I think I know the answer but have I missed a better option

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MyBoyChe

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OK, scenario is what to do for the best. 14 year old TB, nice hack, safe in traffic but no particular talents and not a horse for a novice owner as can be tricky if his routine is upset. Been on loan as companion for the winter but has to come back to me now. I cant afford to keep 3 and am quite prepared to do the right thing by him as I would prefer to secure his future rather than see him ill treated/passed around etc. But have I missed a trick, is there another option for him. I dont want a debate about the rights and wrongs of putting to sleep a sound horse for financial reasons please, I just want to know if anyone can suggest any other options for a 14yr 15.3TB who has been out of work for 12months (lack of time and have no facilities to school) who can be a bit quirky and is not suited to jumping. He cant be a companion to a horse that is in work as he cant be left alone,he was turned out with a retired horse and never left alone.
 
Have you contacted the equestrian colleges? A possible option, though I don't know if he is suitable. If he is, then he would have a job. Good luck - a difficult position to be in, I don't envy you.
 
What a shame :(
There's the blood bank but don't know much about it. Think they have to be under 15 and be able to live out barefoot.
Contact a near by rescue centre perhaps? It's rare but sometimes they take in horses that the owner can't look after any more.
Hope you can sort it out!
 
I don't ency your situation but surely putting a sound, reasonably young horse to sleep cant be the best (for either of you?)

Could you try and find a loan home?

Even to sell him.. horses get sold all the time - some homes better than others...

I think you will struggle to have a charity take him on although they might and then they them selves re-home him? I would really try and loan him if not sell ;-(
 
Honey08 said:
Personally I would sell/loan one of the other ones that are in a better position, get him back in work, and give him a bit more of a chance.
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Yep like this idea.

Or simply get him back up and running and loan him out. I'd absolutely be interested in a horse like him - so don't discount the possibility of being able to successfully loaning him out.
 
There are people out there who have no real interest in competing, but who are reasonably experienced in caring and riding the TB types and want a fun safe hack, not a cob plod.

Personally I'd try and find him the right loan home before exploring the PTS idea. It will obviously take a bit of time and effort to do it properly and to keep a close eye in the early days, but surely worth it for peace of mind?
 
My horse is the same. Same breed, age, good in traffic, ok allrounder but no 'talents', isn't good with change and isn't the easiest to own.

If I was in your position id be thinking of a loan. Someone who's fairly experienced but not bothered about doing anything too serious. A few local shows, hacking and plenty of patience!!!
I've only bought my horse 7 months ago and none of it put me off.
 
Thanks everyone so far. Just to clarify, I wont loan as I am not in a position to keep taking him back, plus he takes a while to settle so a bit unfair to him. Also I dont have any facilities where I am so I am not able to start him again which although I dont think would be too difficult, I dont want to hop on and go straight out on to the roads, so any new owner would have to be prepared to take him on based on my word as to his abilities. I cant keep him in work as I really need a slightly smaller, less sharp horse.
 
MyBoyChe said:
Thanks everyone so far. Just to clarify, I wont loan as I am not in a position to keep taking him back, plus he takes a while to settle so a bit unfair to him. Also I dont have any facilities where I am so I am not able to start him again which although I dont think would be too difficult, I dont want to hop on and go straight out on to the roads, so any new owner would have to be prepared to take him on based on my word as to his abilities. I cant keep him in work as I really need a slightly smaller, less sharp horse.
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So essentially what you're saying is you have no real option but to shoot him. Or sell him, with fingers crossed for a good home.
 
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I'd have a go at selling him. Around the 800 mark and state absolutely everything. Give it a month and then go from there.
 
I'd have the horse put down rather than sell him to an unknown for £500.

But if the horse were mine I'd give it one last chance on loan.
The horse would be advertised as loaned from field needing to be bought back into work, home would be local and well researched and with the option to buy the horse for £1 after a few months if that was what both parties wanted.

Then if that fell through through PTS rather than go through the process again.
 
I have to add, that if he horse were mine then I would keep him and either loan him again or loan one of the others if I couldn't afford to keep three. But the OP says they are not prepared to loan him, sadly.
 
Wagtail said:
I have to add, that if he horse were mine then I would keep him and either loan him again or loan one of the others if I couldn't afford to keep three. But the OP says they are not prepared to loan him, sadly.
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This. If I had to get rid of either of my horses it would be the young healthy one who would be sold as she would have the best chance of a good future. It's a no brainer for me - I would sell one of the others.

