Reached a really tricky point

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RunToEarth

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Really am undecided on this now, but I feel we have really reached the end of the road with Herc.
Basically, I havnt got room for him, he isnt, or hasnt been for the last 18monthes, in any real work, he is just in the field mulling up good land, which Dad has said is really ruining what will be silage fields in the spring.
Therefore, I can no longer keep him, and mum and I have 3 monthes to find him a new home.
Easier said than done as this horse has his fair share of problems, he was basically put together wrong, so has had a shiver since birth. At the moment this is really bad, and he is not sound, when he is in work he is still not 100% sound, never has been since birth, but vets oked him for hunting, as it was only slight, and triggered by this shiver.
I was going to put him on projecthorses, or something similar, he will do for light hacking or whatever, but then I feel if I advertise him as "free to good home" I will get interest from people wanting a free horse, with little to know understanding of this shiver.
Its gutting to write this, but we have reached the decision that in these few monthes, if we have not found him a new home, he will be PTS, as his shiver will get worse with the longer he is not working, and I cant stand the thought of him rotting in the field. So there you go, tough one eh? Anybody have any thoughts? Rosiie
 
It sounds like a really hard decision but if he isnt getting any use it probably isnt much fun for him either, so maybe a nice new home with plenty of attention is the way to go.

I know a lady who is looking for a project/problem horse to take on, she is the type to offer a home for life and loves all her animals to pieces, she is actually a member on here so Ive sent her an email to have a look on the thread.
 
This is my problem, I just need to find him a home that will give him a chance, I just dont have time for him, and im not a person that likes to see horses without a purpose if you understand me. That would be grat, thank you.
 
I know what you mean absolutely, Ive been in that situation and its hard, torn between keeping them because you love them and letting them go, hoping they will go to a good home.

I think every horse deserves a chance, he sounds like a lovely lad and its not his fault he has those problems.
Im sure someone would be delighted to give him a loving home.
 
We were in this predicament 12 months ago with Rolo our little one, who had bad lungs (when we bought him they were shot!) and also had a bad bad habit of escapism. We tried rehoming him but there was no-one who could try anything different to what we had tried already, his breathing was getting worse and we needed to know what/where he went.

In the end because we could not guarantee him not being sold on and coming to a nasty end, we did decide to have him PTS.

It was heartbreaking he was only 7, my daughter adored him, despite his antics! I still miss him now.

HOWEVER, I can sleep at night and not worry that he is causing mayhem on a road somewhere or lying a damp field struggling with his breathing, I know he is safe where he is.

If you cannot find a guaranteed forever home for him, where he will be happy, dont be too disheartened at having him PTS, you have no guarantees even with work in time that the shiver will not get worse again, at least you know you have given him love care and attention whilst with you and have tried your best for him.

If you can find a home then great, but make sure you get legal first refusal documentation drawn up in case anyone tries to sell him on!!

I am a big softy at heart, but I know deep down I did the best thing by him. He also didnt settle with new people very well and went nuts if we went on holiday so it would have been a big upheaval for him too.
 
That's an awful predicament to be in.
Giving you my honest opinion, If i had a horse with something like that and needed to know in my own mind that he was in a good home, but couldnt guarantee that, I'd have him PTS. Nothing worse than a horse being shoved from pillar to post. I'd rather it's life had ended in a place it was happy and loved.

Have you tried one of the rescue centres? Some take on rideable horses, and their grooms ride them. They would then decide if he was okay to loan out to a good approved home. Personally I wouldnt do it, as it's a bit like passing the buck but it's an option.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know a lady who is looking for a project/problem horse to take on, she is the type to offer a home for life and loves all her animals to pieces, she is actually a member on here so Ive sent her an email to have a look on the thread.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats me. This must be such a difficult desion to take and I really feel for you.

Yes I am looking for a project horse at the moment. Can you give me some more details on Herc please (PM me if you want).
 
