The PTS society

[Maesfen]

I think a lot of people avoid having horses put to sleep because they can't face their own pain.

I would rather see a perfectly healthy, economically unviable horse put to sleep than I would see a horse who should have been put down days, weeks, months or even years before kept alive because the owner can't face her own emotions.

Hear hear, well said.

 

[PucciNPoni]

I think I get what the OP is getting at. A few years ago a woman bought herself a very nice TB despite knowing she was going to struggle financially when she bought it. She bought him in the spring so had him on grass livery and was able to save up for a couple of second hand rugs. His vaccinations were due but she couldnt afford the vet so let them slide and the same with worming although she did do him sporadically so better than nothing. When he cut his leg open she couldn't afford the vet so treated it herself, sadly it ws a nasty wound needed stitches and it got infected. The YO (farmer who just rented the field out and didn't have anything to do with it) spotted him a few days later and paid for him to be pts and taken away after she once again refused to have the vet out because she didn't have the money

OMG, the kind of person who would do as described is rather irresponsible to say the least.

I bought a horse, knowing it would be a struggle. But I have afforded insurance, shoes, wormer, vaccinations, livery, feed - all at great expense to my self and my own "luxuries". But a horse is a luxury, a huge one. I may not be able to afford to retire comfortably (which my hubby gets annoyed by my selfishness in this regard). But I may not live long enough to retire -so might enjoy my time on this earth NOW. Yep, it's a struggle to afford it, but I would rather that than save for a rainy day that might never come.

 

[minesadouble]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I have always thought that there are two types of horse owners - those who love horse and those who love riding.
Those who love horses will do their best for the animals in their care, will retire them if fit to do so, and will PTS when it is the best thing for the horse.
Those who love riding will try to maintain their horses' ability to work at minimal cost, will sell them on or PTS if they can no longer be ridden, and replace them with a younger, rideable model.
It is the latter group who can often be found shouting 'Put him to sleep' at every post reporting an injury, from a fly bite upwards.
I spent a lot of money on one of mine last year (approx £10k) and am always amused by the people that say 'you could have bought a new one for that'. I know this, but I want MY horse, not a new one.
S

Agree Agree Agree!!
I have seen a prominent H&Her reply to a post by simply saying "shoot it" - I am no bunny hugger but that is just wrong!!

I have three retired horses/ponies who are no longer rideable who have all been good servants. They owe me nothing - in fact I owe them for he amount of pleasure they have given over their years of service. NO Way would they be PTS simply because they had outlived their usefulness.

Yes I am lucky that we hve our own place and can afford to do this. However if I only had one horse who became unrideable and it was a choice between PTS or I could not afford to replace him then I would not replace him.

 

[mymare]

Selfish or responsible?
Tb's are the ones who sadly seem to suffer the most as the by product of racing. Supply far exceeds the demand and as such many end up in the sales.
For me personally, I feel the ones who are PTS rather than sent to the sales ring are the lucky ones!

I agree.

I think of horses as family pets and alot of people think of them as having a job! I am a horse for life kinda owner!

Me too, but if, God forbid, something awful happened that I could no longer afford the care my much loved horse/ponies deserved I would prefer to have them pts than have an uncertain future elsewhere. Not everybody wants their horses for life and all the home checks and people vetting in the World won't stop horses ending up at sales, with dodgy dealers and a-rseholes like Jamie Gray. So I would prefer to know that this would never happen to my "family pet" because I care.

I fully know my responsibilities, and to have him PTS is a far better action than allowing the poor devil to suffer at the hands elsewhere.

^^ this.

 

[Ottinmeg]

In your case DS, suck it up, give up on certain 'luxuries' (cos lets face it there's always something we can give up to save money..I no longer have Sky TV, only have a mobile phone, no internet at home, no holidays, I drive an old van, don't go on journey's unless essential..am selling my beautiful little cottage in the country to buy a house in the middle of the town I work in...etc etc) and take responsiblity for the horses life you committed too when you bought him. Or are you telling me killing a only 16 year old healthy horse down is a better option than you sacrificing something in your life in order to keep him???

I understood perfectly well where DS is coming from in her post,You on the other hand don't appear to.She is doing all she can given her current circumstances and as she pointed out is selling other horses, however this loveable little rogue of her's doesn't seem to want to be anywhere else. The love she has for this horse comes through in her post and she is thinking of HIS welfare all the way. You make it sound like a case of ,don't want it so lets shoot it!

