what would you do....

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L&M

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I am very lucky to own 2 horses, but having made the decision to get my little boy riding and therefore investing in a pony for him, I need to sell one of mine to afford the time and money to dedicate to my son.

The horse I am considering selling is a fab little ISH allrounder with BS winnings, but he is rising 16 and has mild copd. However I have hunted and competed him for the last 5 seasons and his wind has held up just fine.

I have 2 options - the first being a lady on my yard who is very keen on loaning him with view to buy. She is looking for a sensible hack and something that could do the occasional fun ride. The advantages of her buying him is that he would stay on my yard, so I could keep a 'covert' eye on him, and help and advise her as she has any problems.

The downsides are that if I sold her to him she can't afford what I see as his full market value. I would happily take a small hit on the finance side, but she is not keen on jumping and hunting, so wonder if he would become bored as has always led an active life and loves his hunting.

The second option would be to put him on the open market, whereby I could command more money and find somone that could fully enjoy his talents whilst he is still able. However the downside would be that I could not keep an eye on him.

Any opinions?
 
Id rather let him go to someone you know and will look after him.If sold on the open market he could be sold again in few months,you wouldnt know where he has gone.You just dont know.
 
Definitely someone you know. Just because people say they want to go hunting or whatever doesn't mean they will, and what happens if his copd gets worse? He'll need a quiet home then. If he was 6 I'd say be worried about the excitement level of his potential home, but at his age I would rather know he was ok. Good luck whatever you decide. :)
 
I would take the hit financially and sell to someone I knew - its one thing I regret about selling my last horse as I have lost track of him now and have no idea where he is.
 
Have to agree with bc1 here. At 16, he's at the top of his game but at least he can lead a slightly less competitive life but be loved by someone you know. I think you are really lucky to have the option of selling to one you know.
 
A 16 year old that has done you well deserves the chance of a good and caring long term home, if it means less cash to keep him in sight I would be more than happy if he was mine.
I think most horses are happy if kept fairly busy, they do not seem to worry about not going out hunting etc when retired to the field, I know some do not settle but you should know him well enough to be able to decide if he will be a happy hacker for this lady, the fact that he stays on the yard should make the change of owner no problem for him.
 
If I decide to sell, then I would sell! In an ideal world, I'd usually be happy to take a lower price for the horse to go to somebody I know (have done that in the past), even though there's no guarantee that they won't sell on to any old Tom, Dick or Harry in the future.
I'm not keen on LWVTB, unless there is a definite timeline that would suit me. Last year, my bestest horsey friend came to the difficult decision to sell her mare. Her sharer wanted to buy her and a price waaaaay below market value was agreed. The day before the deal was due to go ahead, the sharer's parents refused to allow the sale (she was borrowing some from an aunt) as they discovered she had a credit card! After some umming and ahhhing, my friend agreed for her to have LWVTB until she could afford all of the money. 6 months down the line, she's decided that it wouldn't be worth buying her as, once she had saved all of the money, the mare would be well into her teens! In hindsight, a timeline should have been agreed.

(There is a happy ending though. Friends circumstances have changed and the mare is staying as a loan until the end of 2013. She'll be ready to slow down and my friend will just happy hack with her from then)
 
Just a thought, but if your horse really was missing the excitment of comps/ hunting, and the new loaner was happy to let you, couldn't you take him to a couple?
also, the new loaner might change her mind and want to do a little bit more than hacking? at least you know hes not going to go to an uncaring home and be pushed to his limit.
good luck :)
 
Thanks all - you have really helped. He is too nice a horse and doesn't owe me anything, so think I will go with the lady on my yard. I just hope he will adjust to a slower pace of life.

Brimmers - I did wonder if she would make me the offer of jumping him for her - will have to drop some ever so subtle hints so she comes up with the idea herself....!

Superted - I agree normally not with lwvtb, but as the horse will be kept on my yard for the trial period, (and beyond if she buys him), and know the lady reasonably well, feel fairly confident she would not mess me around. We have talked about a mnth trial/lwvtb - if she doesn't get on with him I will have to put him on the open market and keep everything crossed.
 
I'm not sure what your judgement of value is, but a 16 year old with RAO wouldn't be worth a hell of a lot IME. If it was my horse I'd rather he went to someone I knew and trusted :)
 
I would let him go to the lady on the yard then at least you can keep an eye on him.

Also as its loan with a view to buy at least you and she will be able to check she gets on with him before she buys him.
 
Rhino - I understand where you are coming from.

However this horse is a complete been there done it schoolmaster with substantial BS winnings. He is always placed in everything he does from showing, to xc, to dressage, coupled with being bombproof to hack and sane to hunt. The wind issues only manifest when galloped hard, which can be eliminated if kept 'wind fit' and managed appropriately, hence still hunting happily. I think a novice/nervous middle aged lady may actually pay a reasonable sum for a horse like this, but may be proven wrong......!

Of course we all think our horses are 'worth their weight in gold' - but can assure you this one really is. Anyhow, let's not make this into an argument on how much the horse is worth as that was not the question posed.

Thanks for your advice and will be letting said lady go ahead with a short lwvtb.
 
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