Which one would you sell?

Doormouse

Doormouse

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 February 2009
Messages
1,680
Location
The West Country
Visit site
Ok, are you sitting comfortably, long story!

I have just become a single mum with a 6 month old baby girl. I am currently the proud owner of 3 horses which I can't afford so something must give.

1 ISH mare by Douglas, now 6 and done nothing since a 4 year old because she had a foal and then I had a baby. Was jumping double clears disco and schooling xc, never stopped, get you out of trouble and had been cubbing 8 times and behaved fantastically. Won her jumping heat at Cavan as a 3 year old, very talented, lovely to look at and a temperament to die for. Stands 17hh and big with it.

1 yearling belonging to above mare. Mistake foal from escaped yearling colt. Really lovely yearling, moves like a dream, temperament like her mother, father is now 4 and jumping double clears and winning classes.

1 slightly dotty ex french racehorse rescued from the meat man in France. Ran 18 times over hurdles and the French steeplechase, won 4 races. Tough as old boots, shows signs of loving hunting, has massive seperation issues and can't stomach being in a stable. Only rode him for about 4 months before bump got too big but he was an angel and great fun in his own way.

Realistically I am not going to able to compete properly until my daughter goes to school and my main love is hunting. Which one of the 3 should I sell? My head knows the answer really but would love to know what other people think.
 
Omg what a tough time you are having x

Tbh out of the 3 I would go with number 2, although is the hardest as you have had him from birth, at least you won't have the pressure of bringing him on, whilst giving time to the other 2 and baby.

Big hugs Hun
 
Keep the mare, sell the others. You can always have another foal by her. Ooh, I feel a bit nasty now! That's very objective because they're not mine. Who do you love the most? Who could you not bear to wave goodbye to?
 
If you can't compete and your mare would do well to be in a competing home then i would say her. I know who ever you say good bye to will be sad but you need to weigh up the odds of keeping each one. If the french race horse doesn't need competing (sounds like he doesn't) then you still have something to ride and especially with the separation issues send him to someone else could make him worse and he could end up in the same place you got him from. The yearling will remind you of your mare as well so at least you would be able to keep a little piece of her. Not sure what everyone else will say but thats my opinion hope it helps.
 
mulledwhine said:
Omg what a tough time you are having x

Tbh out of the 3 I would go with number 2, although is the hardest as you have had him from birth, at least you won't have the pressure of bringing him on, whilst giving time to the other 2 and baby.

Big hugs Hun
Click to expand...

Thank you, hugs much appreciated, bit short of them atm! Not a great time I must admit but I am determined to get my life back on track now and be the best mum possible.
 
Bless you, I have hugs a plenty, pm me whenever you need one x :)

You will and are a fab mum, so don't worry about that, you would not be posting this if you were not x

What have you decided . X
 
I would say sell the mare if you can get her into work first, she is the most valuable, most saleable and should be able to find a good home.

Turn the baby away for the next couple of years, if you can, he will be ready for some real work by the time your child is in school and in the meantime you can play with the ex-racehorse as and when you have the time with no real pressure to achieve too much other than enjoy him.
 
Well my head says the mare simply because she deserves a competion home and the time and effort that I can't give her at the moment. She should find a lovely home because she is a proper star and would do any job and is ready to go with no problems to iron out.

The french horse has already had a bad time and he will take a while to trust and is very needy, I would end up giving him away rather than let him go to the wrong home.

The yearling is her mother all over just not for 3 years which in the greater scheme of timing suits me really as my daughter will be at school by then and hopefully I will have saved a bit of money to be able to fund some competing.

All very clinical and well thought out but I will be heartbroken to sell her, she is just the nicest person ever!
 
Sorry to hear about your situation. Would it be worth keeping the yearling as while your baby is only 6 months you can enjoy being a mum & not worry about having to ride etc. By the time your daughter is ready to go nursery/school you can then concentrate & bring on your yearling, could you also getting a sharer or loan your mare out? Hope ti all works out soon for you.
 
Last edited:
be positive said:
I would say sell the mare if you can get her into work first, she is the most valuable, most saleable and should be able to find a good home.

Turn the baby away for the next couple of years, if you can, he will be ready for some real work by the time your child is in school and in the meantime you can play with the ex-racehorse as and when you have the time with no real pressure to achieve too much other than enjoy him.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking, you could have literally read my mind!
 
i agree with be positive. if the foal is like its mum then you'll have a cracking horse to start work with when your own child starts school.
 
