Would you consider giving a horse away?

Parkranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2006
Messages
10,546
Visit site
Just interested on your thoughts.....

It may be hard for me to rehome the boy due to him being blind in one eye so I was wondering whether I may have to give him away in the end to get him a decent home!

Just wondered if anyone had to do this in the past?
 
Stimps there IS a home out there for him. I *gave* Splodge away (well I got £1k, but that was akin to giving him away as I had sales livery to pay and I had paid £6500 for him
crazy.gif
) because I needed to get rid and not incur any more expense. However, he was then sold on (for what I bought him for) less than 2 weeks later, so be VERY careful.
 
A friend had a livery on her yard and the owners of the horse dident want it any more so she said the YO (my friend) that she could have the horse.My friend said that she dident want to be "given" the horse but would buy the horse for £1 to make it a legally binding sale!.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Stimps there IS a home out there for him. I *gave* Splodge away (well I got £1k, but that was akin to giving him away as I had sales livery to pay and I had paid £6500 for him
crazy.gif
) because I needed to get rid and not incur any more expense. However, he was then sold on (for what I bought him for) less than 2 weeks later, so be VERY careful.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good point actually - I really don't want him passed from pillar to post - I think he's had enough of that.
 
Having one eye shouldnt be a problem, obviously you will have to keep the price lower. I have had two horses with one eye and neither were a problem. One was a little pony who lost it later in life. The other lost his at 6 months and it was fine. He used to event quite happily. I would go and look at a horse with one eye.
 
It wouldn't put me off if I were in the position of buying, also paying money for a horse shows commitment and the ability to continue paying the bills.

I really wouldn't suggest giving a decent horse away for free.

Good luck with your search for a good home.
 
I think this may be your best option but I would opt to loan him to the potential person for 6 months first and then ask them to buy the tack/rugs and have this the legal sale if you get what I mean.
 
HI,

Don't panic yet, he has only been on the market for a few days. There are plenty of people who won't mind the fact that he is blind in one eye and I'm sure you want to make sure he goes to a good home where he will be loved and looked after rather than the first person with £2K in their pocket. I would buy him if I could afford to keep 2, he would be great company for the 16.1 TB I already have!
 
you will find the right home for him, and then you should see what they offer you. If it isn't much but you know he'll be happy then loan him out first so you know they aren't just buying him to sell on?

He's lovely by the way
smile.gif
 
I would absolutely not give him away - unless it is to someone you know very, very well - and can be assured that he will not be passed on.

There is someone out there for the lad - make sure they pay for him.

xx
 
Thanks Guys!

Can't really risk loaning him out as you can bet your arse he'll be given back when I can't afford to look after him!

Unless you can get someone to sign something to say that they'll commit for a year to loaning?
 
[ QUOTE ]
by the way did you have any success claiming against the vet for not noticing he was blind?

[/ QUOTE ]

Still ongoing - don't think I stand a chance as I'm fighting a pretty big force.

TBH, I may just have to forget about it and put it down to experience - albeit an expensive one!
 
Stimpy, We have a horse on the yard who has one eye. He is 6 yrs old and often wins dressage, show jumping and xc. TBH if he had a more experienced rider he would EASILY pre novice. We took him XC schooling a few weeks ago where he jumped everything first time with no stops up to BE novice.

The people who bought him originally paid over £10k for him, he then lost his eye and my friend bought him for £800. I think she would now sell him for over double that as he is so honest.

Hold out for a buyer!
 
I gave my horse away, I had a lovely lady shareing her as the horse she loaned got sold out from under her literally. So she shared one of my horses and she spoilt and loved her soooo much I spoke to her hubby and gave her to her on her 30th Bday. She still has her and loves her to bits and thats 6 years later. Maybe get someone to share with you and see how it goes.
 
Yes and I did. I had a horse before I had Louis, she was a TB mare, lovely but after only a few months of having her she developed a whole host of problems. Stuck with her for a year and then once she started becomming ridable I had to make a decision on what to do with her. She had a fantastic nature and was very sweet to ride but just could never really jump/compete again just happy hack or some low level dressage. I ended up giving her away as the money wasn't as important to me as finding her a good home and it all worked out for the best
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
by the way did you have any success claiming against the vet for not noticing he was blind?

[/ QUOTE ]

Still ongoing - don't think I stand a chance as I'm fighting a pretty big force.

