Letting horses go *selling*

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showjump2003

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I'm feeling very confused at the moment!

I currently have two horses (and my parents have one). My 14.2hh is 16 years old and I have had her 12 years and my 15.3hh is 15 and I have had her 5 years. I am just about to finish university having juggled them for nthree years, driving home 3 hours every weekend to see them. Neither are completly what I want anymore but I still have fun with both. The pony is a fantastic hack and would trust her in any situation yet is too strong for dressage, whilst the horse is a fun little mare, very safe to play about on and jump but can't do flat work to save her life! For a while now I have been coming really interested in dressage, something neither of mine will ever be placed in even at prelim level. My parents keep saying sell the ones you've got and get what you want with the money. It's really easy for them to say it's just a horse but I get so attached!

Went to a show this morning and met a friend of mine who told me she's off to boarding school, so I asked what she was doing with her horse she just said " oh, I'm selling him", and comments like "it's just a horse". Why do some people find it so easy to part with horses even thought they don't have to? I actually felt jeolous at that moment and wished I could do the same!!!

As much as I want another horse I just can't imagine selling mine!

Not really sure what the point of this post is?!
 
I don't find it difficult in the slightest to sell horses....but then I know fine well that they will only go to the best possible homes. I wouldn't sell any of my horses to just anyone; and I know the right person when they come along.

Not everyone wants a dressage horse/pony - you are frustrated with your 2 so why not find someone who will love them and accept them for what they are? I am sure they won't be a disappointment to someone who wants to do other riding activities....let them go is what I say.
 
Don't get me wrong, neither are a dissapointment to me and I have accepted them for what they are. I'm just very confuddled at the moment!
 
I cried buckets over selling my warmblood, but I wanted to compete BSJA & BD & he wanted to happy hack / do as little as possible. I sold him to a lady who used to exercise my old mare & they are perfect for each other. She loves him to bits & has the time & inclination to spend hours grooming him, etc, which he loves & she doesn't make him run around & jump things. He is far happier with her than he was with me.
 
Oh sorry, I misinterpreted your post I think.

Would it be possible to get another horse and still keep the 2 you have? Or have someone loan them from you?
 
Yeah, I can get another without selling them but I don't want to start collecting horses! Unfortunatly I live in a very unhorsey area and have tried many times to find a rider for my pony and my parnts horse with little success. We are moving in 6 months time to a much horsier area so that might be an option after the move.
 
Im the same with my horses, i just couldnt bear to sell any of them. I sold a horse i had a few years ago to someone who actually helped exercise him at the time, she was brilliant with him and loved him to bits, i was having a few personal problems and had to sell one of my horses, she offered to buy him and to start with she looked aftr him brilliantly couldnt wish for a better person to have him, she did everything with him and he wanted for nothing.
But now........well thats another story, i regret it deeply and wish i was in a position to have him back
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I love my boys and would never sell them to anyone, i would how ever consider loaning out either of the two ponies i have but would never dream of loaning out the horses.
They would get regular visits as well untill i was satisfied with the way they were being looked after.

I know exactly how you feel, dosnt bear thinking about
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I hope you manage to get somthing sorted
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Debs x
 
Is this the dun you are talking about? Why dont you think you can be placed at prelim. In your sig it looks as if she goes nicely so just needs a bit of precision from you perhaps. I had a chap who was seriously confirmationally challenged but he did ok at dressage and was fabn for eventing! If they are good and sound keep them and enjoy them. Better the devil you know!!!
 
If they don't do the job I want them to, or I cannot ride them to DO the job I want them to do, then I sell. I don't have any emotions about it as my horses have to fill me with contentment
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I would love nothing more than do dressage on my dun pony but she is too strong and currently works sideways on the left rein!

I swear if I get another horse I will sell every 12 months as not to get attached! lol
 
Well its lucky some people keep horses in their old age.They may need a bit of extra care ,like old people, but some of these posts are so callous just because they are past their best why do people get rid of them after years of giving you pleasure.Do they treat their dogs the same way.If you keep a horse for many years then see it through, once you have sold them you have no way of knowing what happens to them as they get older.I have sold horses that do not fit the bill or because they became quite good and I couldn't afford to compete at that level but only when they were young enough to be sold to the same type of home as they were used to.
I wonder how many homes the average horse has in its life, if it happened to any other type of animal we would all be horrified, Strange
Its nice to see a lot care enough to keep their horses until their horses are unable to enjoy life.My old pony still enjoys a canter across the field in the morning but is in need of a bit of bute sometimes ,like me.
You may find it hard to sell horses of that age as most people want younger horses because they know they may be getting to the end of their 'useful' life. I hope you keep them and when you move you find someone to loan them where you are ,so you can keep an eye on them and make sure their end is painfree
 
Yes I find it hard to let go, I bought Freckles and Ticky over to Spain rather than sell them, the only one we have sold is my daughters first pony 'Champ' a welsh sec A, and it was horrid, we shed a lot of tears, but we sold him to a friends riding school 5 years ago, so we always knew where he was,
THEN 2 weeks ago he arrived in Spain, yep I bought him back, :-) so he will now be with us for life.

We bred 2 foals last year, (both colts) could not sell the first 'Moonshine' , because he was the first, then Harley came along (Freckles foal) and he had a lot of problems, with his legs, and I got very attached, so he is staying, (plus its like hes my grandchild!!)

Bred another foal this year, stunning dun filly with white blanket (mine are all appaloosas) but this one WILL be for sale. So im not getting to attached.

Jenny
 
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Well its lucky some people keep horses in their old age.They may need a bit of extra care ,like old people, but some of these posts are so callous just because they are past their best why do people get rid of them after years of giving you pleasure.

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FYI, I have never sold a horse over the age of 10. I remained the owner of my 3 horses when I came over here, all were in their teens by that time, 2 are now deceased and 1 is still alive and kicking and in his 20s - callous I am not
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We sell some of the younger ones, but like Weezy, anything over 10 stays with us. Still have Orlando (winner of HOYS many years ago) and Royal Heritage - both now in their mid to late 20s.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well its lucky some people keep horses in their old age.They may need a bit of extra care ,like old people, but some of these posts are so callous just because they are past their best why do people get rid of them after years of giving you pleasure.Do they treat their dogs the same way.

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That's ridiculous. Horses and dogs are completely different. Dogs are pets and horses aren't - not to me anyway. Plus dogs costs a significant amount less to keep.

I've sold horses a few times for various reasons - time/money/fit for purpose etc - and certainly don't consider myself callous. In fact its pretty egotistical to assume that you and only you can provide the best home for your horse.

To the original poster - bite the bullet and sell. You can find them both lovely homes where they will be happy working within their comfort zones. You can then give a great home to another horse and everyone will be happier.
 
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