What do to with my horse - long, sorry!

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scotsmare

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Life hasn't been tremendously straight forward lately, and today, to top it all, I've been told I definitely have to move jobs at the end of this month - shifts, 4 days on 3 off. 8am til 8pm.

I only just about cope with horsey as it is and this means I'm going to have less time than before (job has an hours commute each way). I can't afford full livery so that's not an option.

So, I'm thinking of selling her BUT my thoughts are that the right home is much more important than the price, so I'm thinking of offering her comparatively cheaply.

Now, couple of sticking points - she's only 4, is only partially backed and has had a few soundness issues which we appear to have resolved. But, she was worked yesterday and today and is raring to go.

So, how do I go about this and what would I price her at? 16.1hh warmblood, fully reg, jabs etc all up to date. I can't really face the loaning thing as I'm too scared that someone messes her up and gives me back a duff horse
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I don't really want to put her via a dealer either - I'd like a good, long term (as possible) home for her.

Any suggestions?? Wine and chocolates for getting this far!
 
Scotsmare, So sorry to hear this.. Is this your only option? How about turning him/her away for the winter months and see how you get on with the job and bring her back into work in the spring? Obviously dependant on how well she would cope turned away?
 
eurgh - thats a difficult one. I guess it depends on how much this mare means to you - if she is a one in a lifetime horse then I would try the loan route or even the sharer way - even if they want to ride on the days you are off then at least it pays for some livery costs. Maybe hunt around a few livery yards and see if you can get a deal - as mikammoon said one where you could turn her away or try a very small livery yard that might be more flexible.

If you cant bear to go all through that you could either sell cheaply or I might be inclined to send her to a producer / dealer who can get her working nicely and then sell.
 
Turning away for the winter isn't really an option - I only have her so renting a field would mean needing to find a field buddy (ironically an option I did consider before this happened!) Yard she's at doesn't do 24/7 turnout in winter so she'd need to be in.

I can't see anyone wanting to loan an unbroken 4yr old either
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If you want to find a good home, then the one thing you have to do is to give yourself time - that will take the pressure off taking 'whatever' from 'whoever' because you have run out of time and options.

You need to try and find a way to potentially over-winter her. That, at worst, would give her a chance to grow up and you a chance to make her a good a girl as you can (introduce her to clipper, etc, etc) so if you sill have to sell her then you can be choosier about the home.

You say that the yard she is in doesn;t do 24/7 turnover, but honestly, almost every village has a farmer who 'does a bit of livery', but they would never ever in a million years advertise. So if you put the legwork in then I am sure you will find somewhere - you just have to ask and knock on doors and see. If you see a well looked after horse is a field, go ask, if they can help, If they can;t, I bet they know someone down the road who can! Ask the local riding club, hunt, whoever!! And think laterally, if you offer to look after their horses for three days a week/over holidays then trust me, that would be so attractive to some (very nice) people that your costs would dramatically reduce.

Anyway, good luck, I am sure there is a good solution out there for you both!
 
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