So many freebie horses :-(

R

Rebels

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 June 2009
Messages
1,070
Visit site
Is it just me or is anyone else getting offered free horses? This week someone tried to get me to take a free New Forest 2yr old colt (not my usual event stamp...) and in getting some details of an exracer I have just been offered a free BN show jumper which has to stay local. Last week it was the 8 yr old been advanced eventing and just had a foal who also had amazing dressage (BE 100, had a fab record of stops and some cricket dressage scores!). You can bet when I can take another then all these and the others around will disappear in a puff of smoke.
 
It doesn't surprise me, don't think anything much is shifting at the moment. I have an unbroken rising 4 yo for sale and only one viewing at very low price. But there's ridden horses advertised at very low prices which don't seem to be shifting. Just about to move him so I can start work on him so hoping market picks up a bit in the spring.
 
I have a pony who may become a freebie. We acquired him as a foal when my intention was to save him from the bullet that had his name on it and hopefully turn him into a nice little lawn mower or companion for someone. Naiive of me perhaps, on reflection, to look at things in such a romantic way.

He has exceeded all my expectations and turned from a runty, pathetic specimen into a smashing little chap who you wouldn't recognise from his baby photo's.

I didn't imagine at the time that the horse business would spiral into such as state as it's in now where there are so many unwanted equines around, being neglected, abandoned and dumped due to lack of finances and the costs that just keep rising. I am now very trepidatious about seeking a home for him as his value is negligible but I would really love him to find a home where he will be loved and perhaps ridden in the future (he's only 2). I just can't imagine who would be interested in him when like you say, everyone seems to be tring to give away all manner of horses and ponies without success.
 
I've been offered a couple recently. Two I were very tempted by. One is a lovely second pony type but 12hh & fine, & therefore hard to loan or sell, the other was a stunning sec b unbroken 13hh or so 4yr old, both of which if I had the keep for I would have had for daughter. Telling people when she outgrows hers she's moving onto my 14.2 so we don't need another tiny just means they start offering horses for me if I won't be riding 14.2.
 
Unfortunatly seems to be loads of them around at the moment, especially youngsters and the smaller pony, went to a sale last week and was mortified to watch at least 12 sell for £5, i just hope it was not the meat man who bought them!! o to win the lottery and buy my own land :)
 
Yeah my friend bought a bay TB for £500 despite me saying that I could find her at least three free ones advertised at the time. I think it was to keep him safe though so I could see where she was coming from.
 
I bought one today for £1 !


And he's beautiful . Well I think so anyway . A grey Belgian warmblood , who I think might just be exactly what I've been looking for for well over a year . Or he will be by summertime .

Other people think he's fallen on his hooves . Me , I can't quite believe my luck .
 
If anyone gets offered (or hears about) anything 15.2hhs plus that needs a semi retirement home just hacking about - suit hunter needing to be retired from hunting etc. I know someone looking in Yorkshire.
 
Its scary though, some that I've been offered are reasonable competition horses, 8-12 and with a decent record!! Ive really reconsidered what sort of horse I would take on, any youngster needs to be super nice, there is no hope of moving on anything tricky unless its 4*
 
Its destroying the market though, as it is a vicious circle. So many people don't expect to pay for a horse, or want something very cheap. To properly produce a youngster it costs and lot of money and takes a lot of time, so a 4/5 year old broken and starting to compete would have to be well over £1000 before you make your money back, even if you got it as freebie.
Basically what I am trying say (not very well!) is that a free horse de-value horses.
 
I currently have 3 freebies in my stables along with my purchased ones.. I've knocked back several more over recent years as I just can't keep saying yes from financial and facility perspectives..

I was offered an Olympic silver winner last month free, broke my heart to say no as I truly love him.. Luckily he has been found a good home..
 
There is one on a local sales site, NF cross, 4, unbroken, advertised Monday as free, must go as they lose grazing by the weekend. Chances are it will go purely because it is free.
 
