old horses that people get rid of.

What a crying shame!!!

They should be ashamed of themselves, here's hoping somebody experienced will take her on as a companion, but it's more likely some dolt who won't have a clue who will rag the poor old girl around :-/
 
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DeJaVue said:
why they can't just do the decent thing and have the poor old lass PTS....she hardly owes any one anything :0(
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That's exactly what I thought. Heaven knows what could happen to her if she ends up in the wrong hands and gets buted to the hilt to look sound... She could yet go from pillar to post. I'm all for keeping horses for as long as they are comfortable but in her case really do think PTS would be better. Poor girl, she looks so sad and flat in those pictures :-(
 
If she was anywhere near me, or I had transport, I have her tomorrow.


Off topic - I have that numnah, it was a present, and it looks no better on a bay :p:D
 
I am in Lancashire, she looks just like an older mare on my yard! I was just about to go marching down to the yard and go mad, but it's not the same mare.

I can't have another horse, so I can't help her. It's so sad, she looks so flat in the ad.

Why do people do this?!
 
Oberon said:
I am in Lancashire, she looks just like an older mare on my yard! I was just about to go marching down to the yard and go mad, but it's not the same mare.

I can't have another horse, so I can't help her. It's so sad, she looks so flat in the ad.

Why do people do this?!
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I think most of the time it isn't badness on the owners behalf, they genuinely think that they are doing the right thing. Just a lack of education maybe and rose tinted specs?
 
Poor old girl, I suppose at least the owners had the decency to make it known that she is arthritic and needs long term meds.. but then again if she ends up in the wrong home... :(
 
I saw this last night and was really tempted to go get the old girl but I'm not in a position to be looking until next year. She doesn't deserve to be shuffled along to another home at her age.
 
I have emailed the owner and said to be very careful and to be very wary of individuals promising her a fabulous home, only for her to be sold on.

Perhaps if we all took this action every time we see an ad of this type, provided it is done in a very pleasant and tactful way , then it may just save the odd old timer from a fate worse than death?

I'll probably get in to trouble for it, but hey ho, at least I have tried....:(
 
Oh for gods sake, is it kinder that they find the horse a home, or it stands in a field shivering and getting poorer in condition as it ages because they don't have time? It's got plenty of years left I'm sure to go on and make someone very happy, and I'm sure someone will take good care of it!

We sold my mare who was in her LATE 20's!! Because we could not afford to keep two any longer. It was her, or my crazy Welsh Sec A gelding who would have gone for meat. Marble however, would still hack/school/jump/XC and was very well behaved, so much more likely to find a home (even if she WAS just a companion!)
I'm sad that she couldn't finish her life here with us, but in a way, that is life. Things change, and so you have to do what's necessary. We could have had her PTS, but why!? She didn't need to die and wasn't ready to either.
 
But who will want to give a home to a big horse that will need plenty of feed, which is expensive at the moment, and also expensive medication? Apart from the fact that it can only be ridden very lightly. There are plenty of easy to keep smaller ponies available as companions, and in the current climate young healthy horses are ending up being pts; so I can't see someone wanting to take this horse on.

I wouldn't have contemplated giving him away in their posititon and the vet would have been booked to pts; there are fates worse than death, especially for old unhealthy horses sadly.
 
Sol said:
I'm not doubting for one minute that this mare could continue a useful life with another owner.

The problem is there are too many owners that think "I'm sure someone will take good care of it" - that's how the majority of horses ended up at Amersham.

I hope they do find a great home for her.
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It is having no control over their fate that is worrying. Yes, I know some good homes are out there, yes some elderly horses have years of give left in them but once they are sold there is nothing you can do to ensure they are given the future you would give them yourself and therein lies the reason why I would never sell an aged horse. I couldn't bear the worry. This is JMO and I am not being critical of anyone who does otherwise.
 
poor mare. i feel so sorry for her.
Some people cant afford it now then winter is here and it will take a lot to feed. I would love to be in a position to give her a home but i have my hands full with loonies!
I hope she finds a good home at least put a price tag on her so she doesnt end up with a scrounger.
 
Well, I confess I have interfered, coz on the advert there's a place where you can "ask a question", and I've said basically that would they please consider PTS rather than sell if they can't afford to keep her, or even loan her out, rather than sell her on and she'll only end up going on a downhill spiral.

Perhaps they're naive and haven't thought about the possibilities, but I was so upset that I had to say something; tho' probably will get either a rude e-mail back or nothing at all.

Poor old girl, what is wrong with people? But perhaps if enough of us get in touch, and VERY politely, explain to them what may happen, they'll think again? Who knows, we can but try.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Well, I confess I have interfered, coz on the advert there's a place where you can "ask a question", and I've said basically that would they please consider PTS rather than sell if they can't afford to keep her, or even loan her out, rather than sell her on and she'll only end up going on a downhill spiral.

Perhaps they're naive and haven't thought about the possibilities, but I was so upset that I had to say something; tho' probably will get either a rude e-mail back or nothing at all.

Poor old girl, what is wrong with people? But perhaps if enough of us get in touch, and VERY politely, explain to them what may happen, they'll think again? Who knows, we can but try.
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That's two emails they will have had on the subject! We'll see if we get a reply!!!
 
