Rehome, Loan or PTS?

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Holzdweaver

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Iv been told two days ago by my field owner, when i approached him about improvements and extra storage, that he has been granted planning permission on the field i rent and so i would need to find somewhere else for my horses.

Brings me to a bit of a dilemma, i had somewhere i was looking to move too, which was my first port of call, but when i rang and asked him if wecould write up a contract just stating that the rent was fixed he didnt want to know.

The only places left are liveries and theres no way i could keep my boy and my companion pony both on livery, much as id love too, i just cant afford it :(

The only possible thing i can do now, is rehome (but would prefer permanent loan) to an unridden home or pts.

Thing is, shes a bit of a madam :rolleyes:
and im not sure whether the home i would like for her actually exists, or whether im following a pipe dream and should just start the process which id rather not do.

Shes not very trusting around new people, can be awkward (but not impossible) to catch for someone she doesnt know, but will follow a bucket to the ends of the earth lol. When she has built up that trust, you can do anything with her, she comes to call to me, but its just establishing that trust as she didnt exactly have a nice life before i had her. She can also be a little headshy.

Iv had her on the same grazing and haylage as my TB, she has never had lami or any health problems since iv known her. She prefers to be out though, im not looking for a home where she will be pampered to death, in fact, id much prefer her to be out and checked on rather than stabled, as would she. shes a sensitive soul and can be a ****** being groomed as shes a typical squealy mare, doesnt kick as such just jumps and squeals, but if you insist she will allow you too. she would much prefer to be muddy though :eek:

Shes an easy keeper, isnt even being fed hard feed at the moment but would require forage in winter. she could also cope with being unrugged, but i just like rugging them. shes also never been shod.

In an ideal world, id like to find her a home where she can do her job as a companion to another horse, but not be pressured too much, just left to do her own thing and have a lazy life other than to be wormed and feet trimmed etc!

Do these type of homes exist? would anyone be happy to put up with her issues just as an unridden companion? and if they do exist, where would i find one? lol :D
 
why does it have to be a companion only home for the pony? Sorry if I missed something but it doesn't say she can't be ridden - just that she's a madam...but she is a pony :D:D:D:rolleyes:

I think now is a little difficult for loaning - if the owner has planning permission, perhaps you could ask how long he could give you before you have to move off the land?

I'd go for a loan home if the pony can be ridden - no reason to put her to sleep if there's nothing wrong with her? :confused:
 
I'd be tempted to go back to the owner of the other field to rent and negotiate as a first port of call.

It isn't reasonable to request a contract with a fixed rent - how does the new farmer / owner not know that they're going to end up with you on the land for 20 years with them receiving a pittance after the first few years ;) but it would be more reasonable to request one with an annually reviewed rent.:)
 
Ridden can be a bit off and on, she will not tolerate a child on her back, they last an average three strides then she chucks them off :rolleyes::eek:

She can be ridden, but she can have her paddies, shes forward going, has a beautiful soft mouth but will occasionally buck, bunny hop and fling herself about. no malice as such, she just tries it on. Shes also high energy, bouncy, and to me a lot of fun. She would make an ideal mounted games pony hehe

her behaviour isnt pain related, just a total madam who tries to get away with everything.

I had her checked out, as she was meant to be a dual purpose, companion for mine and a pony for my little sister to ride. I can ride her fine, but she knows and trusts me and i can tell what she will do before she does it. But everyone else who has had a go, has failed to win her round.
 
as soon as i mentioned contract he said he wasnt interested, and i didnt get a good feeling from him when i spoke to him this time, i wouldt put it past him to let me pay for all the repairs and then double the rent.

Id rather not put her to sleep as theres physically nothing wrong with her, but id rather that, than risk her being mistreated again. Thats the other reason why id prefer to find her a permanent loan, or even rehome her permanently after a trial period etc

Thing is, i know she would be a lovely pet/companion when she settles, but at the start she is a bit of a nightmare, dont know whether anyone would be willing to put up with her and build up that trust, to start with they would think id be bringing a totally unsocial demon pony or something!:eek:
 
there isnt grass livery available on the yards iv tried (rather limited), its either diy or rent a field off a farmer, but iv already asked everywhere i can. i dont drive either, so i cant go a huge distance out of town. Iv tried every option i could think of before coming to this decision.
 
These really aren't circumstances in which you would PTS IMO! You ned to put all of your energy into finding grass livery, attach notes to gates, post through doors, up in tack shops. Failing that and presuming you can afford to have your other horse on livery you need to be advertising her as a companion home or an understanding and experienced loan home, nothing to say she might not be right for someone out there.

If this turns into a dire situation then PtS should, of course, be considered but it doesn't sound like you have exhausted all avenues.
 
obviously pts is my very, very, very last port of call.

But id rather have her put down than give her away to an unsuitable home which would revert her back to a total nervous wreck. before i had her she couldnt be caught for three years and it took me a few days to get a headcollar near her. Obviously now she is a thousand percent better, but not quite perfect. especially with people she doesnt know.

I dont think im asking the right questions, i have too much going round me head at the moment! :o

do you think, considering the current financial climate, that i will find someone willing to take her on, behavioural problems and all, just as a field ornament?
 
You have plenty of chance to find grass livery or another field yet. And just incase you don't, spend the next few months getting her rideable.
 
Could you afford to contribute towards her costs (perhaps farrier costs) if she goes on loan as a companion? Much cheaper than livery, keeps you involved which is an unobtrusive way to keep an eye on her, and makes sure nothing's happening that could upset her.

