Selling one, buying another, the bit in between....

[soloequestrian]

I plan to sell the current project horse later in the spring - he and I want to do different things so best he goes elsewhere. I then want to be able to take my time finding something that fits me better, but in the meantime I will have just two horses. Neither will be left alone so it would mean I couldn't hack out, and one is quite elderly so has a relatively high chance of shuffling off his mortal coil which would be a disaster for the one left. I'd therefore like an interim solution and the best thing I can think of is a short-term loan. I'd be happy to take on something to do work with - youngster handling or some schooling. Any ideas about the best way to go about this or advice on things to avoid doing? I don't have a large network of horsey folk I know locally - I will try word of mouth first but it would be good to have other ideas too, and ways of avoiding getting tangled up in problems.
Ta!

 

[EllenJay]

Contact some of the horse rescue - they may be able to let you have ashort term loan

 

[Chinchilla]

Agree on a rescue - blue cross might be your best bet for a short term loan if you explained your situation

 

[soloequestrian]

We don't have Blue Cross up here, only really WHW and I'm fairly sure they're not interested in that type of short term loan. They also don't have many horses available - obviously that might change and I'll keep an eye on them but I don't think they are the solution.

 

[FlyingCircus]

Are you suitability experienced that you could take someone's horse in for paid schooling?

 

[soloequestrian]

Are you suitability experienced that you could take someone's horse in for paid schooling?

Yes, I'd say so. I've got my AI (some time ago now!) and plenty of experience with quirky horses. I wouldn't take on something that could be dangerous but I do like solving issues. I wouldn't know how to go about finding something like that though!

 

[Trouper]

Don't rule out WHW. Just talk to them - they might have a youngster that needs some initial handling.

 

[Annagain]

Could you buy another project while you look with the intention of selling once you find your longer term horse? Do you have room for 4 short term - especially with summer coming?

 

[Vodkagirly]

Ask your Facebook friends if anyone has a spare horse as a companion temporarily. Lots of people are short on grazing.

I've tried contacting charities with no response but ended up with a friends horse, same day.

 

[soloequestrian]

Four is tricky - I only have three stables. They don't live in but just at feeding time things can be awkward, though I have managed it once before. I just have worries about not selling the project quickly and ending up with four for a long time, and also I would be in the same situation all over again at the end of the next project! I think that anything that comes in will be some sort of project, the question will just be whether it's one I want to keep or not.
I don't think there's much of a grazing shortage up here - we had an amazingly productive summer last year so everyone has plenty of forage, unlike England! I will try friends first, I just don't have all that many local horsey ones.
I'll see if any of the local instructors will keep an eye out for something that wants a bit of schooling though - that's an attractive plan.