RETIREMENT LIVERY

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JLD

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Does anyone have any experience of retirement livery ? My 16 yr old has arthritis and probable navicular and is becoming uncomfortable and dangerous to ride due to stumbling and sudden bucking fits ( he has not been ridden since this became apparent ) I dont agree with buting him up to ride as he is now so unpredictable and I dont think he is happy as he has started biting and being grumpy and at times unpredictable to handle. I am looking at my options. I had thought about selling him before any of this started as i am really struggling financially and with time as have 3 very young children and have to work. obviously this is no longer an option. I cannot just turn him out in a rented field as simply cannot get up to him twice a day due to my working hours and childcare, also whilst he enjoys being out he always wants to come back in when the weather is bad and if he cant jumps out or goes through fences regardless of companions, good grass, hay etc. I am looking at all the options. I realize that PTS quietly and before he deteriorates too far may be the kindest option and have not excluded it but wondered what anyones experience of retirement livery was and how much it costs etc. please dont shoot me down in flames for mentioning PTS. This was not an easy option to consider but I feel there are far worse things that can happen to horses. I have a duty to make sure his future is safe and no one is put at risk.

thank you
 
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Not as an owner but would like to say be careful! The yard I used to keep my horse at advertised a retirement livery package and someone took them up on it. They literally dropped their horse off and visited by arrangement once a month or so. "Safe in the knowledge" their beloved retired boy was being taken care of.....

He was pretty much neglected and as the horse with no owner so to speak got the boggiest paddock and was fed left overs from the y/o horses including his hay in winter meaning some days he had none.
His rug was removed one winter day as a "proper" horses rug was ripped and they couldn't be bothered to go back and replace it so they swapped for the day.
I'm not saying they are all like this, the ones I've seen advertised as proper retirement places look lovely just be careful.
 
There's nothing wrong in PTS in the circunmtances you describe it's far preferable to the situation the poster above saw.
Good luck to you as you deal with this difficult issue.
 
If he is grumpy and unhappy with you then likely to be the same elsewhere. Personally I would probably pts if he is unhappy and in pain :( so I wouldn't beat yourself up for thinking this.
 
If he's really not happy in himself I would rather do PTS than retirement livery. You know your horse better than anyone else and I would say you owe it to him to do what's right before he begins to struggle with his health.
 
I take in a couple of retirees and to give you an idea of cost I charge £50 per week to include feed, haylage and daily care. Stabling and bedding are extra as most are happy to live out.
 
as above!


however if you did want to look at retirement livery - i know a few people who have sent theirs to cheshire retirement livery - i looked at it but decided grass livery was do-able for us :) and i need to keep a close eye on them



but dont feel awful for pts - some horses just know when its their time....dont feel guilty x
 
Would def be thinking of the PTS option, as I'd hate to think my poor horse is in pain,, but failing that, could you approach local farmers, see if you could rent a few acres, and look after him yourself, would certainly be cheaper than a livery yard, but would be more work for you. Hope it all works out for you. xxxx
 
If you're struggling financially then retirement livery would likely be as restrictive as normal livery. What about a good diy yard that offers assisted livery so you're only going up once a day? Would probably be cheaper. However with the grumpyness to handle etc, I'd be considering either a retirement on bute or pts.
 
Previous yard i was at advetised for retirement livery, had one horse arrive, pretty much ignored all through winter. I checked his rugs and even fed him when i fed my three who were living out with him. Owner rang in spring to say she was picking him up in a week and suddenly YO were all over him like a rash. This was a BHS approved livery yard, god knows how the got it!
There are some good ones about but probably same costs as diy.

PTS may be the kinder option if he is not particularly happy and moving yards can be stressful for them as well.
 
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