Need to find a home asap

[charlie55]

Ok here goes! A lady up my yard has had a mare for 9 years, she has been on and off lame for the last two years for no apparent reason, she has had xrays etc etc and the vets still cant figure it out.. They have told her the only way to find out is through MRI, the owner has been made bankrupt (sp) in the past so now has to pay for everything upfront. She is a single mother and cannot afford to have the MRI done, her insurance doesnt cover for MRI's either!

Now the owner is thinking of having her pts as she cannot afford to find out whats wrong, she has found a replacement horse already

so now she wants to get rid of this poor mare asap

She was planning on phoning the vets today to maybe sort out having her pts but ive asked her to wait so i can see if i can find her a home! She is definetly no where near bad enough to be pts, im not sure the vets will even do it as they dont know 100% whats wrong with her! She ISNT lame everyday, she can be fine for a couple of weeks (owner has even hacked her out when shes having a good week

) but if the mare has been having a good run round the field then the next day she will be lame/stiff.

She will be a great brood mare or a campanion. She is a very sweet mare, she will stand for hours while being groomed, very safe with children (owner has a 10yr old daughter that grew up doing things with this mare) She currently has front shoes on but has been unshod in the past and is fine! Can anyone help ?? Any questions please do ask.

 

[Nailed]

Whats the point in breeding from a horse with lameness issues thats not diagnosed..

I think shes right and responsible to have her PTS was a lameness issue, thats probably never going to be covered by insurence now, so the new owner wont be able to have the MRI done, the mare is obviously uncomfortable as she is experienceing intermitent lameness..

Lou x

 

[Pinkwellies2]

How big/old is mare. I rehomed my mare a couple to a stud as a surrogate for embryo transfer. I know the stud she went to have a set criteria for height and age but could be something worth looking into.

 

[charlie55]

She is 16.1 and 13 years old

 

[martlin]

Has she got any decent breeding? Good conformation? Past competition career? Anything that would warrant breeding from her?
She is a bit big to be a companion, isn't she?

TBH PTS might not be a bad option at all...

 

[cellie]

Tell her to put ad on project horse.My horse has similiar problems has been treated but is still lame and I have money issues too but I have just found him a wonderful home of this site being 100 % honest with his problems.He wont do any ridden work all natural horsemanship and natural healing.There are good people out there.I dont hold with pts unless you have exhausted every possible avenue and to buy a replacement sounds very callous.I will never replace my horse its bad enough giving him away to great home.I do hope she finds good home for her.

 

[Nudibranch]

Broodmare might be a bit irresponsible given her undiagnosed lameness. Please beware of the rehoming thing - once she is gone you will have no idea what happens to her in future and pts may be the better option. I know it sounds harsh but just go to any of the less reputable sales and you'll see what I mean. Rehoming often just eases people's guilt yet it's no guarantee for the horse itself.

My friend sold a mare with navicular as a broodmare (?) and the very next day had a phone call asking what level dressage she competed at. The nice man with the pretty stallion photos had turned out to be a dealer, taken her direct to the sales and left her overnight, then sold her the next day as a competition horse, no doubt buted up to the eyeballs. I dread to think where she is now.

Sorry to sound negative and I hope the mare finds a good home but don't dismiss having her pts as the worst option.

 

[arwenplusone]

If the owner has made the decision to have the mare PTS then I would respect that tbh, it can't have been an easy decision to reach...

 

[charlie55]

Nudibranch and cellie, thankyou for understanding!! And we do want to try every option before having her pts. Some people in this world are evil to sell on a horse with problems as a compitition horse! And there will always be people like that around and its very sad. But i can assure you if a nice home isnt found then i will try rescue homes.

She is not bad enough to be put to sleep! She isnt a cripple at all, she just 'feels' it the next day if she takes off round the field like a nutter! Similar to an elderly horse would, would you have all the elderly horses pts sleep too because they cannot be ridden??

Martlin, no she is not too big to be a campanion! I have known 17.2's to go as campanions!

