'Why do you sell on your horses, you wouldn't sell on your dog?'

[wildhorses]

I think conversations like this come about due to the common belief that dogs aren't traded commercially, or that they are only sold because some irresponsible owner no longer wants them. There are a lot of people making money from producing dogs to sell for a specific purpose. I know of a lady who breeds spaniels, she will sell some as puppies, but her real money is made running them on for a while and selling them fit, ready and trained for the shooting season. There are people that will do the same with lurchers and I can imagine but do not know, there are members of the showing fraternity who sell ring ready dogs. Not everyone wants a puppy, has the time or ability to train a puppy and if you are looking for a dog to fulfil a specific role it can be frustrating waiting for them to be old enough to do a job. Many believe that dogs are all kept as pets, in the house in the way that they keep their's. They would never sell their furbaby and can't believe that someone would be so heartless as to get rid of their four legged friend. But not all dogs are kept that way, in the same way that not all horses are beloved pets.

 

[Wagtail]

My mortgage advisor called me cruel and suggested that I couldn't possibly love my horse at all because I said I would sell my horse if lost my job - because he could never do that to his dogs.

Honestly, how can people even compare the two?

Financially, you can't. But honestly, the animal that I have loved the most in my life was my late mare. I adore my dogs, but nothing comes close to how much I loved that horse.

 

[Embo]

I don't think I could sell my horse as, in my head, he is as much my "pet" as my dogs and I have always intended to keep him for life. Should my circumstances change so that I could not afford to keep him, I would be more likely to give him to a friend, together with whatever cash I could scrape together (and I do have a slush fund for him), to care for and treat as their own.

A poster said earlier that horses are different as they do have a "second hand" value and I am sure I could sell my horse, although nobody would pay for my elderly, drug-dependent dogs. However, he is my pet. He is not at home but I see him twice a day, every day, he knows who his owner is and we have a good relationship after a difficult beginning. I bought him to ride but, if that ever changes, he will remain as part of the family and I will do without riding.

Oh believe me, selling would be the last thing I would want to do. Already this horse owes me nothing and I would keep him forever should I not be able to ride him any longer.

But if I lost my job and therefore couldn't pay the mortgage, how could I keep him? It would be the last option but the house (and my partner) would have to come first.

I don't think that makes me cruel or uncaring! I would be devastated.

 

[Sukistokes2]

If you breed animals to show it is impossible to do so without selling a few. They might not be show worthy or carry some fault that excludes them from the show ring. Usually pick of litter stays(dogs) the good ones go on to show homes and the others on to pet homes. As the daughter of a breeder I can tell you for those ten weeks they were loved, adored and kissed, until taken off to their new homes. I called it our pre- spoiling service. We sobbed when they left and it was hard but it was for the best for the animal. In some cases breeders even sell or rehome brood bitches, once they have had all their litters, or rehomed dogs not doing well in the show ring my mother never parted with an adult dog, they stayed for life. However I do not condemn that decision if they move on to a forever home as a loved pet.

To me the important thing is the welfare of the animal, my dogs and horses are my pets and babies, I adore them all. I will keep them until the day it is time for them to pass over the rainbow bridge, as long as it is in their best interest to do so. If I am able to provide for them and they are happy and comfortable I will do so. If I am unable to do so, I will find them suitable homes because their welfare is much more important then my feelings. I have never passed on a dog that was mine, I have find homes for strays but they were not my dogs so to speak. I have never sold a horse. I did rehome a rabbit because I was allergic to her and she was missing out, so I found her a nice home, she was happy there.

Welfare of the animal should always come first!

 

[spotty_pony]

Personally for me a horse is for life, unless I really wasn't the right home for the horse or personal circumstances change to the extent that I couldn't look after him/her.

I have my horse for pleasure and I want a bond with them. I have known people who have gone through numerous horses either by breaking them or not giving them a chance to settle in new home.

Completely agree! Mine are with me for life.

