Rehome, Loan or PTS?

Rebels said:
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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what an awful situation, but she's lucky she has a responsible owner like you who wont try and pass her on to an uncertain future. xx
 
I think in the case of Rebels then I can understand why pts is the most sensible option, in the case of the op I don't think any of that sounds too horrendous, I think it is wrong to assume because you find the horse a real handful somebody cannot get on with them and use them.

I break and bring on a few to sell and between myself and my family we have a couple who on paper look awful and are quirky, some would think they were awful maybe but they do the job we want them to do and we all get along fine.

It is also amazing how many horses we have had in that were deemed awkward unrideable or written off that have been perfectly fine when put in to a good routine, I really would not write the horse off personally.

We do have a couple who if we had to sell would not be an easy job, but let's face it we ride and use them so I am sure there are plenty other people out there who could do the same.
 
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Rebels said:
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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You are a sensible good owner I too have great respect for you.
 
Sadly finding sensible and responsible very very hard but I know its right so got to be a bit tougher with myself. Hope the OP finds a good solution.
 
If the OP ends up unable to keep the pony herself then who the heck else would want her? The market is saturated, there are ponies out there that are rideable and do not have the issues the OP talks about, who still cannot get a home. There are many worse things in this world than a quick and painless end.
 
Theocat said:
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?
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This would be my first choice and something Id happily take on myself. £10 or £15 a week to someone to have her as a companion. That would go a good way to covering rent, feet, shoes and wormer etc (you'd need some agreement about vet bills) and you would also be perfectly entitled to go and check her regularly too.
 
BillieBlitzen said:
The point is that the OP hasn't yet tried.... She should, and then... If.....
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Sometimes no matter how hard you try the result will be the same. I have a pony that hates kids it is young but wont tolerate a child in its field. It has been the same since a foal I have owned it since a foal has never had a bad day in its life but is very aggressive towards anything smaller than it or that wont stand up to it. It is as fit as a flea has no health issues and I love it to bits I spend all my time trying to make it socially acceptable but I feel if at any point I cannot keep it I will have no choice but to PTS. Yes there is a possibility that someone else will love it as much as I do but how do you find someone to take on and aggressive small pony that hates kids.
I wouldnt normally refer to it as IT but I dont wish to identify the pony I adore it and dont wish anyone else to know who it is. My plan at the moment is to keep it and my old highland who I have had since she was 18 months old and sell the Highland youngster and the Connemara when her jockey is no longer available as those two are young healthy friendly and superb perfect kids ponies who would also suit an adult. The Highland is for sale now but not yet advertised as I was waiting for better weather before paying for ads the Connie will be for sale mid to late summer when the rider I have now leaves uni and has to find a job once she is employed she wont have time for my pony and so she will need to go so she can have a useful life.
There are lots of reasons for parting with horses and sometimes you have no choice
 
WindandRain - I agree sometimes it is the best thing but as I said, OP hasn't looked into any of the other options as yet and the creature deserves the options to be considered. Then if there is no home or grazing to be found she might consider PTS. I just can't imagine being told to find alternative grazing (with a few months notice) and then thinking, well better PTS my difficult one as I won't be able to find new grazing or a companion home.
 
I'm not sure where people are getting OP hasn't looked for grazing?

OP has clearly stated they have asked everywhere they could think of to rent a field? But of course having lack of transport makes it twice as difficult. OP also stated they have checked out livery yards and couldn't find any that just did grazing and the one that was found had a big waiting list?

Sometimes it's not always as easy as just looking and finding something.

I hope you get something sorted OP and the pony isn't PTS. But by all means I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to consider if you really have no luck else where.
 
I would advise you to try not to panic OP. I personally definitely wouldn't sell any horse who had a high chance of landing in the wrong hands or being passed around and ending up goodness knows where.

There may well be the perfect loan home out there, you just have to find it. She's just the type I'd have considered recently as a companion for my retired TB, who lives out but is checked and handled daily. I have experience with horses with problems, and have taken on and rehabbed many in the past, so her quirks would have caused me no concern, and I'm quite sure I am not the only one out there! She's a little too late for me however as the position of companion has now been filled - I have a lovely PRE youngster coming to stay for a few years, until she is old enough to be started under saddle. But you see, suitable homes do exist! You may want to advertise her for loan on a website called "Project Horses" where people will be looking for a horse but willing to accept one with issues.

Good luck with finding her the perfect home.
 
I think that whats going on is a combination of things.

OP, you do not seem to accept or believe that anyone can have enough of a bond with this horse to ride her other than you... this is sadly pure ego.

