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

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QueenDee_

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My non-horsey sister asked me the other day how I can sell my horses, and she brought up the argument that people don't tend to sell on other pets, such as dogs or cats. I actually found this quite an interesting point and thought it'd be interesting to hear other peoples take on this?
 
As its a different entity, financially, time, facilities, experience. and people do sell their dogs I am afraid.
 
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.
 
I agree, not that i've ever sold a horse- because i've never had one good enough to sell or that I didn't want to keep. Sadly daughters past ponies were all pts which took the decision out of our hands.
I think dogs are far more family, living at home and in general spending a lot more time with their owners than a horse might. They also "love us back!" (my horse loves the feed I supply!)

I've been amazed recently at the amount of dog for sale adverts I've seen though. Mostly younger boisterous types. Sad
 
I've thought about it too. horses are more of a business like agriculture. You wouldn't expect a farmer to keep every cow and bull he ever got.

As for dogs, gun dogs are bred worked then sold trained, same for some hunters and then there's aid dogs. If a dog is a sheep worrier it's moved away from sheep. But a good dog is easy to just have about you don't need to worry as much so you just keep it lol

The general public is more likely to not see things this way cause it's exploitive to animals but in the country it's just how it is.
 
You only have to look at sites such as Preloved to see that people sell/rehome dogs and cats all the time.

What would your sister suggest that people do with horses that turn out to be more than they can cope with, that they outgrow or that they can no longer afford? Surely a good new home with the right experience/correct size rider/finances to care for them, would be better than them staying with the current owner?
 
I do think that selling horses is more socially acceptable and I personally think it is because dogs generally live in the house as part of the family. The exceptions listed above are often kennel kept dogs or dogs that are bought to do a job rather than purely for a pet and companion.
 
All interesting points. She didn't raise it in an argumentative way, i.e. wasn't saying that it is bad to sell horses on, just a general musing. I made the point that horse riding is a sport whilst other pets are simply for pleasure (apart from gun dogs etc) which I think makes a difference.
 
I wouldn't stay with a boyfriend if he made me unhappy and I won't keep a horse that makes me unhappy.
 
Whilst I apreciate that many people view their horses as pets, for me they are not the same as a dog or a cat, they are for a purpose. I have been a stud farm owner in the past and have no problem with horses being sold, either for profit (unlikely!), unsuitability or a change in circumstances. As for "bonding", which apears to be a requirement on the human side of things these days, even husbands/boyfriends can be exchanged if not fit for purpose.............
 
I think there are many reasons; financial, sport (needing a different/better animal), personal circumstances change, the fact that many people don't love their horses as much as they love their dogs and so on.

Speaking personally, I have never sold on a horse. The closest I have come is giving one to my sister, but only because I knew she loved him and it was a home for life. I choose my horses by their character. I never take on a horse I don't think I could love because I could no sooner sell one on as I could my dogs. When they can no longer be ridden, I retire them for as long as they are comfortable. The only exception to this would be if I could not provide them with what they needed to live a comfortable life. I say this because some horses need 24/7 turnout 365 days a year to keep them happy and comfortable, and the land here is heavy clay and it is just not possible to give a horse that during the wettest part of the winter. But there has only ever been one horse I have owned who fell into this category.
 
For me a horse is a commitment - I have never sold a horse on and never would.

It is one thing selling/loaning if you cannot afford. What bugs me is when people sell on as it is too old and buy a younger one like horses are disposable.

Use it up wear it out - chuck it out like a worn out sponge
 
Wandering a bit off topic here but Cortez, that last comment made me laugh. I am now imagining all the ads on preloved/dumbtree for husbands/boyfriends who are no longer fit for purpose, outgrown, change of circumstance forces sale etc etc. The place would be chokka with them if they were allowed, can you just picture it, hysterical. Maybe there is a small opening here for a new advertising site :0
 
HGA-12 said:
For me a horse is a commitment - I have never sold a horse on and never would.

It is one thing selling/loaning if you cannot afford. What bugs me is when people sell on as it is too old and buy a younger one like horses are disposable.

