Too many horses for 1 person??? WDYT?

BethanT

BethanT

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OK, so I don't know about anyone else on here but I'm getting rather fed up of people 'collecting' horses that they don't need. I'm starting to wonder if it is just down here or all over the country too.

So basically, someone has asked me to ride some of their horses with them as they will eventully have 5 to ride?!?! But in total they have 9. Two brood mares with foals at foot (this annoys me in itself because they bred from a friends stallion for the sake of having a foal :mad: and the stallion isn't proven hasn't done anything, or is particularly well bred). They have just bought an ex racer from the track, as well two horses they have had for years (the two that are actually suited to them) a rising 3 year old cob filly that they bred a miniature shetland and a dartmoor that no one rides.

I find myself thinking "what is the point" if you can't ride all the ones that need riding why have them? Not only this but they are re-training the racer and breaking in 3 horses but the girl wouldn't even get on one of our horses because she was nervous of it doing anything and this was a donkey of a horse that we put novices on.

Sorry for the rant, but does anyone else find themselves thinking this?
 
If they can afford it, have the time and all the horses are healthy then what's the problem? Some people like to have horses, some people like to have cats, some people like to have plants. It's really none of your business.
 
Their money, their choice.
I have too many horses but I dont expect other peopleto judge me for it, it's totally up to me
 
TheMule said:
Their money, their choice.
I have too many horses but I dont expect other peopleto judge me for it, it's totally up to me
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And me! Hit the nail on the head. I love my horses dearly. 3 are rideable (one a light hack only and one in the process of being brought on) and admittedly, they don't get as much work as they 'should' but they are well cared for, in good condition so if I want to have as many as I do, so be it.
 
BethanT said:
OK, so I don't know about anyone else on here but I'm getting rather fed up of people 'collecting' horses that they don't need. I'm starting to wonder if it is just down here or all over the country too.

So basically, someone has asked me to ride some of their horses with them as they will eventully have 5 to ride?!?! But in total they have 9. Two brood mares with foals at foot (this annoys me in itself because they bred from a friends stallion for the sake of having a foal :mad: and the stallion isn't proven hasn't done anything, or is particularly well bred). They have just bought an ex racer from the track, as well two horses they have had for years (the two that are actually suited to them) a rising 3 year old cob filly that they bred a miniature shetland and a dartmoor that no one rides.

I find myself thinking "what is the point" if you can't ride all the ones that need riding why have them? Not only this but they are re-training the racer and breaking in 3 horses but the girl wouldn't even get on one of our horses because she was nervous of it doing anything and this was a donkey of a horse that we put novices on.

Sorry for the rant, but does anyone else find themselves thinking this?
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As long as the horses are happy, healthy and cared for then I think it's none of your business how many horses and individual chooses to have and whether they ride them or not.
 
agree with the above responses, if they are well cared for ie fed, feet trimmed/shod wormed and generally well looked after it is no ones business but their owners.

I have 7 horses/ponies. i have my own land/stables, one is 30 (i've owned her since she was 3) her son is 22 (i bred him myself for myself and he's been with me all his life and will continue to do so) i then have a mare who cannot be ridden due to field injury she's also here for life, her 2 year old who i again bred myself (was to sell on but now staying, both very well bred PRE's) a 7 year old who i ride/compete on and two mini shetties who are out on loan for someones grandchildren, they were destined for a tin of dog meat, have made wonderfull kids ponies and again have an owner/home for life.

all are well fed/wormed/vacinated/insured/trimmed/shod and generally have the life of riley :) To be honest there are plenty of people out there that dont look after their horses well, if the ones you are commenting on are well looked after then to be honest i would worry about someone elses.
 
I think I know where you're coming from with this. I also know someone who's got 4 horses and is reliant on others to ride them. That is itself is not the problem but last winter they were all in really poor condition but she was concerned solely with the newest acquisition. But as long as horses are well cared for I don't see the issue. For me the problem starts when neglect sneaks in and person cannot cope with managing her horses.
 
I would feel very sorry for anyone who judged me on how many horses I have - because it is absolutely naff all to do with you.