She is no were near old yet what a shame for the poor horse!! I got my daughters pony when he was 20 yrs and now he is 35 and still going strong. I rescued a old show jumper who turned out to be 26 yr but i still have him at 34. I was still riding him till 3 years ago but i know it does depend on the horse. I wish i could afford another she looks fed up poor thing her eye doesnt look good tho
 
It is true, 19 isn't too old. My old man was 24 before there was any sign of age.

But at 19 with arthritis and needing daily bute - this mare isn't going to last forever and what time she has left, she will need good care for.
 
i think its at least decent of the owners to be honest about her condition and her need for medication. However if they have had good use out of her in her younger days and dont want to pay for an expensive retirement ... why do they think a total stranger will? its a hard situation to be in but pts would really be the safest way to guarantee she doesnt end up neglected. I like others would love to be able to gather all these old faithfulls up and give them a home for life but who could afford it?
 
I think it's disgusting that 2 off you have e mailed about having the horse pts, has nothing to do with you so leave it alone. There is nothing to say she won't get a good home. Iv just taken on a young cob who is fab in everyway and paid £1 to get a receipt, my sons new horse. Maybe he should have been pts in case he got a bad home. I think it's utter crap about free horses not getting a good home it's the same if you sell I'm afraid.
My mate sold a up and coming jumping pony for £6500 and had a call a week ago from a rescue center, he was saved from the slaughter yard. My friends have him back on loan from the rescue center. What the hell happened nobody knows but he was sold for a lot off money. So price/free means nothing.
She may get a good loving home so back off and leave them to it.
 
I am not sure if price is the issue here.

The issue is that she's an old mare with health problems.

I really hope she gets a good home.

But it's likely she will not.
 
thatsmygirl said:
I think it's disgusting that 2 off you have e mailed about having the horse pts, has nothing to do with you so leave it alone. There is nothing to say she won't get a good home. Iv just taken on a young cob who is fab in everyway and paid £1 to get a receipt, my sons new horse. Maybe he should have been pts in case he got a bad home. I think it's utter crap about free horses not getting a good home it's the same if you sell I'm afraid.
My mate sold a up and coming jumping pony for £6500 and had a call a week ago from a rescue center, he was saved from the slaughter yard. My friends have him back on loan from the rescue center. What the hell happened nobody knows but he was sold for a lot off money. So price/free means nothing.
She may get a good loving home so back off and leave them to it.
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As a matter of fact - (being one of the two who emailed) I did not mention having the horse put to sleep. I merely mentioned to take care that people who viewed her were genuine, and not there to get a free horse and then sell her on as soon as she got home. I also wished them all the very best and hoped they managed to get the home the mare deserved.

You cob is one of the lucky ones - is he 18hh aged and arthritic? Would you have taken him on if he was - or would you have chosen something equally suitable, but sound, healthy and cheaper to keep.

I'm not saying there future is guaranteed even when sold - but if you are selling a horse for way under its market value, or giving away with the best intentions - you invite the cynical individuals out to make a quick buck.
 
Sure lots of horsethat age have lots of life left in them (& I speak as someone who bought a 22yo) BUT

1) Bigger horse tend to be less long lived than smaller ones
2) She is grey so there is an 80%+ chance that she already has tumours
3) She has acknowledged health problems.
4) People usually choose smaller equines for companions

Out of loan, PTS, give away I can't help but think that the latter is the most likely to end up badly for the horse.
 
i think its a cop out when ads say 'we cant give all the love and attention' the pony deserves. My old cob was getting on and at the time i couldn't give him the time he deserved, so i advertised and found a young girl who was delighted to come up and fuss him and give him gentle rides. That way he stayed in the fields he had always lived in, and yet i still could keep an eye on him. Granted it cost me money for grass livery and I wasn't riding him, but its the least he deserved after all his years of service.

I understand people can't keep horses due to financial reasons, but getting rid of elderly sick horse because he isn't getting enough attention is a cop out. There is not a hope in hell i would ever offload an elderly horse with medical issues unless i knew exactly where it was going, and had a guarantee i'd be contacted if the owner couldn't keep it.
 
I think people should calm down a bit. If the owners have NO CHOICE but to sell, isn't that fairer than killing a horse who can still do light work and looks sensible enough to fit someone's requirements? When I'm in my 60's or 70's she is exactly the type of horse i'd have and keep for a long time to see me through my older riding years.
I think you're all exceedingly judegmental and to email the owners is actually rude, if you are not interested, leave it alone! These are hard economic times but there are people out there looking for light hacks.
 
The horse isn't sick as such, more old age kicking in hence the medication.
I took a old mare years ago as she was local and in need off a home, she stayed with me as a pampered pet for 3 years until I felt it was her time. If I had a spare stable I would give this mare a home as well but just taken a cob on who needed a home as the owners couldn't keep him. They didn't even view my yard, or anything. Just a case off you want him when can you pick him up. Which is so bad. Hopefully they will vet home carefully. Yes there are people who may take her and sell on ( hope not) but that happens so much with horses who are sold and the truth not being told to buyers.
If she was mine I would secure her in her old age but not everybody can for one reason or another. But lets hope it's not to make room for a younger model
 
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