Old horses for sale.. makes me sad :(

warmbloodcrazy

warmbloodcrazy

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Hi All,

I have been flicking through the horsey ads browsing as i do maybe looking for a new youngster for myself as my older boy is looking for a quieter life now and have been surprised at just how many older horses there are for sale. Most of them towards the end of their useful life going for relatively little. Horses are expensive animals to keep and i understand that and when they get older theres all sorts of factors but it just made me feel quite sad to see some of them :(
 
It is sad indeed, but not much can be done to prevent it. I recently saw a pony for sale that I had known many years ago, she is now at least 28 years old going by what a previous owner told me a while back, unfortunately current owner has only had her aged by a vet who guessed early 20s. Sad that such an old pony (ex RS) should be for sale at such an age.
 
I agree. It is awful. Who buys them though? I think once a horse gets to a certain age (IME probably around 15) you should keep it retire it, or loan it. It must be a terrible wrench for them to be sold at such an age.
 
If I ever win the lottery, I will have a retirement home for older horses. I hate to see them for sale and at meat prices too... I bet if they could talk the stories of what they have done in their life would be very interesting..just like old folk
 
Even if I put my vet up for sale (35years) he would never sell- he behaves like a right little ***** at times and no one would want him. ;)

That being said, I wouldn't change him for the world, and each day that I wake up and find him still happy and enjoying life is another day where I feel so lucky to be able to share it with him.

Bleurgh, enough of the sloppy chat, someone pass me a drink!
 
Wagtail said:
I agree. It is awful. Who buys them though? I think once a horse gets to a certain age (IME probably around 15) you should keep it retire it, or loan it. It must be a terrible wrench for them to be sold at such an age.
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Really? 15?

my friend has just bought a cracking 16 year old mare as her first horse, capable of doing plenty... certainly all riding club activity...

I got my old mare aged 17/18 (originally just supposed to be a loan... she was with me for 4 years - never saw her owner again, but i would have bought her, very sadly pts on Saturday after a major injury to her pelvis) but in her working life she did dressage, show jumping, xc, endurance, schooling etc etc etc. with me and never had any issues...

I agree, the very old/retired horses being up for sale is sad, but i certainly wouldnt say 15 was that old these days! blimey, most of the top level eventers dont reach their peak until their mid teens!
 
The worst thing is to see horses in their mid twenties for sale. However, I think it's important to remember we don't know the full story. If their current owner cannot provide the care they need then they're better off being sold to someone who can. Plenty of people are looking for an experienced, quieter ride for hacking etc.
 
Hedwards said:
Really? 15?

my friend has just bought a cracking 16 year old mare as her first horse, capable of doing plenty... certainly all riding club activity...

I got my old mare aged 17/18 (originally just supposed to be a loan... she was with me for 4 years - never saw her owner again, but i would have bought her, very sadly pts on Saturday after a major injury to her pelvis) but in her working life she did dressage, show jumping, xc, endurance, schooling etc etc etc. with me and never had any issues...

I agree, the very old/retired horses being up for sale is sad, but i certainly wouldnt say 15 was that old these days! blimey, most of the top level eventers dont reach their peak until their mid teens!
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Sorry to hear about the loss of your mare, Hedwards.

I agree though in a way, I bought my boy last summer aged 16, he had had a very quiet life up until that point, doing a bit of hacking here and there. He was sold as his owner had a nasty fall off him (broke her pelvis) so he came to me and he will stay with me until the end of his days. He has proven to be very capable and eager to please; he cost me pennies, but if I had wanted a horse like him 10 years younger, there is no way I could have afforded him. Many 'older' horses still have a lot to offer - but its the sale of the elderly ones that really deserve a retirement that is upsetting.
 
Yes I agree, once read somewhere that a horse over 20 should not be sold, but only loaned so that the original owner can have a say in how it is treated and what to do if it becomes unrideable or coming to the end of their days.
 
Hedwards said:
Really? 15?

my friend has just bought a cracking 16 year old mare as her first horse, capable of doing plenty... certainly all riding club activity...

