What is wrong with giving a healthy horse away?

all about Romeo

all about Romeo

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What is wrong with giving a healthy horse away?

If the horse is old and/or injured but still has a good quality of life what is wrong with rehoming it?

As long as the owner is honest about the horses history, carefully vets all potential homes, has a contract and checks on the horse regularly why must it be PTS?

What are your thoughts?
 
I agree in theory but as a person taking it on you don't know how honest the giver is being, and as a giver you can't guarantee its future, especially if there is a condition that will involve constant vets bills, not that you could if selling either. I do think people can be a little bit too sceptical and I'm sure there are plenty of people who genuinely take these horses as companions. It's the type of horses that bothers people I think, like if I had a bit more spare income and my own land I would probably take a companion on but if given the choice between a high maintenance tb and a little exmoor or something, well its easier to be optimistic for the future of a pony that pretty much lives on grass all year round!
 
all about Romeo said:
What is wrong with giving a healthy horse away?

If the horse is old and/or injured but still has a good quality of life what is wrong with rehoming it?

As long as the owner is honest about the horses history, carefully vets all potential homes, has a contract and checks on the horse regularly why must it be PTS?

What are your thoughts?
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given away? Or on loan? The problem is as a few people have encountered on here even after vetting that the people the horse has gone to has been sold on to a new home. When you Give away a horse you have little come back on what happens. Some have even been sold on loan but saw an article in the news that a horse had been sold on loan and the person who sold the horse got a prison sentence.
 
Nothing. I have given a few horses away that I have been honest about. New owners are all friends and I still hear about/see all of them. If they are happy and have a quality of life why not.

I think the problem lies when people give them away because they don't want them/the horse is no longer useful to them so just want to palm it off on someone else-mostly not being honest about the horses condition. That I do not like.
 
the problem is that so many times we hear of a horse who has been given or loaned to a supposedly good home and is then sold on and ends up being badly treated and ends up being put down anyway. my horses stay with me till the end and they are put down at the yard ...... ii think there are far worse things for a horse than being put down humanely in familiar surroundings and with their owner who they trust.....
 
if it has an injury or condition which means it can't be ridden then you would have to effectively only put it out on loan as once you sell a horse, even for a £1 you lose control over what happens to it, contract or not. On loan you have to be prepared for the fact that at any given moment you could have a completely crippled horse returned to you, if you are rehoming due to your financial difficulties then that prospect could be a problem.
Even on loan you can not guarantee that the horse is not being buted and ridden in your abscence, yes there are honest people out there who would stick to the agreement but there are also a lot who are only after a free horse to ride, or at worst to sell on for a tidy profit:(
rehoming large horses as companions is not easy, most people who want an unridden companion already have a large riding horse who costs them plenty of their well earned cash to keep, if looking for something unrideable they are more than likely going to look for a smaller cheap to keep pony.
i honestly believe that if a horse is unrideable and you can no longer keep it yourself it is actually fairer to the horse to have it PTS rather than try to palm it off onto someone else. No matter how well a home is vetted and contracts put in place you can not guarantee that the horse will remain unridden. genuine homes for those types of horses are very few and far between and sadly the law of averages dictates that you are more likely to end up passing your horse on to someone unscrupulous if you give it away:(
it's not nice but it is the world we live in!
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with giving a "healthy" horse away but then why wouldn't you sell it? Chances are a healthy horse would pass a vetting.

Why would I not have given my old arthritic pony away? Because she was a good loyal friend, I knew how to manage her and knew her well enough to call it a day. Why wouldn't I have re-homed her? Because in this day and age nobody really knows what's around the corner financial and that person who had good intentions might find themselves in a place where they couldn't have afforded my mare. Once you have given a horse away, I can't imagine what kind of contract you would think would actually be worth the paper it was written on let alone somebody who "owns" a horse letting the old owner come and "check on it", and what are they going to do if they aren't happy, they don't own the horse anymore!!! So that is why some people should just do the best thing for their horse instead of seeing companionship and/or giving their horse away as a "light hack" as an fluffy ending because in my opinion, that's what difference between a good owner and a bad owner.
 