What really annoys me are the equine related people that need to have an opinion on everyone else.
 
At one point I had eleven , so what I could afford them in time I got bored of it being some much hard work had the brood areas PTS and whittled down to six then five then four I stick at four now and only replace those that fallby the wayside.
Why do people have to judge others actions all the time .
 
MYOB. Get a hobby.

Are they fed? Cared for? Healthy etc?


Otherwise, nothing to do with you. And you're deciding which horses they have are the ones that are best suited to them? Jeez.

If you don't want to ride them, say no. If the person you are talking about on a public forum, has read this you might not have the choice now anyway.
 
I don't have a problem with people having the horses they want but the trouble is, is that the can't afford it. None of them work and the only way they can keep these horses is to have them on very poor land with shoddy and dangerous fencing. Many of them are underweight because the land is very over grazed and they don't know how to rotate properly, and are oblivious to worming. When they were on our livery yard they would bring them in a 4pm and not come down untill 11am the next morning and horse would have no hay or water and would be down to us to sort them out.

It just upsets me because I know that there are so many people out there that would love the oppertunity to have just one and can't.
 
Sorry, I agree with the others .. nothing to do with anyone else and cant see how such a thing could bother someone so much?

If someone had this rant about me owning more than one horse ... I'd just laugh as its a bit weird?

Im sure there's many people out there that would love just one but not my problem ... (without being harsh) I work my ass off at my job to pay for them (when I was younger I had more than one job) ... spent many days, weeks, months, years putting my animals before anything else to make sure they have a fab life ... if they dont get ridden for a week or two so what?

Sorry, none of your business ...
 
So if they are neglected and/or in danger, report the owner.


Otherwise, telling people on a public forum their financial details and whether they work or not...not good.

No point getting upset about the unfairness of some people having horses and some people not having any, that's life. Owning horses is not a right. You can spend the money you have on what you choose to spend it on, and if the people you are discussing choose tospend theirs on their horses what's it to anyone else. Report the horses condition if they're poor, otherwise...
 
I hAve too many horses.

But hey that's life - 3 of them will be with me until the end, 1 may or may not be depending on how good she becomes..but as I am useless as selling and I already love her chances are she will be here for life.

The only 2 that could be sold are the ones I really want to keep so thats that

1 is retired with severe navicular
1 is currently sat in a field doing nothing because i don"t have time but she has behaviour issues under saddle and is too dangerous to rehome
1 is the love of my life and competition horse, aged 15
1 is a 4 year old who i am currently backing to bring on alongside my comp horse for when he's ready to take things slower.

All are loved and want for nothing.
 
I see your point OP. It isn't the number of horses they have but the failure to provide an acceptable quality of life for the ones they have.
I know people who have 30 + horses, but they are equipped to have that number. they are knowledgeable and motivated and so don't have a problem.

On the other hand, there are the 'collectors' who like to own horses but are irresponsible and fail to meet basic needs. These are the people who couldn't look after one horse let alone multiple numbers.
 
BethanT said:
It just upsets me because I know that there are so many people out there that would love the oppertunity to have just one and can't.
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This sounds like jealousy to me... sounds like you are jealous that someone can have so many horses and you can't have one, which is a bit silly isn't it? Your time to own a horse will come I'm sure, but for now, what other people do really is none of your business, sorry but I agree with the others.
 
Victoria25 said:
Sorry, I agree with the others .. nothing to do with anyone else and cant see how such a thing could bother someone so much?

If someone had this rant about me owning more than one horse ... I'd just laugh as its a bit weird?

Im sure there's many people out there that would love just one but not my problem ... (without being harsh) I work my ass off at my job to pay for them (when I was younger I had more than one job) ... spent many days, weeks, months, years putting my animals before anything else to make sure they have a fab life ... if they dont get ridden for a week or two so what?

Sorry, none of your business ...
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I don't disagree with you at all. I worked two jobs to keep my boy. And I wouldn't have a problem if they were all homes for life but they aren't. They buy and sell and swap like its going out of fashion. I don't think anyone can say that's fair on the horses part if they are going to and from owners and dealers.

