selling old horse

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christine48

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I was just looking on horsemart and there was a 24 yr old mare for sale. I could not bring myself to sell my horse at that age especially after the recent events. Who knows where they might end up at that age
 
how much are they asking for her? most people will give them free to a good home at that age if they are fit and healthy enough to be companions.

i agree though that i could never sell my horse at that age knowing they'd more than likely go from pillar to post and have no happiness in their last years of life.
 
Depends how fit and sound it was and it's temperament - it could have a few more happy and usefull years as a novices schoolmaster to learn on.

I got my old pony at 23 (albeit by accident - the owner died) and he was by no means ready for the scrap heap. I was a happy hacker and so was he. He was thoroughly spoilt in his advancing years and pts at 29.

One of mine now is only 8, but has navicular, so I would never sell coz he may end up in the wrong hands, but an aged horse, if sound, could still be found a good home.
 
I think you definately would need to be extra careful about who you sold to. Far far better with this age of horse, if it's till fit and active, is to loan to an approved home, that way you can keep contact and tabs on condition and well being. if you sell, no matter how great that home, it's only one step away from what might prove to be an awful end of touting round auctions, horse fairs and markets with teeth filed back to give impression of youth, buted up to the eye balls to get rid of stiffness and sedated so it's effectively stoned, and don't forget a swapped passport, for something much younger, the unscrupulous will do anything for a few hundred pounds in their pockets.
emw.
 
I think it is totally disgusting to sell an old horse. People who do this should be ashamed of themselves and are just providing material for the likes of J Gray.

IF a horse can still have a happy life being ridden - and even competing which many do these days - a suitable loan home should be found but ultimate control should remain with the owner, who should do the decent thing when the time comes and not leave it to some other person, whether they be meat trader or whoever.
 
i feel very strongly about this.i appreciate that circumstances play a huge factor- illness of onwer, death of owner money ect ect but i just couldnt let one of mine go after having them that long
personally I would put down if i couldnt keep it for any reason- a certain good end for a friend is worth more than any money i could scrape off an older horse.

very sad to see the golden oldies changing hands at such an age.
 
I am having a break from horses and sold my old ja jumpng pony last year - he is 27 now sound fit etc

He is a lovely pony who needed to be kept in work (he loves it) he was sold to a sweet novice girl to plod around on and has worked out great.
If I had kept him, i know i couldnt have given him the time and the regular light exercise he needs.
And as he is a pony - i am starting to weigh abit too much for him to keep ridding him.

So selling my old pony has worked out for the best for everyone.

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oh I also had a contract drawn up that if they didnt want him i would have him back and they cant sell him on.
I hope he will stay with them till he ends his days now.
 
i understand what emw are saying, and agree to a point, but in my bitter experience if you loan someone a horse, unless they are very close by and you can keep a close eye on them, that horse has cost them nothing so is worth nothing. if they have to pay for it, they value it more and treat it better. it's a bit like people treating company cars like rubbish, i think.
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now i won't loan my horses, i sell them but promise (in writing) to buy back at any time, no questions asked, for a reasonable price. i have done so too.
i think that this ensures the horse a better standard of care in its new home, and as much security in its long-term future as i can give it. if the new owners have many wonderful years with it, they may never want to sell it back, but if they do, i'm here to give it a good home for the rest of its life out in the field, or to do the right thing if necessary.
 
kerilli
I agree totally with you - and have had bad loan experiences
and i am not saying all people, but i have had some really horrible people that cant afford to keep a horse loan or trial some and really abuse them.

So that why i sold my old boy with the understanding that i would buy him back and they same cost.

The amount of people that called when i put him up for sale asking for loan and not wanting to part with a nominal amount, I was suspect what they really wanted him for and cos he is still enjoying and capable of jumping i didnt want him jumped every weekend (he has done his work)
 
I saw a 24yo TB offered for sale locally last week, made me sad. I admit I don't know the circumstances but I would never pass on an elderly animal who had spent his life working for me. Don't we owe them a duty of care in their retirement.
 
It disgusts me when people have a horse for X amount of years, and then when he gets older, because they dont want to be faced with extra expense (thinking when they are too old to be covered for vets fees on insurance, and any supplements etc horse may need), or the owner isnt happy to stop riding, or cut back on what they do, then they sell them on so they dont have to deal with all of that.

I couldnt do it.

As far as Im concerned if a horse has given you those years of his life, you owe it to him to care for him until the end of his days.

Im not against people selling horses, I have done that myself, but to sell a horse just because you dont want the hassle or expense that comes with old age, I think its disgraceful.

Lance is 19 in a couple of weeks, he is fit, sound and healthy, however if he wasnt, and if he couldnt be ridden, nothing would change, he wouldnt be going anywhere.
 
There is a lot of sweeping generalisations going on here!

I went to look at a 17 year old horse today to buy, I really liked him - and am going back to ride again tomorrow. According to a lot of people on here, he should be shot instead of finding a new loving home!

I admit that if you sell a horse you are no longer in control of its future - but not everyone is being iresponsible if they sell an older horse - I think it is being a tad alarmist TBH.
 
I totally agree!

I am off to view an 18yo at the weekend who due to extremely tragic circumstances is looking for a new home were she will be loved dearly. From what I have been told about her so far she is by no means at a stage where she should be pts. In fact I think it would be somewhat unfair to shoot her when there are people out there who are happy to provide a loving, caring home to an ageing horse.
 
I agree with both sides of this discussion, but as the proud owner of an super 20 yr old dales mare i think it totally depends on the character of that particular horse. If its energetic and full of life theres absolutly no reason why it wouldnt find a great home with someone who is better suited to the capabilities of that horse. However if its a real OAP of a horse then for sure it should be left to see out its days in the comfort and love of those who are most familiar.
My friend uses mine at the moment so she can take her husband hacking for company, but she'll live out her days with me, id sellmy house car and husband before her.
Thats just my thoughts anyway!
 
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