I would only 'give' my horse away, if I knew the person, or if the person was someone I knew of! I would never advertise any horse free to good home.. and I would rather pts than let a random stranger 'take' him, sorry but I have read and heard of to many horror stories .. (but tbh, my horse is my horse for life ..come what may!!!)

On the other hand .. I would take a free to good home horse on, if I could afford it, I would give a horse that needs it a home ..

so, really I don't suppose I am the best person to answer!!! :o
 
Because I believe that I have the ultimate responsibilty for my horses.

In an ideal world there would be lots of wonderful homes crying out to take on old horses. Sadly we live in a far from ideal world and there are those who would happily take on an old horse, sell it on or take it for meat for a quick buck and those who would abuse or neglect the horse. An injured horse may also not receive the medication/care it needs and I think it is extremely unfair and dangerous for the horse to pass it on. Also why on earth would anyone want to take on a horse that needed expensive medication because it was unwanted by me?

The only way I would do it for a horse I could no longer care for is if I knew the person extremely well and trusted them implicitly. Far too many con merchants out there that would take advantage and I wouldn't risk it for my horse. You just have to look on here at those who have had loans go wrong by people that they trusted to see how risky it can be. As it is if I can no longer care for my mare of 19 yrs she will be pts. She is far too precious to me to risk things going wrong for her.
 
I assume this is due to the reactions on the other thread- well I think the answer is that you are passing on a horse that could easily end up in the wrong hands....if you give it away to friends (that you trust) then that is different...but if you advertise free to a good home then the horse could end up with a delaer, meat man or maybe a total novice.

I realise there are exceptions...I would not be happy to pass on a horse as free to a good home.
 
I agree it can be a shady area under some circumstances... However I really do believe that it can have a happy outcome...
I find it so sad when an owner has a horse that is old and/or injured but can no longer keep it (for what ever reason) so has it PTS instead of re-homing it (either on loan or given away)
It seems may people put the horse down as an easy option (I am not talking about horses that are in pain and need to be PTS)
Ideally we would all keep our horses until they died naturally or come to the point were they needed to be PTS, when did horses become disposable?
 
I gave my old boy Bamber away in 1976. I had become so allergic to horses that I couldn't take care of him. :( I gave him to someone I knew and trusted, who was knowledgable and just wanted a safe horse for herself and her kids.

I believe he had some happy well-cared-for years with that family and when his age and health problems meant it was time to do so, he was pts.

If I faced the same circumstances again, I'd be very careful. I don't know if I'd do it again. It's a dreadful risk as once you've given the horse away, it's not up to you what becomes of them. :(


Dear Bamber, I still miss him after all these years. If ever a horse left hoofprints on a heart. :(
 
all about Romeo said:
I agree it can be a shady area under some circumstances... However I really do believe that it can have a happy outcome...
I find it so sad when an owner has a horse that is old and/or injured but can no longer keep it (for what ever reason) so has it PTS instead of re-homing it (either on loan or given away)
It seems may people put the horse down as an easy option (I am not talking about horses that are in pain and need to be PTS)
Ideally we would all keep our horses until they died naturally or come to the point were they needed to be PTS, when did horses become disposable?
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PTS - Easy option...are you kidding! its often a brave decision made by people because for horses sometime death is better than the other options. Unfortunately we live in a world where some humans do not have the horses best interest in mind...or they may not have the knowledge and neglect their animals due to their ignorance.

Obviously in an ideal world it wouldn't have to happen...but this is not an ideal world!
 
all about Romeo said:
What is wrong with giving a healthy horse away?

If the horse is old and/or injured but still has a good quality of life what is wrong with rehoming it?

As long as the owner is honest about the horses history, carefully vets all potential homes, has a contract and checks on the horse regularly why must it be PTS?

