Rehoming an injured horse

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DoesDressage

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I have always rightly or wrongly frowned upon people who 'replace' broken horses but I find myself in a difficult situation. I have owned my horse for almost 9 years and have been through thick and thin. At one stage I was too nervous to ride her as she bolted and we worked our way through and got to bd elem. I've really worked hard and spent a lot of time with my horse. It's the main part of my life. After a long period of poor performance we discovered she has injuries to both hind suspensories. They are wear and tear injuries (she's 16) so will never repair. It is more about management. I've been told she will possible hack mostly walking. I she has been turned away ever since and the plan is/was to bring her back into light work come march time with some stem cell therapy between. My dad has just been offered a job in the US so now I have a massive decision to make. I can fly her over but im not sure it's fair to either of us. She's not a great hack and there is not much chance of her doing more. Shes not the easiest to handle so couldnt be a novel pet. If I decide to leave her behind what would be the best thing to do. Would any sort of private home be interested in a lawn mower? Would a sanctuary take her?

Thank you for any advice, thinking about this is breaking my heart so please don't judge me.
 
Its an awful situation to be in but I'd think very carefully before rehoming her at all. A friend had a horse who was on and off mildly lame and just couldn't stand up to regular work. He wasn't an easy horse to deal with but was rehomed to an experienced person as a companion. Found out the day after she'd taken him straight to a dodgy dealer and had to cope seeing said person putting pics of him charging up and down the road and advertised as lovely riding club type.

Take her with you, find someone you know and trust to have her or pts.

Good luck
 
Retirement livery , would she live out but however good the livery is I would be concerned hat no one could check the horse was doing well with you on the other side the Atlantic .
 
Would retirement livery be possible ? A good specialist yard would be able to give you regular updates and photo's.

There's one near me that emails weekly photo's and news to owners who are not able to visit.
 
Retirement livery as the others have said, i dont think i would loan her as this could potentially cause massive problems for you if she wasnt looked after or if they couldnt keep her for any reason. Have to say, & im not one for saying it, if i were in your shoes, if i couldnt take her or find her a good retirement livery i would possibly consider having her PTS. I feel awful saying it, but i know its what i would do if it were my old lad.
 
Having moved a horse across the Atlantic, I can say that I would not do it with an older, injured horse. It's a long trip with lots of ground transport between flights, depending on where in the UK you are and where in the US you're going. It's expensive and stressful for you and your horse. My horse had a total of two weeks in transport. There were several layovers where she was stalled for a few days, waiting for her next lift. When they're in transit, you're talking six or so hours on a plane and however many hours on a truck. It can easily be in the ballpark of eight hours, if not more. I can't imagine any of that is great for tendon injuries.

If I had to, I would do it again with a healthy, sound horse.

Tough choice; I don't envy you and I don't have any advice beyond that.
 
Very tough - if you have funds, then a retirement livery would be the answer, there are plenty of reputable places out there.
Though the answer, and I think you know it, is a dignified end - you of course will feel it far more than the horse......
 
I have rehomed a mare who blew a tendon. I was given dogs abuse from outside parties for it who didnt know the full situation or my circumstances. I also put my 21 yrs old horse out on loan, again idiots slated me for it who didnt know the circumstances, those close to me at the time didnt judge, showed me really what folk were like at that time.

The mare is with her new owner and is enjoying dressage, hacking and has even started jumping little jumps again, wont be the competition horse she was before but she is loved and useful and having great fun with her new mum and that makes me feel great.

My older horse has come home from loan and its just a big fluffball in the field getting until spring with the odd hack and is thriving.

I may be a rare success story but it is possible to find good homes for less than perfect horses that dont involve abuse, ill treatment or the meat man :)
 
Retirement livery unless you have a trusted friend who would have her. If not pts. While it is possible to find nice homes for injured or old horses, it isn't possible to distinguish between a good forever home & a bad one.
 
Thank you so much for all your kind replies. I dont think funds will stretch to retirement livery here. I have looked at places in my area and your are talking full livery prices. Some of my family have mentioned having her pts but I think just don't no if I could do it. She's perfectly happy and healthy (field sound) I just need to find a fairy godmother that wants a little lawn mower or a companion. Lots of thinking ahead.

