Is this horse sellable/ loanable?

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RachelB

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My friend has just texted me clearly very upset, as she's come to the difficult decision that she can't afford her horse any more. She's a 15.2hh ish Anglo Arab, and her owner rescued her about 10 years ago from not very nice conditions and has done everything with her from novice unaff dressage, to 3' SJ and 2'6" XC, to sponsored rides and hacking. She's not a difficult horse although she is sensitive, not a novice ride but an easy one. Her problem is that she's now 20 years old and was diagnosed last year with bone spavins in both hocks and a check ligament sprain in her right fore. She's been hacking about for about six months quite happily and could probably do the dressage again, but will never jump. She also much prefers to be kept part-stabled and would more than likely not enjoy living out 24/7, and prefers the company of one other mare (not greys, she's prejudiced against greys!
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I imagine it would be difficult to find someone to buy or loan her? Or do you reckon there are people out there who would want this sort of horse? Although I wouldn't describe her as a confidence-giver, she certainly has given me heaps and heaps of confidence and I trust her 99.9% in all situations (she still can think she's a 2yo at times and get a bit highly-strung!)
I feel so sorry for her owner and would love to take her on myself, as I was sharing her for a few years anyway until she moved her away, but I'm not sure it's the right decision for me. I don't know what she'll do if she can't find a home for her!
She's the bay in my signature by the way. I am SO tempted to have her back!
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I wish you could have her on loan, I don't think she should or could sell her, at her age she could end up anywhere and would be better off pts now.
If she loans her out again she must be careful to find the right home and keep an eye on her as they do still get sold on .
This may be jumped on but I would rather have a horse pts than think of it ending its days in distress.
Sorry
 
Morally - no she should not sell her. And unless she has a friend that can look after her on retired grass livery - then I would put the mare to sleep.

Better that than ending up who knows where.......
 
That's my big issue. Cracks is very happy and healthy generally, capable of hacking and doing some dressage if her leg holds up (prognosis from vet is fairly good). She couldn't and wouldn't be turned away or used as a companion as she would hate it, she's not the right "sort". The thing I'm worried about is that I'd get "stuck" with her if I wanted to get my own horse again and do more stuff and jump, but I don't know whether that would be the better of two evils when the other option is to PTS. Ack this is so horrible, I can think of loads of pros and loads of cons for me having her!
I think we'll probably have to see if anyone shows any interest in loaning her. If not then review the options at a later date.
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i really hate the thought of a horse being put to sleep, when its still capable of work and sounds so lovely (just my view), i'm sure she would be able to find her a loan home, even just as a companion. what a shame you can't have her back
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It might be possible to loan her as a happy hacker, but I would want her to stay at the same yard so the owner could keep an eye on things, which would make it more difficult to find someone suitable.

Definitely wouldn't sell though - too risky given the mare's condition.
 
If you have her you will have to be brave and say if it doesn't work out she will have to be pts.Also make sure you have an agreement on vet fees because they can be so large on an old horse.I have a loan reyired horse but the owner has paid the vet fees each time she has been ill.
Having a horse pts at home is terrible but the horse knows nothing about it .It is just terrible for us humans.
I hope your friend finds a solution but it is her horse and her problem, it is not fair to burden you and make you feel you have to have her.I feel sorry for you on this one
 
Sallypops - I can't not have her back, that's my dilemma
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I'm just not sure it's right for me. I could have her back... I am so awful at making decisions! I certainly wouldn't rush into anything though!
She wouldn't be a good companion at all, she prefers to be stabled, rugged, fed loads to keep her condition, worked, and she doesn't like a lot of horses and much prefers to be kept with one other mare. Not good companion or retirement material really
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I suppose like I said we'll just have to give the loaning thing a go, see if there is any response, and if not then either I'll have to have her or she'll be PTS.
Thanks for the helpful replies guys
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I think she is sellable, but not loanable. If your friend loans her out, she will just keep coming back (here speaks the voice of experience with my old horse!). I think, if she went to the right person who just wanted to hack and do some dressage then she would be fine. I don't think she would be worth a lot, and obviously the key thing will be finding the perfect home for her, but I think that as long as your friend is honest about her quirks then you will find this. Alternatively, if she is good enough, you could try selling her as a brood mare?
 
