What is wrong with giving a healthy horse away?

And another thing I am not and never have been against pts I also do not agree with passing on an animal that is unwell and have always said that pts is a better option than any animal being sold to bad home after bad home. My opinion has always been that that I, I will repeat I would keep a horse as a field ornamnet if that animal was not in pain but could no longer earn its keep. If I found myself in the postion of being unable to afford my animals any more my TB/ Welsh sect D would be PTS as she has medical issues that I have dealt with for 10 years but would not expect any one else to deal with and PTS would be better than her being passed from home to home. Hope I have made myself perfectly clear now. Again I would like to thank everyone who posted on my thread ragarding my little mare, who is doing really well now by the way but I feel so disheartened by the attitude of some on this forum that I think I will look elsewhere for help in the future. Thanks.:mad:
 
Capriole said:
Thank you for clarifying, as from your posts on this thread and others I really have no idea what you are saying, there seem to be so many contradictions within your posts that its hard to keep track.
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What I am saying is... I have come across many people who would rather put their horse to sleep then give it away (if the horse still has a good quality of life) due to being unable to care for the horse anymore (for whatever reason) (with certain protective measures put in place... IE not giving it to the first person who come along) and I was trying to understand why people think like this... I realize every case is different and agree if the horse is in pain or is terminally ill ect that the best thing to do is PTS but my point was if the horse is healthy, happy and has a good quality of life what is wrong with giving it to someone else?... I see now some of the reasons why people would have reservations about giving their horse away (which was the whole point of my discussion in the first place)
In what way am I contradicting myself?
 
I for one would never again take on a free horse. I know there are good outcomes but IME the free ones are free for a reason. Its not so bad if the Giver is honest about the horses problems, and you know what to expect thats fine, but IMO a long term loan is a far better idea. At least then you know who owns the animal and there is some kind of safety net for both the horse, loaner and owner (all be it sometimes it does go wrong).
 
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
 
Milanesa said:
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
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Thank you Milanesa, a horse can still be healthy as it gets older... but I am not talking about ancient things (I would not class really old horses as healthy)
As long as the horse is happy, not in pain and has a good quality of life I don`t see why you need to PTS (but I do now understand why people would have reservations)
 
Milanesa said:
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
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Yes, but get the op to define a healthy horse ? Then look at her descriptions of healthy horse on other threads, initially this included, aged,unridable for whatever reason horses that needed maintained on meds, so in fact not healthy as they seem on the surface then.
 
Milanesa said:
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
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Neither was i. A happy healthy horse generally has some monetary value, so is sold, very few are given away, in which i have nothing against. But giving a horse away is such a minefield, as squabbles over ownership often happen, so IMO and experience a loan is far better at least then everyone knows where they stand and it doesn't all end in tears.
 
marydoll said:
Yes, but get the op to define a healthy horse ? Then look at her descriptions of healthy horse on other threads, initially this included, aged,unridable for whatever reason horses that needed maintained on meds, so in fact not healthy as they seem on the surface then.
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I would class a horse with an old leg injury that was sound doing light work as healthy (but is still classes as injured) I class a horse who is 20ish or under as healthy (though is still old) I class a horse who may need minor medication for whatever reason as healthy (not pertinently buted up as that horse would be in pain) as well as completely healthy horses who are sound in every way.
but like I said it depends on the individual circumstance and horse.
 
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nixxyz said:
Neither was i. A happy healthy horse generally has some monetary value, so is sold, very few are given away, in which i have nothing against. But giving a horse away is such a minefield, as squabbles over ownership often happen, so IMO and experience a loan is far better at least then everyone knows where they stand and it doesn't all end in tears.
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Good point! thank you :)
 
Milanesa said:
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
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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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The opening post specified old/injured horses.
 
Milanesa said:
The post was about is it ok to give a 'healthy' horse away. Everyone is digressing onto old/knackered horses going onto uncertain futures. It's the same as whether you sell a horse really, if you care for the animal you will vet the home/ sell to someone you know etc to give said horse the best chance. If it is to a good home and the new owner is happy with the horse to do what they want it for what's the problem? Op wasn't talking about old/broken/I'll horses?
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if you read the original post that is exactly what they specified within it.

I think the problem is people rarely give away young, healthy horses. What galls people is seeing 20 year plus horses being given away. these horses may have been in the same home for years but just because they get old they are passed on. To me that is just unforgiveable when a horse has given you so much. Worst still to see horses who have illnesses and ongoing problems so can't be ridden, but people are happy for them to go to be field companions, well, why can't they be a field companion for them?
 