 

[Ottinmeg]

Here's one for you

A livery yard owner where i used to keep my horse was a ,don't call the vet unless it's leg is hanging off' type. She had a pony that she had had for 15 or so years, Said pony was in her twenties and was healthy enough although to me looked like she had cushings (untreated of course ) She pretty much stood in the field all the years i knew her. One day I watched that pony,all bright eyed and bushy tailed bounce up the road to her death and the reason she was being put down ? the YO needed her stable .

 

[Sadiemay]

Shilasdair, I dont know how to quote BUT what you have said is completely spot on I WISH there was a like button!

There are defo two types of horse owners as you say.

I love horses first and foremost for the majestic animals they are in their own right, so not under saddle or doing a job for us humans.

My own situation is that I have a 24 year old mare who was my childhood pony, I got her when I just turned 14 and she was 5. So we have been together for nearly 20 years. When she was 9 and I was 19 I retired her for several reasons and because of my career and associated commitments I have had to have her on either full or part livery, and because of that she has cost me in upkeep a whopping 500 - 600 GBP a month for the last 15 or so years as she cannot be a "field ornament" as in just living out 24/7 cheaply.

When my husband and I sat down recently and worked for the last 15 years to date what I have roughly spent on her, its something like 105,000GBP maybe a bit more Now when its written down like that I can see that is a obscene amount of money in its own right.

BUT she is worth every single penny of that, to see her face over the stable door is like magic to me each and every time, she is my heart and my best buddy. I have suffered on and off from severe depression and other mental illnesses over the years and she has been better than any therapist or drugs.

I bought her as a nieve 14 year old kid from the moment I laid eyes on her at the market I knew she was the one. That night when we got her home I whispered in her ear that she would NEVER ever end up in a place like that again and would have a secure home for me for life and ever since that day in 1992 I have done everything in my power to give her that and I will continue to do so.

I realise very much so that I am lucky and fortunate to be able keep her in the manner she has become accustomed to I do appreciate that, things may change tomorrow and our financial circumstances may change for the worse but we have several contingency plans/savings in place to ensure her future is as safe as possible as well as our own, after all she is part of our family and everything we plan for now and in the future has her taken into consideration as it does our other animals. Its the best we can do to safegaurd the future apart from having a crystal ball.

I cannot tell you just how many people have rolled their eyes, look completely aghast or bitch behind my back because of the decision I made to keep Sadie all those years ago especially as I couldnt just have her on DIY or grass livery.

And yes I would LOVE and have done for years another horse that I could pootle about on but I just cant justify the cost of two on part/full livery. I feel secure in the fact that with only having the one I/we can cover any situation financially that may need to be made about Sadies care but if I had two then that would not be the case and it would be a struggle so it would be irresponsible for me to get another and just hope that nothing would happen that cost alot of money to resolve.

My first and foremost priority is to my sweet old girl, my desire to have another to ride will just have to wait until such a time its appropriate.

If god forbid it ever came to us not being able to keep her ourselves then she would be PTS via injection at home in my arms with me and my husband comforting and reasurring her until the very end.

Sadiemay

 

[Flame_]

One day I watched that pony,all bright eyed and bushy tailed bounce up the road to her death and the reason she was being put down ? the YO needed her stable .

The reasons don't matter to the animals, they aren't even aware of them let alone able to understand them. Either killing horses is cruel or it isn't, all our little moral disagreements about who does and doesn't love horses and who's doing the right thing and who's being selfish are neither here nor there to the animals.

I think its sad, but i'm not against pts horses so i'm not going to start judging who's circumstances are worthy reasons for doing it and whose aren't.

 

[Wagtail]

I don't personally own a horse anymore because although I could afford to keep it, shoe it, feed it etc, I couldn't afford any massive vet bills, ie going beyond insurance..............

Alot of people choose to keep and struggle with money (not talking about circumstances changing like loss of a job) but ppl actively go and buy a horse when they are struggling with finance, and often see a serious condition (treatable) arise and are advised to have the horse PTS or come to that conclusion themselves.

I personally had a very expensive horse who I kept as a pet at livery for 6 yrs rather than have him put down ( he was unridable with a heart condition) but was happy as a field ornament on heart meds etc (16.2hh TB) so not cheap on drugs and food and shoeing (lame without shoes), I then decided after the sad day came when he kidneys were affected to have him PTS and couldn't afford to do that again with another horse.

