Would anyone want this horse?

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suzi

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I've been looking at retirement livery for my TB as he's not happy at home at the moment but was wondering if I should persevere with trying to loan him out?

I want to do what's right by him and make sure he's happy.

He's a 16hh 12yr old bag TB gelding, raced til the age of 6 1/2 (approx) with a 10 month gap due to a fracture.

He's quite sharp but an enjoyable hack. Can be quite accident prone - cuts and scrapes etc. Has his touroughbred moments when he decides something invisible is a monster but is not nasty. He's easy to handle on the ground etc.

He can't be left in the field on his own as he gets very upset.

He doesn't hack on his own. I have taken him to shows but he's never really settled and to be honest I never really pushed it as I'm not the bravest at shows.

I've had a couple of people enquiring about loan but most people seem to want something that will hack on it's own, or something that's more suitable for a novice rider.

So my question is - are there any people out there who would be intestested? Or should I accept that he's not a happy hacker as he's too forward and won't go on his own.

I accept that he would require a very special home and people may not think he's worth the effort!!
 
In all honesty, if he were mine, I would perhaps think about having him PTS if I could not offer him a home for life.

Ideally I would say that having a healthy horse PTS is wrong, as long as it can enjoy life, a home should be found. However, if I were not able to guarentee that the home would be a lifelong one, I would rather have the horse PTS than let him/her fall into the wrong hands.

I had a filly that I gave to a friend, he knew she could never be ridden due to an injury she sustained as a foal, and made out that he wanted her just as a field ornament. However, he is now letting his new girlfriend ride her, despite that injury always being there, and causing her pain without doubt. I now wished I had had her PTS, as at least I would know he would never be harmed/in pain.

If you could find someone to loan you boy, just make sure you keep a really, really close eye on them - I have had my fair share of irresponsible loaners. You don't want him coming home in an even worse state.
 
I think there will be someone out there for him.

Its just a case of keep searching!

he would ideally suit someone who is experineced but just wants to hack with their friends, maybe an older person.
Good luck with your search.

If you really cant find someone, done be upset, im sure he wouldnt mind just being an ornament and eating all day!
 
If you are prepared to wait until the correct home is found then 'yes' he could be rehomed.

If i wasn't so far away i would take him if only to become a companion to my TB & TBxWelsh.

XxX
 
zoeshiloh - I know what you mean, I have considered PTS but he he healthy and was happy.

At Easter he went on loan as a companion with a friend (I know a 16hh TB does not make an ideal companion!!) and she decided in July that she would move one of her other horses and no longer needed him. Not her fault and I was happy to have him back.

He's not happy here as he gets upset everytime one of the horses leaves the yard without him even if the others are still there.

A couple of people have said they would PTS but I'm a bit of a softy and would hate myself if I resorted to this just because he didn't suit my needs etc at the moment. That's why I've looked at retirement livery.

I think it's more difficult because he's only 12. Retirement livery has been quoted to me at £160 p/m, that's £2000 per year and he could live for another 20 yrs. Not that I wouldn't spend it . . . .

So complicated :(.
 
Perrie - I know you are quite a way away but some of the retirement places I've been considering are 'north of the border'!!

Seems there are quite a few places N England and Scotland and some in the West Country but not so many near me (or not that I've found). One I did find near me wanted £220 per month with nothing added in and I wasn't that taken with the place . . .
 
I dont see why not, theres many horses about who dont hack out alone or can be left out alone, its not a problemto some people!!

My tb never hacked out alone when I first got her, but shes goes everywhere on her now, horses just need time to setttle in their surroundings.

No need to even think about PTS, how ridiculous!!
 
Smurphy said:
No need to even think about PTS, how ridiculous!!
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Was only considering PTS if I can't find him the home he deserves.

He can stay with me at the moment or retirement livery if needs be but I'm waiting on news about my job so circumstances may change and that could make things more complicated.

He's the sort of horse I could see being shoved from pillar to post if he went to the wrong place and I'd do anything to stop that happening.
 
Smurphy said:
No need to even think about PTS, how ridiculous!!
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I think that was aimed more at me Suzi

I know that some people do not agree with having a healthy horse PTS, and yes, I am one of them, but from my own experiences I have learnt that no matter how much you try and ensure a good, permanent home, once that horse has left your eyesight, anything can happen (inlcuding if they are just on loan). I would rather know my horse had a happy few years and that their life ended happily than they were abused, half starved, badly cared for etc, and that they had years and years of miserable times.

Anyway, it sounds to me that Suzi's head is screwed on, and it isn't just a matter of finding her horse a new home for the sake of it, so hopefully there will be someone out there to offer him a great opportunity.
 
I think theres someone out there just waiting for a horse like him. :)
maybe someone older who wants a horse to hack with friends and maybe give a little confidence
You never know, why dont you advertise him as a loan, the right person might come along :) x
Do you have any photos?
 
