So sad at this situation

[Goldenstar]

I once got attached to a horse who did not belong to me and the horse was attached to me , I was abroad it’s a long story which I won’t share but I had to leave him and every day until I knew old age would have taken him I worried about him.
I don’t know what to say to you because your fears are real my heart says find a way take him my head says the opposite.
Best wishes form me .

 

[alibali]

I took on the horse everyone else on the yard described as the 'devil horse'. I never regretted it for a moment and he taught me so much. After a long journey our trust and mutual respect was a joy. BUT when I took him on I had no other commitments and was not stretching myself. More recently I have had to harden my heart and say no in similar circumstances as my personal situation has changed. My primary responsibility has to be to the dependants (human and animal) I already have.

Ask yourself will your family and current animals suffer if you take this horse on? If so then you need to be strong and say no, however, if you can manage it without detriment to others then I would say you will regret it if you did not take him on.

 

[Tarragon]

I still think about a pony I wanted to buy but didn't, nearly 15 years after I made the decision - and still regret it!
He was a lovely pony that made me grin every time I rode him; we just clicked. He belonged to someone I knew and when she wanted to sell him she asked me if I wanted to buy him. I was pony hunting but I didn't buy him because it was slightly more than I had bargained for but in the big scheme of things it isn't the cost of the pony that is the biggest expense, it is the running costs of keeping the pony from then on. Instead I bought a cheaper pony (and we are talking about ponies here so the difference in price was in the £100's and not the £1000's) who I do love and I still have but in the back of my mind there is always a huge "what if"!
I am not sure what I am advising here though - too many ponies to look after and pay for is still too many ponies

 

[Tarragon]

I also wanted to say that I did have 3 ponies for a bit and I soon realised that while I can look after and keep two ponies fit I couldn't manage to keep 3 fit and I got frustrated not being able to keep on top of everything so I went back to two and now all is well again.

 

[Cortez]

So many of my friends are in this situation: too many horses, too much work, too much expense. As a result they are not able to look after any of them really well, have no time or energy, don't even ride any more and are not enjoying them. I could go further (in one particular case) and say that the horses are being downright neglected.....

 

[TGM]

Don't do it! I remember several posts from you previously saying you were struggling timewise with the horses you currently have, especially through the winter. Yes it might seem possible now, but when it is wet, windy and muddy you will probably regret your decision.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Lacking in common sense where horses are concerned I would take him but I wouldn't for a heartbeat judge you if you don't. In time he may be a completely different horse away from the racing stable environment.

 

[*Sahara]

Oh boy: totally! That is the problem you see; people assume they are nice, easy horses because they see them being lovely and so well behaved (in Spain, usually), but they are hot hot hot, super sensitive and extremely intelligent, which causes problems if you are not that kind of rider.

Just like Arabians, you need to have an affinity for them.

 

[Antw23uk]

Dont do it OP. Spend some time trying to find a suitable home for him but other than that I think you have enough to concentrate on.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve read and re-read all these replies, thank you all who have taken time to reply.
I’d answer everyone but it’s too hard!
Yes I’ve had a nightmare year or so with my own vets bill wise, however in the end the insurance paid so that worked out 😊
I also fully accept things will seem very different when the weather changes, right now I’m even enjoying poo picking!!
I decided not to make any decision, to just wait it out and see what happens.
Today I’ve spoken to his owners and they are feeling the exact same as me so on the plus side he won’t be a Facebook freebie which was my worst fear.
We have a few ideas to follow up. They are in no desperate hurry and are adamant to do the right thing by him.
Ideas so far are
Leave him as he is to buy time, turn him away in someone else’s field (I’m not totally keen on this but can visit/check him) and again buy time.
A local livery yard- if we can find one suitable where they will pay and I will do him or partly do him.
A full on retirement livery
Or a racehorse charity-hero’s was mentioned?
So I’m a bit happier about the situation but have still said if it gets desperate I will manage

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

At least the owners are being sensible about him! Good on them!

 

[zaminda]

Glad to see the owners are sensible. Things might have changed with your own lot by the time he needs a home. I took one on 18 months ago which I worked with as it was due to be shot. I don't usually like Irish horses for me but she deserved a chance. I couldn't really afford it at the time and it was a bit of a nightmare few months but things changed and it has worked out. Of all the horses I have wanted to take home over the years she was not on the list but I don't regret it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Amazing owners. Sadly they are the me version of racing and get all the rubbish luck. I really wish they could get a break and win the National.... or I’d settle for a little race at cheltenham 😂
They dearly love their horses and visit with carrots regularly 😍
I hope we can work something, sadly the good retirement place just got back to me and they no longer do it.

 

[splashgirl45]

fingers crossed he finds somewhere and well done you for being so caring and nice to have good owners as well...

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m still very much wanting him, I’m going to speak to my boss and just put it across that if we can do anything to hold this all off I’ll help/ do him /provide feed anything but I feel more hopeful that it’s possible and that his future is safe.