I see the same person on facebook, she's always asking for free horses and it's gets my back up. I would never ask for a free horse, YO knew I would pay well over £1000 for Ned if it meant I could have him, even though he's not really worth it (thinking with head, not heart, he's priceless to me really!), she said she'd sell him to me for £400 and then gave him to me! I was super super lucky. Though, I got my cat and dog for free too! I don't think I've ever paid for a pet...

It's such a shame, I know the horses don't care about their price tag, but it just seems sad. Especially the ones at sales that got for £1/£5. Ned was a heart warming gift, these poor beasts are simply over stocked :(
 
dominobrown said:
Its destroying the market though, as it is a vicious circle. So many people don't expect to pay for a horse, or want something very cheap. To properly produce a youngster it costs and lot of money and takes a lot of time, so a 4/5 year old broken and starting to compete would have to be well over £1000 before you make your money back, even if you got it as freebie.
Basically what I am trying say (not very well!) is that a free horse de-value horses.
Click to expand...


And even worse for the breeders. A well bred foal must cost at £2000 in terms of vet, stud and livery fees before it even arrives..

Still if someone offered me an advanced eventer that wanted a quieter life, say upto Novice then I would find a way of having it, seeing as saving for one to run alongside my young horse is one of my plans for this year. I bought my lovely intermediate mare after she had been off having a foal. Took forever to get her fit but she repaid me massively. Still have her!
 
Just as worrying as de valuing the Market is the fact that it de values the horse. Not always, but often it's seen as easy come, easy go.
If you've saved up, chosen carefully and found the horse you want it will mean so much to you.
Oh it's free, I'll have that, all to often doesn't have a good outcome for the horse.
I have and would again, gift a horse to a friend. But never to a stranger.
What you pay for a horse is not that relevant in the bigger picture of financial cost. It's a one off payment, you either have the money and believe the horse is worth it or you don't. The keeping of the horse will out strip that cost in a frighteningly short time.
 
I used to hear of freebies all the time when I nursed. That's how I got my WB. Haven't been offered anything recently - wouldn't say no to a perfect child's lead rein/first ridden pony for my four year old daughter if one was desperate for a home ;-) (yeah right! Worth their weight in gold aren't they?!)
 
Irishbabygirl said:
I used to hear of freebies all the time when I nursed. That's how I got my WB. Haven't been offered anything recently - wouldn't say no to a perfect child's lead rein/first ridden pony for my four year old daughter if one was desperate for a home ;-) (yeah right! Worth their weight in gold aren't they?!)
Click to expand...

I might PM you in a minute .... Hold that thought ;)
 
Rebels said:
Its scary though, some that I've been offered are reasonable competition horses, 8-12 and with a decent record!! Ive really reconsidered what sort of horse I would take on, any youngster needs to be super nice, there is no hope of moving on anything tricky unless its 4*
Click to expand...

think thats why there is so many youngsters out there, unfortunatly now the ones that want a quieter life are now for young competitors not happy hacking, unfortunatly or maybe i am just biased as been hunting too long
 
I got offered an 18 year old perfect little lead rein pony, but I only needed a companion so I said I thought it would be best to try and find a child to love it first, I am really going to have to get a companion soon though as my neighbours on one side are moving, so less company around.... Can't help but wonder if a bigger rideable horse might come up though...
 
Im looking for nice mare, have just re homed 3 and are coming next week, not to resell either. so if anyone hears of any, must be papered?!!!
 
There doesn't seem to be much hope of finding our lad a home, there is too much competition. We bought him thinking we would have him forever, but (long story) he wasn't what we thought and we have had to back him at 11 as he was manhandled and abused but had never been backed, and have spent a fortune trying to get him right, and are sending him for more education soon. He is a darling and good in every other way, but we are planning on moving abroad to an underdeveloped country where nasty diseases are rife and with no real veterinary/professional back up.

We live in hope that someone will fall in love with him who can actually afford to keep him rather than fix him up quickly and sell him on...and on...and on. He so deserves to have a useful working life, as do , I am sure, plenty of others.

I am trying to stay positive, he would make a lovely companion as gets on with everything whatever size, age or sex if all else failed, but no one wants a 16.1 middleweight for a companion!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top