Owning a Horse You Just Cannot Part With

Vixxy

Vixxy

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I must be the worst ditherer around!

I have owned Ollie grey in sig for nearly 5 years and just cannot part with him no matter how much I know it makes sense
crazy.gif


My riding is somewhat limited by my medical problems and Ollie can be spooky and silly which is not the best situation but every time I decide to sell him I end up changing my mind.

I am not a total softie and have sold on another horse I imported last year as she ended up being very hard to keep during winter and I felt it unfair on hubby having to care for her when I was ill. Preventing mudfever as she got it so easily, keeping condition on her when I couldn't work her. So I can make the best decisions for both my horses and my family when needed.

Ollie has just got under my skin so much, especially after my beloved Welsh D was PTS and I felt for giving up because of losing him. Previously years ago I had a live in groom Sarah (I am still in touch with). I bought Ollie for her to have a horse to ride/loan whilst she was here and Ollie never went even after Sarah went back home to the UK (Sarah picked Ollie and tried him so was really bought with her in mind). When Taffs was PTS I slowly gained Ols as my own, he can be a handful but is so beautiful and has the greatest personality, I love him to bits.

In the school most of the time he is a star but sometimes can try a bronc but soon stops with a tight circle inflicted on him and a no shouted firmly. Out hacking he is a monster, spooks, plants and if you kick him on always rears, first a mini one but can really rear if pushed.

I am not that gutted about not hacking out as I am soon bored hacking out alone anyway and always have my field around the farm for a good canter and some fun.

I decided a few weeks ago to sell him to old owner I bought him from and look for a nice quiet all rounder more suitable for my illness, but ohh just cannot do it!!!

Have others been like this about a horse, what have you put up with due to not being able to part with a horse?
 
I live on a small island 1,200 of us so sadly not many riders on this rock ;-)

My good friends with stables on her farm has 6 of her own to care for and ride, 2 young girls and she is a full time music teacher that competes. So I know she does not have time to hack Ols out sadly.

The work of looking after Ols isn't so bad, he is a good doer, tough as old boots, never loses condition and is completely straightforward. My husband and I work for ourselves at home so the care isn't really the issue. It might be nice to get some one to hack him out though occasionally.

I plan on taking him off twice a month to my trainers yard and see how he is over there.

I really want to start competing, what holds me back is Ols spooky silly behaviour and me not knowing how he would react at a showground.

Start with small steps of taking him to my trainers busier yard and go from there I think :-)
 
Yes, I have been stuck with two horses for years that should have gone by now.

One has been field sound and retired for 10 years and shows no sign of conking out - he should have been pts as he's big, very expensive to keep as he's not a good doer and he's given me nothing.

The second is a mad pyscho, originally bought to be a SJer who no-one has been able to tame and is also a field ornament.

Every year I say thats enough they're being PTS ( Usually in the winter when my knackered back cripples me with the heavy workload.

The problem is I just can't do it and hate myself for being so weak, but they're my boys and I love them.


The advice I was given is don't do anything you will come to regret. One look at my field empty was enough for me to know I couldn't do it.
 
Hmmm.....this was a discussion in our kitchen last night after OH's mare had trashed 2 rugs in the space of 24 hours....he barely rides her, I do the majority of the chores and she's just an unecessary expenditure...although she's a very good do-er and never sick/injured she still costing livery, bedding hay, shoes, wormers etc etc etc.....

I know he would regret selling, he'd never buy another and we would therefore never ride out together again....it makes more sense to sell her than to keep her but neither of us really are grown up enough to make the decision. Bloody animals........at least kids leave home at some point
grin.gif
 
I own one of these, a pony I've had for 12 years but haven't ridden for three due to having outgrown her.

She is quite expensive to keep and time consuming to manage as she's laminitis prone, she's also not an easy ride that has meant I was unable to find anyone to ride her until this autumn.

But I can't imagine my life without her, so I'm stuck with an expensive pet for the next 15 years (she's 20 now).

I think you are being very sensible building up to competing Ollie slowly, if that doesn't work out look at getting a sharer to help out with riding.
 
If his old owners are nice people and love him and are able to deal with him (i.e. hacking etc), then I would personally sell him back to them and get something that you can ride now. It isnt as though you are "getting rid" of him - he would be going to a lovely home where he would be well looked after. As you said, you have limited riding due to medical conditions, so the times you can ride you ought to be enjoying it and not feeling apprehensive. Also, he sounds as though he would benefit from a consistent level of work.

Trust me - you will love the next horse just as much. And once you have had 6 months of fun with him/her you will wonder why you didnt make the decision sooner.

Now I am just trying to convince myself to do the same ...
 
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