 

[charlie55]

No, the owner has agreed that if i can find a home then that will be great but it has to be quick because she needs her stable for the new one arriving! If she cannot find her a home quick then she will have to be pts as she cannot wait around!!

Shes just impatient and i think its wrong!

 

[arwenplusone]

I find it a bit harsh that the owner has found a replacement horse already, yet cannot afford to do further investigation on her current horse.

IMO her responsibility should be with her current horse - sounds like she just has decided to get a new one because this one is broken.

 

[Pinkwellies2]

[ QUOTE ]
She is 16.1 and 13 years old

[/ QUOTE ]

Think under the stud criteria mine went to she is a bit too old, maximum age was 9.

Hope you get something sorted soon.

 

[martlin]

TBH I think you will struggle to find her a home.
She is lame - not ridable in the state she is at the moment. The lameness is undiagnosed - it can cost an absolute bomb to just get a diagnosis, not to mention treatment and possible outcomes...
Why would somebody take such a big unknown on?

I'm not saying you should always PTS horses that can't be ridden, what I'm saying is keep it if you can afford it, but don't expect somebody else to take over the expense.

 

[charlie55]

Mayflower exactly!!

Thats why i am so annoyed about all this!! This poor mare is lovely and her owner just wants to go and have fun, but because the vets have told her to retire her, she doesnt think anyone will want to offer her a home so the easiest and quickest option is to have her pts!! It looks like many people are agreeing with her!!! Or maybe i didnt explain myself well enough...

Pinkwellies2, thankyou. x

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I agree that I don't think you should sell her as a broodmare, it would be irresponsible to breed from her hen you don't know what is making her lame, it could easily be passed on to the foal. A surrogate broodmare could be a good option though, if you can find somewhere that wants one. Also project horses might be good. I am glad you are trying to help her, her owner sounds quite callous to me, getting a new horse already, cleary money can't be that much of an issue. I hope something works out.

 

[charlie55]

She is very callous in my opinion!! its so sad because this mare has given her everything!

I really didnt think about the broodmare thing and it would be irresponsible so i take that back. I just wish i had some land somewhere, i would have her!

 

[at work]

If she is so lovely, why don't you take her on yourself? Because she is lame? Because you cannot afford to? Because you want a horse that you can ride?

You said she'd already been lame for 2 years, that is a long time and a lot of expense - Now put yourself in the owners shoes..

If I were the owner, I'd be considering pts as the best option for myself and my lame horse too. Must she wait until the lameness is bad enough for you to agree that it is the right thing to do?

Sorry to be harsh but I think you are, however unintentionally, being very unkind to the owner, who has probably had to face some very difficult choices and decisions to get to this.

 

[AmyMay]

Charlie, the vet won't put her down. However, the hunt kennels will.

It's hard when a decision seems to have been hastily made - however, it's her horse and her decision.

It most probably shouldn't be considered for breeding - unless the cause of the lameness has been established. Although she may be able to find someone who is looking for a companion.

But at the end of the day - the horses welfare must come first. And if putting it down is in its best interest, so be it.

 

[JM07]

there are a few "new" rescue forums popping up ATM......one in particular comes to mind...please warn your friend that she may be contacted by these types, and to ignore them!!

the PTS option might sound harsh, but at least the mare wont then fall into unscrupulous hands...

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
Tell her to put ad on project horse.My horse has similiar problems has been treated but is still lame and I have money issues too but I have just found him a wonderful home of this site being 100 % honest with his problems.He wont do any ridden work all natural horsemanship and natural healing.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I would rather PTS, certain in the knowledge my horse won't be passed on, than risk sending them off lame, to someone who thinks they can "cure" them with "natural healing", and do god knows what else with them....

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
she doesnt think anyone will want to offer her a home so the easiest and quickest option is to have her pts!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just going to pull you up on one thing here (although obviously I don't know this person). However, I have been in this situation myself - and the horse was put down. I could not afford to keep two horses on livery, and my mare would have been very difficult to place on loan as a companion. I wanted a horse to ride. And whilst it broke my heart - I made the awful decision of putting my permanetnly lame horse down. I also had my new horse 'lined' up as you put it.