The mare - she seems to be what many people want and should be easy to sell - unlike the other 2. That way you will have the 2 year old you can chuck out with the ex racer for company for a year or two until you have things sorted or little one in school, giving you more time. Selling the mare would also give you a nice bit of cash that you could put aside to help pay for the other 2 if things are tight. Good luck.
 
I would have said either mare or yearling. Another thing worth considering though is unless they're on full livery, which one don't you see yourself doing stuff with when you have a toddler with you wanting to 'help'?
I've been exactly where you are, had to sell one cos of divorce, except my choice was easier, sold my perfect horse & kept my 14.2, had her forever so at the time it was which did I love most so no decision to make. It's only now I've realised how handy a saintly school mistress is when you're a mum.
 
littlelegs said:
I would have said either mare or yearling. Another thing worth considering though is unless they're on full livery, which one don't you see yourself doing stuff with when you have a toddler with you wanting to 'help'?
I've been exactly where you are, had to sell one cos of divorce, except my choice was easier, sold my perfect horse & kept my 14.2, had her forever so at the time it was which did I love most so no decision to make. It's only now I've realised how handy a saintly school mistress is when you're a mum.
Click to expand...

You see there is the one flaw in my logic, the mare is clearly the best one to have with a toddler and would be by far the best to lead a pony off. That is the one arguement that throws a spanner in the works.
 
In that case I'd sell the yearling. Whether child's horse mad or not, chances are as a toddler it will be into everything, I couldn't have managed without a trustworthy horse. It's also made a huge difference to my daughters confidence & ability pony wise. Being able to hack out together on lr & now off it wouldn't have been the joy it is if I'd have been riding one that needed concentration. Let alone daily stuff like leading to the field, grooming etc.
 
be positive said:
Turn the baby away for the next couple of years, if you can, he will be ready for some real work by the time your child is in school and in the meantime you can play with the ex-racehorse as and when you have the time with no real pressure to achieve too much other than enjoy him.
Click to expand...

I thought you meant the 6 month old baby and that could be a very good plan if possible!
 
Keep the Mare, sell the yearling and gift the dotty Frenchie!

For the rest of your life you are going to put yourself second and your little one first, do something now just for you and keep your lovely Mare:)
Your Mare is a trusted known entity unlike the yearling - in time being a parent you may feel differently about taking chances ie riding a newly backed youngster.
It is not selfish on your Mare to keep her for yourself to enjoy - she doesn't 'need' to compete and she wont mind if she does or doesn't ever compete again, she has taken to Hounds well and you enjoy to Hunt.
You could turn your Mare away for a while, maybe loan her to the Hunt or maybe have someone keep her ticking over for you for times when friends or family can baby sit your little one and you can grab some 'me time' with your Mare.
 
Have you considered doing a loan? I did that with my mare years age while I went to uni, and had her back afterwards. You wouldn't get any money for them obvs, but would be able to have them back and/ or be sure of the home before you sell. that way nothing is permanent and u can pick up where you left off when you get the time, and still be sure of the future of your horse, cos u are in control. we have now loaned the childrens' ponies when they have outgrown them, cos couldn't bear to hear they were not happy n not be able to go fetch them back!! (soppy i know!) ;)
 
Thank you everyone for your advice. I think it has confirmed what my head said that the mare is the most saleable at this moment and I know she will find a nice home because she is such a lovely person and talented as well. She is a little bit heavy topped and I am not sure that she would be the best hunter in a deep ground country, probably more suited to dressage and show jumping really.

I get on really well with TBs having worked in racing for several years and I am pretty sure the mad Frenchman will be a decent hunter and he is very tough which is ideal when you are sometimes a bit short of time. I also haven't got time to reschool him properly for selling at the moment.

The yearling will be like her mother but is probably more my sort of horse anyway, not as big and chunky, and if she doesn't suit me she will be worth money when she is broken as she is very well bred.

I could do with some cash in the bank to be honest so really loaning is not an option sadly. Just need to get on with it and not think too hard or I will talk myself out of it. Best get all the awful stuff over at once me thinks! :(
 
I have to agree with you DM. You will find it very hard to sell the youngster and the ex-racer as the market for both types is still very slow. The mare however should sell well - once back in work - and you should have enough interest to enable you to be picky about who she goes to.
 
If you need the cash sell the first 2, if money isn't an issue and you want to get back out doing other things, not just hunting then sell the last two.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top