I'm never ever having horses again

Do I feel for you! Was in the same position myself with my 18 YO quirky mare last year. I asked everbody I knew well and trusted, and would be happy for her to go to on loan with the proviso that the minute they didn't want her she came back to me, but none were interested so had her PTS.

Having read the 'missing on loan' threads on here I was not happy to loan her to somebody I didn't know, and I would not have considered selling her. Spindles Farm is still fresh in my mind.

I am not far from you so if you would like will put him in my RC newsletter although I realise your time has realistically run out.

Feel free to PM me.
 
I really really feel for you, but I admire you for doing the right thing. It is always the hardest decision, but as long as you make it honestly and for the right reasons, then you will be able to live with it.

And cry buckets of tears over them. They are worth it.
 
Vizslak said:
8 yrs welsh d x tb. 16'1 stunning and super talented would compete and do well BD or BSJA, pretty confident he would BE as well.
In somerset
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How quirky - what does he do? He sounds lovely, I think it would be a huge shame to have a quality young horse PTS.

You'd probably find it easier to sell him than loan him to be honest, and I'm sure if you vetted potential owners carefully you could find the perfect forever home for him with someone who'd look after him just as well as you.

Perhaps just consider it as an option if you're desperate - having a horse PTS is not the worst thing for a horse, but unless he's a complete fruit loop it seems extreme for what sounds like a cracking horse.

Where are you advertising him at the moment?

Sorry to hear you're having difficulties - perhaps ask in Competition Riders, one of them may well know someone looking for a loan.
 
sharon1959 said:
Seems mean to put a perfectly healthy horse to sleep.Put him out as a companion or something.
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That's all well and good but selling quirky horses in a hurry is not always a good thing. If they go to the wrong person then they end up being bounced round different yards and IMO that's worse than being PTS. Yes it's a shame and in an ideal world the OP would keep him but she has been trying to find him a new home since Feb and has had no luck - her options are limited. The danger with loaning as a companion is that eventually someone somewhere will try and get on him and who knows what may happen?
 
Really feel for you - i have a Welsh x TB and completely understand they can be quirky and agree that they tend to take the Mick out of teenagers. I will rack my brains for anyone I can think of who may help or even for any grass livery in the area
 
Damn right you should never have horses again. How could you bring yourself to buy another after running out of money this time and killing 3?!
 
Really feel for you. I can't imagine being in that situation. :(

I think some people need to realise that you have made very responsible choices and that there are many worse things than a horse being pts whilst happy + healthy.

Unfortunately we're miles away otherwise I could have offered free livery until you could find the right person. We've got plenty of space.

Hope you manage to get something sorted, he sounds a lovely lad. :)
 
RDO said:
Damn right you should never have horses again. How could you bring yourself to buy another after running out of money this time and killing 3?!
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As harsh as this sounds I actually agree with the sentiment.

To be honest I never really understand the attitude of 'nobody else could ever look after my horses as well as me so if I can't keep them I'll have them destroyed.'

For a very old, unsound, or totally crazy horse then I can understand it as there's such a narrow potential market - but for a quality competiton horse in the prime of life, there are so many people who would take the horse on and give it a great home. I don't know if the OP bred the horse in question, but if not, if I was the previous owner or breeder I'd be really upset that the horse had been killed for no other reason than that the owner couldn't afford to keep it and wouldn't sell it to someone who could.

Yes its not the worst thing that can happen to a horse, but its not something admirable IMO.
 
xspiralx said:
As harsh as this sounds I actually agree with the sentiment.

To be honest I never really understand the attitude of 'nobody else could ever look after my horses as well as me so if I can't keep them I'll have them destroyed.'

For a very old, unsound, or totally crazy horse then I can understand it as there's such a narrow potential market - but for a quality competiton horse in the prime of life, there are so many people who would take the horse on and give it a great home. I don't know if the OP bred the horse in question, but if not, if I was the previous owner or breeder I'd be really upset that the horse had been killed for no other reason than that the owner couldn't afford to keep it and wouldn't sell it to someone who could.

Yes its not the worst thing that can happen to a horse, but its not something admirable IMO.
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^^This^^

I've never understood the attitude that 'no-one can look after a horse as well as I do'. Why not? There are 40 liveries at my yard and they all look after their horses very well - inc. quirky ones (I have a quirky one btw sos sympathise) and that's just one very small example!! If there is nothing physically wrong with him then advertise him for sale honestly and give him a chance!! :confused::confused:
 
I have to say I really disagree. If you were talking about your prize horse, you'd tried to sell or loan, but all the people that came were either useless/moronic or scared of him, wouldn't you worry?? I think in this climate, when so many people are giving their horses away, that actually if the right home cannot be found, OP is right to PTS. Imagine if he went to someone who couldn't handle the horse and then got killed? Or gave him away to someone who didn't care? I wouldn't have that on my conscience either!!
 
FFS the total muppet who has accused me of getting another horse after having 2 pts...I have not, I had 3 at the same time, I have struggled on with this lad to try and find him a home and do the right thing by him and had the other two PTS.
Please try and get your facts right before making rude and incorrect accusations :mad:
 
No I wouldnt sell him, not unless he was loaned first and I was 100% happy that it was the correct thing to do for him. At the moment, I can't give him away, or indeed find anyone that wants him that can actually ride him, so no, I wouldnt sell him and loose track. He also had an SI injury 2 years ago. Although its fixed and causes no issue for him now and he has been cleared to do whatever at any level, its important he is always kept strong and working through so he doesnt reinjure in the future. Its also pretty hard to diagnose. I couldnt pass him on and loose track of him knowing that if that info doesnt get passed with him at any point in his future he will not only be in pain but possibly passed around with what looks purely like a behavioural issue.
 