As for reporting them it has already been done by numerous people to numerous organisations.

Just want to say I don't have a problem with people owning more than one horse, that wasn't the point I was making, I'd have more if I could afford it. I'm sure all of you dote on your horses unconditionally and that's brilliant but it's when people can't afford it and don't do anything with them and don't seem to care is when it upsets me and I see it as such a waste. I understand why people are saying its none of my business and your right it isn't but I was asking if anyone else sometimes gets annoyed with similar people.
 
heebiejeebies said:
This sounds like jealousy to me... sounds like you are jealous that someone can have so many horses and you can't have one, which is a bit silly isn't it? Your time to own a horse will come I'm sure, but for now, what other people do really is none of your business, sorry but I agree with the others.
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I have a horse and have owned horses for 10 years. I love the horse I have had and wouldn't swap them for anything else.
 
BethanT said:
OK, so I don't know about anyone else on here but I'm getting rather fed up of people 'collecting' horses that they don't need. I'm starting to wonder if it is just down here or all over the country too.

So basically, someone has asked me to ride some of their horses with them as they will eventully have 5 to ride?!?! But in total they have 9. Two brood mares with foals at foot (this annoys me in itself because they bred from a friends stallion for the sake of having a foal :mad: and the stallion isn't proven hasn't done anything, or is particularly well bred). They have just bought an ex racer from the track, as well two horses they have had for years (the two that are actually suited to them) a rising 3 year old cob filly that they bred a miniature shetland and a dartmoor that no one rides.

I find myself thinking "what is the point" if you can't ride all the ones that need riding why have them? Not only this but they are re-training the racer and breaking in 3 horses but the girl wouldn't even get on one of our horses because she was nervous of it doing anything and this was a donkey of a horse that we put novices on.

Sorry for the rant, but does anyone else find themselves thinking this?
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I think you need to learn to let other people live their lives the way they want to as they do for you.

If the horses are happy and healthy, it is their absolute right to do whatever the hell they want and it is honestly none of your business.

Also, your post is woefully judgemental and this kind of attitude is worse than anyone giving their money and time to love and care for horses.

Judgement is an extremely unattractive trait. Just because you have an opinion, doesn't mean you should always share it. It can hurt people and can be totally unnecessary.
 
horserider said:
I see your point OP. It isn't the number of horses they have but the failure to provide an acceptable quality of life for the ones they have.
I know people who have 30 + horses, but they are equipped to have that number. they are knowledgeable and motivated and so don't have a problem.

On the other hand, there are the 'collectors' who like to own horses but are irresponsible and fail to meet basic needs. These are the people who couldn't look after one horse let alone multiple numbers.
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THIS is exactly my point.
 
I can see both sides of this: A. you really should mind your own business, as long as the horses are in good condition it is no concern of anybody's how people manage their horses. B. However, I can relate to the other side - I have a very good friend who has 10 horses, rides two and continues to put any mares in foal to "give them something to do". This is all fine and well until winter comes along, when all but the 2 ridden horses dwindle to racks of bones, knee deep in sucking mud; this has been happening for the past 4 years. What do I do? The first year I expressed concern with the way the "outside" horses were looking to be met with haughty denial. The second year I offered some hay; refused. These days? I don't go round to my friend's place to avoid upsetting both of us. The horses are not quite rescue cases, but are NOT being cared for well. Is it any of my business? No.
 
I have no problem with people having multiple horses, i have been guilty of having 5 myself in the past! However, i do have a problem with people who have large amounts of horses, but fail to provide basic care and end up neglecting them.
I also get irked by people who insist on breeding foals simply for the sake of it, esp if its from an average/below average mare/stallion- the market is saturated as it is, with many people struggling to sell at the moment, so breeding average foals to sell on just makes the problem worse.
 
