slightly morbid post!

Penny Less

Penny Less

Joined
10 March 2009
Messages
7,682
Visit site
Talking to another horsey type today, about what would happen to our horses if we became too old and infirm to look after them. Neither of us have our own land. Both of us have elderly retired horses, and full livery not an option for very long! I think I would have to have mine pts as too big for companion. As we are both getting on this is something which will rear its ugly head in the not too distant future I fear. We both originally stated in our wills that if we died we wanted the horses to go to a charity, but of course this is not feasible in current climate. Anyone thought about this. sorry if its depressing you dont reply!
 
Well, I'm a part loaner but her owner is about 25 years older than I am and she has said should anything happen to her (which I don't think it will come to this, as Kelly is only 16 now and her owner is fit as a flea!) that she has left her to me in her will - so I'm guessing if I was in the same situation I would leave mine to a trusted family member or friend who I knew was in the position to look after her :)
 
I had a similar conversation with a pal.
If I suddenly die what would I do with dogs/horses.

I decided I would have my 2 dogs (in their teens) PTS and one of my horses (elderly) others would be sold by my friend.

I have an OH (live seperately) but he has his own (working) dogs so 2 extra (pets) would not be a good idea. Also I wanted my dogs cremated with me.

You never know whats around the corner (hopefully not a bus heading towards you or a cliff edge....)
 
I have had this chat with my family as I have an elderly pony. My daughter who is 12 is fantastic at looking after her and my mum said if anything happened to me then she would pay for the pony to stay on livery and continue taking my daughter up to look after her.
You never know whats round the corner and I would like to ensure that my ponys life would remain stable and of a good quality if anything happened to me.
 
Hmm its an interesting point. I suppose it would fall to my OH / family to sort things like that out :confused: ... I've heard nightmare stories about horses effectively being 'abandoned' by owners whilst they deal with grief of losing a family member, but it would be even worse if the actual owner died :o ...my yard doesn't have any info on next of kin so would have no way of contacting anyone if I stopped turning up!!
 
Just looked at RSPCA site and its a little vague, seems as if they would try and rehome, but not many people want to rehome old horses ! Easier for small animals though
 
Think they care for them until they are rehomed or indefinately otherwise. If you are interested would probably be best to ring and speak to them.
 
I dont know!! My o/h and family are non-horsey and my daughter being only 10 is a bit young, She's a good little rider but I wouldnt want to land a accident prone slightly difficult at times TB on her!

Its really something most horse owners should have a rough plan for at least i think, Sadly like someone else has said you just never know.
 
If anything happened to me then I would prefer my mare to be pts. She is 17 so no spring chicken and takes a fair bit of looking after to keep right. I wouldn't be happy at her having the stress of moving homes after she has been here for all but four years of her life, and wouldn't want a loan home as I feel if would be too much of a responsibility for my family to keep tabs on. I hate to think about it, but feel that it would be the best solution all round really.
 
KellysHeroes said:
Well, I'm a part loaner but her owner is about 25 years older than I am and she has said should anything happen to her (which I don't think it will come to this, as Kelly is only 16 now and her owner is fit as a flea!) that she has left her to me in her will - so I'm guessing if I was in the same situation I would leave mine to a trusted family member or friend who I knew was in the position to look after her :)
Click to expand...

^^ What she said. I really must make a will. There are two people who I would leave him to and I would expect them to sell him to a good home in as far as they could try. I wouldn't expect them to keep him as it's so expensive and they already have 3 between them.
 
My OH would look after my 19yr old pony and dogs if anything happened to me. He is not at all horsey but would have the backup of a good friend. If it all became too much the pony is to be PTS, the dogs he would be able to cope with.

Jane
 
Wow thats made me think not that old yet, but theres always that bus! Would be lucky as daughter would look after mine. But the livery yard thing is a point, if you go on your own, prehaps they need to have several contact numbers incase owners dont turn up, they could be ill ect.. Any way on a happier note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you most prob outlive us all
 
Last edited:
You'll be dead so it won't matter...you won't be around to find out what happens to your horse, dog, fish, rabbit or any other pet and you deffo won't be able to do anything about it.
Best you can do is make a will and it bothers you that much then do one tomorrow as you never know what's going to happen from on day to the next.
My mum (she was 49) went to work in the morning as normal, complained of a headache at lunchtime and was dead due to a brain hemorrhage by tea time...sorry to sound blasé about the whole thing but why worry about something realistically you have no control over.
Unless you have a horsey family then it's not fair to burden a friend with the cost of a horse so either it gets sold or PTS.
I have told the livery yard that I'm on that if something happens to me and the OH doesn't want to take on my horses (he's not horsey) then they can use them in their riding school or sell them...I won't be around to get upset that they aren't having the right rug on, not enough carrots in his tea or their stables aren't mucked out the way i like them so it doesn't really matter.
 
I had this talk with hubs the other day. I think we agreed the RSPCA scheme would be the best for the boy, as hubs knows little about horses, but hopefully I'll live longer than he will. Horrible thing to think about, isn't it. *sigh*
 
Sorry to hear about your Mum, very sad. However, Im afraid its not down to how I would feel (even if I was dead!) its about the horses feelings and future !
 
alicemary said:
Im afraid its not down to how I would feel (even if I was dead!) its about the horses feelings and future !
Click to expand...

I agree that planning for the "unfortunate event" is prudent and i didn't mean to sound flippant but unless you have a will that explains to the letter what you want to happen to your horse then anything can happen to them.

If you leave them to a charity are you also going to donate money to the charity help care for them?
Do you leave them to a friend, leaving your friend with the burden of looking after and the cost of a horse, maybe even the guilt if they have to sell.
Do you put them to sleep even though they may be fit and healthy.
Do you expect the family to look after your horse (horsey or not) But maybe they don't want to because the horse reminds them of you so it upsets them to see/look after them everyday!!

There are so many scenarios but which one you go for? Which ever one you go for, get it in writing.
 
I am pushing 50 and my horse is only 5. My horsey daughter is slated to take on my girl if anything happens to me. I am trusting her to find a suitable home for her since she is not my daughter's type of horse.
 
Hi guys
I don't often post on here so please be nice!
I've read these posts and it definitely stuck a cord with me. I am only to familiar with how life can change very very quickly!
One year ago my mother went to the doctors with pain in her neck and back and numb toes. She thought that she would need a few sessions with a physio. It turned out to be a brain tumour. She was 59 working full time with a car and a social life. Nearly a year to the day she was dead.
I really struggle to see the fairness in this. She never did anything wrong. She didn't drink or smoke she ate healthy and did everything right.
I suppose what im saying is it can happen to anyone no matter who you are. Our animals mean so much to us we do owe it to them to make plans should this happen.
 
I think that this is something which the owners of all animals should decide when they take an animal on. It is not just elderly people who die and when younger ones die it is often unexpectedly. IMO it is just as important to sort this out as it is to decide how you would want to dispose of your horse when the time comes. Then no-one is having to make difficult decisions in an emergency situation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top