Morbid subject ....

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Sammie1985

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Ok guys, so today at the dinner table my parents decided to being up the old morbid subject of not having a will, especially now since I bough my first horse a few months back.

To be fair I hadn't really thought about it until now, but what are the options if something happened to you? I would hate to think of Bren being uncared for or sold to someone that didn't look after him and it's not as easy as my cat, my parents and sister have never had horses and wouldn't have any idea how to look after him, can you leave them to a rescue centre if you gave a suitable donation with him to pay for his care?

Sorry to be so morbid in a Sunday afternoon just got me thinking!
 
It's not morbid, it's being sensible :) I've had a Will since I was about 18, and I've been careful about keeping it up to date. In fact, I have just redone mine because I changed my name, and I will do it again as and when my circumstances change.

Not only will you be in control of what happens should the unthinkable happen, but it's easier for those left behind to sort everything out if you have one.
 
I have two. One is broke so she'll be offered back to her previous owner with monies from my death to pay for her upkeep (already discussed with her) or retirement livery. The young boy would have to be sold. My daughters no longer ride and my husband isn't interested in horses. My life insurance payout is quite big so there would be adequate funds to take time to sort out their future. I feel very strongly that you should have a plan in place and your family are fully aware of what you would want done with your horses if you broke your neck tomorrow
 
Mine are willed to the friend I know will best manage their future, either sold or kept by her. All my horse stuff is willed to Blue Cross. Stroke Association and the Blind get everything else.
 
I wrote and signed a separate document from my official will, and it lodges with a close friend who will oversee it. In the event of my death (assuming OH also deceased) my horses will be PTS. I am exceptionally closely bonded to one and won't allow either to go to anyone else, just in case. My vet has asked if he can have my dog should the worst happen.
I am in my 60s so this was a sensible course of action. Please don't judge me on the PTS thing.
 
Seville said:
I wrote and signed a separate document from my official will, and it lodges with a close friend who will oversee it. In the event of my death (assuming OH also deceased) my horses will be PTS. I am exceptionally closely bonded to one and won't allow either to go to anyone else, just in case. My vet has asked if he can have my dog should the worst happen.
I am in my 60s so this was a sensible course of action. Please don't judge me on the PTS thing.
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No judgement from me. Mine will be put to sleep too. No pressure for my loved ones (human). Peace and safety for my equines. Too many numpties out there..
 
My will has a lump sum set aside for care of all my pets (unless you're really particular it's hard to keep it up to date as pets come and go) I have a separate list with specifics on it - but that's not as legally binding as a will. Cash to look after them (retirement livery or funded gift to welfare) and admin expenses for someone to oversea that is a really good idea.
 
exracehorse said:
I have two. One is broke so she'll be offered back to her previous owner with monies from my death to pay for her upkeep (already discussed with her) or retirement livery. The young boy would have to be sold. My daughters no longer ride and my husband isn't interested in horses. My life insurance payout is quite big so there would be adequate funds to take time to sort out their future. I feel very strongly that you should have a plan in place and your family are fully aware of what you would want done with your horses if you broke your neck tomorrow
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When I first read that, I thought you meant you had 2 wills! Was wondering how that would work. Doh
 
My mare was sold to me on the condition that if I can't keep her fotcany reason the woman I bought her off Will have her back. It's nice to know she will have a good home for life if the worst happens .
 
I have left a list for my brother with numbers of friends who will help him sort whatever horses I have at the time .
I have also a list with my thoughts on each horse I update it now and again .
Theres a fairly substantial sum in the will to pay for sorting out any we have if we where to die .
I am more concerned now about my dogs in the past my parents and best friend would have stepped in my parents are now too old and my friend has taken in a dog from a friend who passed away so I need a new plan for the pack .
OP you are right to plan it's important .
 
We recently re draughted our wills. The solicitor recommended putting a separate letter in with the wills recording our wishes for the various animals. It's easy to keep it up to date. None of the plans are very controversial though - 1 ned to be pts, 1 to be gifted to former owner or breeder, 1 to be gifted to loaner.
 
I have made a will that specifies exactly what should happen to my horses, allows money to be directed for their keep, and someone is named and paid to make sure it all happens as I wish. I think its only sensible to make sure our animals are cared for if we should leave them.
 
Three of mine belong to world horse welfare so they would return to them. Altho two of them are quiet old so unless I die in the next few years I can't see them still being around.

My other four, I'd have it made that three of them are PTS if their still alive due to various issues. The forth I'd leave to world horse welfare.

Altho I have nothing officially in place for any of them. That's my plan.
 
Goldenstar said:
I have left a list for my brother with numbers of friends who will help him sort whatever horses I have at the time .
I have also a list with my thoughts on each horse I update it now and again .
Theres a fairly substantial sum in the will to pay for sorting out any we have if we where to die .
I am more concerned now about my dogs in the past my parents and best friend would have stepped in my parents are now too old and my friend has taken in a dog from a friend who passed away so I need a new plan for the pack .
OP you are right to plan it's important .
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Dogs Trust will take dogs - they have a thing similar to WHW, as do Cats Protection for cats.

Mine will all be PTS.
 
Not morbid. It's sensible to plan ahead.

If something happens to me, my Horse is to be PTS. She can no longer be ridden due to arthritis so won't risk passing her on.
 
Auslander said:
You can leave them to World Horse Welfare in your will - info here http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Leaving-your-horse-in-your-Will
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This^ as then WHW will always own them and if the adoptee gives up or cannot cope they go back to WHW.


I would NEVER give them to family or friends and burden them with my horses, in case the situation changes and they sell them on, IF how ever a member did want them they can adopt them from WHW and then if that happens they would go back to WHW and the relative would not feel they are doing me out of my wishes.

All my horses are going to WHW as they are age 3 - 16 - 7 and 13.

When you sign them over it is important to update WHW of any changes or add on's if you get another horse, you can tell them what the horse excels in and what you want them to do.
 
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I'm very lucky in that me and my auntie help each other daily with the horses so mine would stay with her as she knows him inside out and he is quite a quirky horse. If she couldn't for what ever reason i would tell her to have him put to sleep. Hes been with me 10 years has his own issue's and could become quite difficult in the wrong hands. I think its a very sensible thing to plan just in case especially when horses are involved.
 
I don't have a will as such (I don't give a toss about who gets the money) but I do have a letter with my wishes for my horse which my husband and my parents (and people involved) know about. He goes to his sharer along with a lump sum to make sure he never has to leave our yard due to lack of funds. It currently says if she has to pass him on (I can't see that happening unless she becomes ill) she can rehome to a home approved by my best friend (not because I don't trust her but because I don't want it to be burden for one person, this way they can share the responsibility) or PTS, again with the agreement of my friend. He's 21 now with a few health issues, so I think this would be more likely if sharer couldn't keep him.

If my friend dies I get her horse (my share horse) and responsibility for her kids' ponies. If the kids want to carry on I'll keep the ponies and do all I can to help them but if they don't, I can rehome them / care for them as I see fit.
 
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