Update on George re farmkey/old owner etc

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LankyDoodle

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Thank you to all of those that helped me.

I found Jane Welsh's (G's owner before me) newest address and hoped she still lived there. I hand delivered the letter with a few pictures, just asking for information, talking about how G is getting on and stuff.

I just got an email from her!!!!!!!!!! My word, I am so shocked. I was sold G as an 8 year old but before I even paid for him I knew he was at least 10 because a) the vet put him as aged due to his teeth and b) he was freezemarked in Dec 1993 - they have to be at least 1 to be freezemarked, and this was Dec 2002 (9 years post-freezemark). I accepted that he was around the age of 10 and just went with it because despite a few little issues, he was lovely and I really wanted him. The person I bought him from acquired him when the person who had him on loan didn't pay the livery fees, Jane couldn't afford to so signed him over to the woman who rented the yard to recoup her losses. I bought him in good faith and as far as I am concerned I paid for him, have the farmkey and a signed receipt and he's been with me 6 years - I own him. I am so scared she may try to take him back from me
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Anyway, this email.... she tells me she bought George in March 2000 as a 9 year old, so that puts him at around 12 when I bought him and 17 now
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I am so upset. I always had him down as coming up for 16 because of the farmkey stuff, and until recently I trusted the person who sold him to me to have been telling the truth and just maybe got mixed up with his age. She didn't do a lot with him before getting an injury and having to put him out on loan - long reining and some jump practise but she didn't have a lot of time with the sounds of it. The person before her was a youngish girl who she thinks had had him for 3 years and previously to that it was the home that freezemarked him so they'd had him for 4-6 years.

So the poor boy has been passed from pillar to post - 4-6 years with the first people, 3 years with a young girl, 2 years with Jane, a few months with a loaner, a few months with the woman who sold him to us, who treated him very very badly, 6 years so far with me! Of course I am biased but I think he now has a great life and a really nice owner teeeheee!

Will sound odd but I feel a bit... I don't know... sicky at reading the email. I am pleased G had 2 years with someone who obviously loved him as much as it sounds like she did in the email, but reading about how much he grew to trust her etc made me think 'hey, he's MINE!'. I suppose I have had him so long now and I feel all protective over him. She also doesn't live very far from here and (now this WILL sound mean) I don't think I would like her to come and see him - she hasn't asked but she may expect me to offer
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I just don't want her to want him back as things are obviously complicated, and I don't want to see them together because he's my horse now.

Good thing is that the picture she has sent me of him as a 9 year old, definitely shows he's at least part welsh d. His face has changed slightly with age, but as a 9 year old it was so much clearer. He has the most amazing mane and tail in the photo as well. I hogged him because he gets sweet itch and the person I bought him from had cut it to about an inch long and wrecked it anyway! His tail is still lovely but again, the sweet itch really has spoilt it in comparison to this photo.

I'm pleased to have more solid information about him but also a bit sad for all the reasons explained. If he's 17 and a half now, that's 2 years older than I thought and cuts down my time with him and my time riding him
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I'm such a worry-arse... he's never leaving me anyway. The day he leaves me will be the day either I die or he dies. I love him so much and HAD to find out this information. We are like bread and butter together and if someone tried to take him away I'd be broken hearted. I'm sure that won't happen.

Do other people still do lots with their older horses? I got him when I was 19. Previously to that I'd had ponies as I grew up on a farm and my dad was a groom when I was born (not now). There were working horses on the farm and I was sat on ponies and horses from age dot. In some ways I am pretty old fashioned with horses as a result. But I've never had that experience of owning/riding an aging horse and have no idea what age I can expect to keep hunting him until or ATTEMPTING to jump (little jumps) with him, or hacking for 6 hours over varying terrain or showing him.

Thanks for reading this waffle. Needed to tell someone! My husband is slightly peeved because I am upset. He said 'you WILL go digging, what did you expect to find out?!' He is right, but it's not like I've found out he's 30 (unless the person Jane bought him from also lied!).
 
