Wills and provision for your horses

[millitiger]

I'm currently reviewing my will (what a fun and festive thing to do!) and reviewing the provision for my pets.

I currently have 3 X horses who live at home.
If anything happened to me soon, which I hope won't (!), I would have 3 young, fit horses.
Noone else at home rides.
2 of them would be reasonably valuable horses, 1 useful but not valuable. However I wouldn't want them sold.

I would have money in my estate for provide for them but obviously, if they went into livery, it would eat up a lot of the estate, particularly as they could all easily live for another 15-25 years.

Just wonder what everyone else does!

 

[Prancerpoos]

Probably not the answer you want but when I had horses my will said that they had to be put down within a few days of my death.

You never know what will happen to them and I know of at least two horses that fell into horrible lives after their owner died and the relatives passed them on thinking they were doing the right thing.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I've left provisions but my will is for current pony to be PTS shortly after my death.

He although fit, well (and although now a veteran, usually in full work) he had been through a few people as a youngster and he has some conditions which make him not the most straight forward to manage.

My Mum absolutely adores him but being largely non-horsey and in her late 60's probably wouldn't want the day to day upkeep of him. My Dad's quite likes him as a pony to look after occasionally but could probably physically do more of the day to day stuff, whether he'd want to or not full time and long term, is another matter. My OH isn't horsey and adores him a lot less than my Mum & I do Hence my request to PTS.

If I had a younger, more straight forward to manage horse I think I'd request a part or full loan at current yard but family keep control of his future & to PTS if part/full loan doesn't work out.

 

[Jambarissa]

Mine are good, valuable horses. I've put a note to offer them for free to various friends who I know would give them a good home for life.

Then to send to a charity with a sizeable donation, they're sensible happy hackers so would be rehomed no problem.

When I had oldies I was more worried. I fully expected my YO would keep them for free until the end, he's that sort. I'd left instructions to check with him and if not to send to a named retirement home for a few years then call it a day.

 

[Burnttoast]

My guy is 20, rather quirky and field sound only so my friend will make the arrangements to have him put down in the event. Someone on a yard I was once on was left a friend's much loved older horse. When I was poopicking I had a view of the school and could often see her ragging him around ridden/on the lunge or putting in a lot of really unnecessary and heavy-handed correction. He was a very sweet kind horse with not brilliant joints and I often wondered if the person who'd owned him before knew what he was in for, or minded.

 

[fidleyspromise]

One is to be PTS. she's on danilon for life.
One my friend will take and if not to be PTS unless my partner wants to keep her as she's my heart horse so he may struggle to let her go. - she is healthy but has asthma and can be a pain with fencing.
The youngster will either go back to breeder to be sold or friends will find him a hone with partner getting last say in where he goes.

 

[pistolpete]

Well my OH says he’ll keep the pony if anything happens to me. Not sure how long he’d continue though. He is an animal lover and would do his best to pony is retired on grass livery near home so fairly easy.

 

[ihatework]

I have an expression of wishes.

Old Semi-retired would have ownership transferred to loaner with lump sum to cover him.

Old broodmare who I co-own would have full ownership transferred to other owner.

Then I have nominated an independent person, to be paid out of the estate, to manage the others. With a view they stay in whatever partnership/contract they are currently in if it can be made to work. If not they should be sold or loaned depending on the circumstances.

 

[Surbie]

Mine is to go back retired to his former owner, if she is still in a position to take him, with a lump sum. If she is not able to take him, he is to be pts. He is a lovely, gentle, kind horse but spooky, older and a heavyweight cob. I don't want him to be passed around.

 

[Sealine]

Mine is 24 and virtually retired due to his arthritis. He will be PTS should I not be around to care for him.

 

[Polos Mum]

Worth doing an expression of wishes - easier to regularly update than having details in the will directly.
Currently useful one could become a PTS candidate in a few short years sadly!

For valuable ones and useful one, I would speak to whichever charity I considered reputable and ask what donation they would want to take ownership and loan them out for life.
The charities have systems and processes to manage loan homes (in a way friends and families don't).

A nice useful ridden horse would be snapped up from a charity in no time and they will then keep an eye forever. And if loaners circumstances changed then charity would re-loan.

Maybe provide in the will to give £5-10k per horse - and then you can be sure they have someone who knows what they are doing look out for them forever.
It's still not cheap to manage loan homes, so I would expect to give a sizable donation - even for a valuable horse.
It might have to cover their time in visits / checks for 15 years!

 

[millitiger]

Thanks all.

