Retirement livery??

gaslightlaura

gaslightlaura

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Hey peeps, been having a terrible time with my boy, I posted a few months back about my special boy and all his problems, we have got to the bottom of every thing but it isn't looking so good, he has kissing spine, and is going blind in one eye, we have looked at options of surgery but I really don't think he can cope with ridden life anymore, with the memories of pain and going half blind. So I have decided to retire him. I've not had him long, just under a year, I knew he wouldn't be simple, but I wasn't planning for this.

Just now he is on diy livery in the summer, and full in the winter, he's on a lovely yard which I love. I chose this yard for the schools etc and to give me more time riding and grooming etc (ha) anyway:..

I was wondering if anyone knew of any retirement livery yards in Scotland? I sadly do not have the money to keep him where he is and will need to save for another. I cannot bear to part with him, I feel like I can't sell him, many people have suggested having him pts, but I'm willing to give him a chance of life and enjoy a nice retirement, I just don't know how to go about it.. He's 13, he's an ex racer, he isn't the fine type and could possibly live out, I'm happy to still pay for his feed and all his rugs, I'm just feeling a bit lost :(


Any help would be appreciated xx
 
I would have him pts, far too many horror strories of retirement liveries abound, unless you pay for proper livery. There isn't usually a cheap option with horses. I doubt a partially sighted thoroughbred with a sore back would do well.
Sorry.
 
Clodagh said:
I would have him pts, far too many horror strories of retirement liveries abound, unless you pay for proper livery. There isn't usually a cheap option with horses. I doubt a partially sighted thoroughbred with a sore back would do well.
Sorry.
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I suppose that's maybe what I feared, he'll maybe just need to stay with me and I'll have to relocate, I don't think I have the heart to have him pts:( although maybe for the best.. I'm still going through options, it wouldn't have to be cheap as such, I suppose I maybe just hoped their would be somewhere that specialised in this sort of thing. I've not heard of much, I guess I was just living in hope. Thanks for your advice.
 
Hi, just searched for Retirement home for horses. Veteran horse society looks a efficient service, it is a charity but worth contacting I think ? Good luck
 
OK, if the money isn't a worry that makes it easier. H&H did a piece about retirement homes a few weeks ago. From what I remember the cost of the good ones was equal to full livery in winter but cheaper in the summer.
 
Liz H said:
Hi, just searched for Retirement home for horses. Veteran horse society looks a efficient service, it is a charity but worth contacting I think ? Good luck
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Thank you. I'll take a look, theres not many livery yards near me, they're all expensive full livery, I just want him to have some sort of life, if still be willing to pay every month and provide feed, just not at £400+ a month. I just can't :( I feel so bad.
 
TBH good retirement livery is not going to cost you much less than livery, and PTS is kinder than poor cheap retirement livery - there IS a fate worse than death for some horses. Good luck whatever you decide.
 
My pony has been on retirement livery for 2 1/2 years, this week I decided it is time for her to be PTS before the winter as she just isn't right behind & although is fat enough & shiny has lost the naughty twinkle in her eye. Not all retirement livery is cruel & awful with lame horses shuffling about the place. We have plenty of happy horses living in small herds living out their last days. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Lots of good retirement places if he will live out. Mine is in Devon at specialist retirement place. Tons of grazing, 3 checks a day, haylage in winter. Other places in Wales. When I looked prices were £140-200pcm depending on location. Sure you'll find somewhere nearer you.
 
merlinsquest said:
My pony has been on retirement livery for 2 1/2 years, this week I decided it is time for her to be PTS before the winter as she just isn't right behind & although is fat enough & shiny has lost the naughty twinkle in her eye. Not all retirement livery is cruel & awful with lame horses shuffling about the place. We have plenty of happy horses living in small herds living out their last days. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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This with bells on. My mare has been on retirement livery for just over a year, and I have also made the decision this week that PTS before the bad weather comes properly is the best thing. The lady who runs the yard has been incredibly supportive, keeps me updated and loves my mare like her own. There are good places out there, you just have to find them. Good luck :)
 
I used to work on a retirement livery in Cornwall and it was brilliant. I didn't get involved with prices, but it was a huge farm that they converted to retirement livery and the horses were so well looked after. Vets bills, farrier etc were extra invoiced for the month they came but feed etc was included. The horses there were so happy and the owners were from all over the country and visited every now and then and could always get updates on the phone or email. It isn't always a horror story xx
 
I'm not sure what is happening with my grazing, I am looking into having my old horse put to sleep as I cannot afford "proper" livery and the horse cannot be stabled anyway, I would rather do this than send the horse away to retirement livery as this would be miles away as no such facilities exist in my area. There are worse fates than PTS.
 
