I just got offered...

[Boodle]

... £2000 for my 17yr old laminitic, arthritic, intermittently stiff/lame, foot troubled 14.2hh welshy x mare, Boo.

The lady knows me/Boo and has previously offered a swap for her 15hh talented mare. Should I let my head rule my heart I would probably currently have a 12yr old 15hh eventer type. However me being soft, lovey dovey/wishy washy would never let go of my pony.

Have you ever been offered a ridiculous sum of money for something which you know isn't worth that much? (Well... to me, Boo is priceless).

It also got me thinking... although Boo is wonderful to hack, ie is bombproof (as a horse can be), plods along quite the thing... she never used to be this way. When I first got her she napped, bronced, bolted, bucked etc when I tried to hack her out and consistently tanked off with me whatever I tried to do with her. Now I firmly believe she wasn't like this with previous owner but she is a strong minded tank of a mare and she tested me to my limits. But this wasn't because she was a bad pony, she was just head strong and her previous owner said she was strong in open spaces, which she still is. But the owner probably had experienced the trouble I had with her, but likely at the start of their relationship. I think if Boo were (which she never will be) to be sold then the new owner would get a shock and would not find the docile big lump of a mare I currently have.
Saying that, she was a great jumper, loved her XC and relished fast hacks. Unfortunately now she's just a happy hacker with occasional light schooling. She can't trot/canter on hard ground (ie when it's too dry, no trotting on road etc).

Just a rambling post, and a few pics, coz I love her!

 

[express_75]

Boo is SO lovely!
I have a Welsh Mare and i hope, one day, to have wonderful pictures like your do with your mare...

You have a hard decision to make...

Would you still be able to stay in touch with Boo if she went?

How long have you had her?

 

[Tia]

Yes I have been offered a lot of money, a number of times, for Cloud our little 12.2hh pony. People see how amazing she is and literally fall head over heels in love with her; and not always people with small children either, Lol!

I'd never sell Cloud. We have owned her since 1997 and she is more of a pet dog than a pony, which is why when we emigrated, we flew her 3,500 miles to remain as part of our family. When people ask me to sell her to them, I always say "you can't afford her!" No-one can afford her - she is simply not for sale.

Every other horse I own though, I'd likely sell ... if the right home were to come up.

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes I have been offered a lot of money, a number of times, for Cloud our little 12.2hh pony. People see how amazing she is and literally fall head over heels in love with her; and not always people with small children either, Lol!

I'd never sell Cloud. We have owned her since 1997 and she is more of a pet dog than a pony, which is why when we emigrated, we flew her 3,500 miles to remain as part of our family. When people ask me to sell her to them, I always say "you can't afford her!" No-one can afford her - she is simply not for sale.

Every other horse I own though, I'd likely sell ... if the right home were to come up.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a lovely story! The fact that emigration couldnt keep you and you pony apart.

 

[Hippona]

Everyone loves my horse- hes handsome, grey - a show off- he looks the part, is well schooled and has a lovely personality.

However, he is so full of quirks/oddities, but appears to be so easy to manage, because i've really had to work out what makes him tick...when i got him he had been sold and returned because they just couldnt cope with him. I would never ever sell him, but even if i wanted to i would be so worried that he would not be what the new owners would be expecting.....

 

[Boodle]

express_75, she would never ever ever in a million years be sold! She's my best friend. She's been lame for more than she's been sound in the 5 years i've owned her. I wouldn't trust another soul with her as the slightest thing will set her lameness off at a million miles/ph again. It's actually 5 and a half years now. I simply couldn't/wouldn't sell her. Same goes for my other 3 ponies.

Tia - I love the fact you took her with you, she is just lovely. How is little legacy these days? I loved her foal pics! Cloud does look like a very special little mare!

Completely understand that Poppymoo, it's great you've spent the time to figure him out.

 

[Silverspring]

If you knew she would be going to a good home then why not? If you'd rather be competing then I would sell if possible, horses are too expensive to keep for sentimental value only!

 

[DBrasnett]

I had Haley 2 days when someone offered me 5 times the price I paid for her. It had taken me so long to find her, that I couldn't consider going through the horse hunt process again.