Secondly, you say you have had checks done to ensure this is not pain related... if you are any kind of owner, have them done again... I doubt xrays have been taken.

thirdly, go back to the field owner just because he doesn't want to write a contract out does not mean he wont happily rent the field for years to you.

fourth, you are talking about PTS now when you don't have to move before the summer... yes forward planning is good, but this seems way more like looking for an excuse to pts, im afraid
 
I can't see if you have given us the age and height of the pony, perhaps I have missed it but this would give people a better idea if whether it's rehomable. A 14hh stocky pony could find a good home with a competent adult or an 11hh a better chance as a companion for example or you may turn round and say it's 28 which would put a whole other slant on the matter

The weather in the last year has been terrible and lots of land looks awful right now but when spring comes and the field are looking a bit better you may find that owners may put fields up for rent again so don't feel you have no options

Good luck!
 
I used to ride a mare who you couldn't catch until she felt like it, she would regularly let you get close then try to double barrel you, she would mini rear almost constantly if she didn't want to do as asked when ridden, she would also throw herself on the floor if you put a jump up over a metre (sounds like a joke but it was a perfect science), she would bite, pull faces and just be a general cow bag. She ended up in a pc home where the girl is clearing up show jumping (over a metre) and winning any classes she is entered for. Guess what I'm trying to say is that she might not be right for everyone but with a bit of one to one attention with the right home she may have the chance to have a good ridden career
 
Should also add the mare in question was sold to someone we knew and was completely aware of all the problems and they were given a trial to see if they could deal with here
 
ellie11987 said:
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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I am sorry but that is very irresponsible advice that assumes that good homes are lining up to take on a pony that is not easy to catch, bucks off children and hasn't been ridden in ages! Giving a problem pony free is a surefire way of seeing it falsely readvertised within a few days for an inflated price.

OP you are being very reasonable and brave about this. By all means search for a loan home, but be cautious and visit often (will that be possible when you don't drive?). Personally I would not want a companion who cannot be caught as that is needless trouble and there are many more suitable alternatives out there at the moment. If you can't find a field within your time constraints I think you would be doing the mare a service to PTS.
 
Booboos said:
I am sorry but that is very irresponsible advice that assumes that good homes are lining up to take on a pony that is not easy to catch, bucks off children and hasn't been ridden in ages! Giving a problem pony free is a surefire way of seeing it falsely readvertised within a few days for an inflated price.
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I'm not saying people will be queuing around the block to see the pony, or that she should just give the pony away for free to anyone! What is irresponsible is people saying to PTS the pony because it would be difficult to re-home, it is absolutely barbaric IMO to put a healthy horse down when all options haven't been perused! Plus it is a very quick, rash option to come up with.
 
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Have you tried a loan ad on project horses? Sorry - haven't read all posts so may already have been suggested. I think a warts and all advert on there may get you somewhere as I agree that it's highly unlikelt that you are the only person who could understand and work with her. I think we all have a tendency to think that no one understands our horses like we do - but we're mostly wrong!

I also agree with those who have said that pts is by far from the worst outcome though. Too many horses pushed and pulled from pillar to post and ending with no one caring enough to make sure the end is dignified and quick. But you do have time to find a solution - you don't have to make your mind up right now.
 
Try the pony club, kids are always looking for good ponies for games and they do it up until 14 and then MGA until any age. A lot of the ponies that were used when my daughter was doing were slighty mad/naughty ponies which made brilliant games ponies, might be worth a go.
 
ellie11987 said:
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.
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Rather than selling a horse with behavioural issues for a pittance to an uncertain future. Makes me sick when I see problem and aged horses advertised for sale for a couple of hundred pounds.

If it came to it, I would have mine pts before I sold him.
 
Pigeon said:
Rather than selling a horse with behavioural issues for a pittance to an uncertain future. Makes me sick when I see problem and aged horses advertised for sale for a couple of hundred pounds.

If it came to it, I would have mine pts before I sold him.
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Me too I hate to see old, naughty or "companion ponies" and horses for sale for a few hundred pounds

I will try to sell my naughty one tentatively but if I cant keep him he will be PTS if a good long term home cant be found. When and f the need arises
 
I think people forget just how hard it is to find a good permanent home for any horse at the moment, let alone a 'problem' one.

The thing about passing on tricky horses is while there are good homes out there that can and will work with them, there are many more difficult horses than those very rare homes - the proof is in how many of these animals end up passed on again and again. Often the first buyer has told (and meant at the time!) people like the OP that it's a home for life, that they are experienced etc etc...but we all know how it can go wrong. TBH, if life was that easy and secure the OP wouldn't have to make this decision as she would keep her pony forever and a day - what's to say that something similar won't happen to the next owner and they end up having to pass on this pony. Not such a problem when you have a horse that has a value as a riding horse or in the case of a companion is easy to do and keep - this pony doesn't have this attributes that would make her valuable to somebody. Sad but true.

Personally speaking, if I was the OP I would do all I could to keep the pony myself. If that becomes impossible I would consider (but would be very fussy) a long term loan locally where she could be checked very regularly. If neither of these could happen I would very sadly but with zero guilt have her PTS. The odds of things going badly wrong for her if she couldn't be kept in the OPs control would be too high for me to risk.