Have you tried local facebook groups, adverts in feed merchants etc to find a field?

What's happened to your sister? Is she still involved in the care? Can she help at all?
 
Yes i could contribute to feet trims and wormer, and can even sort that part out, like catch her, hold for farrier and actually worm her too. would be a lot better to keep my eye on her, without seeming to pry.

Seems now like im panicking a bit, well i am lol, but i cant help it :o
 
I'm sorry OP but I'm quite sick of people thinking of PTS because they are unable to look after the horse when there is nothing physically wrong with it!!!! :mad: either find a grass livery or sell/loan her.
 
If you are really concerned about her future - don't ever sell her - once sold you have no control at all.
If she goes on loan remember there is always a risk she comes back (through no fault of her own - loaners circumstances can change pretty quickly) so maybe keep some savings aside for a few months grass livery while you find her a new loan home.
There are certainly people looking for companions - especially if you can contribute to trimming/ worming etc. - as someone else said this is a great way to keep an eye on her regularly (the key to good loaning)
Have you thought about retirement livery - I believe this is around £30 a week all in - so pretty reasonable.
 
iv not actually put her full story on here.
my three friends who actually know her have all advised to have her pts as like they said, she has had enough mistreatment and i couldnt guarantee that it wouldnt happen again, but id rather find her somewhere else if i can! like i said last resort. i cant help but panic as im a worrier!

i want to do the right thing by her.

i tried to loan her before unsuccesfully when i had her going lovely undersaddle, and she reverted back to a wild state and wouldnt let anyone near her.

Shes been mistreated and doesnt trust easy.
She would need a specific home, with an understanding owner.

im asking whether homes exist who would look past her issues and just use her as a companion regardless.

She isnt dangerous, more likely she wont let anyone near her!
 
My feeling from your postings is that you are not wanting to find alternative accommodation for your horses. Is that correct?
 
Key to good loan homes is regular contact - if she is tricky that may be as much as once or twice a week for the first few months to help get a loaner used to her 'ways'
Honestly not many companion homes will want this much hassle.
have you thought about the blood bank?
retirement livery may well be worth investigating
 
yes, i would like to find an alternative if i can, im in a small place though and all this side iv already asked, there are only a handful of yards in reach, only one of which does grass livery and they have a huge waiting list. Iv been searching google and come up with not a lot.

It doesnt help that i dont drive so it either has to be in walking distance or well priced so i can afford to get public transport.

i do have one person who may lend me the temp use of a field, but im not sure how long, il have to ask and write everything down so i can try and get things in order.
 
amymay said:
My feeling from your postings is that you are not wanting to find alternative accommodation for your horses. Is that correct?
Click to expand...

This is what i'm getting too, your finding too many reasons and excuses why she can't be sold/loaned and getting some very worrying advice from your friends it has to be said. Try and find a field off a farmer, if that fails I'd just go for free to a good home as project or companion.
 
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OP have you tried to school her out of her bad habits or are they so well established that they're always lurking in the background? And how bad are the bad habits ie is she dangerous or not?

I don't think you'll find a loan home as a companion for her, or if you do it will probably be with people who will turn her out and never catch her in because she's only the companion and its too much trouble. I'm not having a go at all loaners, that's just my experience of companion homes.

If she's not upto much work due to age or health I think its unlikely you'll find someone experienced enough to handle/ride her who actually wants to take her on. You could try finding someone, but if not I'd PTS. If she's capable and would make a good mounted games pony as you said, then why not try to loan her as that? You could maybe see if anyone would have her on part loan now to get to know her, with a view to taking full loan when you lose your field.

If she's dangerous I wouldn't loan her out because I wouldn't want it on my conscience if somebody had a bad accident on her. Although I'd not feel the same responsibility if sold to an experienced home with full disclosure, the chances of somebody having a bad experience and selling her on to anyone because they're scared of her and just want rid, is quite high. So I'd PTS in this circumstance.

I think your comment about permanently rehome is fantasy. Whether people have loaned or bought, if their circumstances chance and they want to give the horse back or sell it on, then they will. You can't control that.
 
I really do feel for you OP, as I am in a similar situation as I need to cut down the numbers at home.

I have an old mare, who is 20 yrs old and is a companion, who - although sound and a great ride - is not a novice ride, a little quirky and therefore not the kind of mare I feel I could loan out unless to a very competent home as a hack. But then I read of the horror stories of old horses going missing on loan and ending up in horrific situations.

So I then thought PTS - but she is so full of life I just couldn't do it. So I've ended up finding a lovely retirement home in Cornwall which is surprisingly inexpensive, on a lovely farm with a lovely owner. I visited there to look round and all the horses were so chilled out and happy. I know she'll have a fabulous few years, and if after a year or so if I can't afford the livery I can revisit the idea of PTS but this gives her more time and gives me peace of mind. She will be going down on her Cornish adventure in March/April.
 
I'm about to arrange the PTS of my 3 yr old tb, gutting and upsetting as it is. She has a joint deformity of her knee as well as a few other problems (very very slow in the head, possible sight issue, proportioned strangely with big head, small neck etc). Its become clear to me that she will never be anything more than a high maintenance field ornament who struggles to stay sound. I can't guarentee her future, she was a sales project so needed to move on to another home and I can't see why on earth anyone would want her. I won't let her pass from my ownership, I have seen too many free companions get passed on when circumstances change and I've seen the Turners video clips of the final life stage. However I can guarantee her a dignified end in a loving home and I can then rest easier knowing she hasn't been hurt or frightened. Best I can do.
 
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