 

[spookypony]

I needed another horse like I needed a hole in the head, when the Ballerina Mare arrived. But she was my little white dream horse, and still is now. If you think he'll come right, then.......but I am sentimental that way.

 

[spookypony]

I posted before RTFT. Sorry! Sounds like between you and the owners, things will get sorted, and you might not have to make a decision that could conceivably make managing multiple horses difficult for you. Glad that saner people than I am posted before I did!

 

[poiuytrewq]

More horses are the very last thing I need. If it were any other horse I’d be saying absolutely not, in fact it wouldn’t be a question. It’s simily that this one is SO down different

 

[claret09]

I firmly believe that our horses choose us, not the other way round. you have clearly been chosen. go with it and enjoy

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ohh wow. Spot who’d had a few G&T’s on her last reply 🤭

 

[Flicker]

As a ‘middle road’ could you have a chat with one of the rehoming charities (TRC, Moorecroft?) to see if they’d take him to reschool and rehome? If he makes an ok riding horse with a bit of work, and has a bit of talent, it could be ok that he’s a bit quirky. At least then you’d know that he’s in sensible hands and his welfare is being protected.

 

[Seville]

Oh boy: totally! That is the problem you see; people assume they are nice, easy horses because they see them being lovely and so well behaved (in Spain, usually), but they are hot hot hot, super sensitive and extremely intelligent, which causes problems if you are not that kind of rider.

I am SO with Cortez on this subject! I bought my PRE in Spain and imported him. He is Baroque, slightly larger than breed standard. They are highly intelligent, sensitive, but so eager to please. However, i f they come from Spain they come with baggage and I don't mean Luis Vitton. You need patience in spades, calmness, and perceptiveness. Last week I met someone who chose, for their first horse, a Spanish entire. It has turned out really badly.
For OP, I really feel for you. It sounds like it will be one horse too many for you. Think long and hard and honestly.

 

[Clodagh]

I’m still very much wanting him, I’m going to speak to my boss and just put it across that if we can do anything to hold this all off I’ll help/ do him /provide feed anything but I feel more hopeful that it’s possible and that his future is safe.

Could you have him if the owners would pay for his keep?

 

[poiuytrewq]

That’s maybe an option we are looking at. I don’t have space at home but there’s a yard close so it’s a possibility. I’d need him done in the mornings though, no way I can do mine, another at another yard and get to work in winter!
I think it would be more they keep him but I do him. Not sure yet.
They are speaking to the big rehoming places as well.
I’ve not much experience of them, would this be a good, safe option?

 

[Flicker]

I have found the Thoroughbred Retraining Centre in Lancashire to be very professional to deal with. A friend did some work with Mary at Moorcroft Thoroughbred Rehoming in Sussex-way and had a very good experience with them. If they don’t have space, they could potentially refer you on.

As I understand it, with TRC, the horses are rehomed on loan, so any issues and the charity take them back. This means that they aren’t passed from pillar to post if they are not the right fit for the home or circumstances change.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think this is what the owners have looked into with Hero’s
I do think this may be a good plan, one we could all be happy with.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Doesn't Moorcroft have a dodgy rep? Horses are 'gifted' to them in good faith ( for a fee), then they get put down as unsuitable for rehab? Gah, wish the search function was working again on here.

 

[ihatework]

That’s maybe an option we are looking at. I don’t have space at home but there’s a yard close so it’s a possibility. I’d need him done in the mornings though, no way I can do mine, another at another yard and get to work in winter!
I think it would be more they keep him but I do him. Not sure yet.
They are speaking to the big rehoming places as well.
I’ve not much experience of them, would this be a good, safe option?

If he is a tricky personality and has done a leg is he really a candidate for rehoming?

If his owners want to do right by him and are willing to fund then maybe a specialist retirement home would be the most secure future for him.

I don’t know so much about racing but I do have a friend who has racehorses and are very ethical about their futures. They have one they weren’t happy to retrain/rehome and it is now happily retired somewhere, I can find out where if that would be helpful.

From what you have posted previously I don’t think it sounds like you are in a position to really have him?

 

[poiuytrewq]

The leg is slight, he will be absolutely fine on it, if he were any good obviously after rehab and rest he’d race again with it so that’s not a problem.
I totally agree I’m not in the position really to have him myself which is why it’s such a crap situation and one I’d been hoping wouldn’t happen for years and I’d be in a position to have him instantly.
Retirement livery is a definite option. I did think I knew the perfect place but sadly they have stopped taking horses in.

 

[poiuytrewq]

He has a beautiful personality with the right person, really lovely when he trusts and is used to someone. I can (and do) take a coffee and go chill sat in his bed with him after work! I’d not go sit on the floor of many others on the yard 😳
If a man or unknown person went in and made sudden movements or whatever he’d sh** himself. He’s obviously had a few beatings