Last year she was in training with Mike Huber and he said she was very marketable if I wanted to sell her and named a ball park figure in front of my husband.

Still today after relocating her 5,000 miles to keep her with me, my husband goes on about the ££££ I could have got for her. He just doesn't understand.

I couldn't part with her. She is way more talented then I am, but we have fun, she is loved and happy.

My old horse trainer in Dallas was at the Maclay show and was offered $125,000 (£62,500) for her horse. She had paid $10,000 (£5,000) for him a couple of years before that. They refused the money and the horse remainded with her until I died at the age of 25.

For some people it is the relationship and friendship not the money!

 

[DBrasnett]

I meant he died... I am still alive and well.

 

[Boodle]

Silverspring - If I had to choose between Boo and getting out and about/competing... I'd choose Boo. She taught me so much in the time I know her and took me from trotting round mini novice SJ, to competing up to 3ft SJ/XC (locally). I believe that I owe it to her to give her the (semi) retirement she needs. But I am a soft touch.

Lol Moody_mare, I read it and was a bit :worried: lol! Lovely sotry... if that's the horse in your sig, she is GORGEOUS.

 

[Tia]

Legacy was very well named; she is the image of her mother Cloud, except she has much longer legs, Lol!

Everything about Legacy is Cloud; her temperament, her character, even her looks (although she does still resemble her Daddy too

). She is over 13hh now so has overtaken Cloud in height and as Daddy is 15hh, I think she will grow a bit more. She has turned a very light roan colour now but I think she will be fully grey within the next year. She's an absolute doll!

Oh and I was mistaken above; I'd never sell Legacy either! Wouldn't wish to sell her Dad either ...oops! so that makes 3 horses that I simply wouldn't consider selling.

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
I meant he died... I am still alive and well.

[/ QUOTE ]

*sniggers* And there was me thinking you were speaking to us from the afterlife!

Was just about to go back down to SB and change my thoughts on reincarnation and ghosts.

 

[Boodle]

Lol Tia, you're going soft

.

We need more Legacy/Cloud pics! How old is she now?! It feels like yesterday you posted her baby pics.

 

[express_75]

Im a soft touch too and couldn't part with my Welshie either...i've been asked if i want to sell her too.

Could you, if you wanted, compete the other horse?

 

[DBrasnett]

Boodle - yes it is my mare in the sig. She is stunning and wonderful. She fell asleep while the farrier was shoeing her the other day, and walked straight through a river 2 days ago. She had never seen flowing water or streams before. She isn't always an angel, but what horse is?

Tia - I think your story is the reason my OH won't let me have any more horses! He knows I will end up with 3 and will never sell one.

 

[Boodle]

Unfortunately all my ponies are much like Boo in that their ridden career, or anythign more than hacking is over.
Shadow is 28 and is up to light hacking. Trixie nearer the 40 mark and is 11.1hh and my first pony. And Joey... my little invalid Shetland.

I do keep all my ponies from when we buy them, for sentimental value. IMO, they give us so much fun and happiness and we owe it to them to give them a nice retirement.

 

[Tia]

Ach I've always been soft

. Some of them just get right under you skin don't they! No I am generally always very clear in my mind which ones are sellers and which ones are not. To be honest, I did advertise Cloud for sale at one time; just before we were planning to be out here for the Summer a few years ago. I had a fair few people come and view her but I just didn't get the feeling they were right for her. When we were over here for the short time pre-summer holidays being spent here, was when we were called back to have Cloud put to sleep due to her coming down with acute laminitis during the 10 days we were gone. That was the single most harrowing moment of my life and I vowed then that if this pony survived that she would be with us until the end of her life. Well you know the outcome, she literally clawed her way back from the brink of death and once healed I had her flown out here the day after I left England for good.

Legacy is now 18 months old - I know, doesn't time fly!

I haven't taken photos of her recently but will endeavour to get some over the next week or so and will post them

. It's raining here today - can you tell? That's why I'm in here and not out there fencing.