Cortez said:
I can see both sides of this: A. you really should mind your own business, as long as the horses are in good condition it is no concern of anybody's how people manage their horses. B. However, I can relate to the other side - I have a very good friend who has 10 horses, rides two and continues to put any mares in foal to "give them something to do". This is all fine and well until winter comes along, when all but the 2 ridden horses dwindle to racks of bones, knee deep in sucking mud; this has been happening for the past 4 years. What do I do? The first year I expressed concern with the way the "outside" horses were looking to be met with haughty denial. The second year I offered some hay; refused. These days? I don't go round to my friend's place to avoid upsetting both of us. The horses are not quite rescue cases, but are NOT being cared for well. Is it any of my business? No.
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Might be worth that friend getting a visit and some "advice" from one of the welfare organisations. She wouldn't necessarily assume it was you either if this has been going on that long and you have never done it before. Just a thought.

I totally agree about it not being ideal to have so many horses that you can't give them the care they need, but I think when that is the case it would be best to either call a welfare organisation or come on here asking for advice rather than being judgemental.

People have been hurt by this kind of post before, actually only in the last few days on here, so it's always worth remembering that these are public pages and even well meant posts can cause upset.

As always, if anyone is concerned about the welfare of horses, call a welfare organisation...better to have a visit that isn't needed than be left to an uncertain future. But perhaps less judgement and more tolerance would be appropriate in this instance?
 
I have some sympathy for you OP - though I would probably express it more about people having any number of horses (including one) who have them on a whim, or because it seems cool, or whatever, but are not prepared to do what is necessary to look after them - either by doing it themselves, and / or by working to pay someone else to do it. And don't get us started on unnecessary breeding!!! If I were you I would not have anything to do with these people if you can help it - if you are riding their horse when it is malnourished etc you will not feel very good about it.
 
I know someone with 14...... Not all are ridden, or are only ridden by others as owner and mum dont ride anymore, so what? Not my problem, they are all cared for, cleaned out, fed, rugged when needed, competed and winning,

Then again, I have 3 that are all field ornaments at the moment, fed watered rugged fields cleared, but there is only 1 I may ever sell, but the other 2 are with me until the end!
 
Well I have 4 and I'm looking for no 5 ... I jave my cob, a sec A that was bought as a youngster and is too much for my children to ride - and is not overly trustworthy in the stable, and 2 Shetlands that I (literally ) inherited... I'd love not to have two of the little ones (the sec a and the tiny minature Shetland ) but neither are particularly saleable and I wouldn't see harm come to either of them - so they stay ...

If I had the money if have more 1 never feels like enough to ride tbh...
 
BethanT said:
I don't disagree with you at all. I worked two jobs to keep my boy. And I wouldn't have a problem if they were all homes for life but they aren't. They buy and sell and swap like its going out of fashion. I don't think anyone can say that's fair on the horses part if they are going to and from owners and dealers.

As for reporting them it has already been done by numerous people to numerous organisations.

Just want to say I don't have a problem with people owning more than one horse, that wasn't the point I was making, I'd have more if I could afford it. I'm sure all of you dote on your horses unconditionally and that's brilliant but it's when people can't afford it and don't do anything with them and don't seem to care is when it upsets me and I see it as such a waste. I understand why people are saying its none of my business and your right it isn't but I was asking if anyone else sometimes gets annoyed with similar people.
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^^This. I feel you're being jumped on OP and that people have mistaken the point you were trying to make.
 
BethanT said:
I don't have a problem with people having the horses they want but the trouble is, is that the can't afford it. None of them work and the only way they can keep these horses is to have them on very poor land with shoddy and dangerous fencing. Many of them are underweight because the land is very over grazed and they don't know how to rotate properly, and are oblivious to worming. When they were on our livery yard they would bring them in a 4pm and not come down untill 11am the next morning and horse would have no hay or water and would be down to us to sort them out.

It just upsets me because I know that there are so many people out there that would love the oppertunity to have just one and can't.
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Ah....now if you had put that information in your OP, you may have found you got a totally different set of replies. We can only go on what we read, and your OP sounded judgemental.

Do be careful though. Make sure you know theses people, or anyone in contact with them has no way of knowing who you are or what you write on here as it could end up getting you in a bit of trouble. Not with the authorities, but just bad feeling.
 
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