Oh :( What to do ......

TopTotty

TopTotty

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This summer after a lot of soul searching I sold my homebred four year old to a prof eventer. It was the best thing for him as I did not have enough time for four horses.

I now have a 13 year old that I event, an 11 year old that does BD at Elementary, we won the last one, and a six year old homebred who is about a year behind.

Last year I started a new business which is going from strength to strength but I am now finding it hard to keep three horses in work.

My first love is eventing and my dressage pony will NOT event as she is not brave. She has 71BD points at the mo and is ready to go up to medium level.

I really don't know what to do. :confused: I have had her for 8 years and feel that the six year old and the eventer need to be priority for fitness reasons etc but selling her breaks my heart. :(

I can keep her as a big pet and just ride when I can but probably won't realistically have time, put her on loan, which is not my favourite idea or I could sell her and cry lots. :(

Of course I think that no one could love her like I do and of course there are no other good homes in the whole world......

What would you do......... keep her or sell her or are there any other options I haven't considered? :confused:
 
If she was mine I wouldn't be able to sell her. BUT I bet she's the sort lots of people would bits your hand off for and give a wonderful home to.
Rationally speaking, sell her & be unbelievably picky and make sure the new owners know you would like lots of updates etc.
 
Well, I'm probably not the right person to ask as I used to sell horses for a living (I was a breeder), but it sounds like your only/best option is to sell her and concentrate on your others. She should be fairly easy to place in the right home as she has obviously got some decent training and competition results behind her. I always used to look on selling horses on as like sending children out into the world; give them the best education and upbringing you can, prepare them for life and wish them well.
 
If you can afford to keep her then why not offer the ride to a young rider? It sounds like it is more the fact you don't want to see her wasted and don't have time to exercise/compete her yourself than selling for financial reasons. Could you offer full loan on your own premises if she is a loved member of the family?
 
Billabongchick said:
If you can afford to keep her then why not offer the ride to a young rider? It sounds like it is more the fact you don't want to see her wasted and don't have time to exercise/compete her yourself than selling for financial reasons. Could you offer full loan on your own premises if she is a loved member of the family?
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This.

I have been in the situation with one that I would never ever sell but I couldn't realistically keep in work. I had a sharer for him, then loaned him to a friend and now he has come back to me to retire fully.

My thinking was that I never wanted to part with him but that he had plenty to offer other people....and that way I have had control in deciding his retirement and his ongoing future without having had him sat in a field for years.

He was no-where near anything like yours (mine was just a low level RC all-rounder) so I'm sure there would be people who would jump at the chance. Perhaps loan/share from your current yard so you can still be there and know what she is up to?
 
There are lots of sharers (or loaners) like me who'd give her lots of love and attention while you don't have time. If you can keep her on your yard (which is normal for sharing, and not that unusual for loaning) then it's even better for you. Just try them out first then have a trial period as well.
 
If she's honest, I would sell her :) Someone will love her as much as you do! I have a couple I would never sell (they're quirky/don't cope well in certain situations) and a couple of more straightforward ponies I'd have no qualms about selling.
 
Billabongchick said:
If you can afford to keep her then why not offer the ride to a young rider? It sounds like it is more the fact you don't want to see her wasted and don't have time to exercise/compete her yourself than selling for financial reasons. Could you offer full loan on your own premises if she is a loved member of the family?
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I agree with this
 
Have you thought of contacting the TESA - The Equine Sports Agency(or Academy) run by Bev Brown for the dressage pony? http://theequinesportsacademy.co.uk/

They have lists of talented young riders who are looking for either the next ride or a schoolmaster on loan but perhaps can't afford the top prices to buy etc. It might still be a loan but there is more security as Bev seems to take a personal interest in each partnership, links the riders up with mentors and follows progress.
 
Billabongchick said:
If you can afford to keep her then why not offer the ride to a young rider? It sounds like it is more the fact you don't want to see her wasted and don't have time to exercise/compete her yourself than selling for financial reasons. Could you offer full loan on your own premises if she is a loved member of the family?
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^^^This^^^
 
If you cant afford to keep her then sell - she sounds like she is quite a rare find (not many horses out there who are successful at BD with good points behind them), especially if she is ready to move up. Even in this market you probably could get decent money for her, you'd just have to vet her new home carefully and find someone willing to give you lots of updates.

However if you can afford to keep her then get a sharer/part loaner. I'm a sharer who only does dressage and if a horse like yours came up for share/part loan I think I'd initially faint with shock followed by snapping your arm off for the chance to share her. Nice well trained horses who can compete above prelim/Novice, available for share/part loan are few and far between (in my area anyway) and there will be loads of people jumping at the opportunity to ride her. I generally have to ride either nutty horses, older/broken horses or distinctly average all-rounder types - an actual dressage horse who could take me up the levels would be a dream come true.

You get to keep her on your yard so you keep an eye on her, choose the sharer yourself, watch their progress and get a financial contribution towards her keep - winner all round really. I pay a monthly contribution for my current share (bonkers mare) and then half her shoes every 6 weeks. She is on full livery so I know my contribution probably only covers around half of her monthly keep (probably just under half really) but it helps the owner and it means she gets to keep her horse on her yard. She bred this horse herself but has no interest in riding her (she likes to jump/event, this horse wont jump and only does dressage). One day she wants to breed from this mare too, so I'm helping keep the mare going and getting more experience for the mare so her foals will be worth more one day.

Hope this helps and good luck whatever you decide
 
Love this :) Wish you were nearer!!!!!! I have had a bad experience already from the advert on FB and have looked into a couple of the ideas above. Have also been contacted re a syndicate scheme that is in it's infancy so a few things to consider.

Thanks so much for all your help and ideas :)

KK200 said:
If you cant afford to keep her then sell - she sounds like she is quite a rare find (not many horses out there who are successful at BD with good points behind them), especially if she is ready to move up. Even in this market you probably could get decent money for her, you'd just have to vet her new home carefully and find someone willing to give you lots of updates.

However if you can afford to keep her then get a sharer/part loaner. I'm a sharer who only does dressage and if a horse like yours came up for share/part loan I think I'd initially faint with shock followed by snapping your arm off for the chance to share her. Nice well trained horses who can compete above prelim/Novice, available for share/part loan are few and far between (in my area anyway) and there will be loads of people jumping at the opportunity to ride her. I generally have to ride either nutty horses, older/broken horses or distinctly average all-rounder types - an actual dressage horse who could take me up the levels would be a dream come true.

You get to keep her on your yard so you keep an eye on her, choose the sharer yourself, watch their progress and get a financial contribution towards her keep - winner all round really. I pay a monthly contribution for my current share (bonkers mare) and then half her shoes every 6 weeks. She is on full livery so I know my contribution probably only covers around half of her monthly keep (probably just under half really) but it helps the owner and it means she gets to keep her horse on her yard. She bred this horse herself but has no interest in riding her (she likes to jump/event, this horse wont jump and only does dressage). One day she wants to breed from this mare too, so I'm helping keep the mare going and getting more experience for the mare so her foals will be worth more one day.

Hope this helps and good luck whatever you decide
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