Rowreach
👀
Slightly following on from the MR thread, but also because of my personal situation recently, I've been thinking a lot about what happens to those horses who are unrideable for various reasons from an early age.
Until recently I was very lucky to have my own land and stables and be able to retire any horse, whether ancient or younger and injured, for however long I needed to. I have always worked on a quality of life basis, and the belief that pts is not the worst thing that can happen to a horse, and a day early is far far better than a day late.
I have a 13 year old pony - a very smart looking pony, who is healthy and happy and a pleasure to have around. He has been unrideable through injury since he was 6, but he is not lame, and I have been frequently asked if I would sell him. I will never sell him or otherwise pass him on, because I am terrified that someone will put a child on him and that child will be injured, or worse. He is MY responsibility, and if the time comes when I cannot have complete control of his management, then he will be pts.
So the crux of this post, and I've no doubt it will be controversial, is this. Why do rescue charities persist in trying to keep alive so many sick and injured horses that have no prospect of a happy, pain free, stress free future? Would they not be better concentrating their resources (which after all are very limited) on rehabilitating horses and ponies which can go on to lead happy and useful lives?
And why oh why do owners keep passing on their problems instead of being responsible and doing the right thing by their horses - and anyone who may sit on them in the future?
Until recently I was very lucky to have my own land and stables and be able to retire any horse, whether ancient or younger and injured, for however long I needed to. I have always worked on a quality of life basis, and the belief that pts is not the worst thing that can happen to a horse, and a day early is far far better than a day late.
I have a 13 year old pony - a very smart looking pony, who is healthy and happy and a pleasure to have around. He has been unrideable through injury since he was 6, but he is not lame, and I have been frequently asked if I would sell him. I will never sell him or otherwise pass him on, because I am terrified that someone will put a child on him and that child will be injured, or worse. He is MY responsibility, and if the time comes when I cannot have complete control of his management, then he will be pts.
So the crux of this post, and I've no doubt it will be controversial, is this. Why do rescue charities persist in trying to keep alive so many sick and injured horses that have no prospect of a happy, pain free, stress free future? Would they not be better concentrating their resources (which after all are very limited) on rehabilitating horses and ponies which can go on to lead happy and useful lives?
And why oh why do owners keep passing on their problems instead of being responsible and doing the right thing by their horses - and anyone who may sit on them in the future?