I think it's very easy to be a judge and jury where horses and their owners are concerned. But so often we just don't know the full story.

I actually think you're being pretty unfair to the owner.

 

[lochpearl]

Very sad situation but I think that the owner is being responsible.

Horses can run around fields looking nice and sound as the adrenaline is pumping through them so they cannot feel the pain. When the adrenaline is gone the stiffness and soundness issues will become apparent.

There are many 'rescue' sites out there that would love to have a mare like this, they will then bute her up and sell her on - as will dealers.

Breeding from this mare again is a very bad idea, if you don't know why she is lame why risk her being in pain carrying a foal and also with the risk of passing on the problem.

Sorry I might sound harsh but I think that if the owner cannot afford to keep her as a field ornament and the horse is in pain then pts is the best option.

Please don't let her go down the dealer route or the new found 'rescue' sites that really will not have the mare's best interests at heart.

 

[charlie55]

Trust me i am not being unfair, she has been fine with this mare being on off lame for two years, the lameness hasnt got worse either and she has always said she will just be a pet! . But as soon as someone offers her a horse on loan she is all of a sudden having her shot! Shes even moaning about how much putting a horse to sleep costs and that she wishes she never just paid to have her shod, but shes fine to pay for this new horse to be travelled to her!!

I obviously think alot different about this situation then most of you do so i guess we should just leave it here now!

Thankyou for all the replies.

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
Trust me i am not being unfair, she has been fine with this mare being on off lame for two years, the lameness hasnt got worse either and she has always said she will just be a pet! . But as soon as someone offers her a horse on loan she is all of a sudden having her shot! Shes even moaning about how much putting a horse to sleep costs and that she wishes she never just paid to have her shod, but shes fine to pay for this new horse to be travelled to her!!

I obviously think alot different about this situation then most of you do so i guess we should just leave it here now!

Thankyou for all the replies.

[/ QUOTE ]

if you didn't want to hear opposing replies, then maybe you shouldn't have posted?

just an observation........

 

[charlie55]

Lochpearl, dont worry she will not be going to any dealers or new founded 'rescue' places, i will sooner put her in my backgarden then send her to them!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Trust me i am not being unfair, she has been fine with this mare being on off lame for two years, the lameness hasnt got worse either and she has always said she will just be a pet! .

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it's just dawned on her what a drain financially the horse is. People are allowed to change their mind.

[ QUOTE ]
I obviously think alot different about this situation then most of you do so i guess we should just leave it here now!

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't be immature. You posted about a situation - and some here don't agree with you. So what??

 

[charlie55]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Trust me i am not being unfair, she has been fine with this mare being on off lame for two years, the lameness hasnt got worse either and she has always said she will just be a pet! . But as soon as someone offers her a horse on loan she is all of a sudden having her shot! Shes even moaning about how much putting a horse to sleep costs and that she wishes she never just paid to have her shod, but shes fine to pay for this new horse to be travelled to her!!

I obviously think alot different about this situation then most of you do so i guess we should just leave it here now!

Thankyou for all the replies.

[/ QUOTE ]

if you didn't want to hear opposing replies, then maybe you shouldn't have posted?

just an observation........

[/ QUOTE ]

This must be the most used phrase in history on here lmao

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Lochpearl, dont worry she will not be going to any dealers or new founded 'rescue' places, i will sooner put her in my backgarden then send her to them!

[/ QUOTE ]

There we are - perfect solution. Good luck with her.

 

[Shilasdair]

QR
I think the mare should be PTS.
Firstly, it is irresponsible to use a mare who became unsound at age 11yrs to breed from, so that option is closed.
Secondly, in the current recession, the UK rescue centres are unable to take all the horses which are being dumped on them.
I think the owner is very responsible to have the horse PTS, rather than pass it on to an increasingly uncertain and unpleasant future.
Anyway, I take it you will be taking this mare on, thus putting your money where your heart is.
S

 

[cellie]

Theres a lot more to it than that.He has home for life as she rescues horse Im not that niave.She works with rspca and rescues .