A good death is hugely preferable to an uncertain future.
 
cbmcts said:
I think people forget just how hard it is to find a good permanent home for any horse at the moment, let alone a 'problem' one.

The thing about passing on tricky horses is while there are good homes out there that can and will work with them, there are many more difficult horses than those very rare homes - the proof is in how many of these animals end up passed on again and again. Often the first buyer has told (and meant at the time!) people like the OP that it's a home for life, that they are experienced etc etc...but we all know how it can go wrong. TBH, if life was that easy and secure the OP wouldn't have to make this decision as she would keep her pony forever and a day - what's to say that something similar won't happen to the next owner and they end up having to pass on this pony. Not such a problem when you have a horse that has a value as a riding horse or in the case of a companion is easy to do and keep - this pony doesn't have this attributes that would make her valuable to somebody. Sad but true.

Personally speaking, if I was the OP I would do all I could to keep the pony myself. If that becomes impossible I would consider (but would be very fussy) a long term loan locally where she could be checked very regularly. If neither of these could happen I would very sadly but with zero guilt have her PTS. The odds of things going badly wrong for her if she couldn't be kept in the OPs control would be too high for me to risk.

A good death is hugely preferable to an uncertain future.
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Completely agreed, beautifully put.
 
OP- I really feel for you. I don't think the comments about pts a healthy horse are at all justified- in fact I find them hypocritical as ive very often seen replies to posters asking about giving horses away because they are not safe to ride telling the owners its irresponsible and that they should consider putting down.
Im NOT saying I think the op should do this BUT I do think its preferable than offering free to a good home...they most often are not good homes and quite often sadly are the ones who get passed around.
I also think the comments re the op thinking no one else can get on with the horse saying its big headed are wrong.
Im quite sure someone out there would get on with my horse but the several times ive tried to loan him out its gone very wrong. He's luckily not seriously hurt anyone but not through want of trying and I wont ever be able to rehome him again in any shape or form. I don't trust him with other people and it would be too late if I decided to get over myself and give it another go.
Lighten up on this poor person who's trying to secure her horses future.
 
I think it is very irresponsible to sell or rehome a pony these days. Very few people want companions now and there are so many. I would hate to sell my horse or give her away thinking that in a few years time she could be at a sale. So think if you loaned her and someone came off her and hurt themselves....:(

You have to take responsibility here.:(:)
 
ellie11987 said:
I'm not saying people will be queuing around the block to see the pony, or that she should just give the pony away for free to anyone! What is irresponsible is people saying to PTS the pony because it would be difficult to re-home, it is absolutely barbaric IMO to put a healthy horse down when all options haven't been perused! Plus it is a very quick, rash option to come up with.
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I don't think anyone who has had to PTS an animal for whatever reason found it to be the easy option. It takes guts to do what is best for the animal even if it's difficult for the owner to accept that. PTS is not barbaric, it's a pain free, stress free death; what is barbaric is passing the pony from one home to the other.

Saying she should give the pony to a responsible home who will keep him for life is not an option, it's wishful thinking of the kind that leads to horses being resold for a profit by the next unscrupulous person who prays on the silly.
 
Very sorry for not replying sooner, thank you all for the wonderful advice you have all given me.

After another sleepless night, and an entire day of lying in bed and just thinking, while ignoring everyone and everything with a bit of paper, adding up what exactly it was that i couldnt afford. It all boiled down to the livery cost and the straw. Hay, feed, feet, wormers, etc i could do. just. When my OH decided i was dead and came looking for me, he was greeted with me in my pj's saying that over my deadbody i was rehoming my little one due to money. Id sell myself first (OH thought this was very highly amusing!)

anyway, he has decided to forgive the little one for kicking him in the nuts the other week, and headbutting him in the face the week before...:rolleyes:
and said that the three months of work he had put into being able to just catch her from the field without her trying to either run a mile or double barrel him in the head, wasnt going to waste, so hes taking over the livery and bedding and in exchange wants to learn everything he can about horses, as one day he would like his own.

Also reminded me that in summer, when straw/hay and feed is at a minimum, i can afford the livery with no problems, and can cross next winters hurdle when we get to it, maybe by saving a little each month even just for the straw. Il have the whole summer to work her with actual facilities, and try and get her either riding or driving (up to the stage a few months ago of pulling a pallet). Its still a case of two steps forward one step back, as something she has been accustomed to for weeks will all of a sudden become impossible for her to comprehend and then the throwing self on floor will occur... But with the facilities il gain, shes got the best chance, much rather her throw a paddy in a sandschool and work her through it than on the road, where its just putting other people in danger.


Feeling a lot better now about everything and feel like i can rejoin the world again without bursting into tears and hiding! :)
 
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