I was given a horse over the age of 20 FOR FREE!!!!!

[MizzPurpleKitten]

I too took on an older horse, he was free to good home but I paid a little money for his posessions, and to make him legally mine (we filled the 3 horse lorry with rugs, tools, grooming kit, tack and all other things put it that way).

It hasn't been an easy ride but I'd do it again in a heartbeat, my Big Lad is my horse of a lifetime, when I was a little girl I always dreamed of a horse just like him (however I did want it to be a Dapple Grey Mare with a pink nose and not a handsome bay gelding lol). My boy has 'earned' a happy retirement (should he ever need it), a painless end (when the time comes) and all the love in the world, he did that the second I took him on, no work from him required....I chose him, and thus I will always do the best for him.

I will say however that he was not advertised, I found him through word of mouth and I thank my lucky stars every day for that chance.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that there are many of us who are willing and able to take on a veteran and who will always do right by them, but sadly there are also a huge amount of people who would rather get rid quickly and palm the naimal off onto someone else, than have to take responsibility for an older animal who may be slightly more costly at times and may need a bit more specialist care.....It infuriates me but it does happen all too often I'm afraid.

 

[cc14]

TBF I doubt a 15yo gelding with tendon damage would command a very high purchase price so it would be a surprise if his sale would finance a new competition horse! And once a horse has been sold or signed over to someone you have lost all say in what happens to them in the future - when it is a younger/fitter horse sold they have the opportunity to 'earn' their retirement with a new owner and as a result have a much better chance of a good future in that regard - but I firmly believe that the last owner of a horse that is has damaged himself or got old in their service has a bigger responsibility to that horse than they do to one that is fitter and/or younger. That isn't to say that you MUST keep them until the day they peacefully expire in the field (although I do!) but IMHO you should always be there to step in if they need you at a later date but you can't do that if they have been sold! If he is as reliable as you say then finding a 5* loan home won't be difficult so he won't cost your family anything to keep and you never know, you might find one of those wonderful and rare people that would retire him at their expense...but if you didn't, which would you prefer? To have to bring him home/make a tough decision to PTS or see a picture of him on a website like this as rescue case like the shires/ Carrot and Spud/Ruby or the countless other rescues that are flagged up on this forum alone? That probably won't happen but it is a risk that has to be considered.

Your sister may deserve the opportunity to compete but her horse also deserves a safe future. I really don't mean to be unsympathetic but if she is talented she will have opportunities to ride other horses and (guessing that if your parents are still paying the bills that you both are fairly young?) has time to spare i.e. go and work on an eventers yard, just one example. Having her own horse to ride isn't out of the question if she loans the previous horse out, he just has to remain a consideration...

I do understand that a 'home for life' isn't always an option and really don't have a problem with that but there is a point in every horses life when passing them on has to stop and somebody has to step up and take responsibility for the rest of their life, tough as it maybe.

She is young and her dad pays her horsey bills but I am at uni and fund mine independantly through a lot of hard graft. I agree with bikerchick (next quote), horses to me are pets, but not to the extent as I think they are for you. For me, my sister, and the rest of my horsey family, they are bought to serve a purpose, and then as a pet. For my sister, her horse was bought as an eventer, and for 3 years he has been fantastic. There could be someone out there looking for a schoolmaster who has been there and done it and can offer a forever home - for them he fits the bill. If we worried about the what-ifs for ever situation, we would not get in a car for what if we crashed, we would not get a car for what if we get fired, we would not ride for what if we get injured and could never ride again...

Sorry but I have to say that there does come a point, in some cases where selling an older/injured horse on is the right thing to do. Horses, much as we all love them, aren't just pets, they are working animals who, generally are bought to serve a purpose. If the 15 year old ex eventer can be sold to a good home as a worthy schoolmaster and the proper care is taken, surely that is better than a young rider being wasted for want of a horse because they can't afford another? In the same circumstances I would sell to a well vetted home after a trial loan period.

The fact is many of us struggle to keep our horses and whilst I agree that they 'earn' their retirement, I don't think the case above is the same. I will never sell my cob, he's been with me for nearly 12 years and he'll be with me until the end, but when my daughter recently outgrew her teenaged welsh A it didn't make sense to keep her since she was ready to go on and teach another child everything she taught my daughter. Yes I could have kept her as a pet, but she isn't a pet, she's a pony who likes working, as this young girl probably likes her eventing. It was heartbreaking but we found a lovely home and the pony is doing really well.

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