OMG. Can't even reply to this.

sychnant

sychnant

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Just been posted on a FB page I belong to. I am trying SO hard not to reply because it wouldn't be polite.

"HELP.................. 30 yr old cob mare, in good health, Rhayader area, desperately needs new home asap - can anyone help??"

If it's anyone on here - no, I'm not sorry. How disgusting! Poor old girl. I don't know the circumstances but why won't people do the right thing by their old faithful friends???
 
Least they're trying to do something. It's not always simple. A friend of a friend had to rehome her 27y/o because she lost her job.
 
There are some situations I could start to understand where unfortunately the horse needs to go pronto. Be it family/health/etc.

Not something I'd do by any means personally of course. But, I don't like to judge, as I never know what people have going on in their lives.

I've been some of the lucky ones where I have had perfectly healthy free horses a few times previously, and which have had long term homes....so swings and roundabouts.

I feel sorry for both horse and owner if it comes down to that. You're left in a decision where you cannot have your horse, yet, it's still perfectly healthy enough to not warrant the PTS decision. Awful :(
 
Tbh, whatever the circumstances as to why you can't keep yourself, if you can't rehome with someone you know then do the decent thing & pts at home. Rather than putting yourself first because you don't want to pts. Beyond disgusting imo.
 
Its a shame but difficult to criticize unless the circumstances are known.

Friend took on a much loved 25 year old pony 5 years ago because the owners went to S.Africa with work.
Cracking pony she is too.
 
littlelegs said:
Tbh, whatever the circumstances as to why you can't keep yourself, if you can't rehome with someone you know then do the decent thing & pts at home. Rather than putting yourself first because you don't want to pts. Beyond disgusting imo.
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I agree!
I was disgusted when the young woman who accompanied my EDT offered to take our elderly cob if our vet recommended pts. Fortunately vet disagreed with his much younger colleague who had thought she had a heart problem and mare is still going strong, aged 31. However under no circumstances would she have been leaving here and her long-time companions, except for pts.
 
i saw horse avertised a few years back, was a heavy heavy cob type, 28 years, companion or hacker, and not the prettiest boy. £800 they wanted. i felt so bad for him, i could never sell at that age, i want my boy to live out his days with me! and i always thought it would be difficult to sell a horse that was older, especially one that couldnt do much. i hope that old boy has a lovely home somewhere being spoilt rotten..
 
I'm with littlelegs and pearlsasinger. I have 2 ponies 20 and 24 years old, and a donkey in his 30s, if for any reason I am unable to keep them they would be pts.
 
littlelegs said:
Yes, cos there's dozens of people crying out to give ancient horses a lovely home.
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you would be surprised! We all hear around horrid horse owners, who abuse these lovely animals, but to be honest the majority of horse owners are just like us, nice caring people. Quite a few people take on old horses, even if to just have as a companion. I am sure if you asked the 30 yr old cob if they would prefer you looked for a decent home or be shot they would opt for the first!
 
There is a 27yr old hackney looking for a home near me. The ad looks to have been written by an elderly person and says don't want to pts and due to owners Ill health. I found it desperately sad.
 
I love oldies and when my two current ones are no more then I shall get another two. I'm not bothered about riding I just love looking after them and its very rewarding to help something in their twilight years.
 
Without knowing more I for one cannot judge. My friend took on a very, very aged mare who looked very poor, whose owner had died. The mare was very loved but obviously her care compromised due to the owners ill health. She lived for another three years, was in very good condition, was happy and died at the ripe old age of 34.
 
Horses don't actually think like that though do they? It's too big a gamble they'll end up in a bad home, or straight to sales/ abbatoir. I'm sure if horses could understand the concept of tomorrow though, they'd rather go peacefully where they are than be passed around to god knows where.
 
I have a 30 year old gelding who is perfectly healthy, and still has plenty to give, I could not justfy PTS. I would consider a loan home or free to right home - if I could not keep him. (I paid $1000 AUD for him at 23 - he had been in previous home 20 years).

He is perfect for trail rides (not too long, and children/adults who have never ridden before - that want something to ride at home (not at ARC or PC, as he gets too excited, and that would be too much work for him). My kids school friends all come and ride him, most have never been on a horse before, or very limted rides.
 
I'm sorry but I honestly find the 'pts rather than new home' train of thought rather arrogant. You honestly think it's better to play God with life and death than accept that someone else is capable of looking after a horse as well as you do!?

Yes, I know there are utter bastards out there but if you vet the potential home then what's the problem?

I also don't like the preachy tone of people looking down on those who are struggling to meet the needs of their horses. People lose jobs, people get long term illnesses, people experience family break ups.

You have NO IDEA why the person in that thread needs to re-home their horse. I don't think shooting the poor thing is always the 'only' solution.
 