TBH, I may just have to forget about it and put it down to experience - albeit an expensive one!

[/ QUOTE ]

Before you give it up as a lost cause, would it be worth trying one of those 'No Win, No Fee' lot, to see if they have more luck?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe get someone to share with you and see how it goes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately not an option - i just can't afford the costs associated with a horse now that I'm single and having to buy my own place.

Gutted but that's life I guess.
 
There will be someone out there who wants him and who will adore him completely... just hold tight for a bit and see whether you get any response from him being on Project Horses!
 
If I found the right home, then I would be happy to virtually give a horse away. The trouble is there are a lot of TB ex-racers around, and one that is blind in one eye is not such a good prospect in a flooded market, especially as he has other issues. Sorry if that is the wrong thing to say, but it is how I see it. Having said that, finding the right home may take some time anyway, or someone might see him and fall in love with him. Try advertising him locally as well as on PH and HM; cards in tack shops etc. Even try your local paper. Best way to rehome a horse is by word of mouth if you can, so ask around if anyone know someone who is looking for a horse.
 
I advertised Owen last week to sell for £850 as he has various physical probs but is still can be used for light riding club activities.
The phone has never stopped ringing and I've literally had near on 80 calls about him with people absolutely begging to have him and some were genuinely offereing the most wonderfull homes for life.
Almost a shame that I changed my mind about keeping him now!!
He was advertised on horsequest and horsemart with good professional pictures..
Am sure that you will find a buyer....
 
[ QUOTE ]
The trouble is there are a lot of TB ex-racers around, and one that is blind in one eye is not such a good prospect in a flooded market, especially as he has other issues. Sorry if that is the wrong thing to say, but it is how I see it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly my thinking - the market is saturated with ex racers! Alot of them are ugly though!
grin.gif


We'll see how it goes.....I think I'll get way under a grand for him. x
 
I too had a really lovely horse with one eye and I managed to find him a permanent and loving home with a fantastic couple.
Originally he went on loan and then when it was clear he was their baby I signed him over and they paid me £1.
It took a while and I encountered a couple of idiots along the way but I'm very pleased to say that he is still with them and I very welcome to visit although I haven't been for a while.
Sometimes the best homes are those with big hearts and a low budget.
wink.gif

He had his eye removed due to uveitis and had a low grade heart murmur as well as some lumps and bumps. At one point I considered putting him to sleep as I didn't want to sell him on and then he be used and abused as he was the most genuine chap I have ever come across.
I also got them to sign a contract that if in the event of them being no longer in a position to keep him I had first refusal and we would make a decision on his future.
Good Luck
 
Haven't read the whole post, but I was given Tops - though I paid £500 for all his tack and rugs, some of which changed from when I went to see him both times, but hey ho.
 
I think I'll probably bring the price right down - will give it till Wednesday.

Had a few people enquiring about Loaning him aswell
 
I was given my big horse. He was a victim of a divorce and was no longer wanted. As he had problems (his feet had been very, very neglected) he would have been difficult to sell. It was better for the owner to give him away. That was 7 years ago and he is now retired (a result of his earlier foot problems). We love him to bits - so it worked out well in his and our case.
 
I sold my welshy years ago to his loaners after a year at a very cheap price. He had bad sweet itch but it was very manageble with benzyl. I sold him with a contract stating that they could not sell on withut first offering back to me at the price paid.
 
I have never given a horse away as such, but I have put some on permanent loan, in that the new 'owner' has complete care, control, and responsibility, without interference from me, but cannot pass the animal on without my say so.
It's worked really well, and has safeguarded the horses from ending up god knows where.
 
I've seen your ad on Project Horses. TBH - my first reaction was that he was over-priced. If you really want to sell him fast - reduce to price drastically and reserve the right to vet all homes. After all, you have every right to decide who buys him. If I was looking, I would pay about £850 for him. There are loads of ex-racehorses that are cheap. The blind in one eye would not bother me at all, but if it puts people off - then they are obviously not right for him.
 
I have put my horse on full loan (he is blind in one eye and half blind in the other) however he is used as a normal horse and I only put him on loan as I couldn't afford to keep him due to a growing family. I was using him for eventing etc so it might be different to your situation.
I could have sold him but wanted to make sure he was ok and couldn't just disappear!
 
Top