Is a anyone looking for the perfect field companion?!

S

sar26

New User
Joined
1 September 2011
Messages
2
Location
Staffordshire
Visit site
heart breakingly due to financial reasons i'm having to give up my beautiful, gentle TB gelding. He is a true diamond! He would make a great field companion or a fun horse for someone to gently ride as bit stiff behind but not a prob. not great on roads :) though! please help !
 
Well save your poor animal a load of heartbreak and get together the £150 quid or so and do the decent thing by the poor animal.

But then again you are probably just trolling (i hope !)
 
I just dont get that previous reply.
If somoene has financial problems and cannot care for their horse why is it only good to pts ????
If I were in that situation i would do my dammdest to find my boy a decent kind home!
 
Its called being a responsible owner - there are hundreds of horses out their that unfortunalty are being shunted from pillar to post.... buted up, and sold on that their owner had given away, put out on loan etc because it was of "companion" or "light hack" material.
 
let's look at the facts

-Tbs are not most leisure riders cup of tea, fairly or unfairly
-This one is stiff behind so limited in what he can do
-He's not good on roads either

Of course there are good companion homes out there, but not nearly enough, and if looking for a companion most people would be looking for a fairly small, sound, good doer that is pretty low maintenance, and theres more than enough of them to fill the available homes.

So it is fairly unlikely statistically, that this horse will find a wonderful home, tho of course it is possible. Statistically he's more likely to be given what looks like a fantastic home only to be drugged to cover the stiffness and sold on, possibly several times.
 
thank you... it was the fear of harsh comments like above that has made me so reluctant to ever post on here.
But being a little naive and having a bit of trust in horsey peoples kind nature I thought maybe someone out there would be looking for what i have! if not- no prob! i will never allow him to go anywhere but first class i will always find a way to look after him like he deserves. this was just a general query and a way of looking at my options.

being PTS is not an option. he is by no means in pain, he is 100% sound and just a generally gorgeous horse.
 
Really genuinely we aren't trying to be harsh, at all, honestly, just worried about your horse's future. He's your horse and you love him, yet you can't keep him. If he isnt safe to hack out on roads or supple enough to be an allrounder and isn't a tough native to act as a low maintenance companion, then there is a real risk in passing him on to someone else who isnt a close friend/family, however hard you try to vet them, that's all we are trying to say.
 
You may find someone like I did, I advertised my mare as a light hack/companion, thoroughbred in her teens. She was advertised for £500 and I was inundated with enquiries (I did put a beautiful picture up.) That was 5yrs ago and still regret it, but she found a good home and we are still in touch. Good Luck
 
People are so so quick to jump on the "troll" or "pts" bandwagon its unreal, same reason I tend to look & not comment on here!!!!

There are homes out there I'm sure it just might take a bit longer the way things are at the mo. Very best if luck!!!
 
PeterNatt said:
Make sure that your horse is freezemarked so that he can always be identified in the future if you ever want to find him.
Click to expand...

Not sure if this makes any difference. I put my Haflinger out on loan and after two years sold her. I asked for first refusal on her should they ever sell which they did within a month without asking me if I wanted her back! Seven years later, she is still registered under my name with the Haflinger society, the passport office and Farmkey! I have tried tracing her but to no avail!
 
Mitchyden said:
Not sure if this makes any difference. I put my Haflinger out on loan and after two years sold her. I asked for first refusal on her should they ever sell which they did within a month without asking me if I wanted her back! Seven years later, she is still registered under my name with the Haflinger society, the passport office and Farmkey! I have tried tracing her but to no avail!
Click to expand...
Have you tried the Trace Section on this forum?
Sounds like they had someone with plenty of money and took the opportunity to make a profit after you sold it to them.
 
sar26 said:
heart breakingly due to financial reasons i'm having to give up my beautiful, gentle TB gelding. He is a true diamond! He would make a great field companion or a fun horse for someone to gently ride as bit stiff behind but not a prob. not great on roads :) though! please help !
Click to expand...

I agree that you cannot trust anyone to do what you feel is the best for your horse, it is extremely difficult to find a home for your type, you say he is sound, but is that correct, he is stiff behind, something which could deteriorate, not what many people would want as a light hack either, sorry not good news.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Well save your poor animal a load of heartbreak and get together the £150 quid or so and do the decent thing by the poor animal.

But then again you are probably just trolling (i hope !)
Click to expand...

FFS, the OP is already heartbroken and comments like this do no one any good.

OP hang on in there. I hope that you can find your boy a loving home. I have taken on a couple of not 100% sound TBs and given them homes for life. Real horse lovers ARE out there. Ignore the PTS brigade unless your horse is suffering.
 
I'm not going to immediately jump on the OP and say pts as I don't know enough about the horse, e.g. age etc.
However, please be very careful about placing him, and if he is older consider if this is in his best interests.
A teenager just up the road from us was given a tb, straight from racing, a couple of years ago. He has proved dangerous on the roads and has been lame more than sound. Last winter he lost so much condition the RSPCA were called to him, she has managed to turn him round this summer and has now decided to get rid of him. Unfortunately she is talking loaning or even just giving away and won't consider having him pts despite many horsey neighbours and the farrier telling her it is the wrong thing to do. I have a feeling the poor lad will end up in the sale ring, or left in the field for another winter.
I am not suggesting this will happen to the OPs horse, but just wanted to point out that TBs can really struggle without the right care.
 