Firstly im glad he's found you after being moved around a lot. It sounds like he's very settled with you and has probably forgotten all about how much he's moved now.
Secondly you know how fit and healthy he is now, so him being a couple of years older won't make too much difference i dont think. I mean i have read tonnes of posts on here about oldies still being ridden into 30s and being full of beans, so what's 2 years out of all that? i should imagine if he's got no age related kind of problems now, and hasn't been worked into the ground then he should have a good few years left in him yet.
And finally yes maybe she will want to see him, but she will probably be thrilled to see him in his permanent and very loving home, i dont think she'd want to mess him about any more, he probably wont really remember her or care (you are the one who feeds him etc now :P) and anyway none of that matters because if you feel uncomfortable you dont have to invite her and then its not an issue
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hope that helps in some way, it sounds like he's a very lucky horse to have found you and you to have found him.
 
Gosh that was a confusing post - but I think I have got the gist of it
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17 is nothing! Horses go on for much longer now than they used to. Crikey you have got at least another 8 years of hunting him
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I suspect you feel relived about finding that original owner but sometimes we have to be careful what we wish for! I can't believe for one minute she has a claim on him.
 
Its good you know his history now!
!
Ravenwood is right 17 is nothingg!
I have a 17hh IDxTB whick we brought from a terrible riding school who over worked him horifficly as he's so special
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And he was 16 when we brought him and they told us we'd get a year out of him riding wise and he'd be PTS in 3 years,
shows what they know he's 24 now and still riding has TERRIBLE arthritis but if he's not ridden his joints seize up,
Just yesterday he took off with my best friend!

He was a 3 day eventer(at a hight level) when he was young and then a huntsman's hjorse before going to a dealer and then the rifding school. So you can understang all the leg and arthritis problems with him
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Dont worry you and George will be hunting for a while yet
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(thats him(and me) far left in my sig at a 12 mile sponsored ride and XC)
x
 
Try not to worry- two years is nothing really, somtimes people find horses are 5 or 10 years older than they were led to believe.
IF she dioes to see him then I am sure she will realise you have had him for six years now and is your boy.
His temporary blip with two or three owners in a year is well in his past now as he is secure with you.
 
What is a couple of years in the grand scheme of things? You have already said he has a home with you for life so I don't think that 2 years is here nor there really.

Ellie is 28 and still goes to shows doing the occasional jumping class - nothing big - about 2'3" max. She does dressage with the kids and has a high old time
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As for his previous owner maybe wanting to see him - IF she does then she will see how much you love him and have cared for him over the time you have had him. This will put her mind at rest that he is now well cared for


Finally - quit borrowing trouble and enjoy him
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A number of years ago, a friend of mine bought a pony that she believed to be 12. She showed great talent for jumping and she decided to BSJA her. When she travelled out of the area, somebody recognised the pony and told her it was 22. She too was upset until we pointed out it did all she wanted and more!!
She saw the point we were making.
 
I wouldn't worry at all about George being 17. I was helping out at an Endurance ride recently and one of the horses taking part in the 50 mile race ride was mid-20s. As long as George is fit and well, he will go on for many years yet.

Don't be upset about him having had a few owners in his past and falling into the hands of someone who didn't treat him too well - the important thing is that he has a happy home now and will stay with you for the rest of his days. The woman you contacted has no claim on him whatsoever - if she was that bothered about him 6 years ago, she wouldn't have signed him over to the livery yard owner - she would have got the money together somehow. So don't worry! I would doubt she would want to see him now and if I were you, I would just let things go now. Enjoy George and concentrate on your future together, not his past that you can't do anything about.
 
I had similar situation when i traced my boy via his freezemark. I bought a 10 year old which turned out to be 14. Ok doesnt sound a lot but in horse years he was getting on abit and I''d paid a 10 year old price for him as they knew he;d be worth less at 14 years.
however like the others have said its how the horse feels at any age that counts, you can have a 5 year old with arthritis and a spritely 17 year old that will go on for years.
 
We got an old blue cross horse years ago, aged 22 and he did long sponsored rides and all sorts. We retired him at 26 cos his check ligaments went but he went on til he was 36!