Thanks again
 
If you're leaving the country and cannot afford retirement livery then I think PTS would be the kindest option. It really isn't the worst thing that can happen to a horse.
 
My friend has just per her horse on retirement livery -£35 week, checked twice a day ... all post and rail ... pm me if you want their details x
 
where in the country are you op? somebody may know rt . failing that I'd pts there are worse fates than a kind end in a loving home (like being loaned as a companion...sold on...and on....)
 
Sorry but if you're the other side of the world how can you check on her in any sort of loan home.
If you sell her honestly for a few £100 then there is every chance she ends up buted up and going through dealer after dealer (much much worse than the other option).
Retirement livery (if she will cope without shoes and living out) can be £35/40 a week but that is still £2k per year for the 10 ish years she could still live that's a lot of money.

It sounds like your family have given you very sensible advice (they know you and the horse much better than any of us) - think very carefully about what really is the kindest thing for your horse - not for you.
 
When are you leaving?
Worth advertising her as a companion - there are people looking, few and far between but its worth a shot! I'll be wanting a companion next may.
Shame she's not younger as the blood bank would be an option before pts. Hope you find someway of sorting it!
 
I have taken on an old, unsound horse as a companion so these homes do exist.
Unlike yours though he is cobbish, gets fat on thin air, doesn't need rugging and is the easiest horse in the world to do anything with, so ideal as a nanny for my youngster.
Not many people want a difficult companion.
Also, how would you check up on her? The owner of mine sees him at least once a month and texts/emails to see how he is.
 
Personally I'd put her down, not for convenience sake but for peace of mind. She has no concept of living another day or looking forward to a future, retired or otherwise. You will have no idea how long she might be able to live on, or whether a retirement home can care for her long term, in this economical climate who's to say say a home won't go broke too, then what?
If she were mine I'd have her looking her very best, physically and mentally and then have her put down in her own environment. You will then know her fate and also remember her looking her best rather than wondering how she is and what condition she is in. TBH I think it's the most respectful thing you can do for your loyal friend. (IMO of course!) Good Luck with your decision,whatever it may be.
 
PandorasJar said:
If you're moving to US retirement livery doesn't have to be on your doorstep.

I'd retirement livery or pts personally.
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So would I. Looking at it from an unemotional standpoint she does not seem to have a lot to offer a loan home. Hunt around for retirement livery (it doesn't have to be expensive) but also, try to think rationally. If you are in the US for even say 3 years, you will lose your attachment to your horse and may really start to resent paying out even say £200 a month for a horse you never see.

There have just been so many blooming horrendous stories of people being duped and the horse being then put up for sale (one very very recent example, albeit it was finally sorted out..)

Horrid for you but your mare has not idea of what you are thinking and will know no different and thats what you should take into consideration. She will, however, know all about it if someone chooses to abuse her on loan and push her beyond her limits.
 
DoesDressage said:
Shes not the easiest to handle so couldnt be a novel pet. If I decide to leave her behind what would be the best thing to do. Would any sort of private home be interested in a lawn mower? Would a sanctuary take her?

Thank you for any advice, thinking about this is breaking my heart so please don't judge me.
Click to expand...

I was in exactly the same situation as you, moving overseas and had a horse that was no longer rideable although he was happy in himself.

My horse had been diagnosed as being almost completely blind at 14, rehoming him did not sit well with me as I would have no say in his future and we all know that even with the best intentions in the world, and throughly vetted homes, things can, and do change, and the chance of him being passed from pillar to post distressed me.

I did debate other avenues such as re-homing, loaning out, charities etc but finally the decision to have him pts was not such a difficult thing. He danced up the ramp of the lorry as happily as always, and travelled to the hunt kennels and went out with the sound of hounds singing in his ears thinking he was going to a party.

Usually when I have horses pts I am pretty philosophical, but I was devastated to lose him, because I really liked that horse, but at the same time I felt as if a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders because I had, in my opinion, and that was all that mattered, done right by him. I miss him to this day but I have never regretted my decision.

So, I am in no way judging you at all, you must do what you feel best for your girl and what sits easiest with your conscience.

Whatever you decide I wish you all the best.
 
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Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging words. I actually have the vet coming out next week to give her her jabs so I think I will ask his opinion. As you have all said I have to do the right thing by her and not me.

Thanks again
 
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