Come on a TB stiff behind as a companion ? - ok how much money are you prepared to stump up to the "companion" home ? - enough to keep the poor love in rugs, hard feed, feet done, vet bills and supplyments and then drugs to keep him comfortable.

Why should anyone want to take on a horse thats going to cost at least 30 quid a week come winter? unless they have their own land and free hay.

There are hundreds of deserving horses out there - and there are hundreds of folk out there looking to make a quick few quid on the back of some poor mites mis-fortune. Most tend to cross paths.

Yes I really hope your horse finds the perfect home where he is used and not abused.
You say you love him and cant afford him - what are we talking about here - cant you put him on grass livery ? is he at a DIY yard or is he on full livery.

I dont care how much you berate me for being in the PTS brigade - at least I have my eyes open to the fate of many of these "loved" animals - why dont you pop down to one of the sales and see the much loved animals tied up with fear in their eyes as they are completley out of there comfort zone? Why dont you contact the WHW and see some of the states of the "much loved" animals they have to go and rescue.

Thank god he is a he and not a she - as the poor thing would probably be being sent of to be broodmare.

Life is hard for people at the moment - its called a double dip recession - hay prices are out of control for most, many horses will go hungry through no fault of there own this winter.

If more people were in the pts brigade - then huge amounts of suffering would be saved on many poor animals behalfs.

Sorry you dont like my answer - but i stand by it - like i will stand by my responsibilites and do the right thing when and if I have to.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Come on a TB stiff behind as a companion ? - ok how much money are you prepared to stump up to the "companion" home ? - enough to keep the poor love in rugs, hard feed, feet done, vet bills and supplyments and then drugs to keep him comfortable.

Why should anyone want to take on a horse thats going to cost at least 30 quid a week come winter? unless they have their own land and free hay.

There are hundreds of deserving horses out there - and there are hundreds of folk out there looking to make a quick few quid on the back of some poor mites mis-fortune. Most tend to cross paths.

Yes I really hope your horse finds the perfect home where he is used and not abused.
You say you love him and cant afford him - what are we talking about here - cant you put him on grass livery ? is he at a DIY yard or is he on full livery.

I dont care how much you berate me for being in the PTS brigade - at least I have my eyes open to the fate of many of these "loved" animals - why dont you pop down to one of the sales and see the much loved animals tied up with fear in their eyes as they are completley out of there comfort zone? Why dont you contact the WHW and see some of the states of the "much loved" animals they have to go and rescue.

Thank god he is a he and not a she - as the poor thing would probably be being sent of to be broodmare.

Life is hard for people at the moment - its called a double dip recession - hay prices are out of control for most, many horses will go hungry through no fault of there own this winter.

If more people were in the pts brigade - then huge amounts of suffering would be saved on many poor animals behalfs.

Sorry you dont like my answer - but i stand by it - like i will stand by my responsibilites and do the right thing when and if I have to.
Click to expand...

I had a stiff TB who ended up with a heart condition and I could not ride him, I had him on DIY livery and drove 4 miles each way to muck him out etc per day and took him for walks etc etc.... not everyone out there are going to be cruel to horses and perhaps some soppy date would like him as a field companion, you can tell the OP will make sure her horse is safe. Stop suggesting horses are PTS as its kinder etc etc;; ask the horse if it would rather be dead or live the rest of its life ! Bloody PTS brigade!! Assume nobody can look after horses or want to spend money etc.. as a vet nurse I see some ppl that want to be at the vets all the time spending money on sick animals, some ppl thrive on nursing pets. Jeez its stiff and sound, so what!! doesnt deserve to be fed to the hounds does it!
 
Gingerwitch said:
Come on a TB stiff behind as a companion ? - ok how much money are you prepared to stump up to the "companion" home ? - enough to keep the poor love in rugs, hard feed, feet done, vet bills and supplyments and then drugs to keep him comfortable.

Why should anyone want to take on a horse thats going to cost at least 30 quid a week come winter? unless they have their own land and free hay.

There are hundreds of deserving horses out there - and there are hundreds of folk out there looking to make a quick few quid on the back of some poor mites mis-fortune. Most tend to cross paths.

Yes I really hope your horse finds the perfect home where he is used and not abused.
You say you love him and cant afford him - what are we talking about here - cant you put him on grass livery ? is he at a DIY yard or is he on full livery.

I dont care how much you berate me for being in the PTS brigade - at least I have my eyes open to the fate of many of these "loved" animals - why dont you pop down to one of the sales and see the much loved animals tied up with fear in their eyes as they are completley out of there comfort zone? Why dont you contact the WHW and see some of the states of the "much loved" animals they have to go and rescue.

Thank god he is a he and not a she - as the poor thing would probably be being sent of to be broodmare.