If he were any closer he would be just perfect to fit into our little gang!! We have 32 odds and sods here, from a foal who was left to die shut up in a tiny stable, to an ex 3 day eventer who was going to be PTS due to a hock injury. It was started 26 years ago by my mum, the local primary school teacher, who offered the local children who would never normally get the chance, whether due to money or circumstances, to ride and handle ponies riding lessons in return for help. Many of the horse & ponies have issues, and as you can imagine over the years we've seen and dealt with most things, however their issues never seem to matter to the children and we guarantee them a home for life whatever the problem - in fact most of them seem to survive & thrive against all odds for incredible periods of time, with gentle exercise and lots of people around them to love them!! Shame because we are also in need of a gentle giant at the moment - I will have a word with the powers that be if you like?
 
Hi
Sorry to hijack post, but whereabouts are you icklemadame? I have a similar problem with a pony who is fine with us at the moment but will at some point in the future need to be re-homed and she has a few issues so will be difficult to home....

Such a difficult decision with horses/ponies like this, but I agree with all above, if we couldn't find somewhere for our little one I would have to have her PTS, I couldn't risk her ending up in pain through someone not understanding how to manager her....she is a reovered laminitic but is set off again by the slightest bit of grass and also by frost, so has to live in a very bare paddock, and come in overnight if it is likely to be frosty!! Not rocket science you'd think but she went on loan, they ignored instructions, and she sufered so badly, I felt awful!
Better to be sure they enjoy life even if it is shorter than go to the wrong home and end up suffering!
 
Hiya - we're in Kent but we happily home animals from all over - the only problem being that we can't be away from here for any length of time picking them up (my mum refuses to leave any one else in charge!!) And yes laminitis can be a nightmare and people just don't seem to understand all to regularly!!

Rosiie - either way I do hope you find a wonderful and understanding home for herc - he sounds such a lovely chap and its a very very hard decision!!

Emily xx
 
Gosh, thats actually not a million miles from us, we are in Berkshire.
Maybe at some point in the future we could see if you might be interested in her? She is a 13hh NFx, ever so cute and a bit of a monkey at times, but only in the was so many ponies are! She is sound, on no medication, no special shoes or anything, and has been for a couple of years, Rideable, but we can never find anyone small enough! Would re-home her easily if I trusted anyone else to look after her...but she was so ill with the lami a couple of years ago after being on loan (we've had her 7 years!) that I don't trust people!

Best of luck homing herc rosie, I've heard Project Horses is very good.
 
Emma - we would be happy to at any point in the future - I will PM you my contact details so you know where to find me - and as I've said they are guaranteed a home for life here, and you are welcome to visit and keep updated on her progress for the rest of her life as well.

We have schemes in place to ensure that the ponies that arrive here are treated in the way that we feel is best for them, and conteracts the normal problems associated with either a rescue centre or a riding school. With the ponies/horses that are happy, healthy and able to be ridden we have a part loan scheme - they stay here and are under our constant supervision, however they are assigned a 'special' child, who rides them regularly, grooms them, helps feeding them, looking after them etc. They still get the love and attention of all the children here, but also get the benefit of having a special someone. These children are also allowed to do local shows, hunter trials etc on their 'loan' ponies, meaning both children and ponies get a fairly normal life but with the benefit of our care and supervision. The elderly ponies & horses, who need only gentle exercise or who have reached the point they are happier no longer being in work (although we find that most of them benefit hugely from still being active) live out their days in a natural herd situation, being watched and looked after by their friends as much as us, as most of them are happier and feel safer having all their friends around them. (Plus you always know if something is wrong or amiss, as the other animals seem to sense it and try desperately to try and tell us - sounds funny but true!!) They are still brought in daily, fussed, loved and groomed by the children, they still have enough going on around them to keep them alert and interested, often joining in all the fun and games going on but without riders on their backs. Basically they are not bored and stuck out in a field for the rest of their lives!!

My apologies Rosiie for the hijack!! Will stop my babbling now!!
 
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