How old is too old to sell?

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Is there a point where you think an owner is just passing the buck, or is it no different to selling on a younger horse?
Does your opinion change depending upon the status of a horse - say a 25 who is still happy hacking vs a 22 who is esentially knackered?

Do owners have a responsibility to provide for their horses in old age? If an owner can no longer do so, at what point do you start to think they would be better off pts than uprooting them and sending them off to an uncertain furture?
 
This is a really tricky one! We all get upset when we see adverts for 20+ year old horses for peanuts, and the consensus is that an older horse should either be allowed to retire, or be given away as a companion, not sold. However, the pony market is completely different, with 'perfect' ponies being sold for huge figures even in their late 20s! Nobody thinks of this as 'wrong' - it is simply the case that ponies often go from being devilish toerags in their teens to absolute angels in their twilight years. We've been there ourselves - my perfect pony, Pippa, was bought for me when she was 28 years old, for £2000! And when I had outgrown her, we then loaned her to another pony club home, although she came back to us to retire before she was PTS. So I would say the answer to the question is divided starkly, dependent on the horse vs pony market!
 
vgoodpoint mizelz why do we think its ok for ponies to be sold and not horses?i guess it comes down to how useable they are - i wouldnt think anything of a 20yr old fit horse being sold but if its 18 or over with anything wrong with it i dont like the idea.
 
After thinking about it I don't think I can put an exact age on when it's too old to sell. It does depend on the horse. A 17 yr old could still be eventing at a very high level, but then another might have tendon problems and only suitable to be a companion.

I find myself feeling completely and utterly responsible for mine as they reach their older years. My horse is 15 (although that doesn't sound that old to some!) and pony is 25. They have given me everything over the years and it is only right that I repay them when they need it.

I think it is wrong to try and sell a horse that will only ever be suitable as a companion. Horses and ponies are expensive and you never know what circumstances people might experience. A long term loan of a companion could work because ultimately you are still responsible for it.

That's my opinion anyway.
 
Hmm depends on the horse, I gave Bailey (late teens/ early twenties) to his sharer at the beginning of the year when I was supposed to be emmigrating, the girl had been riding him for a year and he went with everything he is a striaghtforward horse in full work with no health issues apart from the usual old horse things and has enjoyed a full summer of local competitions and an adult camp. If the girl couldn't carry on or he was seriously injured / developed serious health issues we agreed he would be destroyed (at this point I'd have been in oz things I'd probably just take him back now).

At the same time a close friend sold her horse similar age to Bails she'd owned him 8+ years, he was ex race - eventer quirky to say the least and fairly nervous too, she just seemed to have enough one day - put him in H&H for a silly price a lorry came off he went and that was that. Just couldn't do it even with Bails hes perfect just old and would get on well most places but I felt after 5 years off fun I owed him and wanted the best home / situation possible.
 
I think giving a horse away (unless to friend of course) is the worse thing you could ever do for it's welfare. Retirement age varies depending on health and breed type but whether retired or a light hack IMO a horse should never be given away free. Adverts for free horses or horses under £500 attract the wrong people, either meat men or novice people who on a wim fancy a go at owning a horse. If I was looking for a companion I would go to a charity, if I was looking for a light hack I would be willing to pay £1,000 for the horse even if it had minor health issue. If a horse has major health issue and you are no longer able to care for it I think the kindest thing is to PTS or gift to charity than give away.

I don't think you can out a number on the age, some age better than others and a 20 year old school master horse (yes horse not pony!) could easily sell for £3,000 to the right person.
 
I don't think you can put an age on it. it depends entirely on each individual horse. However, I do think it is wrong to sell (or give away) a hore/pony that is not usable and is aged as I believe the owner owes it to keep that horse until it's end, even if it means pts sooner rather than later.
This sounds much blunter than I mean it too, but I think each horse needs to be assessed individually to ascertain the best option.
 
I must admit when I see a horse for sale at the same age as mine (19) I think why???? I would never sell my "old" mare (she's not old in her mind), she's with me for life.

But I agree about ponies being different in their twilight years. I was lucky to loan ponies through my childhood and only became an owner once I moved onto horses.

I guess each instance has to be looked at individually.
 
I think it should be judged on the usefulness and health of the animal, not the age.

As mentioned, you can get younger knackered horses and older healthy ones.

I am not sure I agree with the 'kill it coz its past its best' scenario...... you just have to be ultra careful you know it is going to a good home (as far as is possible)

I would not pts my horse just coz he has a wonky leg.... but i would insist on keeping in touch as part of the sale...... Am i living in cloud cuckoo land???
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I think whether a horse should be sold or not depends on whether it has a viable future. If a horse is 19yr old, and still sound and in work, it is likely to find a good home. A 19yr old with permanent or severe health problems is unlikely to find a good home, therefore it is unethical to sell it to an uncertain future.
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I think ponies can be sold or loaned out as they are easier to keep, useful as companions and keep going for what kids want to a greater age, also children do grow out of them!

Horses, I think, once bought, should not be sold. full stop. Loan if necessary but I think ownership should be for life, as they are members of my family and I wouldnt sell a family member however fraught things become!

id rather have no horses I could ride than not know what happened to a horse I had owned.
 
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Horses, I think, once bought, should not be sold. full stop. Loan if necessary but I think ownership should be for life, as they are members of my family and I wouldnt sell a family member however fraught things become!


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So if I bought a four year old to bring on and sell at 5 I would be in the wrong? You think no horse should be sold on?! That is the craziest thing I have heard all week, if no one sold on horses how would novice or nervous riders every get a horse? They would have to buy a foal and keep it for 3 years, get it professionally backed and hope to god it didn't turn it to be a lively one, that's just nuts!!!

There seems to be an opinion that as soon as our four legged friends grow beyond 14.2hh they become previous little bunnies that can't look after themselves. I agree there is a difference between breed and ponies tend to be harder and live longer but I think it's quite a sweeping suggestion that it's ok to sell a 20 year old pony but unethical to sell a 20 year old horse when they could both easily have the same amount of life and work left in them.
 
I agree that it should depend on the individual horse/pony as to whether they are sold/loaned out. Must admit to not liking to see ads for neds over 20

One of the girls at the yard said tonight that Ellie is old
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I covered her ears and said' shush! she don't know that!' She may be 29 next week but judging by how forward she was this evening she's not feeling it
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It's got to depend on the horse/pony. I have on loan a 33yo that I took on 8 years ago. The original loanees had passed him to a lovely Pony Club family who quickly realised that while still more than able, he wasn't quite as eager as ayounger horse, and were much more sensible about placing him. Result? I have a brilliant old lad who opened the door to so many experiences I never thought to aspire to, and who hopefully will stay with me for good. He is retired now(more or less) but that doesn't lessen my enjoyment of him.
 
i'm not too bothered about Ad's for fit and healthy oldies..

what does bother me is the "pass the buck" Ad's of "companions"..those that are knackered/lame/unrideable..have the bloody things PTS....DON'T pass on your problems to someone else!!!!!
 
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