Life is hard for people at the moment - its called a double dip recession - hay prices are out of control for most, many horses will go hungry through no fault of there own this winter.

If more people were in the pts brigade - then huge amounts of suffering would be saved on many poor animals behalfs.

Sorry you dont like my answer - but i stand by it - like i will stand by my responsibilites and do the right thing when and if I have to.
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree with you! I've been to the sales and seen horses that were probably once someone's pride and joy - the look in their eye says it all. I've heard of an ex-showjumper passed from one person to another gradually getting thinner and thinner and lamer and lamer until one day he collapsed and was pts. Would it not have been better to have done this in the first place?!
 
DD - there is a world of differance between having a horse that develops an issue and trying to send one off as a companion.

My Gingerwitch had all sorts of problems that cost me thousands a year - and my little lad is know as sicknote on the yard....
 
Last edited:
Gingerwitch, we did take on a TB that was stiff behind (stiffer now!) as a companion ;)

He is a great companion, and has now been with us 8 years - he's now 27. His owner was going to PTS as couldn't find a home for him. He lives out 24/7 in a herd of 5, on 12 acres. Is rugged, fed, hayed in winter and gets all the supplements he needs. Yes, he struggles more to put weight on, but we have always had older horses (our first horse was a 22yo) so are used to shovelling the feed and hay into the poorer doers :)

OP, there may well be someone out there for your horse, if you are willing to wait for the right one, it will happen :)
 
sar26 said:
heart breakingly due to financial reasons i'm having to give up my beautiful, gentle TB gelding. He is a true diamond! He would make a great field companion or a fun horse for someone to gently ride as bit stiff behind but not a prob. not great on roads :) though! please help !
Click to expand...

I have someone coming to look at my Tb who may be going on loan, pending a home check. She sounds ideal for this horse of yours. If she doesn't like mine today, I will pass on your details. She is a mature ex dressage instructor, very experienced with access to 500 acres of OFF ROAD hacking.
There ARE people out there, despite the cynic pessimists - and you are admirable for trying avenues, as anyone would, rather than pts willynilly because you're too lazy to look around for a first class home. Life is precious.
Good luck.:)
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
Stop suggesting horses are PTS as its kinder etc etc;; ask the horse if it would rather be dead or live the rest of its life ! Bloody PTS brigade!!
Click to expand...

There are far worse things in life than dying. Have you never read Black Beauty?

I would rather see a horse take a quick bullet in the back of the head surrounded by people that love him after a enjoyable life than be passed from pillar to post on a downward spiral and end up being sold for meat in the sales ring.

Now the OP obviously cares very much for her horse and will try and see it goes to the right home (as we all would) but there are some unscrupulous people out there and you just don't know where the horse would end up , especially given the recession not many homes are secure -even the best companion home may loose their job or a change in personal circumstance (e.g divorce) may mean the horse is sold on again.

No one is suggesting for one minute that it would not be better for a healthy (or thereabouts) horse to be happier roaming the field well into old age and as horse lovers this is the outcome we would want. However companion homes are relatively few now most people can't afford to look after their own horses let alone someone elses! I'm not saying these homes don't exist -and I really hope this horse finds one- but they are few and far between , especially someone who would take on a tb as a companion.

I hate seeing horses with various long term (and expensive to treat) medical problems , or old ones being cast off as someone elses responsibility. Its a little different if you run out of money but if you just can't be bothered to look after your horse through thick and thin why should you be allowed to trade in for a newer model?!

There is a great deal of difference between what is right and what is easy:mad:.

Sorry for rambling :p OP I really hope your horse finds a good home.
 
Last edited:
Achinghips said:
I have someone coming to look at my Tb who may be going on loan, pending a home check. She sounds ideal for this horse of yours. If she doesn't like mine today, I will pass on your details. She is a mature ex dressage instructor, very experienced with access to 500 acres of OFF ROAD hacking.
There ARE people out there, despite the cynic pessimists - and you are admirable for trying avenues, as anyone would, rather than pts willynilly because you're too lazy to look around for a first class home. Life is precious.
Good luck.:)
Click to expand...

Love you! x
 
Some people are. I mean personally if mine was really unheathly but could still be a companion, but I don't think I could rehome him because he like his work too much. If it happened (cross fingers) then i'd have a difficult choice on my hands because I don't think he's be happy as a companion.

If it was on the other hand, where he is happy with being a companion then I don't think I'd have a choice. He'd still healthy as a companion.

Rambling post, sorry but short one : If he is happy as companion then I see no reason for PTS. If he enjoys work too much then PTS can be the only opition. :(
 
I know how you feel about posting and worried what people may respond with.

I see it that you are trying to be honest about your horse and situation which should commended by the horsey community :D There are too many people out there who unfortunatley lie about their horses condition.

Horses like yours can be difficult to home, but you are in my opinion being a good and loving owner trying to find an option for him so he can live out the rest of his days.

I do agree that unless you can be certain that your horse is going to a safe companion only home although it would be heartbreaking PTS may be the kinder option .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top