I can't help but think sometimes horses are put down because of financial reasons and if you didn't buy this horse in the first place, someone with lots of money may have bought them and they would not have been PTS........

I know this sounds a bit idealistic, but it makes me mad how freely PTS is recommended on this site, do right by your horse etc, well i sometimes feel its not right, its not right at all!

People replying to this thread please read carefully what I wrote before you twist my words, as I can't be doing with getting angry on such a nice sunny day!

Completely agree with this. I have a horse that would have been PTS if his previous owner had owned him at the point he was diagnosed. She had several horses and none of them were insured and she said she could not have afforded the £5k it cost to put the horse right. He is absolutely sound now after having fragments removed from his hock. The vet said the fragments would have been there for years and it was just luck/bad luck that he became lame a week after the date of inception of my insurance policy.

 

[HashRouge]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I have always thought that there are two types of horse owners - those who love horse and those who love riding.
Those who love horses will do their best for the animals in their care, will retire them if fit to do so, and will PTS when it is the best thing for the horse.
Those who love riding will try to maintain their horses' ability to work at minimal cost, will sell them on or PTS if they can no longer be ridden, and replace them with a younger, rideable model.
It is the latter group who can often be found shouting 'Put him to sleep' at every post reporting an injury, from a fly bite upwards.
I spent a lot of money on one of mine last year (approx £10k) and am always amused by the people that say 'you could have bought a new one for that'. I know this, but I want MY horse, not a new one.
S

I agree completely. What an excellent summary of us horse owners!

 

[Shilasdair]

The reasons don't matter to the animals, they aren't even aware of them let alone able to understand them. Either killing horses is cruel or it isn't, all our little moral disagreements about who does and doesn't love horses and who's doing the right thing and who's being selfish are neither here nor there to the animals.

I think its sad, but i'm not against pts horses so i'm not going to start judging who's circumstances are worthy reasons for doing it and whose aren't.

I don't think this is a discussion about whether putting animals to sleep is cruel or not - clearly we are all agreed that in certain circumstances it is absolutely the right course of action.
I think we are just discussing whether we should PTS because it is in the horse's best interests, or whether we should only consider our own interests from a selfish viewpoint.
I imagine that rather than being black and white, it's a continuum and we'll all rest at different points along it from 'bunny hugger' to 'business person with a focus on costs'.
S

 

[jsr]

I understood perfectly well where DS is coming from in her post,You on the other hand don't appear to.She is doing all she can given her current circumstances and as she pointed out is selling other horses, however this loveable little rogue of her's doesn't seem to want to be anywhere else. The love she has for this horse comes through in her post and she is thinking of HIS welfare all the way. You make it sound like a case of ,don't want it so lets shoot it!

Yes that's exactly what it reads to me. The horse isn't ill, it isn't lame it just wants to be where it wants to be so for that it dies??? Afraid I don't see the love there, come hell or high water my horse lives a long, safe, secure life with me until the day comes his physical well being is compromised. My last foster dog was rehomed to a fabulous family, 11 month old lurcher totally nuts but a loveable dog. 2 days after they adopted him they rang me in tears because he wasn't eating, wouldn't come out from under the sofa and was terrified...at my house he was doing wall of death, eating me out of house nad home and a mad little fool!! So did I take him to the vets and kill him because I already had 5 dogs and really couldn't afford one more??? Did I hell. I took responsibility for the life I had taken custody of.

 

[ladyt25]

I haven't read all the posts on this (should be working) but I am of the opinion that if you make the decision to buy a horse you should consider that that horse could be with you for many many years (same as if you took on a dog - "a dog is for life" and all that). Now the difference with horse is you can sell them on if appropriate but I do hate those people who decide that, because they are struggling financially/they have a chage of circumstance etc etc that, rather than sell their perfectly healthy horse on to someone else they will elect to have it PTS because noone culd possibly look after the horse as well as they could. That is mention A LOT on here as a reason for having horse PTS and it does anger meas I see it as a very arrogant view.

Also, on that basis statistically it would mean a heck of a lot of people on this site are not capable of looking after horses! I mean there are loads of subsicribers on here - as far as I am concerned I look after my horses very well and we also have taken on retired animals who were facing being PTS and they have lived many happy years (well I assume they were happy - obviously they could tell me) of retirement with us before one way or another their life (generally age-related health issues and one just died) has come to end.