My own horse is 17 now and I've had him since he was 4, done BSJA etc on him. At 17 he has now decided he fancies himself as a bit of an event horse so we have been doing some intros this year and he is still full of beans. I expect to re-affiliate him BSJA this winter and see how we go as not BSJA'd for years due to loass of confidence (both him and me) but it seems to have come back.

ll being well with him health wise I would hope he'd still be going strong well into his 20's and I think we'll have to wean him off competing quite slowly as he gets a bit depressed when not out at 'parties'! I think nowadays at 17 a horse is pretty much in their prime - just think of how many top competition horses are out there now. Even the Whitakers Monsanta was jumping the big tracks with Louise whitaker when he was 21! Just enjoy him as you have bee. I don't think the old owner would want him back neither do i think she'd be able to get him back, she may want to see him though. I think i would if he'd been a horse I'd owned.
 
it's great that you have found out his history altho i can understand why you feel protective of him and don't feel inclined to have his old owner wanting to see him , think it's natural to feel 'he's mine now so back off' lol
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As for his age, it hasn't changed the way he is just because you've found out he's 2 years older than you thought, he's still the same george who can do the same stuff today as he did last week when you thought he was 15.
just carry on enjoying him like you have been
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That's good that you've got the information you were after. Don't worry Carrie, my first pony was 28 and we still competed every week at county shows on a national basis for at least 5 years! I think the oldies can be just as good so no need for doom and gloom
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The most important thing is that you will know the right time when to start winding down as he will start to show you. But for now I think he has a good few years of enjoying himself!!!
 
Hi.
17 is not that old for a horse, he's in the prime of life now.
I used to ride an anglo-arab, ex champoin event horse, that was retired at 11 due to severe torn tendon. She was nearly put down the injury was so severe, but the owner couldn't bear to, instead she was nursed back to health and kept as a 'pet' for 8 years with absolutely no riding at all, at 19 the woman who owned her asked my sister to start schooling her again (she'd had the all clear from the vet), and doing some light work with her.
My sister brought her back into full work after a year and was even doing cross country on her. she was absolutely fine.
After 3 years she was used as a brood mare, had her first and only foal, then she was turned away again for retirement, but she hated this, so after a further 3 years the woman asked me if I would like to ride her as her daughter was busy bringing on a youngster, my sister had her own horse by then and I was, by then, the right size build and ability for her old mare, so at the grand old age of 25 The mare was brought back out of full retirement. I used to ride her 3-4 days a week, even entered her in veteran (working hunter) classes at local shows, even won a few. She never felt her age, and used to love a good gallop across the stubble, easily keeping up with her daughter who we used to ride out with.
This is what can happen when a horse is looked after well at a knowledgeble home, which yours sounds like.
My poor old mare was finally retired at 30, and sadly put to sleep at the age of 32, due to a recurring absess in her mouth which ment she couldn't eat properly and lost too much weight, but she had led a full and happy life.

Your boy sounds like he has a great life with you, he will let you know when its time to slow down, for now keep on doing what your doing, don't worry about the past, look forward to the future. If his old owner wanted to see him again i am sure she would have asked by now, and if she did, it may only be to make sure that you are looking after him.

Keep up the good work and try not to worry too much about this other lady.
 
I bought my current horse 4 years ago, at the age of 13 (ha) - had his teeth checked , turned out he was in his 'late teens' at that point--hes probably around 21 now...but you woulndt guess it by looking at him, he certainly doesnt act it!! I was upset when I found out he was older than I thought, but really its just a number...he was obviously well schooled and competed at some point, then seems to have had a bad spell being passed around from dealer to dealer cos he was in ahell of state when I found him. I'm doing stuff with him now-- showing mainly, cos Im not that great at jumping, although horsie is....hes loving it. Part of me is very interested to find out exactly where he's been and what hes done in his life, but like you I wouldnt want ex-owners anywhere near him...he's my boy, and as far as I am concerned now hes got the best home/owner ever ( of course) and no-one can possibly have the bond we have!!!

Ditto other posts- hes still the same horse he was before you found out, he's fit, healthy and loved...keep him that way and you will have many years left together.

I get sad that I havn't as many years left with my boy as I thought, could get quite upset thinking about it... but at least I know hes with me for life ...same as you and yours
 
Glad that he has got a lovely home for life now
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I'm 'half' looking for information on my boy - I haven't registered on any tracing websites but check to see if his old owner(s) might be looking for him - nothing has come up yet.

I'm scared that I will find something I don't like.

However, Chum is with me for life so shouldn't make any difference. I was told he was 13yo when I had him (makes him 16yo now) but wouldn't be surprised if he was older though vet/dentist assure me not much older.