Thanks for pointing that out. I guess it's a minefield whatever you do. I would not want to give an old and injured horse away, but if it was older but still sound and happy and could go on and do something else why not. Sorry i didn't think the op was trying to stick up for palming off old knackers to people, i didnt read it that way. If a horse is old and knackered and has not much quality of life of course the owner should do the right thing and pts.
 
Milanesa said:
Thanks for pointing that out. I guess it's a minefield whatever you do. I would not want to give an old and injured horse away, but if it was older but still sound and happy and could go on and do something else why not. Sorry i didn't think the op was trying to stick up for palming off old knackers to people, i didnt read it that way. If a horse is old and knackered and has not much quality of life of course the owner should do the right thing and pts.
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That is what am talking about, I have never once said anything about palming off very old knackered horses to other people...
I have repeatedly said "as long as the horse has a good quality of life as is not in constant pain"
 
all about Romeo said:
That is what am talking about, I have never once said anything about palming off very old knackered horses to other people...
I have repeatedly said "as long as the horse has a good quality of life as is not in constant pain"
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To me an old/injured horse is still a more vulnerable horse even if it has a good quality of life, which is why it needs even more careful consideration as to its future.
 
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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How many horses do you think die a 'natural' death?
In the wild with the predators that evolved to eat them, the old/injured/lame ones would be caught and eaten by wolves/lions etc. Horses did not evolve to die of old age.
We always keep our horses until 'the end'. Not one of them, including the mare who had a stroke,has died naturally. We have had to take the decision 9 times, to be responsible owners. Of those horses 4, including a foal, were pts unnaturally early because of illness. The others were pts of old age after a happy retirement.
IMO it is highly irresponsible to 'palm off' your old/infirm horse onto someone else. If you happen to know someone personally who needs an old/infirm horse for some reason ( I can't think of one), then I suppose it is ok to loan yours to them. I prefer not to move old/infirm horses into new herds, where they have to make new relationships but to leave them in the surroundings they have known for years with their usual companions and shall always continue to do so.
If for some reason I couldn't do that (highly unlikely) then I would opt for pts.
It always annoys me when I read that an elderly horse is looking for a new home, because the owner wants a horse to ride. the owner should do the decent thing and face up to their responsibility IMO.
 
all about Romeo said:
I just don`t think it always has to end with the horse being PTS
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No-one's saying it does. There are several possible happy outcomes:

1. It can end with the owner taking responsibility and caring for the horse in its retirement.

2. It can end with the owner loaning the horse (perhaps as a companion) to someone they trust and keeping a close eye on the situation.

3. In rare cases it can end in the horse being given away to someone the owner knows well and trusts to take on the horse.

But I don't believe advertizing your eldery/infirm horse as "free to good home" then giving him or her away to strangers is likely to be a happy outcome for the horse. I think that's just the owner shirking their responsibility.

If none of the other 3 options are available, I think the kind thing to do is pts.
 
I don't think you can generalise as each situation is different.

I did a bit of work a good few years back for an old established breeder. She had been winding down her stud over a number of years as she was herself well in her 80s. Mostly she had old broodies left and a young stallion with a bright future ahead of him. She also had a 4yo gelding. The gelding was beautiful, with stunning paces. She had shown him in hand with a lot of success. However, he had an accident when he was younger meaning his back was damaged. She had her girls start to work him when he came of age but he just couldn't tolerate it - being ridden caused him pain and he would flip out. That reaction just wasn't him, as he was a sweetheart. The vet confirmed that he would be OK as a pasture ornament but should never be ridden.

The old lady had him put down. If she had been younger, she said, she would have kept him as a big pet as she adored the very bones of him. But she knew that she was not much longer for this world herself and she could not guarantee his future. She felt happier about leaving the old broodmares to her trusted people as the broodies were what they were, and the stallion was fine and healthy so would most likely be OK. Her concern was that with the best of intentions, someone would see the gelding's pedigree and show record and would try and ride him, and they would hurt the horse and/or get themselves killed. She brought the horse into the world, she was responsible for the horse, and it was her responsibility to make sure that he would never get in a situation where he would be misunderstood or abused.

It was a very tough decision for her and let me tell you she was devastated. She was a tough old bird who never showed her emotions but she broke down that day.
 
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