It would actually be simpler to write if they were older or has health issues as I would have no qualms they could be PTS.

However, mine are young competition horses, yes with monetary value, but mainly horses who enjoy life and don't have any issues to stop them enjoying life, just because I wouldn't be here anymore.

I will look into World Horse Welfare and some other charities. I'm sure they would have people lining up to take them on, as they are definitely assets rather than burdens.

 

[teddy_]

I’ve told my mother and sister that they are to use my Life Assurance to simply pay for mine to stay in full livery with a choice of named persons until she’s ready to shuffle off this mortal coil herself.

 

[tda]

This is something I need to sort out, have had conversations about it with friends but need it written down.
A friend asked me if I would take care of her horse if anything happened to her, which I agreed to, she has put it in her will. He is an older retired chap so I will assess if it comes to it and do the right thing for him.

 

[reynold]

It's not a problem for you as you have them at home, but it may be worth considering by others as to how your relatives/executors would locate your horses in the event of your sudden death. It is hardly cost effective to alter your will every time you move yards/fields with your horses.

However we do tend to change our vets less frequently than our horses' location. When I still had my own horses I had my vets contact details as the way of locating my horses after my death. (I have no family and my executor would be my solicitor. My OH is his own person and whilst he keeps an eye on me - and kindly pays for my pony - he has his own place and his own finances and isn't really horsey). Whenever I moved my horses' location I would always phone the vets and update their records so they always have the correct location in the event of an emergency.

I specified that part of my estate funds were to be used for my vet to conduct a health assessment of my remaining horses and provide professional advice as to which would be better to be PTS and which were suitable to be rehomed to WHW for eventual loaning with an appropriate donation for their care.

In the end I seem to have outlived the last 2 and no longer have that problem as 'my' remaining pony is a WHW pony and in the event of my death she will either be kept at the yard she's at with the loan taken over by my lovely YO so she can continue to be a companion pony or she will be returned safely to WHW for a checkup and then rehomed again.

 

[Andie02]

I'm currently reviewing my will (what a fun and festive thing to do!) and reviewing the provision for my pets.

I currently have 3 X horses who live at home.
If anything happened to me soon, which I hope won't (!), I would have 3 young, fit horses.
Noone else at home rides.
2 of them would be reasonably valuable horses, 1 useful but not valuable. However I wouldn't want them sold.

I would have money in my estate for provide for them but obviously, if they went into livery, it would eat up a lot of the estate, particularly as they could all easily live for another 15-25 years.

Just wonder what everyone else does!

There is a recent similar thread over in the Club House which may help.

It is vitally important that any money left for the upkeep of any pets including horses is placed in a 'discretionary trust ' within a Will. I have given reasons for this in the other thread.

It is best to obtain the correct advice from a fully qualified and insured professional who specialises in Estate Planning.

 

[Alibear]

Currently, as all are fit, well, and young, they'd go back to the stud I got them from to do whatever they think is best with them. It would take the pressure off my non-horsey family completely, and the youngsters already live at the stud.

 

[chrisley]

With my previous horses I had it written in my will that they were to be given to a charity along with a sizeable donation.

Current horse is not in my will, and is also much more valuable. I have an expression of wishes directing him to be sent to a lovely trainer specialising in the breed who would find a good home for him.

 

[dorsetladette]

Thanks all.

It would actually be simpler to write if they were older or has health issues as I would have no qualms they could be PTS.

However, mine are young competition horses, yes with monetary value, but mainly horses who enjoy life and don't have any issues to stop them enjoying life, just because I wouldn't be here anymore.

I will look into World Horse Welfare and some other charities. I'm sure they would have people lining up to take them on, as they are definitely assets rather than burdens.

Could you have something in place that they are placed with riders suitable for them? ie comp homes for the first 2 and a happy hacking/RC home for the lesser valued one.

I think in your position I'd be more comfortable having them sent to a reputable sales livery and suitable homes found. But I don't know all the facts.

You mention that no one else in your family ride - is anyone horsey? would anyone have contacts to be able to find the horses riders? would they really be interested in doing that? would friends step in to do this for them?

You've made me think - I have 3 young ponies that I need to talk to my OH about if anything happened to me.

 

[Goldenstar]

What everyone needs to remember is what you leave in your will takes time to get at .
Someone needs to pay the bill while you go through probate.
This has got horses belonging to people I knew into troubles .