He has just been diagnosed with hock arthritis and I'm going through the 'what will I be able to do with him' questions at the moment, I'm so worried that we wont be able to carry on the fun things we have been doing, he has so much to teach me. As others have said, you could get quite upset thinking about the time you have left, you want them to go on forever
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Friends are helping me keep it in perspective - we have to remember the good things we have already done and the love they continue to give us
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Am glad you traced the old owner, who knows, maybe she's just happy to know he's safe and well after all this time, circumstances meant she signed him over in place of cash owed, that would mean he was taken as a payment, claims on him are zero, he was sold to you in good faith, if there was reasons she shouldn't have sold him like say...a signed agreement in place to offer ownership back to old owner before was sold in case could pay the debt off and have him back, then yes, she'd have a claim on his ownership, that's not the case so don't worry, he was payment for goods, harsh way of looking at it but not like he was gifted to be offered back
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His age won't make much differance to you I reckon, continue enjoying him as you are, don't allow the thought he's two years older sway you, I've had a horse that was 28 that was still like an 8 year old and in full work, and equally had a 19 yr old that was like a 59 year old so don't sweat on the age, it depends on how their life has been and he sounds lower mileage than could've been, ok he's been passed around but like you say he's with you for life, so that's fine!
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If she asks maybe send her a photo of him now if you don't want her seeing him, am sure all she wants to know is he's happy and fine, she took the time to get in touch after your tracing her after all, if she wasn't bothered she wouldn't have replied at all, don't take to heart the trust matter, she's probably quite proud of what achieved with him, as you are and it's not wrong of her to feel proud, if you did sell him on (hypothetical) would you be hurt if the next owner said you shouldn't carry those feelings because he's now theirs?
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be glad you traced his history, it's given you an insight into his life, sometimes it's not happy what we discover but sometimes it can lay a lot of things to rest too
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Hi and thank you to everyone
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Yes the post was quite haphazard - I was feeling quite emotional and that shows. Hehe.

I am pleased I found Jane and she contacted me because I now feel missing links have been found and, providing nothing goes amiss, I can go on with George taking him into retirement and beyond, knowing that he's my horse.

She did say he trusted her, but she'd not ridden him much due to the foot and mouth. She said he came to trust her because she spent hours each day at her field sorting out stables and drainage for when he was allowed out of the field, when foot and mouth ended. And actually, wasn't foot and mouth Feb 2001 and not March 2000!? She said that in the photo she sent it is March 2000, during foot and mouth and it's just after she bought him as a 9 year old :S Hmph, confused again.

Farmkey have 2 owners registered before me and she is one of them but they say the previous owner to me owned George from 1997-2001 when the membership ended, then he was put out on loan for several months and I bought him in 2002. And it was her name on the farmkey when I bought him so she has to be the 1997-2001 person. However, she claims that she bought him as a 9 year old in 2000 :S Well I really am confused. Something maybe isn't right here. Things don't add up... 3 owners on farmkey, 1) 1993-1997; 2) 1997 - 2001 and 3) Me - 2002-present. The second person was Jane (I know this because I was given his farmkey docs when I bought him and it was her name on them) who had been registered from 1997-2001 :S So why is she telling me she bought him as a 9 year old in March 2000 and not even getting the story straight because foot and mouth was in 2001!? She does seem very genuine though and other things do seem true. Maybe she is confused :S

Oh I don't flippin know. Surely she knows when she bought him but if it was actually 1997 she bought him as farmkey claim and he was still 9 when she bought him then he's actually 20 now. I am so confused and emotional about all this. It's ridiculous. Like everyone has said, he's the same horse as he always was and he has several years left in him yet. I am just cross that I don't know what went on behind all of this. Grrrrrrrrrrr.
 
I wouldnt worry about the dates not matching too much, when it was that long ago its hard to remember, reacently stans old owner bumped into me at a show and said its lovely to see him looking so well after 8 years away, i was flabergasted i thought i'd only had him for 6 years, went back and checked his paperwork and she was right it was 8 years!
 
Carrie - it may be a bit of a longshot but there is a free magazine called Charnwood Tails which is issued free each month in certain Leicerstershire tack shops and feed stores. They have a circulation figure of around 1,000. Maybe worth a try contacting them to see if they could put an advert/photo in or run a story for you. Think the web address is www.charnwoodtails.co.uk.
 
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