I don't have a prob with pts an oldie or one with medical issues but if it just needs work to have a future I would put the work in not pts.
 
ihatework said:
I'd have the horse put down rather than sell him to an unknown for £500.
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£500 is still a lot of money in real terms.
A horse is only worth what someone is willing to pay, if someone is willing to pay that much for him, surely they actually DO want him?

I know I'm in the lower end of the market but you're still selling to 'unknowns' if you sell a horse for 5k.
 
Thats the dilemma isnt it, give him away for next to nothing (which is what hes worth realistically) and hope the new owner does right by him, or make the decision myself and know hes safe. If I were 20 years younger I would keep him as a field ornament but I simply cant justify it or manage it tbh. I think on balance Ill pop him on preloved (I know its reputation but again for a horse of his value its probably where he will attract most attention). His current loanee is happy to keep him for another couple of months so no pressure to rush into a decision and fingers crossed, someone will come along who is a perfect match. I can see he will be ideal for certain types of owner, its just that there are so many horses out there looking for homes atm.
 
He's the kind I'd like. I have no interest in more than hacking (like jumping but it's certainly not a key thing for me) and I like something with a bit of personality and not a push button. Last share was a quirky 21yo spanish who was lami prone. Only hacked but was exactly what we both wanted. Horse and I are both school phobic :)

So there are people out there wanting his type. I would get him in a better position to loan.

Or how about sharing/part loaning him and another?
 
Why not pop him on as a project somewhere? Vet the people buying (no reason not to ask for good references). Or why not lwvtb. If he comes back then make the decision then and has cost no more but given him a chance elsewhere.

I agree with the others though, I wouldn't pts a fit oldie for the new model. I'd loan one of them or get him into a position where I could sell.
 
If I was in OPs position, I'd sell him but not 'from the field'. I'd want to see the capabilities of the new owner/rider. I'd get him restarted and riding out again for a month or two and then advertise him for sale. There are lots more good horse owners out there than bad and so long as you thoroughly vet and check out the new buyer then what's the problem? You obviously care for the horse so if I were you I would sell with a first refusal buy back option.
 
MyBoyChe said:
Thats the dilemma isnt it, give him away for next to nothing (which is what hes worth realistically) and hope the new owner does right by him, or make the decision myself and know hes safe. If I were 20 years younger I would keep him as a field ornament but I simply cant justify it or manage it tbh. I think on balance Ill pop him on preloved (I know its reputation but again for a horse of his value its probably where he will attract most attention). His current loanee is happy to keep him for another couple of months so no pressure to rush into a decision and fingers crossed, someone will come along who is a perfect match. I can see he will be ideal for certain types of owner, its just that there are so many horses out there looking for homes atm.
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FWIW I have bought really cheap horses and also had a couple free. I have always kept my horse's for life. The two 'freebies' were sadly taken before their time, one with colic, the other with a broken leg. So not all people who are looking for cheap horses cannot afford to keep them. I paid over £4k to have the one that had colic operated on as he wasn't insured. You could sell to someone for £10k and the horse could still be badly treated or neglected.
 
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If I was in a positipn to make you an offer, I would.

I feel desperately sorry for the horse. And selling him as you suggest is likely to be a one way road to misery. Unless of course you're very lucky - or more importantly the horse.
 
You could try some of the facebook sites, like project rescue- but it is a gamble.

Can I be blunt and ask why you took 3 on, knowing that you can't afford 3? I hope that doesn't sound rude, but if you knew your boy was on loan, and therefore could come back at any time, why not 'hold' his place to secure his future? I think if I couldn't get a genuine home for him, I'd look at trying to sell one of your more sellable ones. If that didn't work, then I think the responsible thing is to PTS, because at least you're making sure he is safe. I don't envy you, what a tricky position to be in.
 
I think it sounds like he deserves a chance - where abouts are you? I'm sure someone on here would be interested.
If the right fellow hho'er came along, surely its better to gift to them rather than pay to have him pts if money is tight?
 
amymay said:
If I was in a positipn to make you an offer, I would.

I feel desperately sorry for the horse. And selling him as you suggest is likely to be a one way road to misery. Unless of course you're very lucky - or more importantly the horse.
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I'm confused by your comment Amymay. Are you saying that if you were to buy this horse that he would likely be on a one way road to misery? :confused: Or that the OP and his horse would be very lucky to have you buy him? Sorry, but I genuinely do not get why people say things like this. The OP doesn't know you anymore than they know any potential buyer who comes along. I sell horses for a living and I've been very happy with all of my buyers and I know where every one of my past horses are. Not every seller is a dullard and not every buyer is out to scam someone. If that were the case I'd have been out of business a very long time ago. Yes by all means do your due diligence as a seller (I certainly do!) but there's no need for paranoia.
 
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