Would you do it?

M

Marquire

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Potential dilemma...........
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As some of you know I have been competing Grumpy Boy at affiliated dresage for the last year and he is now ready to go to Elementary level. However, I have never competed above novice before and he hadn't done any dressage before I bought him so it's a bit like the blind leading the blind.

Anyway I mentioned to my trainer that I'd be interested in a getting a (cheap...ha ha!) schoolmaster to learn more advanced moves on so I don;t make an ar$e of it with GB's training. So before Christmas she says she knows of someone who is looking to rehome their horse for free and he could be ideal for me.

Plus points- He's 9yo, 16hh, pure Lipizzaner, working at medium at home, anyone's ride, hacks alone and in company and easy to do. The owners have had him since he was an unbroken 4 year old, they broke him to drive with a half brother. Unfortunately he didn't grow as big as the brother so they weren't a matching pair and he was broken to ride at 6 so was a late starter.

However- he's had treatment the last two summers for sarcoids on his girth, 7 the first year and only 1 last year. They want to wait until this summer to make sure he's clear of anymore before they rehome him. Also because he's had this treatment the last two years he's not been out competing at all. Although this also means he has no points.

The owners are EXTREMELY wealthy so they don't want any money for him but he has to go to an approved home so this is why they contacted my trainer.

Part of me says "take him and risk the sarcoids returning"

but the more sensible part of me says " Although he's free he could end up costing me a fortune in the long run".

Advise please
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imo id have lessons on a schoolmaster, but not buy another horse. i have lesson on my trainers intermdiere horse and its a real eye opener, ive learnt a lot from him in just 3 times of riding him.

You wont be having to look after two either or pay for two all the time. And you just turn up for your lesson to a ready groomed and tacked up horse - its quite a nice feeling actualy!!
 
Take him on the proviso that if the sarcoids come back then they will have to pay for treatment, and if it means you can no longer ride, then he is returned to them. If your instructor is happy with the horse and recommended you to the owners, then she must feel it is a good thing for everyone. Why not speak to his vet and see what they say.
 
I had considered this option but the horse we have on loan for my OH just now is going to be retired this Spring so I'm in the market for a second one anyway. My OH hacks GB regularly just now so the new horse could be exclusively for me rather than a direct replacement for the loan horse.
 
Offer to take him on loan…that way you can always ask for assistance with the sarcoid thing from people that can clearly afford it!

To me, he doesn’t sound like a schoolmaster if he hasn’t done much - a schoolmaster to me is something that is older, knows his job and has been competing regularly at a certain level…

I would have some lessons on a schoolmaster – I am not sure where in the North East, but I know there are places that do it near to me (in the south) and they can’t be the only ones in the country! Much less time consuming and probably cheaper than having your own…

Besides, if you are ready to go Elementary, so is your horse…so with the right instruction you should be able to do it together without much risk of messing anything up.
 
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Take him on the proviso that if the sarcoids come back then they will have to pay for treatment, and if it means you can no longer ride, then he is returned to them. If your instructor is happy with the horse and recommended you to the owners, then she must feel it is a good thing for everyone. Why not speak to his vet and see what they say.

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This is a really good idea. I'll give them a phone and see whether they would consider it.

Thanks!
 
i agree with PG, although if you can afford 2 and have the time then why not?! personally id feel bad if i wanted to sell the horse at a later date if things didnt work out!
 
Argh, what a hard choice. I've no experience of sarcoids I am afraid but I did take a freebie horse on knowing he was going to cost me a fortune in vets bills and I've no regrets.

Saying that, you want this other horse to help bring you on - are you risking taking on another mouth to feed that might never be able to give you that due to illness?

Forgive rudeness but it might come down to how far your purse-strings will stretch and whether you'll be paying for livery or if you have facilities at home.

Is he being worked at the moment? Could you discuss with your vet?
 
Then go for it! If you looking for an extra horse sounds ideal. I would take the risk on the sarcoids. You could buy a horse tomorrow with a five star vetting and something could still go wrong which would cost you a fortune. It's a risk you take with horses.

Lucky you!
 
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Argh, what a hard choice. I've no experience of sarcoids I am afraid but I did take a freebie horse on knowing he was going to cost me a fortune in vets bills and I've no regrets.

Saying that, you want this other horse to help bring you on - are you risking taking on another mouth to feed that might never be able to give you that due to illness?

Forgive rudeness but it might come down to how far your purse-strings will stretch and whether you'll be paying for livery or if you have facilities at home.

Is he being worked at the moment? Could you discuss with your vet?

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He's been working all winter. The last two years he has had 3 months off over the summer to have the sarcoid treatment then has worked all winter and into the spring. When I spoke to his owner after Christmas he had just mastered changes.

Arrggghhh! It's such a difficult decision.
 
Tough call... Sarcoids can be terribly unpleasant and aside from the financial side, there is the emotional side. It's all well and good to say "i'll just hand it back!" but you'll undoubtedly become attached to said horsey.

From an advancement point of view.... I'd go with saving the money on keeping said horsey and put it towards lessons on a true schoolmaster. Say this horse does get you up and going and working (yourself) at medium level. What then? Do you look for another for the next step up? There will always be "the next level" scenario.

There are places that offer lessons on GP dressage horses and going that route could give you the feel for a lot more movements. If you can afford to keep a second horse, you can probably afford to get some serious training. Alternatively put word round that you're interested in loaning a more advanced school master. I know of a couple of trainers with retired, but older, GP level dressage horses that refuse to sell them because they've become "friends" (often the horse that took them to that level initially) but put them on loan with riders who need the experience.

If he was more advanced... then I'd maybe go for it.... but for a medium level horse and given the heart ache that could be involved, I dont think I would
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Just my opinion of course!
 
Sympathise with you - we looked at a young horse last week with a sarcoid - didn't know anything about them until I posted on here and started reading up. The problem with sarcoids is the uncertanty. Could be fine, could go very wrong.

On the plus side you would be losing no money from the purchase, however as you have identified you could end up with large vet bills and an unrideable horse . Spoke to my vet this morning for advice, he just confirmed what I already know - 50/50, however he did state that if sarcoid is in a tack area, esp girth to leave well alone.

As yours is in girth area perhaps you could negotiate a loan, subject to the usability of the horse. You could probably cope with minor problems, however if the horse became unusable it could go back to the owner. If they are fabulously wealthy (lucky devils) then this may be an option.

Have another horse to look at on Sat and going back to see sarcoid horse on sunday. Am hoping that Saturdays horse will be great so there will be no competition.

Good luck.
 
i say go for it my horse has sarcoids and they do not cost me a penny they drop off naturally and he doesnt suffer if i use cream it is just aloe vera gell with dries them up untill they drop off! My gg did have one round his eye though and had to have it off by radiotherapy bit ouch o the purse but worth it! (plus he isnt mine truley just on loan so owner paid for it) Poor lad was radio active for 2 weeks bless him! If the horse is in no pain and rideable get a signed aggreement that if they do come back they are to pay for treatment! Can i ask also why they are giving him away?? after all that work?? another underlying problem???
 
Go for it! If he is as nice to do as he sounds and will do for your hacking and so on, so will have 2 jobs.
My Dads hunter was bought for £500 with a sarcoid on the girth and he has now given three fantastic seasons and is well into his fourth, so it can go right as well as wrong!
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