Use it up wear it out - chuck it out like a worn out sponge
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Or, sell on an older, experienced type that will make somebody a very useful schoolmaster and enjoy an easier life while you persue your competitive ambitions with a younger horse that is happy to do the sorts of things that an older horse is no longer comfortable doing, perhaps? I don't see the problem with that; it's all a matter of perception.
 
If no one ever sold a horse there would be no mature riding horses for people to buy, everyone would have to start out with a broodmare or a weanling and bring it on, way beyond most peoples expertise and pocket, it is far more expensive to produce a youngster than to go out and buy a ready made horse, what kids would do for ponies I have no idea as there would be little time to bring on before they are outgrown, if selling was not an option they would soon become superfluous, loaning is in theory no different to selling from the point of view of the horse.

I have sold numerous horses and ponies over the years, some bought to bring on and sell, others for clients for a variety of reasons usually because they are no longer required to do whatever they were originally bought for, a dog is very different as they are pets first and foremost, apart from a few working dogs, a horse is usually kept to do a job first and is a pet second so unlike a dog where you want a young pup to become part of the family most people want to buy a horse that has already become established in whatever role is is being purchased to perform.
 
Cortez said:
Whilst I apreciate that many people view their horses as pets, for me they are not the same as a dog or a cat, they are for a purpose. I have been a stud farm owner in the past and have no problem with horses being sold, either for profit (unlikely!), unsuitability or a change in circumstances. As for "bonding", which apears to be a requirement on the human side of things these days, even husbands/boyfriends can be exchanged if not fit for purpose.............
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I tried exchanging my husband for a new lawn mower on Preloved, but nobody wanted him (think the photo put them off).
 
Personally I like to hope that any horses I own are mine for life and the only way I could see myself giving up on that would be if I had a sudden financial crisis or if I moved abroad etc.
One day I might totally change my mind and end up buying and selling a lot, but for now I can't see myself doing that. Nothing against those who do, however! :)
 
I go into a commitment like this intending it to be for life, but you have to be big enough to admit when it isn't working. There's no point in keeping a horse that makes you miserable, it's a lot of money and time to invest in bad feelings.
 
Cortez said:
Or, sell on an older, experienced type that will make somebody a very useful schoolmaster and enjoy an easier life while you persue your competitive ambitions with a younger horse that is happy to do the sorts of things that an older horse is no longer comfortable doing, perhaps? I don't see the problem with that; it's all a matter of perception.
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Well maybe I ought to get rid of hubby to an older lady who wants a quieter life, and get me a more active affectionate man. I don't see the problem in that. Or just go out and get a bit on the side as hubby is useless for anything like that - now there is an idea.
 
Cortez said:
Whilst I apreciate that many people view their horses as pets, for me they are not the same as a dog or a cat, they are for a purpose. .............
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Sorry I find that very cold and unfeeling, horses are pets they are not machines that you change for a younger model with a younger license plate.
 
I disagree with the statement that horses are pets.

there are many working horses in different spheres. Somebody has bred them, someone has trained them, someone has sold them for jobs such as:
Riding schools
working farms
trekking centres
Mounted police
just for example....

Please think a little more at the bigger picture :)
Not every owner is able to keep every horse or pony, not every owner is compatible with their equine and sometimes sadly people's circumstances change
 
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I have had my mare for 6yrs and my daughters pony (out on loan) for 12yrs, I don't view them as pets, I would not put my dogs on loan, I don't like other people 'doing' my mare because I am particular not because she is precious...If she could not work then the chances are I would have her PTS but when my lurcher (who was very much a loved pet) could not run I had her PTS too, I don't think most people can provide what a non working horse needs and for me that is large established herd turnout ALL year round 24 hrs per day with shelter a good ground always available.

Petsor not animals have basic needs and often humans fail to meet these needs in my book
 
To be fair HGA, if I recall correctly, Cortez in the equine business, forgive me if I'm wrong but I think they train horses for tv and movies etc? Sorry if that's terribly wrong Cortez, but point being HGA that it's different from those of us who keep them as a pet. You may not agree with it, but as far as I'm concerned, as long as the horses are well looked after then people selling them on isn't really an issue, and down to the individual.
 
