Selling on broken down horses

If the horse has and I quote "a good quality of life", then sell one of the other riding horses and you and your 2 sisters share the remaining 2 horses for riding (2 between 3 of you isn't bad going!). Unless of course they are very little and have shetlands....
It just seems bizarre to me to even consider PTS a pony that has a good quality of life and isn't suffering (at the moment)....especially when there are 3 riding horses between 3 sisters...(I appreciate you didn't suggest PTS but have said its a last resort - why isn't sharing 2 horses the last resort?)
Only other option is loan the lame pony out as a companion to someone close by so you can keep a close eye out.

Not meaning to offend - I just can't get my head round this!
 
I get so upset reading posts like this. After years of giving you everything this pony is now surplus to requirements and must go.
WHAT?? Would you give up a child? After being loyal to you its now up to you to return the favour. She deserves the permenant loving home your other little pony appears to have!
 
So are you paying for your sisters horses too? Or do you mean your family cannot afford another horse?

Why not just find grass livery, somewhere with no facilities just field, shelter and water etc.
There are places like this out and about, plenty of people have their horses on cheap set-ups I have seen them advertised at dirt cheap prices.

To be honest I am really soppy and couldn't bring myself to sell or give away a horse which has history, as you simply do not know where this pony is going to go. Many would seem as nice as pie but would sell said pony for a fast buck the moment your back is turned. I think you should do right by this pony the best you can - I doubt the charities would take her purely as they take so many desperate cases and this wouldn't be one of them.

Best of luck eitherway.x
 
Agree with Punk Pony as long as you make lots of effort you can find loan/companion home that will look after her well. This will include a rigorous contract and references, regular weekly contact and monthly visits and the option to take her back if her welfare is ever in question which obviously will take time and money. Of course you hear horror stories on here, but there are loads of caring horse lovers out there too.

I do not agree with people who say PTS to a pony who is not in pain and has a good quality of life just because it is an easy option for them rather than making the huge effort needed to find them a loving and caring home. My mare had her first foal at 16 years after a sccessful career and had 3 very strong and healthy foals so it isn't too late necessarily to breed....
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I know you said she can not stay in a field on her own, but what about grass livery - cheap and cheerful. There are many places where retired horses live in herds

[/ QUOTE ]

I have retired horses on pasture board with me, I charge exactly the same keep for a lame horse as I do for a sound one though.
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but I've always found grass livery cheaper than DIY
 
[ QUOTE ]
it isn't too late necessarily to breed....

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldnt want any more weight on an injury like that though. If the horse is lame now, it will be very lame with the added weight of a foal to carry.
 
It's a hard one, but hang in there homes are out there..

I have never paid for a horse and I have had three.

My first was going to be shot as they thought he was a nutter, I took him on at 17 and he is still with me at 28!
My second was a Ex police horse and was being rehomed just to a tendon injury age 14 I had him until this Monday, he was PTS at age 23 after three weeks of stuggling with his health.
And my 13NF pony that was on the side of a main road in town. He is too small for me to ride really but I have had him for coming up 4 years.

I am a good horse owner and love all of my boys and I always keep them until the end, but I will never buy one, horses find me and I can assure you good homes are out there.

I hope I can be proof of that.

Keep looking, and as long as you are careful you you will find someone. But whenever you take on a horse I have to say I think it needs to be for life not just riding...

Good luck with it I wish you and more importantly your horse the best..
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Having her PTS would be our very last option, she has a good quality of life and isn't in pain. If I could afford to keep her I would. I don't want to pass on the responsibilty which is why I want to find somewhere where she would be wanted and not a burden.

[/ QUOTE ]
You won't like this, but you're annoying me. If you can afford your eventer, you can afford your pony. The eventer is sellable, so you could sell the eventer. If you want to carry on riding and competing, that's fair enough, but if that means you can't afford to keep your knackered ones in retirement, it is your responsibility to PTS.

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldn't agree more. I have a tendon injury/heading for pasture pet and definitely limited ridden career mare who will be with me for life, even though I don't have my own land, have to pay livery costs and am giving up everything else pretty much so I can afford my new yearling as a prospective ridden replacement. If in the future I cannot afford two horses, then it will be the new youngster that will go, even though it would break my heart, as I feel I owe my older mare who has been a fab girl in years gone by, a SECURE home for life.

If fate deals me more bad luck and my new one ended up injured, then I know that I can afford to downgrade their current accommodation to a cheaper place for retiring and keep them both for life - would mean I wouldn't have a riding horse, but I'd do that rather than pass either of them on in an injured state.

I cannot understand the mentality of "its broken, lets see who else will have it".
 
A lame horse is a horse showing signs of pain (however severe or not....).

Sorry, haven't read the other responses - but I would send her to the kennels if you can no longer afford to keep her.

EDT: have now read some more - why on earth would you contact the Blue Cross??? They are a charitable organisation set up to help animals in need. This is not the case with your little mare, and she is certainly not a charity case.

Very, cross!
 
Why did you bother to spend all that time and effort to get her better if you were just going to palm her off onto someone else?

You should have just put her down when the injury occurred as you obviously don't want her.
frown.gif
 
I think people are being a bit harsh on the OP, a horse that looks "lame" is not necessarily in pain. Just like a person, she can have an uneveness that makes her walk funny but doesn't actually hurt. None of us have seen this pony, but the vet says she is not in pain and is suitable for light work.

On that basis I think there is no reason why this pony couldn't find a loving long term loan home, and give someone else a lot of pleasure with the security of her owner there should it all fall through.

Lots of people are happy to hack and do a bit of very low level fun competing (turn out classes, fancy dress classes, handy pony) maybe children, maybe small adults. Why shouldn't this pony continue to lead a useful and fullfilling life.

OP look into getting a carefully vetted loan home or a sharer to take on the majority of her costs so she can go on enjoying her life for years to come.

I think it is admirable that you are looking at the options rather than selling her or PTS. Bear in mind that you should have a carefully worded contract whatever you do and will need to check on her.

Bear in mind too that you need to make sure that should she come back unexpectedly you may need to pay for her keep for a few months until you find a new home. If you cannot find a suitable home for her as a hack/companion then look into retirement livery, or grass livery near your other horses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top