horses/ponies with no job/use in life

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clairefeekerry1

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i have a sec d mare who with considrable input from vets/trainers/professionals is not suitable for a ridden life. she is 6 yr old,owned her since a weanling. barbie doll looks to die for but thats bout it. i am lucky enough to be in a situation where she can live out 24/7 as a field companion. she has awful sweet itch but its not so bad if shes not ridden as boett rug stays on 24/7, sweetitch is one of the reasons she's not really rideable. do you think this is a life for her? she lives out 24/7 in relative comfort (apart from when midges are really bad) but her future only really exists as a field orniment-is this fair at 6 yr old????
 
Yes it is one million percent fair that you chose to keep her when she has no job to do. Life of luxury for horse I think,regardless of sweetitch! I would not consider selling or giving away though if she is un rideable would rather PTS. You are a very kind person to continue to keep such a young horse.
Its sad though that you say the sweetitch is that bad its a main reason why she cannot be ridden, what does your vet reccomend for it besides the rug? Surely its subsiding now at this time of year and she could then be ridden?
 
This really is a personal issue, and one that only you can make. In my opinion, we have a duty of care to our horses, but not everyone has the time and funds for this. I spose with particularly bad sweetitch she would not be useful as a broodmare, especially if she has a good bloodline? Otherwise a companion is really the only route to go down.
Her sweetitch may improve in time, and perhaps the area you are in is making it worse? I have heard of horses being moved nearer to the sea and it improving for some reason!
 
I think if she is unhappy, she will let you know quick enough! You are a good person to give her such a life, I am sure she will find other ways to reward you.
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the vet grades her sweetitch as very bad and hers continues from bout march to nov if i'm being realstic. she also has other allergies to dust and mould but from day one she has been difficult to ride regardless of time of year. vet thinks sweetitch could get worse with age, breeding is not an option. i moved her to a new yard where the exposure to her sweetitch is less but this only makes a minor improvement. i would NEVER sell /loan her as she needs so much care etc, currently on sweetitch trial for new drugs etc. just wondered whether she actually cares whether or not she only a companion? it really is no prob her being a life time companion with me, but feel its such a waste!!
 
She really won't care about being a companion. I have a dear old pony who's 25 now, she was retired at 11 after putting her back out. She's happy, healthy and a good nanny. I take her for a walk in hand every so often like a dog, but to be honest, she doesn't mind if i don't. I bring her in in the day in the summer cos she gets a bit porky, but apart from that she's out 24/7.
The perfect life!!!!
 
i honestly believe that the best thing a horse loves is to be left well alone ----- except for food !!!!!! so for that reason i think your horse will be extremely happy -- and the envy of all her mates !!!!
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Is it heck a waste, it's much better than a waste of a life when you're happy to keep her. I'll bet she's pretty pleased to not have a job
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She will be boasting to all the other horses that she's a lady of leisure! If you want her around and can afford it then there's no point in distressing yourself by thinking of pts etc until her medical conditions make her unhappy.

Hope the trials go well if she manages to get on them, but well done for doing well by her.
 
i have another horse who more than fulfills (sp) my riding requirements so i have no personal need to force her to be ridden, just worry that she is facing another 20/30 yrs doing sod all!
 
As they always say on here, a horse has no ambitions, it's humans that want to compete/hack/work etc.

As long as she has enough to eat and a friend or two in the field, she will be a very contented mare. Lucky girl!
 
I got my Anglo Arab when he was 5 months old and lost him earlier this year at almost 18 years. He spent his first 4-5 years being shown in hand and doing very well, was broken in very slowly but at that time I had no interest in riding him. He also only made 15.3 which was a bit small for me. Over the years I occasionally would get the urge to ride him, but after a few days you couldn't catch him (!) so I would give up again as not really bothered, and had other horses. He basically spent his whole life doing sod all and was a very expensive pet, but he clearly loved it - never ill or lame a day in his life. Unfortunately some mad car driver crashed into his field and ended his idyllic life but that's another story
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I agree that it's a personal choice depending on the owners / horses circumstances, but two of my horses are retired field ornaments, one due to diabetes and the other due to epilepsy. They're like an old married couple, and I would swear that if they were human, they would be arguing about who had the remote control or what kind of biscuits to buy, but ... they are the most hardworking of all my horses, as they provide me with laughter at their antics, a shoulder to cry on and have listened to me during all the happy and sad times .. a job worth far more than any rosettes
 
We have 4 elderly ponies that have done "sod all" all their lives and have never complained. I think it's a bit mean to end a horses life just because it can't be ridden. Our lot live in a small heard and live just like they would in the wild. Apart from the pampering of course.
 
If you and she are happy then there's no reason not to keep her as a companion! Perhaps you could take her to shows in-hand as well for a bit of a jolly?
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There is absolutely no reason why you can't keep her as she is. Most shetties/companion ponies spend their lives doing nothing but what nature intended for them to do...no reaon it should be any difference with a horse.
My kids lead rein pony was retired at 8 and has been mooching round a field ever since...she 15 and happy as larry.

I do sypmathise with the sweet itch though...can you move her at all? My cob was unridable with his at one point and I even considered pts as he was so miserable until we moved fields. He is now in an exposed field where it is almost always windy and is so much happier, more managable and ridable.
 
My pony has been a field ornament since he was 2 and he seems very relaxed and enjoying life.

Lets not forget there is no horse / pony born with an ambition to do be a showjumper etc. They are born to stand all day and do nothing but graze. Not that some don't enjoy the work (my mare loves going out hacking) but don't assume that if their not working that they are any less fulfilled in life.
 
OH's mare has done XC, team chasing, driving with previous owners (mate of mine).

She's a good steady hack but TBH she's more of a pet to him, he occasionally goes out for hack but really she lives a life of luxury.

People say she's never been more chilled/happy.....I sometimes think I should badger him to ride/school her etc but they are both happy and its his money .....
 
Why isn't being a field ornament considered a job? I have a 28yo that was retired at 5, he's been a super nanny (my mare foaled down in front of him and from then on he was dad, playmate and servant-he even took care of the mare when she went totally blind). He's also seriously easy on the eye. What more could I ask?
 
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