Please read. Horse selling help :(

[sweets123545]

Hi everyone. I’m writing this post into an equestrian community. Probably just to make me feel better about myself.

I’ve had my current horse for 5 years in September. I brought her as an unbroken 3 year old. She’s an absolutely beautiful ID cross Connemara. I’m all she’s ever known. I backed and produced her myself. When I first brought her she wasn’t the type of horse I wanted. I’ve worked on showjumping yards and love riding the spicy big Warmblood types. The original intention was to back her - produce her slightly and sell her on for a bigger amount than I paid so I could afford a Warmblood.

I’ve never had lots of money. I’ve always had enough to maintain her. Absolutely no expense has been spared and she has the best of everything. However I want to do showjumping and she is only comfortable around 80/90cm which doesn’t interest me….

I know I can sell her in this current market for enough money to buy a Warmblood type to produce. My absolute dream breed and my dream is to showjump a lot higher than what I’m doing now.

My head is telling me to do it. My heart is saying no. As a rider she has held me back a lot as we’re not compatible with our abilities. I know i could go far with the right horse but I just know she wouldn’t enjoy it and it’s beyond her capabilities.

I think it’s selfish of me to keep her and to push her over her limits. She’s very stocky and has the big ID legs and hooves with a beautiful Connie face.

She would be perfect for a confident teenager who would enjoy her as an all rounder. She would be absolutely perfect as a pony club type as she’s 15.1 so could carry a leggy teen and it would make me feel so happy seeing someone enjoy her more than I do and seeing her have fun with heights she’s comfortable at.


I think this post is quite pointless but how do people deal with selling their horses to pursue their dreams? We’ve simply outgrown each other.

I probably won’t ever have enough spare cash laying around to buy another horse so the only option is to sell her and buy something more suitable.

It makes me feel sick as I love her with all my heart but I don’t enjoy riding her anymore I’m beginning to loose interest.

Please no hate I’m being completely honest and I’m sure there are plenty of other people who have been in my situation. I absolutely adore her with all my heart. If money was no object she would stay with me forever but I feel I need to pursue my dreams.

Thank you very much,
A very sad horsey mummy

 

[expanding_horizon]

Toss a coin and see how you feel about enacting it.

Put her up for sale post the advert and see how you feel when people call..

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think you have made your decision already. She is not your heart horse. You will find yours… sell her on and let her find hers

 

[Birker2020]

Life is too short and horses are too expensive to keep going with, if you don't feel they are the one.

I got faced with this decision once and was going to go through with selling him as we just didn't get on with each other, I felt I was always having to push him to do what I wanted, he never seemed like he wanted to do things willingly off his own bat, he always put minimum effort. There was no partnership to speak of and i didn't enjoy riding him.

Sadly fate intervened and he had a field accident resulting in pts so the decision was taken out of my hands.

 

[ihatework]

Put her up for sale and be picky about who you sell to!

A few years ago I bought a non-sporty horse as a stop-gap turnaround horse. He completely won me over and found a big place in my heart but ultimately long term I wanted sportier to run at a higher level and I knew if I continued to push him I’d break him.

I sold him to the most marvellous home, he’s taught them loads, won them plenty and all within his comfort level. I don’t regret selling him it was right for him and me.

 

[Nari]

I have to say that I'm a bit surprised that an ID x Connie is unhappy above 90cm since they're both breeds known for having a good jump in them. You know your horse though.

Only you can decide if your dreams mean more to you than this horse. Try to think how you'd feel if the Warmblood also didn't meet your dream, or if it did but in a couple of years time you found out she was in a bad home - would you regret selling her?

 

[Birker2020]

Try to think how you'd feel if the Warmblood also didn't meet your dream, or if it did but in a couple of years time you found out she was in a bad home - would you regret selling her?

That's a good point. I'd have been devastated had I have sold mine to find out he was unhappy in his new home. Much as he frustrated the hellmout of me, I still loved him.

 

[ycbm]

Think of it this way. She deserves to be in a home where she is everything her owner ever dreamed of.

 

[dorsetladette]

I don't think you should feel guilty for wanting to sell her to fund a more suitable horse. If she is mannerly and will turn a hoof to riding club activities you should have no problem finding her a good home.

From your post it sounds like you have set her up for a good future. just be choosy about who you sell her too.

 

[J_sarahd]

I was in a similar situation a year and a half ago. I adored my old pony but knew that I was verging on too big for him so knew I couldn’t really progress any further with him and as he was only 9 at the time, it was the best thing for both of us.

I was very, very picky who he went to but he is now in a lovely home with someone who adores him so much. Yes I do still miss him a lot and I do wish circumstances could’ve meant I had him AND Nova but unfortunately that’s unrealistic.

It was the best and hardest decision I made.

 

[PSD]

Horses are too expensive for us to be unhappy with them. She sounds wonderful and would be easy to sell, so you wouldn’t have that worry.

Pursue your dream, if it doesn’t work out you can always try again. Life is far too short to be unhappy, sounds like you already know that though

 

[Belmont]

I've been there. It's bloomin hard. But, she could be someone's dream horse and make someone very happy at the level she's capable of. Life is too short to feel held back too.
As others have suggested, write her advert and put her up for sale. You don't have to sell her, just see what interest comes along. If you have any viewings, make sure you get lots of information about the rider and the home offered. If it doesn't feel right, politely tell them you don't think they're a match. It may be though that someone comes along that falls in love with her, rides her well and offers a lovely home - then you'll feel relief. Trust your gut!

 

[nagblagger]

If you are not sure whether to sell do it in stages.
Stage 1 write the advert, and, when ready
Stage 2 publish the advert, and when ready
Stage 3 accept viewings - vet the potential owners
Then when you are ready and the best home has come along step 4, say goodbye and start looking for your heart horse.

 

[Winters100]

In my opinion it is a mistake to think that no one else can care for and love our horses as we do. You have given her a great start, taught her to be a 'nice person', which is enough to ensure that a horse will always be able to find a good home. Selling a horse who is not suitable, whether it is 'too much' or 'not enough' is simply the sensible thing to do (with obvious exceptions of oldies or broken horses). I would say find her a good home, keep in touch with them, and enjoy the wonderful messages that you will no doubt receive telling you that she is one in a million and the perfect girl. Above all do not have guilt about it, because thanks to you she has been set up to succeed.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

During our horse search we viewed a horse that was a likely contender to buy but the owner withdrew her from sale the following day. I don’t harbour bad feelings for that owner as sometimes you need the hard reality in front of you before realising you are making a mistake. If you do want to sell I’d advertise within pony club where I suspect you d get fewer “tyre kickers” than open Facebook advertising.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I’ve sold horses on in those circumstances. Never regretted it. Your horse sounds fab and will be exactly what someone is looking for. Which is better for the horse too. Better for her to be someone’s adored number 1 than your slightly disappointing compromise. Just be very, very choosy about who you sell her to.

 

[SO1]

At 15.1 market her as suitable for a small adult as more likely to be a permanent home than with a teenager who may grow out of her. There are plenty of middle aged women wanting a laid back riding club type who would cherish a horse like this.