The Gift Horse?

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Dry Rot

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Hypothetical situation....

Supposing you were keen to purchase a horse of particular breeding but good sense told you not to because you really can't afford it!

Supposing, out of the blue, you were offered another horse with much the same breeding but as a gift, what thoughts/worries would go through your head? Or perhaps you wouldn't worry and would just accept the gift with both hands and sort any problems out later?

Thoughts please!
 
Money is always important in owning a horse. I don't mean that in a snobby way, but you do obviously need to be able to fund it and your activities with them. At the end of the day, I'd rather do lots of looking into it, decline the gift and know the horse could have a more comfortable life with someone who can afford it, than having them myself after a quick decision and not thinking it through, and not providing the best for the horse.
I would look into it lots, and find ways if possible to get round any financial issues.
I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting a horse I knew I couldn't care for properly in the long run
But that's just my take on it, and I do tend to be a bit over cautious :)
 
Having been in a similar situation but instead of breeding, I wanted a really easy-going tempered horse as I had lost a lot of confidence.. But realistically my budget struggled to find any.

Then, got a call from a friend who knew of an ex-racehorse (still in training though) who has an amazing temperament, who was being given away free due to the owners health issues. I grabbed the opportunity and haven't regretted it since.

Unfortunately she is now out on loan, but with an amazing family who have there 13 year old daughter hacking her over Exmoor while the older sister schools her and plans to go hunting very soon.
 
Two years ago I sold my gorgeous TB because he was bored with me, I was offered him back recently as a gift, I found a rider for him and he came home, his passport said he was a 12yr old, had the dentist out, who put him at 18+, the last time I owned this boy and tried to have his teeth done, he fought the vet who suggested sedation, before that could be done, we moved and he was sold, he came back with feet in a terrible state, he's now barefoot on a healthy diet and slowly getting better, so far he has cost an arm and a leg, but deserves it and now has a forever home, I sold him thinking he was still young, now I know better, even if he spends the rest of his life in a field, he's going nowhere, the day I loaded him to take him to his new home, was the only time he refused to load and it broke my heart, even though I thought I was doing right by him, never again will I let a horse of mine go
 
If you can afford the ongoing costs, feed, agistment, insurance, farrier, worming etc and the tack & lessons (it is never ending), then go for it. I have to admit my funds are always tight, but that is because you can always find something to spend your money on with horses. :)

If you will struggle to provide the basics, then think carefully about it, and really consider if this is the right time.
 
Find out the terms and conditions properly first, get them written down, and then run like the wind with it and enjoy the situation while you can!
 
Like others have said it depends if it's just the lump sum to buy that you're struggling with or the monthly costs as well? Although if you can't put aside a couple of hundred a month to save to buy a horse I would question the ability to afford the running costs, but that's just me.

If you're happy that you can afford to keep a horse I'd then want to know the reasons for them giving the horse away for free and would probably then get the horse vetted just for my own peace of mind.

If all of this goes well then yes I would consider accepting the gift horse. Good luck! :)
 
I would worry what the reason was that the horse was free and would need to be satisfied that any problems it had I could cope with. No point the horse having amazing breeding if it is lame or had behaviour problems which were going to be too difficult to sort out, I personally would rather go for something sound and sane even if the breeding weren't as good.
 
Thanks for some very sensible replies. Of course, the situation is not hypothetical just as "I am posting this for a friend" never is!:)

Well, I could afford to buy a similar mare at value but haven't. There are two I've been watching. A very wise man once advised me, "Don't buy anything you don't need". A bit harsh, but still wise. I don't need another brood mare and an extra foal isn't going to be any less work!

The running costs are not really a problem either. I took an old mare as "free to good home" some time ago. She had sweet itch which I didn't think would be a problem. It was. So I more-or-less gave her to one of the girls here with two young daughters who love her to bits. I've always felt a bit guilty about that even though I know the pony is better off.

But taking a gift like this does, I think, bring with it obligations. Even if not written down, there is surely an obligation to look after the animal and not turn around a week later and sell it on for a large profit (as I could do in this case) or have it PTS.

It really isn't as straight forward as it seems. The trouble is that this mare has bred a very nice foal (now about eight) to my stallion already. Both mare and progeny are the type I like and dream about, but worrying is in my genes. My dear old mum used to worry most when she couldn't think of anything to worry about. She'd then worry that she'd missed something and was due for a nasty surprise....:D
 
Dry Rot said:
But taking a gift like this does, I think, bring with it obligations. Even if not written down, there is surely an obligation to look after the animal and not turn around a week later and sell it on for a large profit (as I could do in this case) or have it PTS.
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Send it down to me. I'll sell it on so you don't have to and we'll split the profit :D
 
So, the bit that is worrying you, is why would they gift you the horse, when on paper at least it could be sold for a lot of money?


Is there a clue in the fact she already has a foal to your stallion, and that the current owners know you will feel the moral obligation to give her a good home, with you, for the rest of her life?
 
Cragrat said:
So, the bit that is worrying you, is why would they gift you the horse, when on paper at least it could be sold for a lot of money?


Is there a clue in the fact she already has a foal to your stallion, and that the current owners know you will feel the moral obligation to give her a good home, with you, for the rest of her life?
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That's the problem. (See JFTD's post above).

I have no morals!:D:D:D
 
I was given a stunning filly, well bred, for free. The man who gave her to me just wanted to ensure she went to a good home. It turns out the mare was daft and I wanted rid, but I felt morally obliged to ensure I found her a fab home. 5 years of trying different loan homes, her getting returned each time (the final time I was tempted to change phone number, but realised my address was in the passport)

I ended up PAYING someone to take her off my hands and rehome her. A year on and they still can't rehome her. I should have PTS but I couldn't as she was actually a sweet horse, just spooked at everything all the time.

If you're a softie like me then never ever accept a gift horse
 
Reading minim's post above reminds me of a colleague who accepted a dog as a gift from his bank manager.

The dog turned out to be a sheep worrier, but as the man had a large overdraft, he had no alternative but to keep it!!!

I think I'm going to have to think this out again....
 
why are they wanting rid of the mare themselves?
i was gifted my big girl 6 years ago, i had been asked by a friend to take her on loan otherwise she was going to go to a dealer or the sales due to her owner not being able to afford her. her owner gifted her to me a few months later, big girl is not 'easy' and could quite easily have become a big problem if i'd have not stood my ground with her, but i don't regret taking her at all, we have a mutual understanding these days ;) her owners situation was genuine and she wouldn't have let the mare go if she really didn't have to at the time. the other horse i was gifted which i should have turned down was an unbacked 6 yr old, i sold him last year after reaching the end of the road with him.
 
I would compare the two horses and decide which one I wanted. Then I have a good hard think about having an extra horse then probably buy neither as it is November and winter is knocking on the door.
 
If the horse is legally yours though you can do whatever you like with it, so make sure you get a receipt to prove you are the new owner and then sell her.
 
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