and the concept being that you get "new for old", not "other issues for old".

There are some fab horses that need rehoming, but we've had some well known members of this forum go through hell this week making very responsible decisions about their horses. Some have posted, some have not...but all are the kind of owners that any horse would be lucky to have. There is no way I would find it appropriate in any way to expect them to have taken an incentive to reach their decision and then take on another horse whilst their hearts are not even beginning to mend.
 
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?
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What a horrid idea OP, chuck out / reward your horse of a lifetime or companion who you have had for years, because it needs to retire and get something new to supposedly help the over populated horse scenario.

Why should our beloved animals and companions end up being PTS because some selfish humans breed and breed worthless horses to line their pockets.


Never, My old boys/girls are with me till their health is compromised in some terminal way or if their life is no longer enjoyable.
No chance of me PTS anyone who is still enjoying life albeit a little stiff or slightly lame.


Not only that but most homes with an elderly or retired horse want to keep that horse due to its life and the fact it has earnt its retirement after a competitive life and bond with owner, also keeping a retired horse which does not require riding is a lot easier than having an extra horse which requires riding on top of existing family horse in riding.
 
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I don't agree with putting to sleep and receiving a 'replacement' like your handing in your bag for life when it breaks for a replacement at the supermarket. But I do agree with PTS rather than keeping and retiring if it is in the best intrest of the horse. Some people just don't have the ££ to keep a old horse healthy and happy as a field ornament & still being able to purchase and keep a new riding horse. Just because the horse has given you years of pleasure Etc Doesn't mean u r Indebted to its care into retirement IMO. I will always be in a financial position to keep my oldies but I know some people who wouldn't b in a finicaial position to keep a oldie on retirement livery giving it medication & supps etc to ensure it is healthy & comfortable and have a riding horse so they make he decision to have the oldie PTS so they can continue to ride and enjoy competing etc.
 
pinkypug1 said:
I don't agree with putting to sleep and receiving a 'replacement' like your handing in your bag for life when it breaks for a replacement at the supermarket. But I do agree with PTS rather than keeping and retiring if it is in the best intrest of the horse. Some people just don't have the ££ to keep a old horse healthy and happy as a field ornament & still being able to purchase and keep a new riding horse. Just because the horse has given you years of pleasure Etc Doesn't mean u r Indebted to its care into retirement IMO. I will always be in a financial position to keep my oldies but I know some people who wouldn't b in a finicaial position to keep a oldie on retirement livery giving it medication & supps etc to ensure it is healthy & comfortable and have a riding horse so they make he decision to have the oldie PTS so they can continue to ride and enjoy competing etc.
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If you read the blod in my sig....you'll see how supportive I am of PTS for the right reasons. The idea put forward here, as you say, is not right IMO.
 
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