Horses not selling, friend considering PTS.

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Elvis

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There have been many threads recently surrounding the PTS issue, especially in regards to behaviour issues, and the horse population crisis.
For me it's just hit home, a very good friend of mine has been trying to sell her two ponies for a few months. Neither have any issues but the 12.1hh is only 4 and the 14.1hh is 19 so both not at ideal ages. She wants the best homes for them, and that is paramount.
She hasn't had much interest in either of them, and the interest that she has had is not appropriate. She starts an intensive course in a new part of the country in Feb and needs them sold by then as she won't have the funds or time for them, and then she's moving abroad. So loaning is not an option.
She's just told me she has thought seriously and she is going to have them PTS if they aren't sold. This decision hasn't been taken lightly, the 19y/o is her first pony and she adores him, and the 4y/o she bought as a 2y/o and has done all her education so also has a sentimental value.
Perhaps naively she has told others about her plans and has been bombarded with rudeness and judgement. But in all honesty I understand where she's coming from, if she can't guarantee the best home possible, surely no home and being PTS is better than an uncertain future?
Horses have no concept of time or how long they 'could' have lived.

But it does sadden me that things have got so bad that 2 healthy, lovely ponies that have a job to do might face being PTS.
 
It certainly is unfortunate that she hasn't been able to find suitable homes for them but at least she is thinking responsibly and not adding to the mass of ponies being passed around the sales. It really saddens me when I see old ponies in sales rings.
 
Very sad but also very responsible of your friend, if she has them put down quietly at home she will never have to worry about them again. In her situation I would certainly do the same with my 21 year old, much as it would break my heart. It's a sad time for horses.
 
That is sad. It isn't the best time of year to be selling ponies even if things are "normal" and I can understand her dilema.

I think she is being brave to consider it, lots of people would, in desperation to have them gone, send them to a sale, where they might go to a good home or not ............................

I suppose she has thought about all the usual contacts - Pony club, riding clubs, people looking for a companion.

Poor girl.
 
Sad, but IMHO a very wise decision to be considering.

I'm stupidly sentimental about most things - and my own horse is a pet & member of the family first & riding horse second - but I honestly believe that it is better to PTS when a secure future can't be guaranteed, than potentially have them passed from pillar to post. Better a peaceful end than potentially years of needless suffering by the poor animal.

Not a nice thing to be contemplating, so thoughts are with your friend. X
 
Yes she's considered everything and tried advertising on many platforms. What is sad is that if they were both 12y/o's they'd probably have sold by now. You can't guarantee what will happen to a horse once you've sold it but you can do your best to find a fantastic home but none have turned up yet.
 
How very sad for your friend. Not long ago most horses and ponies didnot live to15, modern progress has prolonged the life of many animals, but it is still the owners choice what to do. More difficult must be the decision about a 4yr old, but in the current economic situation, she does not have many options.

Has she tried Homes4horses, it might help with younger one.
 
Your friend is quite right to consider putting her ponies down, the charities are full to bursting and have NO sensible answers.... indeed are creating a problem by rescuing ponies then offering them free of charge to work, there is no market and I'm not sure there will be in the forseeable future. Sad I know......... I'd be seling if there were many punters about too.
 
Thanks adopter, will mention homes4horses.

And she's asking £800 for the 19y/o and £500 for the 4 y/o. Both have had considerable price reductions recently, they started at £2000 and £1500 respectively. She's had more interest since the price reductions so fingers crossed for good viewings.

She's had a lot of time wasters- people not turning up, cancelling at the last minute, people viewing then saying they only want to loan. The ones interested have been people too nervous to canter and insistent on using their own saddle (too long for the 19 y/o) and the 4 y/o has had lots of very inexperienced owners (never owned a horse before) and the 4 y/o has only been backed since Jan and really needs a proper consistent education with experienced people.
 
Have you tried NF specific advertising? A lot of my friends have Newfies, and are on Hamlets House Native pony forum, and the same ones (mostly) are in the new forest pony people group on FB. They are all kind, friendly and full of good ideas.
 
A sad situation but a responsible attitude. Heaven help we get accused as being so quick to PTS again bbut if all avenues have been tried and with the time factor i think the last resort of PTS is responsible. sometimes life changes come in to factor often out of our controlll in sime ways. I sincerely hope your friend finds a soloution but think she is brave to contemplate PTS . please let us know how it goes x
 
I will do, she's got a couple of viewings this week I think, so fingers crossed, the price drop has helped. She's in sussex.
And I'll mention the NF specialist advertising. Thank you everyone.
I think I'll show her this thread, so she knows there are people out there that are practical and believe she's being a responsible owner by considering PTS.
 
Prices seem quite high to me, I had similar situation, the BHS welfare helped. Personally I would try to re home together at lower price.
Are they useful for RDS, I know my NF was only 2 when I started educating him in harness, and he had lots of pre-breaking type handling so knew it all when he was lightly backed age 3, I had been feeding him over his age 2/3 winter so he was very strong for his age.
 
I think her original prices sound high for what she's selling tbh so I'm not too surprised that she didn't have much luck then. Smart move to drop the prices to more realistic ones. Hope she find them both nice homes.
 
I agree with Spring Feather, the asking price for both ponies in the current slow market is unrealistic. Better to find good homes by dropping the price.
 
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