I have mixed feelings about this subject. An elderly horse in good health that has a chance of rehoming must be good, but also PTS through owners need/choice is not wrong in my eyes, rather than waiting until said horse has gone off its feet for what ever reason and looks poor or is ill. Always a day too early than a day too late for me I'm afraid, only wish humans had the same choice!
 
How long is a 30 year old going to go on for though without some serious TLC? What has it got to offer a new owner? Declining health and the likely need for the new owner to have go to the expense and stress of pts in the imminent future. How many experienced, knowledgeable, responsible homes are going to see them as good prospects for taking on? Not flipping many!

These adverts are awful IMO.
 
casinosolo said:
I'm sorry but I honestly find the 'pts rather than new home' train of thought rather arrogant. You honestly think it's better to play God with life and death than accept that someone else is capable of looking after a horse as well as you do!?

Yes, I know there are utter bastards out there but if you vet the potential home then what's the problem?

I also don't like the preachy tone of people looking down on those who are struggling to meet the needs of their horses. People lose jobs, people get long term illnesses, people experience family break ups.

You have NO IDEA why the person in that thread needs to re-home their horse. I don't think shooting the poor thing is always the 'only' solution.
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Because quite often people loan/gift horses in good faith to vetted homes only to discover their beloved horse has been mistreated/sold etc. With an older horse that only has a few years left anyway why take the risk?

Ask any rescue and I'm sure that they'd say that pts is often in the horses best interests when that perfect home can't be found - and lets be honest, if there were so many perfect homes awaiting unwanted horses then the rescue centres and abbattoirs would be very quiet.

Arrogance has nothing to do with it, just harsh realities I'm afraid, there simply aren't the number of homes for needy horses out there.
 
Playing life & death is part & parcel of ownership. I can think of a few people who would give my oldie the life I do. I can think of far more who wouldn't though. It's all very well saying 'find a good home', like I say if you actually know the person. I couldn't care less if anyone thinks that's arrogant. At least I can keep a clear conscious that my oldie won't ever be one of the pitiful oldies stood in a pen at a low end sales. After all, if I couldn't 'bring myself' to pts at home why should the next person?
 
Don't think too badly of them :(. Without knowing the reasons behind the situation they are in, it is very hard to be judgemental.

I ride a very healthy (fingers crossed) 34 year old and have being riding him for about 6 years .... I would not be put off a golden oldie if it was healthy.

The enjoyment and love and trust of any horse, even if not rideable is enough for some people.
 
no none of us have any idea why the person hasto re-home their horse but i wont sell my 6 yr old in the current climate, i am hoping a good friend will take her on for a yr if i pay the bills at her yard if she doesnt i may have to makea very difficult decision as she is unbacked so unlikely to get a good home.
i certainly would not rehome an oldie i would owe t to them to give them a peaceful dignified end
 
I still don't see why trying to seek a new home for a healthy horse you can no longer care for is more 'disgusting' and morally reprehensible than shooting it.

Fair enough, if they can't find a good home, but I would definitely not knock someone for trying, especially when we don't know the circumstances.

I just don't like the judgemental, preachy tone of this thread.

It's my opinion, you have yours. I won't be changing my mind as I'm sure you won't be changing yours.
 
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I do not at all agree with people giving away their oldies when they're no good to them anymore but sometimes circumstances prevail and there are genuine people who do want to give them a companion home, and especially if they can be ridden and are still healthy then why should they be shot if there is someone who will care for them? I do think companions should be loaned not sold but I guess this is not always possible.

I am looking for a companion and would take something of 20ish quite happily - it would live out its days with me. I think I have seen the same one as you Natz that is 35 and I do think that is pushing it as vets bills/pts would be rather more inevitable than one a bit younger.

I put a post on facebook saying I was looking, and I got LOADS of replies about companions of all ages and sizes. I do feel sorry for the big 16hh plus TBs etc as I just wouldn't pick one over a little low maintenance pony who needs a home just as much. Sigh, poor things.
 
PapaFrita said:
My former YO has a riding school pony who is AT LEAST 30 (they've lost count) and he's still taking the kiddies round minimus SJing and occasionally being very naughty indeed. Not every 30yo is ready for the scrap heap.
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My thoughts exactly. I've known many horses live much longer than 30. Obviously people round here think it's ancient because they've usually bumped theirs off by the age of 12 because they wanted a younger one and no one else would be remotely capable of caring for it ;) (JOKE before I get screamed at..) :p
 
While there may still be some relatively fit ponies out there, there are just as many that are worn out by their late teens and passed on to uncertain futures.
It is only a matter of time before elderly ponies aren't capable of their current workload, which further exposes them to possibly being passed on instead of the right thing being done.
 
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