I remember some discussion on here a good while back now about blood banks. I think at the time there were some questions about how well looked after the horses were but as I'm fortunately not in that position I didn't pay much attention. Maybe that could be an option to investigate. From what I remember the horses live in large herds so he'd never be on his own. Like I said, I think you'd have to research it closely and make sure he'd be well looked after but it might be something to consider?
 
http://www.prosportphotos.com/cgi-b...-template-plain.htm&page_title=ProSportPhotos - Elstead RC Charity Show&order_buttons=../auto-html/magazine-09.htm&magazine_event_name=elstead-charity-show-09&event_title=Elstead RC Charity Show - Sunday 19th July 2009&first_image=1&last_image=87&chapter_title=(Class 1)&popup_window=1

Does the link work?? Sorry not sure how to post links?

This is me jumping him (ok I know it's really really tiny!!!!) at a show last year.

We got round but I chickened out of taking him again. We also did a walk and trot dressge on the same day.
 
I know - he's a real sweetie as well!! He is a very pretty boy (but then I'm his mummy so I would think that!)

He doesn't look quite so nice at the moment - covered in mud and starting to get a winter coat!!
 
Hi .. if you want to send me the details i'll ask at my yard. There is a lady looking for a hack and she likes them with a bit of whiz as opposed a plod. She had a TB on loan who was a retired eventer but the owner needed to sell and she didn't to buy him as he was 17 and she already had another oldy.
Shes away for a couple of weeks so i may be slow to respond but we are based in Chobham so could be quite close.
Thanks
 
Haven't read much of what others have said so sorry if i'm repeating someone, but why don't you look on ponyclub/speak to local branches to see if an experienced mum might want something to hack out with the kids just to keep an eye on them...that might be suitable? That way he'd be hacking out in company, with a rider who was experienced enough to ride him, but wouldn't be frustrated because they couldn't use him for anything else.
I'm sure there's a nice home out there for him somewhere. :)
 
Well I've had a horse very similar to him on permanent loan for the past 5 years, so yes, we are out there!

I ended up with mine through chance as he had wintered out at the yard and his owner didn't have enough spare land for him come spring, I had nothing to ride at that point so he was handed over.

I've not spoken with his owner since and my lad is 19 now so was no spring chicken what I took him on.

Persevere, someone will give him a good home
 
He is only 12, if he is a bit nappy on his own, with a bit of work by someone confident enough to work through it he will come good.
He actually sounds so much like my mare. she raced and didn't go in a field on her own, she would just leave and go back to her stable. Now at the ripe old age of about 21, she will go out in the morning and stay there for half an hour until her mates owner turns up to put her out. Lots of horses won't go in a field on their own.
She napped for scotland and no way would she hack on her own, with a bit of work and patience, she got over it.
She is bomb proof in traffic but a scary horse eating leaf will make her jump on the very odd occasion.
She's not everyones cup of tea but she is my cup of tea, you just need to find the right person.
He is really gorgeous, i think someone will take him. He is still young at 12 and tbh, doesn't really have anything terrible wrong with him. Very few horses have no quirks or issues.
I have had mine since she was 13/14 and she was far worse than he is.
 
Do you think there's a possibility he may hunt? He'd have company and would probably have a brave or experienced rider interested for that?? I don't know, may be out of the question, but might be a good career for him :)
 
If you are really stuck I will have him, theres a spare stable at mine if push comes to shove. PM if you want, though your in the deep south and I am wayyyy up north, but he's welcome :)
 
Not sure if I mis-read your original post but if his only problem is that he doesn't like to hack on his own then I don't really see what the problem is. Can I ask how long you've had him? Maybe he hasn't formed enough of a relationship with you yet, if he had someone he could really trust and who could work him through this issue then I'm sure he could get over it. Alternatively there are lots of riders who don't hack on their own anyway so it wouldn't be a problem. Would you consider prehaps sending him to a riding school or trekking yard where he'd always be in a group.

I think that you should be honest with anyone who comes to see him, he looks lovely in his photo and I'm sure nhe has a lot of untapped potential. When someone does want him then get them to have him on a long trial first so you can ensure they're right for eachother and also it keeps you involved for longer.

I'm sure you'll find someone. He is by no means old and looks lovely.
 
AllySmalice said:
Not sure if I mis-read your original post but if his only problem is that he doesn't like to hack on his own then I don't really see what the problem is. Can I ask how long you've had him? Maybe he hasn't formed enough of a relationship with you yet, if he had someone he could really trust and who could work him through this issue then I'm sure he could get over it. Alternatively there are lots of riders who don't hack on their own anyway so it wouldn't be a problem. Would you consider prehaps sending him to a riding school or trekking yard where he'd always be in a group.

I think that you should be honest with anyone who comes to see him, he looks lovely in his photo and I'm sure nhe has a lot of untapped potential. When someone does want him then get them to have him on a long trial first so you can ensure they're right for eachother and also it keeps you involved for longer.

I'm sure you'll find someone. He is by no means old and looks lovely.
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Lots of positive replies which is good!

Having had a couple of friends say PTS I thought I was being mad in looking for a home but it appears not.

It's not just that he won't go on his own, it's the old leg fracture that worries me as it means he needs careful maintenance to keep him sound. He can still jump (and happily prat about in the field!!) but I don't think he'd stand up to 'hard' work and I wouldn't want to risk it.

Lots of positive thoughts about him though which gives me confidence.

I've had him nearly 5 years and have a great bond with him. I'm quite experienced and have no issues with him having the odd moment while hacking in company but I'm not confident enough to keep working through his insecurities to get him hacking on his own and this was what also held us back at shows.
 
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