Unlike dogs and cats, (which you still see for sale) you usually have to rent somewhere separate for your horse to live. Most people that I know own a horse in order to ride, and fulfil there ambitions, or to enjoy. They are very expensive to keep, so the owner needs to get something out of it. For me, I buy a horse for life, but I have more than one. Many people are not in that position. I find my first pony dull to ride, and if keeping him had meant I couldn't have another then he may have been sold. Instead I took the decision to loan him out to people who could enjoy him for what he is, ie a fab schoolmaster, and retain ownership so that when his needs changed, he could return to me. He is currently still in work, being ridden by all and sundry, and giving them a great time. I still ride him, but would rather ride something else.
I can entirely see why people sell horses, its not my way, but thank god they do, otherwise where would the schoolmasters come from?
 
I have sold on outgrown children's ponies. I have had some younger horses PTS when their quality of life, through illness, had gone. I have sold one after 3 years because we didn't 'gel' and I have kept others through old age, until their 'time' came. I have also had, over time, 3 dogs who could loosely be called rescues, when their owners circumstances changed or they were too boisterous.
We do the best we can for all our animals whilst they're in our care and send them on, wherever that may be, to as safe a place as we can find.
 
My dog is 3rd hand (4 th if you count the couple who took her home for a weekend)
People do pass on dogs regularly, just not usually sold for lots of money. I sold s horse once, bought her back six months later as it wasn't working out. Will probably never sell another, but I thought she was a schoolmaster & i was a bit bored & wanted something more exciting, couldn't afford 2 & thought it was the sensible option.
 
Interesting thread I have thought about this myself before. Reading the replies it seems to me that I find the selling on of horses more acceptable when it's the same kind of reason you might sell on a dog ie doesn't take to the work you want it for ( eg gun shy gundog) or is too excitable or active (though usually people could have anticipated this with dogs more than with horses imho) I think it's perfectly ok to sell on a horse when it can get a wonderful new home and for me that is usually a sound non-aged horse who is not deadly dangerous! I have sold 4 horses, 3 to people I knew extremely well, 1 who was disastrously missold to me was sold on honestly for me by a friend at a huge loss! I have at home an arthritic 13 yr old horse who is an unpredictable ride and as I can never safely sell him he will be kept as long as I can manage before being pts at home. I absolutely deplore those ads for 20 plus YO unsound horses who deserve a retirement or at least a peaceful end at home. In this way I think I see the appropriate treatment of dogs and horses as very similar.
 
w1bbler said:
My dog is 3rd hand (4 th if you count the couple who took her home for a weekend)
People do pass on dogs regularly, just not usually sold for lots of money. I sold s horse once, bought her back six months later as it wasn't working out. Will probably never sell another, but I thought she was a schoolmaster & i was a bit bored & wanted something more exciting, couldn't afford 2 & thought it was the sensible option.
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That's a good point. We are one of my dog's fourth home. She's a giant breed and was bought along with her sister as a puppy. The sisters fought badly and they had to part with one of them. She went to the rescue kennels and was rehomed at a year old as an only dog. The new owners didn't like the fact that she destroyed their designer kitchen when they left her alone and she returned to the kennels where she was kept for a year and described as a 'disturbed dog'. We offered her a home as an outdoor dog to keep our male dog company because we had just lost his companion due to old age. She's been with us ever since and is now eight. She IS a problem dog in that she fights with other females and cannot be kept in the house so if something happened to us then I guess the best thing for her would be to PTS as she is very insecure and takes a very long time to settle in and bond (probably understandably), but she's with us for life all being well.
 
Because most people don't keep horses purely as pets, they are ridden (usually) so have a purpose. Most people buy a horse based on the purpose they want it for, if for some reason that horse isn't right for it then they sell on. My dog doesn't have a purpose other than to be a pet so I guess its based on that in my opinion.
 
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