What would you do with your horse if you were going travelling?

[woodlandswow]

btw I am not selling him! -
i have a 8 yr old small horse who i love very much and i am going travelling for 2 months in september and have a job as a WP in Feb, so i dont want to sell him, but i dont quite know what to do. We have a family friend who has always had her eye on him but i dont know if that would work re arranging a contract or anything and not sure if its a safe option as she is a very hunting type. I am reluctant to put him on loan as i have worked so hard on him and dont like the thought of him being trashed!
does anyone have any sensible ideas?
thanks

 

[amycamycamyc]

what about turning him away? its only two months, if you're going on holiday, let him have a holiday too!

 

[jessykai]

full livery for 2 months?

Do you have any family/friends that would look after him while your away?

 

[ClassicG&T]

what about turning him away? its only two months, if you're going on holiday, let him have a holiday too!

This ^^
Your into eventing yes? It will be almost the end of the season by the time you travel so he can have a little holiday

 

[FionaM12]

what about turning him away? its only two months, if you're going on holiday, let him have a holiday too!

I was thinking along the same lines. Turn away somewhere where he'd be checked regularly and have help if he was ill/injured in your absence, but otherwise the costs would be minimal.

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

Have you got a RDA centre nearby?
He would be well cared for and fussed to death!
I used to work at one and horses had a lovely life just pottering around the school.
They have strict weight restrictions and no horse does more than 2 sessions a day.

 

[woodlandswow]

mmmm... yes i do event when i get round to it, but leaving school in june so will be full work from then...
i like the sound of turning him away but he gets bored in the field after 3 days... never done it, so would be nervous, but yes.. like the sound of it
i dont have any family who could have him.. all a bit unhorsey
full livery isnt really an option cos of the ££££!!!

 

[madeleine1]

either put her on working livery at mine and her old riding school. turn her out int he field and pay someone to check her over properly once and week with my mum checking her daily or lend her to my cousins to keep at my grandmas for a bit.

 

[tallyho!]

No way would I let anyone else ride my pride n joy if I went away too far to be able to check on them... sorry, I know I ought to be more trusting.

I would put into grass livery at a place you have faith in and family or friends can check on.

 

[whisp&willow]

same here Tally-ho!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

what about turning him away? its only two months, if you're going on holiday, let him have a holiday too!

I would do this /\/\

I would pay for someone to look after my horse for that time or get full livery

 

[madeleine1]

my pride and joy was in the riding school for 3 years before i brough her and was very happy last winter with being on working livery for 4 hours a week. she was spoilt rotten and it inproved her schooling. so it depends on the horse and the place you send them to.

 

[JustMe22]

Funny you should ask!I'm going away for five months in feb, back for 4 weeks then another 4 months away. However, full livery is standard here so that's not an issue, and horse has a pro sj'er keen to ride him, and they get on fine, so that's my plan.

For you, I'd turn out. If he gets bored, can someone lunge him twice a week?

 

[tallyho!]

my pride and joy was in the riding school for 3 years before i brough her and was very happy last winter with being on working livery for 4 hours a week. she was spoilt rotten and it inproved her schooling. so it depends on the horse and the place you send them to.

I suppose it depends on the horse. My comment wasn't aimed at you...

 

[Kokopelli]

I'm going away for 6 months and will look for someone to ride him for me whilst I was gone with my mum keeping an eye on him.

 

[woodlandswow]

yes... theres no way he would go to a riding school.. no disrespect..

im thinking the general consensus is not the family friend..
maybe she could come and ride him once a week or so as lives v nearby... i think if we asked too much she would want to take him hunting and what next!!....

he could be in our field at home.. mum isnt horsey but has looked after him while i am at college so knows what a lame horse looks like etc.!!

 

[Irishbabygirl]

Turned away with your mum checking sounds a good plan if you don't want anyone else to ride him - teach her to lunge!
When I went travelling for 2 months my friend looked after mine, I just bought in 2 months worth of hay, shavings, feed, got him re-shod the day before I went etc so knew he wouldn't go without - plus trusted her impeccably so that helped!

 

[LiveryList]

I agree if it is only for two months turn him away. It removes all risk and if you can find a nice quiet field or yard to sit him in for that time so he doesn't cost you a fortune on full livery then that is a perfect solution. Then this removes all of the risk of letting someone else use him or laoning him out. Only thing is you would need to bring him back into work on your return but only 8 weeks so woudln;t be too much hassle