What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Because that particular Utopia, sadly, rarely exists. Out of all the old, injured, retired horses that could fit the bill you describe, how many do you realistically think could be re-homed forever by those who have the time, money, knowledge, land, inclination? Especially in this financial climate.

Personally, unless I truly knew the person and could keep a very close eye, I would never, ever pass on the responsibility of one of my horses like that. I could never sleep soundly again if I did; always wondering if they were ok, were where they were supposed to be, rugged and fed properly, checked regularly...

I mean - pretty much the last thought I have every night and the first every morning is about my horse, and I KNOW (barring accidents) that's he's just fine... :o

I can hand on heart say I would rather shoot my horse myself than let him go, old or injured, into an uncertain future.
 
all about Romeo said:
I find it so sad when an owner has a horse that is old and/or injured but can no longer keep it (for what ever reason) so has it PTS instead of re-homing it (either on loan or given away)
It seems may people put the horse down as an easy option (I am not talking about horses that are in pain and need to be PTS)
Ideally we would all keep our horses until they died naturally or come to the point were they needed to be PTS, when did horses become disposable?
Click to expand...

I disagree. There are far, far worse fates than death for a horse. If it's old or injured as you say, who knows what horrors await it if you give it way?

Unless you are really, really sure of the people who are taking it, I think to pts is a brave and loving thing to do for an old friend in some circumstances.
 
all about Romeo said:
I agree it can be a shady area under some circumstances... However I really do believe that it can have a happy outcome...
I find it so sad when an owner has a horse that is old and/or injured but can no longer keep it (for what ever reason) so has it PTS instead of re-homing it (either on loan or given away)
Click to expand...

having loaned my pony out three times in her later years believe me, finding a home that does what they on the tin is a nightmare! I removed her from one and to this day regret sending her there it was the worse decision I ever made for her worse than having to make the decision to have her PTS! And out of all the people that I loaned her to they were the "experts"!!

Having your horse PTS is the hardest, bravest decision anyone can ever make for me, re-homing, especially advertising on the internet is a poor way out!
 
all about Romeo said:
I agree it can be a shady area under some circumstances... However I really do believe that it can have a happy outcome...
I find it so sad when an owner has a horse that is old and/or injured but can no longer keep it (for what ever reason) so has it PTS instead of re-homing it (either on loan or given away)
It seems may people put the horse down as an easy option (I am not talking about horses that are in pain and need to be PTS)
Ideally we would all keep our horses until they died naturally or come to the point were they needed to be PTS, when did horses become disposable?
Click to expand...

Do you really think that pts would be easy??? I had to stay with my friends horse when it was pts because she was dying of cancer. It tore her apart and broke her heart, the easy option would have been to palm her old mare off free to a good home. Please don't tell me that she took the easy option and treated her horse as an unwanted commodity.:mad:

It is the hardest option in the world, but the only way that many horses can have a secure future, free from pain, neglect, and ending up in a living hell all because the owner wasn't brave enough to fulfill their responsibilty to their horse.

IF you can find a perfect home with someone who you can guarantee would treat your horse as well as you would yourself, that you know well and trust then fine, but how many people have that? There are hundreds of decent, young sound horses that are struggling to find homes, never mind old or injured ones.
 
I've been given horses in the past - Off track TB's with all their lives ahead of them - I useually offer $2 to seal the deal so effectively buy the horse. If the owner doesn't want money then I discuss what they actually want of me - is the horse actually on loan or on free lease.

I've given a lovely mare to a friend with the condition that when she no longer wants to breed from her that she comes back to me. I ask her how the horse is doing regularly and what foals it is having.
 
You all have very valid points and I completely understand why you would have serious doubts...
So what is the difference between selling a horse and giving it away? (any horse) (apart from money changing hands)
Surely it could end up in exactly the same uncertain future...?
 
Tnavas said:
I've been given horses in the past - Off track TB's with all their lives ahead of them - I useually offer $2 to seal the deal so effectively buy the horse. If the owner doesn't want money then I discuss what they actually want of me - is the horse actually on loan or on free lease.