Has she tried sharing her yet? Perhaps that would be the answer - maybe a share with a view to the other person taking her on in the long term????

A sorry situation and I have been in a similar one recently, thankfully my horse got a fab new home. (Mine was only 12)

But I am of the opinion that she should be PTS if no suitable home can be found, better that than pushed from pillar to post for the rest of her life. Sorry to say.
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She couldn't and wouldn't be turned away or used as a companion as she would hate it, she's not the right "sort".

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We had a little horse put with us on livery just after Christmas to see how he would cope with retirement. At 13 he's been diagnosed with some hind limb problems which have neccessitated early retirement - or the worse should it not work out.

The owner was worried that this fit competition animal would not cope with enforced retirement - but wanted to give it a go first before making any final decisions on what to do with him.

He is the first to demand to be put out in the morning. Drags you out to the field - despite the hideous weather. And really couldn't give a damn about comming in.

The mare may be very happy to live out her days in retirement - it's just a matter of finding out really.

But generally, it's a hideous situation for your friend to be in
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Well I suppose it would be worth trying turning her out to retirement and seeing how she did, if no loan home could be found. I know I am going to have to be the one to suggest all this though which is going to be difficult, her owner is very very ridiculously protective over her especially after her last horse had to be PTS. At least we have a few options to consider. I just have no idea whether I should be thinking about taking her on myself!
Michelle73 - it would have to be a full loan or sale, I know the owner really well and she wouldn't be wanting to get rid of her if she had absolutely any money left or any other choice.
Jazziesmum - she couldn't be a broodmare, she has neither the temperament nor the conformation (or the bloodlines, or the youth!) for that.
Thanks everyone. I will have to have a proper think about it all later (got an assignment to finish for uni tonight, this is not helping!!) and I'm sure I'll post when we've decided on a course of action! Thanks, you've all been really helpful
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sorry i misunderstood, what about the veteran horse society, they are good for helping find suitable loan homes for older horses arn't they? you could ask and see what they say?
 
Even before recent events in the news there is no way I wuld ever consider selling an aged horse already with problems unless it was to a very close and very trusted friend and even then I'd think hard. If no suitable loan home is found and she cannot afford retirement I'd would have the horse PTS rather than risk it end up in some bottom of the market sales ring then god knows where.

It may sound harsh but this is how people like James Gray end up with horses.
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I think you shouldn't necessarily dismiss the horse being a companion, hoses do generally adapt pretty well and quite frankly they don't really care providing they have food, water and adequate shelter. We took on an ex racehorse at 19 (he's now 24) to save him from being PTS (the owner had no room for him), he's lovely but a 'lively' ride but really he doesn't go out much at all now - his shoes have been taken off so he goes for the odd toddle about but acts like a 5 yr old most of the time and jogs. His tendons were shot from racing and he looksa bit stuff behind now but seem to be better since he is free to walk about and keep thehis joints moving. It is beneficial for arthritic horses to be able to move about and not be stuck in stables actually. He lives out 24/7 with my old pony with NZ rugs on (my two others come in a night during the winter). The oldeies couldn't be happier though, they have acres to run about in, are fed twice a day and basically do nothing to earn their keep! hee hee

My old pony's a miserable sod too and bullies eveything but he's mellowed with age (and he used to be kept in on a night) and got used to his 'herd'. I would say don't knock it til you've tried it. Plus, if she's still able to go on the odd hack then that's good.
 
This Mare sounds alot like my first horse! When he started to suffer from arthritis I put him on MSM to help, but then the inevitable time came when I knew he couldnt be worked any more - I worried like mad about retiring him, But he took to it really well - he got used to his routine and was happy chap right up until it was decided that it was now 'his time'.
I think AmyMays suggestion of buying her for small nominal sum is a sensible solution - see how you go with her - if things then didnt work out then you would be the one to make the inevitable decision - far more preferable than her ending up with the likes of James Gray (just the thought of her ending up with a man like that sends shivers down my spine - sometimes we have to do whats best for them not us.)
 
There are people out there. I answered an add for a free aged gelding who had athritus who was on bute. I am in my fifties and just want to hack. We went everywhere together on five hour hacks. He was the best horse I ever had. He lived out with me never had bute again and was never ever lame. Try adds in feed and tack shops. Good luck
 
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