I got my old mare aged 17/18 (originally just supposed to be a loan... she was with me for 4 years - never saw her owner again, but i would have bought her, very sadly pts on Saturday after a major injury to her pelvis) but in her working life she did dressage, show jumping, xc, endurance, schooling etc etc etc. with me and never had any issues...

I agree, the very old/retired horses being up for sale is sad, but i certainly wouldnt say 15 was that old these days! blimey, most of the top level eventers dont reach their peak until their mid teens!
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No, you misunderstand me. I don't think they are past it at 15. Not at all. I just feel it is bad to sell them on after that age, especially if they have served you very well. I think you owe it to them to keep them where they are settled and know people and other horses.

Really sorry you lost your mare. I have a 19 year old myself that would still be out competing if she didn't keep getting laminitis.
 
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Tough one. If you genuinely can't keep an old horse (i.e. mid 20's) then kinder to put down or loan on but then you are still ultimately responsible.

I bought my first horse (rather than ponies bought by my parents) when she was a month off her 19th birthday for the meat price as that was all I could afford at the time. I kept her at the same yard she had been at for years at first and gave her more love and attention than she'd had her whole life (her male owner was an avid SJ'er and when she was 'past it' to compete at higher level, put her in foal and ignored her).

Then moved her twice and moved her to England when she was 23.

Not all older horses who are sold on have a bad end!
 
Agree with you all, My boy will be 17 this year and now has trouble with his stifles.. i have had him 11 years and hes been such a faithful loving servant. I just feel sad for these old horses that get passed around, i feel i defo owe it to him to keep him happy and safe with me until his end. I was just surprised at how many horses there were in their 20s...so many restrictions in the ads as to what they can do etc.. tugged at my heart strings!
 
I agree some to get a nice loving home at the end Nic Nac thats so lovely to hear that about your mare :) but i think some don't get such a lovely ending and its as if some people just cast them off as they arent so useful any more but i guess this can and does happen to horses of all ages :(
 
I bought my girl two years ago as a 16 year old, although vet and dentist etc all think she's older.

I don't care though she's given me my confidence back, taught my boyfriend to ride and has started giving my sharer her confidence back too!

She's with me for life and if I have to retire her tomorrow and keep her retired for another 10 years I'll find every way possible to do so. If it means I cannot afford another horse to ride then so be it. Although I'd take on a second job if I had to.

I wouldn't dream of passing her on even though I've not had her that long (relatively speaking).

I understand some people can't do this but sometimes I guess that's for the best.
 
Inthesticks said:
If I ever win the lottery, I will have a retirement home for older horses. I hate to see them for sale and at meat prices too... I bet if they could talk the stories of what they have done in their life would be very interesting..just like old folk
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I always say I'd love to have a horse retirement home! We bought a very old pony as a companion for my youngster a few years back for £200. We were told she was early 20s but when we checked her out she must've well into her 30s. She was the sweetest, cheekiest little mare and we all just fell in love with her instantly. If only they could talk, would have loved to hear her stories. She had a lovely chilled out 5 years with us before she had to be pts. Feel so lucky to have had that short time with her and so glad we could make her last years of retirement lovely. Dread to think what would've happened to her if we hadn't come along!
 
kezz86 said:
I bought my girl two years ago as a 16 year old, although vet and dentist etc all think she's older.

I don't care though she's given me my confidence back, taught my boyfriend to ride and has started giving my sharer her confidence back too!

She's with me for life and if I have to retire her tomorrow and keep her retired for another 10 years I'll find every way possible to do so. If it means I cannot afford another horse to ride then so be it. Although I'd take on a second job if I had to.

I wouldn't dream of passing her on even though I've not had her that long (relatively speaking).

I understand some people can't do this but sometimes I guess that's for the best.
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That is exactly how I feel, and what happened to me and my old timer,kept him for ever, and he was put down at 32, he did not owe me a thing, but I owed him everything.
 