To be honest as much as I enjoy watching racing to it does disgust me they amount or 2and 3 yo horses that are disposed of because they are not deemed good enough to make their owners money. I think someone should be done about this. In fact, I personally think the age for starting racehorses should be higher (ie 4) so then these babies would not be thrashed before they have properly matured and then shot because in all of a few months it is concluded they are no good. I think it's appalling.

 

[widget]

I see both sides of the coin if an animal is healthy mentally and physically but put down due to 'no one else being able to look after as well' that's rubbish but if an animal is unsound mentally or physically then ideally you should keep it and look after it but this isn't always possible and if funds are an issue if you can't treat/medicate properly then it's better to pts than have a half hearted attempt at looking after a horse. Also if you can't gurantee that animals future either by loaning rather than selling or keeping the horse with you then pts should be considered. Horses are much better pts than passed from pillar to post or neglected

 

[DragonSlayer]

Yes that's exactly what it reads to me. The horse isn't ill, it isn't lame it just wants to be where it wants to be so for that it dies??? Afraid I don't see the love there, come hell or high water my horse lives a long, safe, secure life with me until the day comes his physical well being is compromised. My last foster dog was rehomed to a fabulous family, 11 month old lurcher totally nuts but a loveable dog. 2 days after they adopted him they rang me in tears because he wasn't eating, wouldn't come out from under the sofa and was terrified...at my house he was doing wall of death, eating me out of house nad home and a mad little fool!! So did I take him to the vets and kill him because I already had 5 dogs and really couldn't afford one more??? Did I hell. I took responsibility for the life I had taken custody of.

I don't think you have read the posters post you have quoted at all, have you?

G

 

[jsr]

I don't think you have read the posters post you have quoted at all, have you?

G

I did read it thanks but explain to me the situation then if I've misunderstood? My reading of your post was the horse isn't happy in it's new loan home, the loanee is about to return it and because you can't afford to keep it you are thinking of PTS? Have I read that wrong?

 

[cptrayes]

I am not ashamed to say that I keep my horses to ride. When they cannot be ridden to the standard at which I want to ride, I owe them either to find them a good home, or if that is not possible, to have them humanely killed. I don't feel that I owe them a home for life if they can't do what they were bred to do. They don't know, or care, that they could have lived more years. It is only the owner that knows or cares about that.

For every horse whose owner thinks that they owe them the rest of their natural lives as a paddock ornament, there is another sound horse somewhere being killed for no reason at all.

Is it really anything to congratulate yourself for, and feel superior to those of us who do not think the way you do? You are simply saving one horse that you know and condemning another that you don't to death. Meanwhile you are depriving yourself of the absolute joy of riding a horse that you are at one with. Where is the special merit in any of that?

 

[jsr]

What mobile phone, oh...the one that never has credit? Sky? WTF is that? We havent had a holiday in 3 years, the house is up for sale.

You talk out your arse my dear. Who can predict redundancy? Can you? Jolly good, you will save people alot of heart-ache.

Are you daft? He is NOT the only one I have for sale. Read that as you wish.

Last time we we had a meal out?

Can't remember.

So get off your high-horse Sunshine, telling me to 'suck it up' when you know jack s**t about what people have gone through to get to this point., I fully know my responsibilities, and to have him PTS is a far better action than allowing the poor devil to suffer at the hands elsewhere.

When it comes to feeding my son or my horse, my son will win.

Oh sorry missed this little tarade. So sorry I don't know your full life story..must try harder to keep up with a busy forum. But you quiet obviously like to play the woe is me card. You got all these horses you are trying now to sell/kill when you had money I take it..therefore did you make provision for the future???? Guessing that's a no. Which was the OP's point originally incase you missed it?

Sympathy for you not having a holiday in 3 years...pah try 10 years sweetie. Sympathy for trying to feed you son... never met a really poor person in this country with kids, child benefits so don't pull that one. It's your fault the horses that you carelessly bought when you thought you knew it all and had money pouring in are suffering and to expect other people to be sympathetic and understanding is just damn right funny.(if it wasn't so sad that a perfectly healthy horse is being threaten to die)

If you couldn't afford them come what may then you shouldn't have got them in the first place...simple really when you think about it. I can't afford a 5 horse lorry with living and luxury holidays, so guess what? I don't get them.

You made your bed and now your unforunate horses are suffering for it. Greedy selfish people.