I've given a lovely mare to a friend with the condition that when she no longer wants to breed from her that she comes back to me. I ask her how the horse is doing regularly and what foals it is having.
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Sadly people like you, Savant, are few and (in your case!) very far between...
 
I'm with the majority. I couldn't send my much loved companions into an unknown future. It would have to be a home with a friend I'd known a very long time before I'd even think about it.

The thought of a loyal horse being subjected to pain, fear and neglect is enough to stop me advertising any animal free to good home, and one of my friends recently took in such a horse, giving it a home for life. Doesn't make me any less sceptical. It's a hard world out there. :(
 
all about Romeo said:
You all have very valid points and I completely understand why you would have serious doubts...
So what is the difference between selling a horse and giving it away? (any horse) (apart from money changing hands)
Surely it could end up in exactly the same uncertain future...?
Click to expand...

Of course it could, although the fact that they have payed market value for the horse means that they are unlikely to make any money from reselling or taking it for meat. Sadly most people might also value something that costs more too.

I don't sell on either fwiw.
 
OP I'd imagine the assumption is that a horse that is fit enough to sell has a better chance of finding a good home and being useful because its fit to work. It's completely different when a horse is likely to suffer pain through working.
 
all about Romeo said:
You all have very valid points and I completely understand why you would have serious doubts...
So what is the difference between selling a horse and giving it away? (any horse) (apart from money changing hands)
Surely it could end up in exactly the same uncertain future...?
Click to expand...

Yes I can see what you mean. After all selling your old friend also means sending him/her to an unknown future.

But by giving away, you are admitting the horse is of no value :( and there's a greater likihood of someone taking him/her because he/she is free and making a fast buck, or not being able to afford to care for the horse.
 
Given that a lot of these horses are given away because the current owner wants a riding horse and the old one is not of any use any more, then why would anyone expect someone else to take them on? It seems to me that these are the owners who are taking the easy way out, rather than spending the money on their retirees, or making the decision to pts, they take the cop out of trying to get someone else to foot the bills for them.
 
touchstone said:
Do you really think that pts would be easy??? I had to stay with my friends horse when it was pts because she was dying of cancer. It tore her apart and broke her heart, the easy option would have been to palm her old mare off free to a good home. Please don't tell me that she took the easy option and treated her horse as an unwanted commodity.:mad:

I have had horses put down... I know how hard it is, one had a twisted gut through colic and one had organ failure from a dodgy wormer... both were already dying and there was nothing else I or the vets could do to save them (If there was I would have done it!!) :(:(

Like I said I am not talking about horses that need to be PTS...

But people who put down otherwise healthy horses...
Click to expand...
 
all about Romeo said:
You all have very valid points and I completely understand why you would have serious doubts...
So what is the difference between selling a horse and giving it away? (any horse) (apart from money changing hands)
Surely it could end up in exactly the same uncertain future...?
Click to expand...

Yes, it could, but less likely if it's sound, healthy and young(ish). It's still a very hard thing to do and get right, however careful you are. I'm lucky that all 4 of the last horses I sold, I know where they went, where they are now and how 3 of them ended their lives - the 4th one is still with us!

Plus if you give something away, some people think that therefore it is worth nothing.
 
all about Romeo said:
touchstone said:
Do you really think that pts would be easy??? I had to stay with my friends horse when it was pts because she was dying of cancer. It tore her apart and broke her heart, the easy option would have been to palm her old mare off free to a good home. Please don't tell me that she took the easy option and treated her horse as an unwanted commodity.:mad:

I have had horses put down... I know how hard it is, one had a twisted gut through colic and one had organ failure from a dodgy wormer... both were already dying and there was nothing else I or the vets could do to save them (If there was I would have done it!!) :(:(

Like I said I am not talking about horses that need to be PTS...

But people who put down otherwise healthy horses...
Click to expand...


You have misunderstood me, it was the owner who was dying of cancer, the horse although elderly was relatively healthy.
Click to expand...
 
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