How the Mighty Fall

Oh my. Poor boy. I hope someone snaps him up. A horse like that has an incredible amount to offer. I have lessons on a dressage schoolmaster of a similar age & feel privileged to be allowed to do so. He's teaching me a huge amount and gives me really clear feedback about my riding.
 
Doesn't have to be a sad outcome "if" he finds the right home (big if I know but stranger things have happened).

I spent a pitance on a 13 year old ex-intermediate eventer who was looking for a quieter life and he's been my horse of a lifetime. Sound and happy at 26, he's still enjoying life doing Veteran Horse Society classes and teaching a lightweight young lady the pleasures of dressage. When the time comes that he's no longer able or happy to work then he'll have a summer in the field and a sympathetic and speedy dispatch.
 
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It's so sad - I remember seeing a very well known ex international SJ advertised a few years back - he was then 22, and after a string of less competitive owners had ended up in a pit of a place, being hauled around by an assortment of kids and novice parents. Heartbreaking to see the photos. :(
 
I'm not really seeing the problem! Most Intermediate or Advanced horses end up in a similar way. Mostly you don't see them as they are passed on by word of mouth, often through BE coaches so the homes are fairly well known and vetted. That's how we got the Advanced horse that we had, he went on from us to teach another teen the ropes, happily popping round BE100 Open. Another Advanced horse that came to one of my daughter's peers to do JRN several years ago is now very much enjoying his hunting, aged 22. Not a lot of money changes hands for these old boys as their owners are usually only too keen for them to be loved by a teenager.

I would expect that this lad's potential owners will be well vetted - that's if a wiley coach hasn't already spotted him and made enquiries for a pupil.
 
I picked up my 4* boy for nothing when he was only 14 put wasn't cutting it at 4* (lovely 3* record! but some soundness issues in full fitness) - by word of mouth but they often need slower pace homes after being at the top.
IMHO he has a great life and I have more of a horse than I could ever have dreamed of.

These horses have so much to teach and can make wonderful schoolmasters once they adjust to a riding club lifestyle.
 
It is quite sad but there are some genuine people out there who would take him on - I'd love to start eventing & something like him who could show me the ropes would be fantastic! There must be someone else out there thinking the same thing?

I'd have him in a heartbeat if I could afford 3 or had the time to exercise any more - let's hope he gets a smashing home with someone who will love him and care for him for the rest of his days.
 
At the risk of sounding extremely harsh and judgemental, do you not think the picture speaks volumes? Obviously this is just a snapshot in time ... but Not a flattering photo, it looks as if the horse is on his head, not exactly relaxed in his mouth, and in my personal opinion, possibly a bit on the lean side - although i accept he may be fit, and a better quality pic would give a very different image.
But you're right, it is no worse that looking at this pic makes me cringe anymore than any other photo - IMHO, if we choose to ride a horse, we should make sure we're good enough to do it - most of the photos of horses for sale make me uncomfortable, either drawn in and overbent, inverted through their backs etc.

I am aware this sounds really harsh, and I don't mean it like that, they are probably lovely people and the horse is possibly much adored. Again, it comes back to education - too many people who just tell people what they want to hear, instead of constructive advice. And it's the horse that suffers:(
 
I don't see the problem. Somebody will end up with a lovely horse that they probably could not have afforded if it was younger.
 
im another one who wishes i could buy him.
Not that im interested in competition...my horse is an ex hunter and ive got him semi retired ...just a few hacks out a week admiring the views. He seems to love his life!
99% of his life is spent outdoors enjoying the company of his companions, if and when the time came to get another one something like that would be perfect for me.
 
If the horse was still capable of showing a young rider the ropes at a low level then surely it would go for more than £800? Strikes me that it's not sound enough, and so he may find himself in a sticky situation at that price, if he's not lucky.
 
I don't think its sad either. The horse is not old, the owner seems to really care, sending the horse with full wardrobe and going to vet the new home. That horse could be sold for a lot more, yet they just sound like they want a good home for him.
 
Fab opportunity for a teenager in need of a first horse to have an amazingly talented schoolmaster. In fact there was a thread earlier in the week where a lady had a pretty big budget but couldn't find anything suitable to introduce her daughter to affiliated eventing - she could save her cash for the second horse and give this old boy a home.
 
I don't think that you could assume from that advert that this is a sad scenario.
It would be sad if the horse was flogged for £800 with no checks done.

But for the right vetted home a loan with a potential cheap transfer of ownership down the line, then could be a winning situation for the horse.

A pregnant owner with no time to devote to a LW ex-competition horse, it might be in this horses best interests to find a new home?
 
I don't see this as sad, will make some one a cracking horse, even at 17 years old.
Would make a great happy hacker.
Wish I could have him!
 
Why is this sad? There are thousands and thousands of horses and ponies going for a pittance at the moment. The horse doesn't think "Oh golly, I was once an eventer and I won't settle for anything less than royalty". The woman is pregnant, she's done the right thing by the horse and is trying to find him a home where he will have the time spent on him that she obviously doesn't have.
 
I thought it was sad, because of my initial reaction to the photo.

Having now learnt a little more about the horse in question, I'll reserve judgement.

And of course, most of you are probably right - and I'm just to 'fluffy':D:D
 
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I wouldn't snap him up but that's because I have a very very well 25 year ex eventer and cannot afford 3. My concern would be he could do a little, then need to be retired and cared for for the next x years!
 
I think if you decide to buy a horse at 17/18+ you are making a decision to have that horse for life really, which is fine if someone has thought it through.

We sold our beloved 17yr old schoolmaster pony last year. The new owners had a little girl who could probably have ten years with him, and probably would have been able to ride him as an adult, her parents were that small. We still said we would take him back for his retirement if they ever needed it - we have our own yard and land..
 
Luci07 said:
I wouldn't snap him up but that's because I have a very very well 25 year ex eventer and cannot afford 3. My concern would be he could do a little, then need to be retired and cared for for the next x years!
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That would concern me if I was buying, but it can be an issue even with a young horse. Plus if you are buying for a teenager you may only want something for the next 3 years, and then be happy for it to be downgraded to "mum's hack" or retired or loaned as a companion or whatever.

Plus it sounds like the seller might be prepared to have him back in the future if you were stuck. Not to be relied upon obviously but worth bearing in mind for a buyer.

Wish I could find that thread about the Mum looking for an eventer for her daughter - they were the sort of home that could have retired him in a couple of years once daughter was ready to move on or he wasn't up to it.
 
Honey08 said:
I think if you decide to buy a horse at 17/18+ you are making a decision to have that horse for life really, which is fine if someone has thought it through.

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Agree with this absolutely - hopefully part of the vetting will be to find someone with their own land so having a retired ornament (or indeed another retired ornament!) isn't to much of a problem.
 
Honey08 said:
I think if you decide to buy a horse at 17/18+ you are making a decision to have that horse for life really, which is fine if someone has thought it through.

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Absolutely right. If I had the inclination to ride, and if I had the room, I'd take him without second thought. He sounds lovely. I'm sure that reading between the lines he wont be palmed off, and he'll end up with the right owner, for the rest of his days.

Alec.
 
amymay said:
I thought it was sad, because of my initial reaction to the photo.

Having now learnt a little more about the horse in question, I'll reserve judgement.

And of course, most of you are probably right - and I'm just to 'fluffy':D:D
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Amymay - you aren't fluffy!! :eek:;)
 
Don't think it's that sad- they're offering him for loan as well as sale and saying homes will be vetted. Could be a fantastic opportunity for a talented rider.

Would have thought they'd have put a more decent flatwork pic than that though!
 
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