Oh and before you pen your witting clever rely don't bother cos opinions of people like you really don't matter so I'll be putting you on ignore..got to love that ignore button.

 

[Maesfen]

I am not ashamed to say that I keep my horses to ride. When they cannot be ridden to the standard at which I want to ride, I owe them either to find them a good home, or if that is not possible, to have them humanely killed. I don't feel that I owe them a home for life if they can't do what they were bred to do. They don't know, or care, that they could have lived more years. It is only the owner that knows or cares about that.

For every horse whose owner thinks that they owe them the rest of their natural lives as a paddock ornament, there is another sound horse somewhere being killed for no reason at all.

Is it really anything to congratulate yourself for, and feel superior to those of us who do not think the way you do? You are simply saving one horse that you know and condemning another that you don't to death. Meanwhile you are depriving yourself of the absolute joy of riding a horse that you are at one with. Where is the merit in any of that?

I have to agree with you, nobody should be forced into doing something they don't want to do by comments from others.
I wish the holier than thou attitude would stop; it's totally stupid to expect everyone to have the same views but there is no need to preach to those that don't share your own views at all.

And to jsr, I'm sorry but all your little sarcasm to DreagonSlayer does nothing to improve your reputation, it just makes you look like a catty wotsit.

 

[widget]

It sounds like the op is doing the responsible thing and has tried other options before pts. Some people have family they can fall back on when times are hard and if something like redundancy hits. Some people don't have this luxury and hard decisions need to be made. People shouldn't be judged for that

 

[AshTay]

Haven't read ALL of the posts but my direct response to the OP would be that IMO there are two issues when it comes to being able to "afford" a horse....

1) Being able to afford, at a moments notice, a couple of hundred quid to have the necessary vet attention and afford a box of painkillers and some drugs necessary to treat the symptoms in the short term.

2) Being able to afford to try every possible treatment available if the problem turns out to be serious, beyond the insurance limit, to find a solution to the problem.

To me, if you can't afford 1) then you shouldn't have a horse.

2) on the other hand isn't what i would call a prerequisite for horse ownership and most people honestly can't afford this and I'd rather see a horse pts than left in limbo because the owner can't afford to do any more to help them.

But I would also say that if you can't afford vet insurance for a horse then you probably should think twice about having a horse as for most people that's the best option for bridging the gap from 1) to 2). (But I also acknowledge that it's not that simple for some people as insurance can get costly when a horse reaches a certain age or if you have multiple horses).

Also strongle agree with Shilasdair about the two types of people - that's soemthing that really stands out to me about this forum.

 

[Lady La La]

You are simply saving one horse that you know and condemning another that you don't to death.

I see where you're going with this, but, I hardly think that by retiring my elderly horse to the field after 20+ years of ridden life, I am 'comdemning' another horse to death...


I think I'm nicely in the middle of the fluff'O'meter... I know the kindness a well placed bullet can bring and see no issue in having a horse PTS should it face an unsecure future.
I don't throw my horses away if/when they can no longer be ridden... however, as long as those that do, do it humanely... there is very little to grumble about.

 

[Flame_]

Also strongle agree with Shilasdair about the two types of people - that's soemthing that really stands out to me about this forum.

I do too, sort of. I tend to divide them into people who have horses as pets and people who have horses as working animals.

I just don't like it when ethical issues are mistaken for welfare issues.

 

[jsr]

And to jsr, I'm sorry but all your little sarcasm to DreagonSlayer does nothing to improve your reputation, it just makes you look like a catty wotsit.

'Reputation'????? Lol sorry but I didn't realise this was a popularity contest. Jeez now that is funny. I actually thought this was a public forum for people to air their opinions, and if DS want's to air their dirty laundry too then why not expect those with a voice to use it????

I really really really couldn't care less what anyone else thinks of my views, all in all my opinion is if you cannot afford an animal then don't get it. Same as those who continue to breed children then complain they can't afford them? I have what I can afford and pay for my own life with MY money earned from working in a shitty horrible job and if that job goes (which it very much might) then I'll deal with it cos it's happened before and it might happen again but the one thing that won't happen is my animals will die because of it. End of.

 

[AshTay]

For every horse whose owner thinks that they owe them the rest of their natural lives as a paddock ornament, there is another sound horse somewhere being killed for no reason at all.

When I retired my old boy I took on a second horse (which I wouldn't have done while my old boy was still being ridden). So no other horse died for me to keep my paddock ornament....