 

[alainax]

I think its a relatively modern conundrum. Only in recent decades have horses many transitioned from working animals to pets. Hence the dilemma people face when comparing them to selling a pet. I very much treat my horse as part of the family. I had 2 into their 30's who I had a lovely young riding career with, and they were retired living out their days in the field.

However, I have sold one. A younger horse who had a full career a head of him, whom I couldn't click with. As much as I tried, I just couldn't ride him. I had bought him to ride, he was in peak physical fitness and sound. My options were ( now only able to keep one horse) keeping a perfectly ridable horse for the next 20-30 years costing hundreds of £ per month, Or sell him to someone who could ride him, and me buy something more suitable. I have never regretted this decision. I now have a horse who is the perfect match for me.

I do think, there are a wide range of certain circumstances where there is a need to sell horses, even when owned by someone who treats them more toward the pet side than the working side.

 

[pippixox]

how many people have actually had there horse as a foal or a new born? very few, where as a lot of people get their dog at just 8 weeks old. I think that makes a huge difference. although I got my dog as a 2yo and still love him to bits. It can be quite a different bond to an adult horse you have chosen who is already backed and seen things, unlike a puppy where the world is all new.

dogs live in your house, and often share your bed! my horses do recognize me and I do count them as pets, and hope to give them a home for life, but I could not garuntee it. however, that is technically also true for the dog if circumstances changed dramatically.

 

[Tobiano]

I think a big difference is that the horse's "social circle" is his herd primarily, not the rider/owner. For a dog, the owner is also the "pack", and being moved from the family would be very disruptive. For a horse, a yard move is probably more stressful than having a new rider on board. That's not to say that we don't develop close communication with our horses, but I don't think they would feel bereft if they changed hands the same way a dog would if taken from his family.

Speaking for myself, riding is the main reason I own a horse, and I don't see anything wrong with selling a horse if he's not the right partner for me. I would compare this to owning a chihuahua to play fly frisbee with - probably not a good match, and the dog might well be happier off somewhere else as a lap dog. The thing that keeps people from "trading" their dogs for a better suited one is IMO the above - it is very disruptive for the dog to change family, and might be considered cruel. And most people get a dog without a specific sport activity in mind - his main job is to be a companion, not a sports partner.

I think this is an excellent point!

 

[Barnacle]

I think this is an interesting point. People are more likely to sell on a horse than a dog. They are also more likely to put one to sleep... And I think both are part of the same cultural feeling that horses are about riding while dogs are about companionship. I think you'd find dogs are more comparable to horses if they are working animals... While I can't imagine someone selling on a deliberately-bought companion pony as readily as a competition horse.

I think people are also more willing to find an excuse to move a horse on because there is a much higher cost to keeping one and a huge opportunity cost if what you really want to be doing is riding/competing. Personally, I'd find it hard to part with my personal horse (or dog) and would neither be prepared to sell them on nor put them to sleep at the smallest sign of trouble.

On the other hand, if retraining or dealing with behavioural issues with the ultimate purpose to sell on, I would not think the same way and would attempt to remain detached. Dogs are a bit different because it's not like there's a shortage of dogs to go around and sit pretty... You can just go pick up another one. Whereas someone's accomplished horse with behavioural issues has a lot of potential once those are sorted that won't be equally as easy to find in another individual.

And of course there's also the fact that while most dogs can do their 'job' successfully, that's not true of every horse. Different horses are suited to different things. Small ponies for small children, different breeds for different disciplines, different personalities for different rider abilities/confidence levels. While any dog fits the companion role. Again, if dogs were used for work more, this comparison might look different... How often do police dogs get traded in for something else? I imagine fairly frequently...

Plus let's not forget that horses live for about double the time dogs do!

I don't judge people who sell horses on (or put them to sleep when they are no longer fit for purpose) but I certainly would not view my OWN horse that way and I think for me it comes down to what intent I'd have when actually making the initial purchase.