 

[Boodle]

m_m, she sounds wonderful. She really is gorgeous.

Awwww Tia, I remember when I first read about her. She reminds me of Boo to an extent, she too came down with acute laminitis and came back from the brink. I think it only brings you closer to them.
Look forward to Legacy pics!

 

[Tia]

Lol!! M_M

. Well I have 3 personal horses and Cloud and Legacy are my daughters ponies - one of my horses is Legacy's Dad and he had (what was almost) a tragic and freak accident a few years ago; he broke his neck ... but he recovered and since then I really fell in love with him. I couldn't sell him as I would be terrified if someone pushed him too far and did damage to him - he is such a suck anyway and I couldn't imagine not having him around. My other two, I'd sell to the right homes but I would never advertise them and, to be frank, wouldn't choose to be without them.

As for the others; there are 18 in all, well some I have a greater fondness of than others; my very first trail horse that I bought over here, is still here almost 4 years later; I'd never advertise her either but I would consider selling to the right home if it came about.

I'm not a collector ... honest!

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
Silverspring - If I had to choose between Boo and getting out and about/competing... I'd choose Boo.


[/ QUOTE ]

LOL sorry i misread the original post and thought you were actually considering selling. I didn't realsie it was just a general post to see if other people had been in similar situations

 

[Boodle]

Lol SS.
It is a bit confusing, sorry!

x

 

[Tia]

By the way Boodle; I have been meaning to say for some time now; your signature picture is one of the most stunning signatures on HHO right now. VERY classy and simply a beautiful, beautiful picture.

 

[brighteyes]

That's our Boodle

Boodle
We've got a special pony and I am a very silly lady (according to some) because she's worth 'some money' as a pony, but son wants to keep her after he's out of juniors, and jump her as a horse. I'm happy with that. A blank cheque wouldn't sway me for even a second. So I know exactly where you are coming from. We'll stay in the poor bracket together, eh, with our wonderful ponies

We are rich in our company, aren't we?

 

[mickey]

Sounds to me like you would never part with Boo, if push came to shove!

I have ridden a lot of other horses for other people in the past, I have also loaned horses. I didn't get that attached to them. I got Mickey (in the signature below) in 2000, and I truly have a huge soft spot for him.

He is pretty straightforward to ride. On the ground he can be tricky though with the wrong person, although everyone at my yard has no issue with him, including the teenage girls that work there. I love him because he has real character. He has a mischievious streak and he doesn't suffer fools gladly. I believe he is bright. I have a very special bond with him which has been built up over yrs. I am not sure someone else could easily find that.
He will always stay with me. He is my first horse, and I waited over 15 yrs to get him!

 

[Boodle]

Thank you Tia, it's from July of this year, one of those stormy summer days where if you catch the sun it is absolutely stunning. All thanks to my Mum lol.

Awww brighteyes, I believe that's a case of the green eyed monster for those calling you silly?!
Poor bracket suits me fine, though I did disappear into my own world thinking about what i'd do to some of the places round here if I had the money. Was only awoken when Boo too must have been dozing and tripped and almost sent us both flying!

 

[Boodle]

Aww Mickey that is lovely. I must say, before I got Boo, my dream was a skewbald gelding.

He's beautiful.

 

[mickey]

Thank you for your compliment.

I was a bit of a sucker when I saw him - He was the first horse I looked at.

I am afraid I did fall for him.
He has a spavin and this temperament on the ground so not sure anyone else would want him!! He is showable though....and has done some dressage successfully last yr.
IMO he is the most handsome horse on the yd!!! I am biased of course.....
You keep hold of Boo. You would miss her so badly if you let her go.

 

[YorksG]

We choose our horses with a great deal of care and gut instinct

When they come through the gate, they are here to stay

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I'd sell my mum for the right price

 

[Boodle]

Definitely Mickey. Boo also has Spavin.

Most definitely keeping hold of her. Thanks for replying.

YorksG - Good way to be I think, we didn't choose ours with a great deal of care (heart over head) but they have all worked out in the end and love them dearly.

LOL FMN - My Mum can fend for herself, my ponies can't.