If your horse could no longer be ridden.....

If you could no longer ride your horse because he had a medical condition, WWYD?

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Not quiet the same but im just (hopefully) about to take a horse who will only ever be a happy hacker. I am willing to sacrifice my dream of going back to the odd XC or hunting weekend! Weather or not i could give up riding all together for the sake of one horse ... im just not sure :confused:
 
If you want to ride that badly there are plenty of owners out there willing to have someone help ride theirs, some may even let you compete once you have proved your capability.
 
I would never get rid of a horse who had lost his ridden use. I am a happy hacker and my pony is very important to me. He will have a home for life until the time comes. If I was desperate to ride, id hope a friend would let me ride their horse :) x
 
I've my own yard and spare stables, so they could bobble about as long as they weren't in pain or needing enormous amounts of medicine/bills..

I bought her to event, and love it, but also love the yard and looking after, and my competitive drive seems to be slowing down lately!
 
I chose the second option, although I would do the first if the horse was in discomfort. I kept my old mare till I lost her at 35 earlier this year even though it meant I didn't have anything to ride other than our 13.2 for hacking (and hacking is sooo not my thing). But it meant I got a new horse very quickly as I felt no guilt getting another. Although I still miss her and her funny ways she lived a long and happy life.
 
Thought we might need to do this recently.

He would have stayed in the field at mum's where he is anyway. Over the last 7 years he has earnt that if he was sufficiently comfortable (which he would have been). I would have found riding elsewhere as I know plenty that needs riding more although granted it isn't quite the same as your own.
 
If I was financially able, I would buy another. If I wasn't, I suppose I may look for a share or maybe someone that just wanted their horse exercised if I was lucky! I personally wouldn't ditch my current ridden mare if she had to be retired. She has earned her keep for as long as she needs it!
 
I am facing that decision now as my mare had surgery for a lesion on her SDFT 2 weeks ago and they also found a bad tear to her the manicar flexoria so prognosis for being ridden again is poor! My aim is to get her field sound so she can enjoy a happy life munching in the field! I have had her 9 years and she is 14 now. I don't care that I will be paying livery for a horse that I can't ride! Of course I am devastated that she won't be ridden again but no way would I give up on her! Luckily I am insured so don't need to worry about the treatment cost! She has given me so much enjoyment so i owe it to her to give her a lovely retirement!
 
Keep & pick up rides on other peoples or buy another too if funds allow. Wouldn't pts myself but I don't judge those who do. Strongly disagree with passing on as a companion though unless to a much trusted, long standing friend.
 
The ginger beastie was retired last year due to a serious tendon injury, he's happy and sound on no medication and will live out a very well earned retirement with me. I can't afford to keep 2, but I have a couple of horses I'm paid to ride on a regular basis and my unbelievably lovely YO has offered any of hers to ride when I want :)

I wouldn't keep an unhappy horse buted up for my own benefit though, when/if the time comes I think I'll be able to judge when enough is enough.
 
A difficult question, I couldn't sell her and have no control but I'm not sure I could give up riding. And I definitely don't have the time for two.
 
As long as they are not in pain/discomfort mine will be loved just as much ridden or not and will stay with me, as soon as they are in pain or not coping with their life as pets they will be pts.
 
I am in this situation, I cant ride her because of leg problems
Ive retired her and bought another. She owes me nothing and she will stay with me until her last day.
If she is in pain, I will do what I can for her/let her go. But right now, shes fine :D

I now have 1 retired, 1 young horse turned away for winter, and 1 share horse because I cant spend the winter with no riding
 
If it wasn't bad enough to warrant PTS then I'd find a retirement livery where he could live out and get hairy. I'd struggle finding a yard with decent enough turnout for an un-ridden horse (I've tried recently!) so think this would be the best option.
 
Would not ever sell on or let them leave as is unfair to horse to be uprooted from known surroundings - have only PTS or kept as field ornament, depending on nature of injury/illness.
Would totally depend on the horse - some are not suited to being 'field ornaments' due to temperament or condition etc.
 
At the moment mine is a field ornament, am hoping eventually she may come back to some light work but if not, and she is happy and pain free in the field then she will just be a big pet.

Luckily I was in a position to get another but if not I think I would look for a share or something??
 
It depends on the horse, its job, its age, how high maintenance it is, what's wrong with it, and on how many pet horses I've collected already.

I've kind of done all of them except I gave a horse to the blood bank not a companion home.
 
I wouldn't keep going if in pain but as I keep them at home and have plenty of land I could easily keep several ornaments if I wanted to. Different if you keep them in livery. I'm not sure I could keep one in livery in that instance but I couldn't say either way for sure.
 
Have ticked PTS, but, only because I am a big believer in horses having quality of life. If they are in constant discomfort despite sensible medication/care it's not fair to keep them going.

I have two field ornaments just now, one with a question mark over him as he's got numerous things going on with his legs and Im really aware his quality of life comes before what I want.
If quality of life is good they stay with me.
 
My older horse is now only in light work due to various medical issues. But I wanted to carry on riding, lots of things I still wanted to do. He is still with me and never going anywhere till his time should be called. I saved for over a year to get another horse and keep two. Which I now do. But I am fully aware that the new boy would be the one to go should any money issues arise. My old boy, my first horse is with me forever, how ever long that will be :)
 
Would depend what it was. If it was due to an injury that was not inheritable and did not affect carrying a foal she would probably find a home as a brood mare being on the breed stud book. Although I think I would loan her on condition I could visit regularly rather than sell.

If she was likely to be in long term pain I would PTS. Otherwise I hope that I would try to keep her as a pet.

Paula
 
To me it depends on the horse and individual situation.

My old boy I would have kept forever as he owed me nothing, I loved the bones of him and as long as he was healthy and happy I would have kept him however he needs to be kept.

I then had a young mare just after I lost him. She was quirky, I wasn't in a good place and struggled. I decided to sell her and while for sale she got diagnosed with a condition that made her unsaleable as a ridden horse. So I rehomed her as a companion (she is now nannying yearlings in Newmarket).
 
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