JillA said:
TBH good retirement livery is not going to cost you much less than livery, and PTS is kinder than poor cheap retirement livery - there IS a fate worse than death for some horses. Good luck whatever you decide.
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Echo the above from Jill....and Yes, there are some truly awful 'so called retirement livery homes' and unfortunately I've actually been privy to this myself, as I was a livery on one that allegedly ran this kind of set up alongside the livery yard..which again, was not at all what was advocated when we moved on.

Whatever you decide, I just hope that it's the best decision for your horse at the end of the day. Letting our friends go is the last and most kindest act we can do for them in certain circumstances...and Yes, I know it's oh so very painful and extremely upsetting, however in my humble opinion it's the right way to go..

Take care of you and bless ya for talking it through on here....it's not easy by any means and some time really thinking about what's best all round is needed I think.

xxx
 
gaslightlaura said:
many people have suggested having him pts, but I'm willing to give him a chance of life and enjoy a nice retirement, I just don't know how to go about it.. He's 13, he's an ex racer, he isn't the fine type and could possibly live out, I'm happy to still pay for his feed and all his rugs, I'm just feeling a bit lost :(


Any help would be appreciated xx
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Really sorry you are going through this and I appreciate what an awful decision to make, I've been there. I'm afraid I did decide to pts. and would again. I think you should carefully consider it too. Your boy is 13 - he may have another 10 or even 15 years before nature takes him. Think about what he will get out of a life in retirement in the meantime? What impact will it have on you? The liklihood is that you will keep him another year or maybe two and then decide he must be pts after all. It is a horrible decision to reach but perhaps inevitable - is it really so much worse to do it sooner than later?

Different perhaps if you can easily afford it and are happy to keep him and think of him as a pet. But then (just my opinion) I think you need to keep him close and care for him yourself. Otherwise what is the point?

Sorry if that is too harsh, but do think carefully about what is really best for both of you.
 
Hi I delayed the decision to have my mare pts and she suffered as a result. I am afraid that when you take on any animal you also take on the responsibility of ending their life when it is time. Its extremely hard but it is always better a day too soon than a day too late, hard but true. Good luck
 
I am possibly facing this decision, my boy is only 5:( x rays vet took yesterday are being sent to specialist in Bristol and vet has warned me it's not looking good. I am thinking about a retirement livery for him, surely there must be some good ones out there? I am in Cornwall (devon/cornwall border) Having him pts at such a young age just doesn't feel right.
 
I am sorry you are going through a difficult time.
PM me if you want a recommendation of a retirement livery yard, I know of a fab place and have known horses there for the last 10 years and they treat them like their own, they are so well looked after and happy x
 
Janovich said:
Echo the above from Jill....and Yes, there are some truly awful 'so called retirement livery homes' and unfortunately I've actually been privy to this myself, as I was a livery on one that allegedly ran this kind of set up alongside the livery yard..which again, was not at all what was advocated when we moved on.

Whatever you decide, I just hope that it's the best decision for your horse at the end of the day. Letting our friends go is the last and most kindest act we can do for them in certain circumstances...and Yes, I know it's oh so very painful and extremely upsetting, however in my humble opinion it's the right way to go..

Take care of you and bless ya for talking it through on here....it's not easy by any means and some time really thinking about what's best all round is needed I think.

xxx
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Thank you, and thank you everyone got replying. I haven't stopped crying. I feel so very selfish, and I'm glad everyone seems to understand.

I suppose in every other aspect he is healthy, he looks good his coat is always shining but I work very hard to keep him the way he is kept and he eats up all my pennies, I suppose I now feel very selfish as he is no longer of use to me (I hate that phrase) if I had unlimited money I would keep him as a pet, but I really sensibly cannot if I am to get another. The problem is that I don't think he will live out. Well he possibly would, but that's not the life I want him to have, as he's used to being spoiled, my heart says just keep him as my life long pet and just do without a rideable horse, but my head is saying that's silly. A friend did remind me this is my hobby. Why oh why did I chose such a difficult one :(

Thanks everyone x
 
I can't help you with location as I'm in a different country however I have a number of old retired horses living on my farm. We've had totally blind old horses who have done well in their final years here. Most live a good long time though, is that something you have considered? The old retired TBs we've had living here tend to live to around 28-30 years old. The old AQHAs tend to go on till they are well into their 30s - 40. Most of the retired horses who have come to live on my farm have been in their 20s when they arrived. Their owners visit once in a while and I send updates and photos to them. There are a lot of horses living on my farm so I think it keeps them in a good frame of mind as there's always some playing around going on in the fields. I have mixed up some of the old horses with some of the young horses and they seem to do great in that type of mixed herd. So, I digress, there are some very nice and capable retirement livery farms however I do think you need to weigh up the fact that your horse is only 13 years old and will most probably live for another 15 years. The choice is yours. I keep all of my own oldies as I feel they are worth the cost.
 
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