Need advice - should I buy him back?

An equine college can't have one with a heart murmur for insurance purposes. They would fail the riding school vetting and would make the insurance invalidated
 
Difficult situation - but I would buy him back.

I have a pony on full loan and earlier in the year decided it may be time to move on to my next challenge. His owners left it to me to find him a new loan home, which I did, but when a month later it wasn't working out I took him back and I think he will probably be with me now forever. Due to his owners circumstances I knew they didn;t have time for him - so he would have either been sold on (and he's got a few issues so I'm sure he would have been passed from pillar to post) or they would have stuck him on grass livery and left him to it. I couldn't bear the thought of either options.

I can understand why the dealer won't drop the price - its fair enough that she just wants back what she paid for him. If she's had him since Feb thats quite a lot of additional expense too in terms of hay / feed etc. It is their living after all. (Not being mean - I just would avoid feeling upset by her stand on this as for her it is probably seen as a business transaction rather than a friendship issue)

He sounds lovely so I'm sure you could find a good sharer for him, or look for a full loan home perhaps? You could also stick him straight back on the market again (has he stayed in work or will he need bringing back to his previous level again?) As long as you state he has a heart murmour in the ad, and price realistically. Perhaps the dealer has him up for too high a price which is why he is not selling? There is a horse at our yard with a heart murmour who is late 20's and has had an active life and he is fine - I'm sure its very common!

Good luck whatever you decide - it is a really tough situation for you.
 
Personally if it was me I wouldn't take the risk of calling her bluff just in case it went wrong. I would buy the pony back and as for her being a friend, she wouldn't be for much longer. In my opinion friends help and support each other in difficult times and not treat each other the way that she is treating you. Hope it all works out.
 
I bought an ex-masters horse that had a heart murmur. They were going to have her put down. I had her (Ada) for 8 years and she was the best horse I ever had. We hunted, did sponsored rides, hacked regularly. I retired her at 21, 6 years after buying her and she spent a happy two years with me in retirement. Yes, she died of a heart attack, chasing a little Welsh Section c around the paddock. She would have thought that the ideal way to go, having the last word. If anyone out there is looking for a good horse, don't let a heart murmur put you off.
 
I suspect the dealer has slapped a premium on the price she/he gave you and that is the reason they are not able to sell. Dosn't sound like my kind of friend. Either that or they may be being a true friend and think you really are missing your horse and they should be giving you a push to help you realise this.

This is what I was saying earlier. If she's willing to give him back to you at 'dealer price' then wouldn't he easily sell for that on the open market?

Can you at least pay for him in installments??

Quite frankly she has wasted your time by keeping your horse through the summer then dumping it on you just before winter. She is obviously not very good at selling horses.
 
Buy him back..you owe it to him, no one else is going to fight for him,
And I'm sure you can find a couple of sharer's for him who will love him . xxx
 
if he were mine and he was a good horse to me id buy him back if i had the money.
i dont thin you can offer less money as you would have known the risk selling him to a dealer in the first place?
also if you have your own place then you wont be paying extra livery so you could put him on loan and that could pay for the haylage? etc
at least the dealer has offered him back to you in the first place
 
Definitely buy back. you owe it to him to secure his future.
my horse has a murmur. doesnt affect him. its a loud, but innocent murmur. Loan if you have to, if hes everything you say he is and up to the work, people should be biting your hands off for him.
 
If she is a friend, would she consider letting you pay for him in manageable installments? that way you can still get some of the things you need and know that he's safe.

I did this with my first pony, her owner was a friend and she really needed to sell and for her to be moved off the yard. I said i wanted her but couldnt pay in one go, and she let me pay in a couple of installments. worked well as we both got what we wanted...
 
OK after your replies I would buy him back and put him on full loan to be kept at your place if possible so you can see he's OK. That way someone else to see to him and maybe help each other out when one can't get or car breaks down and there would then be no problem with hay feed etc. But do it now befor the winter arrives better chance of getting the right loaner.:D Problem solved:)
 
I'd be tempted to ask another friend to go and look at the horse at the dealer's yard, show interest and negotiate the price down. Then the friend buys the horse with your money and takes it to your yard. If dealer 'friend' is upset about it, tough!
 
He's coming back tomorrow, will then be looking for a sharer for him and possible full loan in future
 
have you thought of selling your other horses? if he gave you everything then is he worth more than them? and if he's ridable, unlike your other two, you could actually use him once you are ready to get back into it
 
have you thought of selling your other horses? if he gave you everything then is he worth more than them? and if he's ridable, unlike your other two, you could actually use him once you are ready to get back into it

2 year old is a rescue pony and worth nothing. Not that it matters as I'd never sell him now he is in a safe home. Weanling is my "dream horse" so he's definately staying.

I'd only sell horses who I feel would easily find a nice home. Now that has backfired on me, I don't think I'll sell again!
 
Glad to hear he is coming back to you. It would not stop me loaning a horse if it had a murmur and if he stood up to the work I wanted to do for 6-12 months then I would probably offer to buy the horse at that point if the owner was happy to sell. I have know a fair few horses with heart murmurs that have lead a normal competitive life despite failing a vetting.
 
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