Chin up xx It might be worth contact Equine Rescue & Rehoming. They have a fb page and a website and do an amazing job finding the right home for horses
 
Vizslak said:
FFS the total muppet who has accused me of getting another horse after having 2 pts...I have not, I had 3 at the same time, I have struggled on with this lad to try and find him a home and do the right thing by him and had the other two PTS.
Please try and get your facts right before making rude and incorrect accusations :mad:
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Well said. I read your post to say that you are desperately trying to find a home for him but are running out of time, and people, get real, sometimes things happen to people and their circumstances change, and decisions have to be made that aren't nice.

The OP is dealing with it rather than sticking her head in a bucket - which I have seen people do, and their horses suffer.

And if anyone else suggests rehome as a companion - just do a search and you'll find the market, charities, sanctuaries are flooded with companion animals.

The OP feels deeply for her horse and is trying to secure a good future - deserves help and support not brickbats.

And breathe.
 
Some of you posters are to harsh in your criticism. Just because it is not what you would do, it isn't automatically wrong.
Vizlak has her horses best interest at heart.If she can't loan or sell for whatever reason what do you suggest she do, abandon it on the M5 ??
 
Lydz13 said:
I have to say I really disagree. If you were talking about your prize horse, you'd tried to sell or loan, but all the people that came were either useless/moronic or scared of him, wouldn't you worry?? I think in this climate, when so many people are giving their horses away, that actually if the right home cannot be found, OP is right to PTS. Imagine if he went to someone who couldn't handle the horse and then got killed? Or gave him away to someone who didn't care? I wouldn't have that on my conscience either!!
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OP has not answered how 'quirky' this horse is - but unless actually psychotic or dangerous then there are so so many people capable and happy to cope with a quirky horse.

I've been there with very very sensitive and difficult horses, but the way I see it, if I'll buy that horse and be able to handle it and give it a great home, so will somebody else. I've managed to find loving forever homes for each of mine that I've sold, and none of them were as sellable as an 8yr old ready to compete at an affiliated level.

As I said, its probably easier to sell than loan, particularly with a horse that can be tricky as somebody really competent is less likely to want to spend lots of time and money working with a horse they have to give back. IMO its wrong not to at least try this approach, but there you go.
 
Ok well yes, in the wrong hands, he would be dangerous. He has hell of a buck/bronc and can be quite nappy. He wasnt bought like this either, and although I love him and adore riding him and wish I could be out competing him, I probably wouldnt have bought him. And please read my last reply re. his previous injury. Would you really sell this horse on?
Also, he will not be snatched back from any suitable loan home. He can spend as long as they want him there. I just am not prepared to loose track of him. Its not the sensible thing to do for him or a potentially unsuitable person that may aquire him.
 
Gosh, some people are so judgemental!!

Vizslak knows the horse best and is clearly trying to do her best to make sure the horse isn't in an unsuitable situation and she should be commended for that. I cant imagine how hard it is to make that decision to have a horse PTS in these circumstances but you can be sure it is not one that Vizslak took lightly!!

I hope something can be sorted for him, and im really sorry to hear about your situation, I hope things improve for you :(
 
Vizslak said:
Ok well yes, in the wrong hands, he would be dangerous. He has hell of a buck/bronc and can be quite nappy. He wasnt bought like this either, and although I love him and adore riding him and wish I could be out competing him, I probably wouldnt have bought him. And please read my last reply re. his previous injury. Would you really sell this horse on?
Also, he will not be snatched back from any suitable loan home. He can spend as long as they want him there. I just am not prepared to loose track of him. Its not the sensible thing to do for him or a potentially unsuitable person that may aquire him.
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Out of interest, do you know why these problems have developed since you've had him?

For me it would depend how bad the issues were, but if they were manageable by a competent rider then yes, I would sell - I'd just be very careful about who to. A tendency to buck and nap at times are not that uncommon for competition horses, and are not a problem for a competent rider.
 
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Yes I do, to do with the SI injury. He now resorts to that behaviour as his default setting when something upsets him. He was also a quiet youngster when I had him (although a nightmare to handle) he hadnt found his feet yet.
The other real trouble with selling is that he just isnt what people cabable of riding him want. He would only find a good home with someone that wanted him for his talent and ability, then you put up with the other behaviour. But he's 8 years old, passported as 11 (don't ask! Needless to say earlier comments about his breeder couldnt be further from the truth!) With no affiliated comp record. In this climate, with perfectly good horses with no issues being given away, who will want him.
His other issue is he is remarkably good looking...so people want to try just because of the way he looks. And yes, in the experience of the last few months of A LOT of people coming to try him, believe me that is a major double edged sword. He is now at the point he is regressing in his work, due to being mucked about, starting to form bonds with people and then being dropped again, having complete muppets on him that cant ride one side of him etc etc. He's getting confused and loosing his confidence, which is horrible because I have put so much work into him to give him that confidence.
 
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