 

[kathantoinette]

I have stated they are to be given to my niece who is a very capable knowledgeable horsewoman. She can then decide if she sells, keeps or pts. She also gets all tack and equipment.
She does keep her horses at home so their keep whilst she sorts stuff out wouldn’t cost her much in the meantime whilst making the decisions.

 

[Andie02]

What everyone needs to remember is what you leave in your will takes time to get at .
Someone needs to pay the bill while you go through probate.
This has got horses belonging to people I knew into troubles .

This is an excellent point, and something easily overlooked.

With a valid Will in place if probate is required it can take from several weeks to several months. Without a valid Will in place it is more likely to take much longer, dependant upon who is actually making the application.

Whilst Banks / Building societies, will release funds to pay for any IHT and funeral expenses, that may be required, they cannot release funds to pay for the upkeep of animals.

Government departments are currently so far behind causing further delays.

ETA
My OH has remembered a webinar covering this subject, there is a solution. He is going to look up the details.

 

[Polos Mum]

What everyone needs to remember is what you leave in your will takes time to get at .
Someone needs to pay the bill while you go through probate.
This has got horses belonging to people I knew into troubles .

I think if you have non horsey other halves then hopefully they can access joint funds in the short term - for someone else to use to cover the day to day.

If you don't have anyone who has ready access to your funds, I'm not sure what the solution is.

Most livery is paid a month in advance with a month as deposit - so I guess whoever is dealing with it has a couple of months which you would have paid for.
If PTS is the requested next step, that can be arranged pretty quickly.

 

[Milliechaz]

I have my horses left to World Horse Welfare in my will. WHW have a copy of my will and will make arrangements once contacted. I have loaned from WHW twice myself previously and am aware of the stringent checks and 6 monthly reviews they have in place which are never overlooked and am very comfortable that they would be in safe hands.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think if you have non horsey other halves then hopefully they can access joint funds in the short term - for someone else to use to cover the day to day.

If you don't have anyone who has ready access to your funds, I'm not sure what the solution is.

Most livery is paid a month in advance with a month as deposit - so I guess whoever is dealing with it has a couple of months which you would have paid for.
If PTS is the requested next step, that can be arranged pretty quickly.

What if you both get killed .
Even if you leave money in your will to pay for your horses to find a decent homes that money is going to be a while coming and someone is going to have to meet the bills that roll in month after month for horses.
Even sales livery has to be paid for finding the right fit for a horse can take time .
PTS is not the the first option for a horse whose owner has died many young and fit horses with their lives in front of them can be orphaned.
It’s not straight forward to fund this during probate and you need a plan .

 

[Andie02]

What if you both get killed .
Even if you leave money in your will to pay for your horses to find a decent homes that money is going to be a while coming and someone is going to have to meet the bills that roll in month after month for horses.
Even sales livery has to be paid for finding the right fit for a horse can take time .
PTS is not the the first option for a horse whose owner has died many young and fit horses with their lives in front of them can be orphaned.
It’s not straight forward to fund this during probate and you need a plan .

Yes this.
I have edited my above post.
OH has remembered a webinar that covered this subject. There is a solution, until probate can be obtained, he is going to look up the details.

 

[ThreeFurs]

Not having a horse property, or horsey relatives, I had a Will drawn up that includes a portion of my estate that will go to a trust set up for my horse. The trust will pay current barn owner for his upkeep until he canters over the rainbow bridge. He's a retired schoolmaster and rising 29, so we will see how we go. It was important for me he stays in a familar place.

My Wills lawyer was most intrigued. She'd never set up a trust for a horse before. There are some legal options in the following article [Australian context but really not too different]. https://issuu.com/hoofbeats.com/docs/where_theres_a_will_-_hoofbeats

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes this.
I have edited my above post.
OH has remembered a webinar that covered this subject. There is a solution, until probate can be obtained, he is going to look up the details.

That would be great, thank you.

 

[EstherYoung]

I have my horses left to World Horse Welfare in my will. WHW have a copy of my will and will make arrangements once contacted. I have loaned from WHW twice myself previously and am aware of the stringent checks and 6 monthly reviews they have in place which are never overlooked and am very comfortable that they would be in safe hands.

This is what we're in the process of setting up. Cats Protection do something similar for cats, too.

While we're on the subject, if you have young kids please please make sure that you have your 'plan B' and your 'plan C' in respect of caring for them is laid out in your will. It's so important.

 

[Andie02]

That would be great, thank you.

It is a facility available which can be set up quite quickly after the person has passed away, by the executors. It is part of the services that OH can make available for his clients that can be used if necessary when funds are required in emergency situations.