Good point though (at first I didn't think you had a good point at all but having thought about it I'm inclined to agree).

 

[Muchadoaboutnothing]

I see where you're going with this, but, I hardly think that by retiring my elderly horse to the field after 20+ years of ridden life, I am 'comdemning' another horse to death...


I think I'm nicely in the middle of the fluff'O'meter... I know the kindness a well placed bullet can bring and see no issue in having a horse PTS should it face an unsecure future.
I don't throw my horses away if/when they can no longer be ridden... however, as long as those that do, do it humanely... there is very little to grumble about.

Very well said.

 

[cptrayes]

I see where you're going with this, but, I hardly think that by retiring my elderly horse to the field after 20+ years of ridden life, I am 'comdemning' another horse to death...

Will you buy another when he's gone? If not, OK. But if you will get another, and you do not have your elderly fellow put down tomorrow, then somewhere in a market a perfectly sound horse will go for meat, who would not have gone for meat if you bought a horse to replace yours.

If goes like this:

My horse can't do anything but light hacking any more so I have him put down and buy a Grand Prix baby prospect from someone who can't manage his sharp temperament.

The person who sold me the one with the sharp temperament that they could not manage buys an ISH that someone else finds too strong.

The person who had the too strong ISH buys a gentler ISH from someone who thinks the horse is capable of much more than they are.

The person with the talented ISH goes to the market and pays £500 for a lovely traditional cob in poor condition who was heading for the meat market, loves it and turns it into a super horse who wins local showing competitions.

This last horse is only alive because I had mine put down.

You see??

 

[Lady La La]

Will you buy another when he's gone? If not, OK. But if you will get another, and you do not have your elderly fellow put down tomorrow, then somewhere in a market a perfectly sound horse will go for meat, who would not have gone for meat if you bought a horse to replace yours.

If goes like this:

My horse can't do anything but light hacking any more so I have him put down and buy a Grand Prix baby prospect from someone who can't manage his sharp temperament.

The person who sold me the one with the sharp temperament that they could not manage buys an ISH that someone else finds too strong.

The person who had the too strong ISH buys a gentler ISH from someone who thinks the horse is capable of much more than they are.

The person with the talented ISH goes to the market and pays £500 for a lovely traditional cob in poor condition who was heading for the meat market, loves it and turns it into a super horse who wins local showing competitions.

This last horse is only alive because I had mine put down.

You see??

Of course I see...

My point was the wording in your post. Whether I retire my horses or not, it wont be me 'condemning' anything to death.

 

[Flame_]

For every horse whose owner thinks that they owe them the rest of their natural lives as a paddock ornament, there is another sound horse somewhere being killed for no reason at all.

Is it really anything to congratulate yourself for, and feel superior to those of us who do not think the way you do? You are simply saving one horse that you know and condemning another that you don't to death. Meanwhile you are depriving yourself of the absolute joy of riding a horse that you are at one with. Where is the special merit in any of that?

While I agree with some of this post, the argument about which horse gets killed doesn't quite work. If everyone kept their horses into retirement and it was unacceptable to pts horses past use, less riding horses would be being bred to meet the reduction in demand. It only works in so far as, replacing your old horse with a young horse destined for slaughter in the current market. Most people are more likely to buy a horse from the "bred to be someone's new young riding horse" market, IYSWIM.

 

[Muchadoaboutnothing]

Will you buy another when he's gone? If not, OK. But if you will get another, and you do not have your elderly fellow put down tomorrow, then somewhere in a market a perfectly sound horse will go for meat, who would not have gone for meat if you bought a horse to replace yours.

If goes like this:

My horse can't do anything but light hacking any more so I have him put down and buy a Grand Prix baby prospect from someone who can't manage his sharp temperament.

The person who sold me the one with the sharp temperament that they could not manage buys an ISH that someone else finds too strong.

The person who had the too strong ISH buys a gentler ISH from someone who thinks the horse is capable of much more than they are.

The person with the talented ISH goes to the market and pays £500 for a lovely traditional cob in poor condition who was heading for the meat market, loves it and turns it into a super horse who wins local showing competitions.

This last horse is only alive because I had mine put down.

You see??

Ermm . . . are you saying people shouldn't retire their horses then? You asked not to be judged for putting a horse to sleep so don't judge someone for wanting to give their horse some retirement.