I do agree that it is sad seeing all these older horses for sale, but sometimes I can't get around the PTS option that everyone on here is quick to suggest. I have a 20 year old who could be a bit older, have had her 11 years, shared her for 3 years before that. She is still fit as a fiddle, hacks every day, and loves her life. If something happened that I couldn't afford to keep her, I'm not sure I could just PTS. I also have a 17 year old, who has had arthritis since he was 9 which is managed, he has bute as and when needed. Him, I would PTS if I couldn't afford to keep him as he needs careful managing and I know him inside out and would hate for him to go to a new home where he may well be pushed too hard.
 
I think part of the problem with people selling old horses that cannot lead an active life is that the owner is made to feel guilty if they think or talk about pts and they feel they need to sell them instead and while some may be lucky and get a good home there are many others who are on a very sad downward spiral. personally I would rather people had a horse pts at home if its not able to be ridden as its the only way to be certain that its not going to have a nasty end. for me once a horse is at the point of not being able to work I would love to think that it would have a happy retirement but realistically if thats not possible then a peaceful end at home is far better than an uncertain end
 
Wagtail said:
I agree. It is awful. Who buys them though? I think once a horse gets to a certain age (IME probably around 15) you should keep it retire it, or loan it. It must be a terrible wrench for them to be sold at such an age.
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15?? no chance here, as you know waggie D was 23 when the lami started and she was still doing 5 sponsored rides a year most 12 miles long, also one here is 31 and still hacked out. I think like humans as soon as you retire they stiffen up and shortens their life.

MY horses will retire from competition when their time comes when its obvious its too much for them. but hacking is still done and schooling.. K is 31 still hacks and schooled. I wish my girl made it to 30 :(

MY old girl *B* was 25 when she was PTS but it was illness related she was still hacking good hacks until that time
 
My older chap (coloured) is working in college as he is fit and well but doesnt have the wind to event anymore. It is a good option for us and we can still ride him if we want. If anyone has a dressage horse of medium level or above I know they want one at the moment and the owner can still ride and compete it if they want.
 
I'd have to pay for someone to take my old mare :D bless her

I think sometimes people forget horses are living, feeling things that are not just there to be dropped when they are no longer as useful as before, sadly.
 
I always give a older horse a home, I keep 1 stable for a old retired one and at the mo iv got a 21 yr old 1 eyed lad who is a complete sweetheart and I'm really taken by him. He lives with the herd, comes in daily with the others and has a groom and his feed. He was a free to a good home and tbh I wouldn't pay for one as there's so many just needing a home. I hope I have him for many years but when his time is up he will be pts and I will offer another older lad a home.
 
TheLadyInBay said:
I'd have to pay for someone to take my old mare :D bless her

I think sometimes people forget horses are living, feeling things that are not just there to be dropped when they are no longer as useful as before, sadly.
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This, we get any animal for life, My Oh had his lad for 28 yrs, retired for 10 yrs, he died in the field at 33yrs old, owing nothing and knowing he was loved.
We bought an 18 yr old happy hacker, same home for 8yrs, I understood why he was for sale, but he was very confused initially, a new routine, new people, having a companion, unfortunately he died during a colic attack after six months following a field accident, hopefully knowing how much he was loved.
Personally I would never let any animal go to another home after having owned it for more than a few years if it was older than 10 yrs old, I don't like change at 57 yrs old, so why should animals be expected to accept change later in life
 
So agree kezz86, Freddie and thatsmygirl..
I made the decision as soon as I started owning my own horses (rather than ponies bought for me by my parents - and they were never sold either) that any horse I had which was beyond riding or the kind of riding I wanted to do would end his/her days with me, even if it meant I couldn't ride, as I certainly couldn't afford to buy a second horse.

I have stuck to it faithfully. Two older horses have ended long and I hope happy lives as spoilt field ornaments, and I was able to borrow a cob in each instance so that I could still hack.

The way things are going it looks as though my riding days may be coming to an end, but my current (12 y-o) mare will always stay here. I have a friend to hack her, but the horse will never leave my home, her equine friends and my protection. That knowledge is the biggest luxury I could have.
 
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