"Useless" horses

Yes, I would. I prefer to keep all my animals for their lifetimes. We have space to keep them and I wouldn't get more unless I was sure there was enough room for them to live out their lives with us. Stupid I know, but it is the way I like it.
 
If your finances allow you to keep a horse, despite it not being able to be ridden - great.

Otherwise, I see no issue with having it pts.
 
Things being as they are then I expect to keep our girls for life, regardless of how long their ridden career lasts. Should something happen that would mean we couldn't afford to keep them (no sure what that would be as I would happily work all hours for them!) then I would rather pts than be unsure as to where they could end up.
As has been said before, there are worse things that can happen to a horse than a bullet.
 
glosgirl said:
Things being as they are then I expect to keep our girls for life, regardless of how long their ridden career lasts. Should something happen that would mean we couldn't afford to keep them (no sure what that would be as I would happily work all hours for them!) then I would rather pts than be unsure as to where they could end up.
As has been said before, there are worse things that can happen to a horse than a bullet.
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This exactly.

My horses will be with me for as long as I can give them all that they need and that they are happy and healthy.
 
Jazz most likely won't have a long retirment (he's got arthritis and ligament damage :( ) and he's in the 'only rideable at walk' category atm, however so long as the vet says he's comfy he's staying with me.

Smartie is 22, no way he's being ferried off to another home, he's happy pootling about the school and hacking out and when he can't do that anymore he'll be my big pet till his time comes.

If that means I can't afford a riding horse for 1 year or 10 thats just tough, my principal is keep them so long as they are happy and have quality of life.
 
Dizzle i'm afraid your siggie is "illegal" - so just to make you aware TFC may slap your wrist if they find out.

I hope to be able to offer any horse I own a home for life. For me horses aren't just about being worked, they are about enjoying spending time with them, work or no work.
 
It's a hard question. My retired boy is a much-loved friend of many years, and we will keep him so long as he is comfortable and happy. I would far sooner have him put down than see him passed on (not that anyone would want him!), but won't let him go before he needs to for the sake of getting myself a new riding horse.

However, I'm not sure how I would feel if I bought a young horse that quickly turned out to be unrideable, with the possibility of 10 or even 20 years retirement ahead of him/her. I can't afford two. Depending on the problem I would consider 'turning away' for a year on grass livery to see whether it would heal, or loan out as a companion (though risky and difficult). I would explore other avenues, but ultimately don't think I could sacrifice 10 years of riding for a horse I didn't know and love, and would pts if no alternative could be found.
 
As long as I can look after him properly ( I don't like to see vets, farriers, dentists etc not being called due to money) then I will keep my boy forever. You can't get rid of your loved ones just because they become less capable! Although I do tend to be more of a happy hacker, muckerouterer than a rider so wouldn't really miss not riding a lot!
 
If it is within my means then yes I would keep them for life until they were no longer comfortable.

Right now I have access to the perfect sort of home for an older, retired/semi retired horse or a younger horse that needed to be turned away for a long time to see what happened but that might not always be the case but as long as I have that place then yes I would.
 
My 22 year old pony taught me so much, we won so much together and he looked after me so well that I think he deserves to be looked after like a king for the rest of his life which I fully intend to do for him!

He is far from useless to me even though I can't ride him, he makes me smile every day I just love watching his funny little ways, plus he helps keep my foal in check without me being worried that he will hurt him.
 
Thanks for your responses, everyone. Horses are expensive pets but they're good therapists, lol. Hard to be depressed around a horse that's happy to see you. :D

I also agree that worst case scenario, euthenasia is a kinder option than selling on to an uncertain home. But let's hope our horses remain happy and healthy and sound for a very long time!
 
Well both of mine are useless and they are still here.

Old mare is now useless and high maintenance which is possibly the worst of all worlds. My view with her is that I will do all I can to keep her from getting laminitis again (she's cushings) but if she does get it I will PTS rather than put her through it again (its been 10 weeks and she's still not 100% sound). Its been a horrible time for her and I don't think its fair to keep having these terrible episodes

That said, I had planned to keep them both until old age. I miss riding terribly but I don't have the time for 3!
 
I also don't like the word "useless" but my now-unrideable pony (injured) will be with me till the end of his days. I owe him that (and I don't resent it for a second but I do really miss riding him).

I don't know what would happen if I took on a second for riding and he/she became unrideable - I can't keep two retirees. So at the moment I'm borrowing/loaning horses as it's the cheaper, lower-risk option and scratches the riding itch.
 
I have four horses, only one rideable (And a youngster coming through). I love them all dearly, really miss riding but i couldnt part with them. The rideable one is about 35 yrs very slow hacking, a 34 yearold tb x cb retired three years ago due to injury, a 7 yr old 17.2 hh huge thing which i rescued from death at the age of 9 months old (totally unrideable because of confirmation) and my 2 and a half year old gelding (who i will ride). I couldnt part with any of them especially the 17.2 and the tb x cb (he has really no teeth so lives on mashes, suffers with uveitis). If i couldnot afford to keep them financially i would get them PTS so they wouldnot suffer in anyone elses hands. The Tb x has had a bad life and i rescued him as thin as a toast rack 7 years ago. I will have my riding horse in the future but they always cheer me up after a hard days work or if im down. People either admire what i do or call me daft but i dont care its my life!
 
Humm I probably would get rid of a "useless" horse, but then I don't see how a horse would fall into this category!

My fathers big old hunter of 20+ years (no idea how old), that requires front shoes and a rug has a "use" as he is a wonderful youngster nanny. Plays with the babies and doesn't kick, but can reprimand nicely (although is being a bit soft with the latest colt and allowed him to eat his tail).

I guess a non-rideable horse that was horrible to other horses would be a difficult one.
 
I'm not the kind of person that would aquire a "useless" horse because I felt sorry for it, even all of our companions are capable of doing a job. Saying that, Bertha has been with us for almost 20years now, she owes us absolutely nothing, and of course she will have a home here for as long as she lives.
 
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