to loan or turn away,your thoughts please!

[jackessex]

i own a lovely 5 yr old who i have had for two years,ive backed him and he has started jumping etc etc,i have found out i am pregnant and im not sure what would be best for him.he loves his work but as i get bigger i wont be able to ride him.i have the land to turn him away but i wonder if i would be better to loan him so he can carry on his education,also he can be a little sharp at times so i worry that he could get ruined in the wrong home.your thoughts please.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

If he were older I would say turn away, but at his age I think he should be going out to see the world etc. What breed/type is he? he sounds lovely. Home is under your control with a tightly drawn agreement references and spot checks, also there might be a riding club locally where someone is looking for a horse and who might be able to manage any sharpness.

 

[SO1]

How about a share so someone comes and rides him and pays a small contribution to your costs but you still keep him on your land so you can keep an eye on him.

 

[em21xx]

[ QUOTE ]
How about a share so someone comes and rides him and pays a small contribution to your costs but you still keep him on your land so you can keep an eye on him.

[/ QUOTE ]

i'd say this would be the best option for you aswell

 

[kombikids]

keep him at yours and keep him ticking over - a sharer ideally but an instructor otherwise - you will appreciate the timeout to see him once you have had baby and will only have to buy another horse otherwise

 

[Jellymoon]

I kept riding my 6 year old (mental age of 5 as he had last year out through injury) until I was 34 weeks, he's on his holiday now, hoping to be back on again 6 weeks after the birth, or sooner, depending on how I get on. He's also a little bit sharp, but not too bad, and I was happy riding him with a bump (although I haven't grown an enormous one) although in the last few weeks I only took him in the school.

Perhaps see how it goes, you might be surprised at how long you can carry on riding happily. Mine will get around 12 weeks off, and I really don't think that's a disaster for a young horse, might do him good.

 

[dozzie]

Turn away for a few months. But you will need to get back to riding asap after the baby is born. If you were bringing him on to sell then it would be different.

I turned mine away in my last year at uni as I had so many problems with loaner/riders (not their fault, they were good riders, just my boy couldnt cope with it). It made very little difference in the long term to what he achieved and tbh having different people riding him confused/panicked him.

Hence if it only short term, I would turn him away.

 

[jackessex]

thanks everyone for your opinions,i rode with my first pregnancy but i wasnt very big,this time i think i am going to get huge as im only 3 months and allready getting huge!!for those who asked he is approx 16hh and tbxcon normaly i would just turn away and be done with it but he becomes quite a handfull if he thinks hes being left out,so if your an experienced rider with some time on your hands contact me.he is mostly well mannered and moves very big he jumps and hacks out on his own,and generally loves life.oh and we live near colchester.