I've been offered a free horse!

[Paint it Lucky]

But I don't know whether I should have him or not

I've been riding and looking after a horse a lot over the summer as he had been off work and needed fittening. Well now his owner has decided she can't keep him anymore so has offered him to me for free. He's a lovely horse, nice to ride and is very loving. But he has a few health issues, nothing debilitating he just needs careful management with regards to feed and exercise, and he is prone to injuring himself! He's 19 so if I get him it'll be a home for life. I really want to have him but I'm not sure if I should. I already have one horse and manage fine with him, I'm sure I'd have enough time for another and I could afford him but I wouldn't be left with much money for me each week (I've worked out how much it would cost to keep him along with my other expenses) and as I am quite young (21) I feel I should try and save for my future. He'd only really be as a fun horse as he is getting on in years. But he's lovely and I know I could give him a good home and I'm worried what will happen to him if I don't have him. So I can't decide! I've always wanted to have another horse but I just don't know if it would be good for me!

APologies for this long and confused post!

 

[JACQSZOO]

Would the owner consider letting you look after him whilst she still pays some of the bills? At his age and with his health problems shes not going to find it easy to sell him.

 

[Gingerbird]

I go for it - if you find you're struggling a wee bit financially you could always get a sharer or loan at home person.

Not all older horses mean extra expense, my 23 year old costs me if anything a bit less than he used too!

Good luck with whatever you decide though x

 

[alicep]

could you take him on but poss get a sharer to help with duties/finances? it would give you some one to ride out with as well as ease the work of 2 horses for you?!

 

[Tierra]

Try not to get into the thoughts of "if i dont have him, who will" as it will torture you and stop you thinking logically.

My gut feeling would be that you're better being able to comfortably keep one (in terms of finances), than being stretched with two. At least then you know should any emergencies crop up in your life (horsey or otherwise) you'll hopefully have some free cash to tend to them.

Look at it this way. If you could have a second horse (ignore the finances for now) - any type of horse to do anything, but you're limited to two. Would this be your ideal horse?

It's really hard to be in this sort of situation because you're so emotionally tied in but my thoughts are that if you're airing your doubts on a public forum, you probably think deep down, it's not a good idea.

 

[jes_nibley]

Get him!
If you've been riding him anyway then you're part way there - timewise.
I have two and have no spare money but then i don't have any time to spend it either!

You're only 21, there's plenty of time to save for the future later on.

Ok, so that's what my heart says.

For the sensible minded people out there :
Think this through very carefully, make sure it's a commitment you want to take on and will not end up 'resenting' the horse in some way for your loss of spare cash and money.
Think about insurance and vets fee's and other unseen expenses.

And also, this horse will cost you nothing to purchase, if you turn it down and then decide you want another can you afford it? (This bit might not make sense)

Okay, so honestly, the first way is the way forward.

 

[magic104]

How much is he going to cost you a year x by how many years he could have left. Would you rather put that money away for the future, which could include a very nice horse or spend it on a happy hacker. And heaven forbid something should happen employment/health wise, but would you be covered for 2 horses?

 

[JulieL]

Wot a hard decision

He sounds a lovely old boy (I have an oldie and she's lovely, albeit a bit potty at times and stuck in her ways)

Could the owner put him into a retirement home where he will never be rehomed but enjoy a nice life (which by the sounds of things he deserves).

Other than that - i am a softy and I know i would end up havin him.

If it helps, someone else said the oldies don't cost a lot to keep their engines running - that's true mine doesn't cost me a fortune and I now dont do a lot with her but i would not be without her. He also might be a great companion for your horse!

Big decision - good luck. Keep us posed on what you do

 

[jojoebony]

I was in a similar situation and took the horse on.
For lots of reasons, I wouldn't do the same again (PM me if you'd like more info - don't want to hijack your post).
One thing I would advise you consider carefully is whether you could get this horse insured and if you couldn't and something happened what would you do? My boy has cost me a small fortune (vets, supplements, etc) and real heartache.

Jo

 

[Blizzard]

One of my horses was a freebie, and previous owner happy to pay half livery for rest of his life, he is almost the same age as yours.

If you can offer him a good home, and his previous owner might help with the costs, then I would go for it.

Afterall unless he is capable of competing etc still, she may struggle to get a good home for him given his health issues.

Ive been lucky in that mine was fit as a fiddle, and could go out and compete dressage, XC and hunter trials, and had no medical issues.

So it depends what you are taking on TBH, are you financially and emotionally capable of dealing with him as he gets older?

 

[Stoxx]

I think you made a good point ie your age and your future. If by taking on this horse you are going to be starting to stretch yourself a bit then it might not be a good idea. I know that horses mean the world to us, but there are other aspects of life to be discovered and you should really be able to do that. Also with so many young people in so much debt would you not be better off saving this extra money so that you can start to think about your future and then when the time comes and you have some money behind you, then you could consider getting another younger horse to take on and train for your chosen discipline. If you didn't already have a horse I'd be more inclined to say go for it, but as you already have one then I think you'd be wise to help the owner look for a good home. Just my opinion.

 

[Solstar]

id go for it-i recently got another (well my bf went halves with me) and hes 17- he doesnt actually cost as much as my horse to keep. im 19 and am managing to put a bit of money away each month- i only work 4 days a week.

 

[HenryandPeta]

I take it you're not going off to uni or anything and have the time to take on another horse? It's hard to say no to a free horse ie "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!" but I would have to consider the extra finances for keeping him versus paying my rent, food bills, running a car etc... Sorry that's probably no help is it?!

 

[Porkie]

If I were you I think I'd have to take him - then look at getting a sharer or something to help contribute towards costs and also then you'd be able to give someone else the opportunity to give lots of love to him who perhaps otherwise might not be able to afford a horse of their own - and then everyones a winner, you, the horse and your sharer!!

I share/loan my horse, as finacially I am not in a position to cover the full cost of keeping my own - he's 26 and I love hime to bits. Before his owner took me on he didn't really have a rider and wasn't in proper work and was beginning to show his age (retirement not an option, been tried and he rebelled and got expelled for being naughty!!) He is now back in practically full work with me and he has made so much difference to my life (and I like to think I have to his too! we even go out and about in the box to off road hacking now and he loves it, before he didn't really leave the yard!) And I know he's getting on in years but that doesn't make him any less special (to me it makes him more special!!) and all the time I put into him everyday is rewarded ten fold when he whinneys at me and come trotting over to me in the field !!

Go for it !