Please help me make a hard but necessary decidion

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Barlow

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My circumstances have changed and the long and short of it is that I can no longer afford both my horses and I'm going to have to sell one. But I'm really stuck as to which one to advertise-I've done a lot with horse 1 and he is the one my head would choose to keep but horse 2 has my heart for many reasons.

Horse 1 is a 6yo gelding. Flashy and very safe, I have ridden him in the london New Years day parade and at a display in front of 10,000 people aged 5 and he didn't bat an eyelid. I feel safe on him even when he tries it on. Can be frustrating to ride at times. Good to hack out alone or in company. Not very affectionate in the stable. Has sweet itch which is managed with a hoody (non Boett) rug and diet. Have been riding him for 18 months.

Horse 2 is a 6yo mare, had a slow start in life, YO backed her and I have been riding her since November. She is far behind in terms of development and maturity than horse 1 but will make a cracking horse with time and work-has lovely paces and highly graded for her breed. At 15.1 I worry that I am too big for her. She can be a tad spooky to hack-the worse she does is slam on the brakes. she has a scar on her hind leg due to an operation that left her with a bandage mark. She's very soft and soppy, really cuddly in the stable rather than aloof like horse 1.

I'd be interested to know which horse you think I should keep or sell-this dilemma has been going round in my head and I'm no closer to solving it.
 
Logically, I'd say sell both and buy something that's a mix between the two - safe, sensible, cuddly.

If you didn't want to do that, there are good reasons for keeping or selling either of them, which probably mean they are level pegging on a list of pros and cons. Therefore, I would keep the one that your heart says to keep, which is the mare.

However, none of this applies if you really want to keep the mare. Just keep her if you love her! Let Mr Gelding go off to a nice new home where someone will like his no-fuss attitude!

Good luck, it must be very hard to decide. x
 
You could advertise both and see which one sells. Sorry if that sounds harsh its not ment to. Yesterday I posted a thread about a horse of mine who has SI trying to see if anyone would be interested in buying a SI horse. I got the thread pulled by admin and an infarction because they said it was advertising. It wasnt. A button pusher had reported the thread. So OP I fully expect the same to happen to your thread and I'm sorry if it does, because ,like me, you are just looking to do the best for your horse.
 
I don't see this as an ad.
I will be honest, I sold my good ones and kept the "other one", we had a lot of problems, and really had I sold him, I would have not had them, but it was not his fault, it was a bizarre series of circumstances, and he needed a particular type of rider, a quiet rider who knows how to ride , sigh.
As things turned out I should have sold him and kept the other ones, but I didn't.
I would advertise both and see what happens.
 
Thanks Fairy lights-the thought had crossed my mind to advertise both and put in the hands of fate. I am fully expecting this to get button pushed but so be it, I just hoped to find some clear thinking on the situation.
The problem about selling Mr Gelding is that I bought him from my instructor and I promised her he would have a long term home with me.
 
Keep the one that makes you smile most. Unless you are a serious competition rider, dont worry about potential, keep the one that you enjoy most.
If you really can't decide, then as above, advertise both & see what happens.
 
Barlow said:
Thanks Fairy lights-the thought had crossed my mind to advertise both and put in the hands of fate. I am fully expecting this to get button pushed but so be it, I just hoped to find some clear thinking on the situation.
The problem about selling Mr Gelding is that I bought him from my instructor and I promised her he would have a long term home with me.
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Well I would definately tell your instructor what has happened, she may have the perfect home for him, just another home
 
Thanks-instructor has given up horses so doubt she will have any contacts, worth a try though but it will be a very difficult conversation
 
I would keep the gelding, just going by what you've written there's a lot you like about him and are proud of :)
 
I'd keep the gelding but put both for sale and see. I expect the gelding would sell faster so make sure you are prepared to kee the mare. What a hard decision to make x
 
For me I spend 90% of the time on the ground with my horse so much rather have a "nice person" but then I am not competing so just go out & have fun.
 
By the way it's written I would say it sounds like you want to keep the gelding. However only you can decide which and whatever each one has on paper will not sway you either way if you want to keep one :)
 
I want to keep both of them. I guess I have done more with the gelding so that probably comes across in the way it's written. I feel better on him size wise when I ride him but he's harder work than my mare who is more willing and keen to please. She tries for me whereas some days the gelding just doesn't want to know!
 
I'm so sorry you have come to this decision, but at least you do get to keep one of them. Which makes you happier all round? Have you tried and pro and con list? Sounds silly maybe but I like lists ;)
 
Done a list and they come out even hence why I'm so confused. As I said my head says to keep gelding and heart says to keep mare. Have advertised gelding for full loan to stay on current yard-fingers crossed I get some interest. That way I can halve the livery bill, bring the mare on and see what she turns into.
 
In the depths of winter when you can hardly ride and the mud and the cold becomes a slog, which horse's head over the stable door would make you smile?

I really hope that the ad for the loan works out. :)
 
Is there any reason why you wouldn't consider putting one of them out on loan or getting a sharer for one or both of them?

ETA: Just seen your latest post. Fingers crossed you find a loaner for the gelding.
 
Barlow said:
Done a list and they come out even hence why I'm so confused. As I said my head says to keep gelding and heart says to keep mare. Have advertised gelding for full loan to stay on current yard-fingers crossed I get some interest. That way I can halve the livery bill, bring the mare on and see what she turns into.
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That sounds like a good idea, and it always means if you and the mare don't work out your mare has more schooling and will have done a bit more which would make a sale easier - and you still will be able to have your gelding.

What a horrible position OP, really feel for you.
 
Devil's advocate here! Do you have to SELL one of them as in do you need the money from the sale or is it just that you can't afford to keep tow? Could you advertise them for loan to stay at the current yard and work it so they pay for one completely but both you and loaner can ride both horses? I think it could be quite an attractive proposition for someone who wants a loan but with a bit of backup and a bit of variety in their horses?

ETA - just seen your latest post about the loan, must have been while I was writing mine!
 
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Might be a controversial way to decide, but if it were me, I'd she the one that I was most confident would get the best possible home.

I have two Shetlands and a welsh D. I would never want to sell any of them. I love the Shetlands to pieces and they were my first babies, and they were also the first I had after loosing my one in a million pony. I love the Welsh just as much (even though he was a project to sell!) and have done so much with him, brought him on so far and have so much fun riding and competing him. If I absolutely had to, I'd sell the Welsh. I know he would be easy to find a wonderful home for, but no one will ever look after the Shetlands and love them like I do :)

I hope whatever you decide, it isn't too horrible x
 
Just wanted to update this as was overwhelmed with the support, help and clear thinking from everyone who took the time to reply. I was in a very bleak place but it looks as though I might have found a part loaner/sharer for the gelding which is a start.
 
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Barlow said:
Just wanted to update this as was overwhelmed with the support, help and clear thinking from everyone who took the time to reply. I was in a very bleak place but it looks as though I might have found a part loaner/sharer for the gelding which is a start.
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Fantastic news!! :) ...really pleased for you. Both horses sound cracking!
 
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