Would you take on a companion if...

Z

zoeshiloh

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A friend contacted me last night - she has a TB mare that her daughter used to ride and compete, but due to injury she had to be retired. My friend does not want to breed from her, or loan her as a broodmare, as her breeding is average, she was only ever going to be an RC competition level horse, and there is nothing 'special' there. I think she is commendable for doing this - most people would just say 'bung it in foal'.

Anyway, her two options are 1) Have her put to sleep - she is only 9yo and is perfectly happy in every other aspect so this seems a sad waste. 2) Loan her out as a companion - she wouldn't want to sell her/give her away as she would worry where she would end up. She has said to me she would be happy to continue to pay for vet/farrier/worming, but whoever took her on would be responsible for feed and day to day care. She has lived out happily since October with just a lightweight rug on and ad-lib hay in the field (no extra hard feed). Do you think there are people out there that would be interested in this mare as a companion, or should my friend seriously think about having her PTS?
 
If I could afford another one I would take on a companion horse. I would love to be able to leave Bob out with a pal, it would save me running around like an eejit to make sure he is in before it goes dark!

I would try and find her a companion home first.
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Yes I think somebody would, I am looking for a companion for my pony at the moment but I'm looking for a very good doer as I have to restrict my mares grass intake and it would be pointless if they were in different fields!
 
Possibly another option?
If she is well apart from the injury and has a good temperament would she be a prospect as an embryo recipient?

I have no problem with someone being responsible enough to PTS in cases like this but at only nine there are many years ahead for this mare and a TB is not everyones ideal companion.
 
I think putting her to sleep is god dam cruel! Especially when there's nothing wrong with her and shes only 9! There's plenty of people that would have her as a companion, why would someone say that!!!
 
If your friend was happy to contribute to running costs etc, then I can't see the problem. Some people do want companion horses that are old crocks so I wouldn't say she is too young. TBs can be very good doers, as it sounds like she is and our TB companion is out 24/7/365, does pretty well and has low running costs.
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TBs can also be a lot less pushy than other breeds (welshies etc) so can make nice mild companions
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Personally, I would not have a TB as a companion. If I needed one, I would go for a pony or cob type that was inexpensive to feed. If I had a companion that did cost a fair bit to maintain, it would have to be hackable at least. If I could not look after my own horse myself in his retirement, I would have him PTS.
 
She sounds like she would make an ideal companion for someone as she is so low maintenance and her owner is prepared to help out financially. I wouldn't consider pts at this point, lots of people are willing to take on nice companion horses and this one sounds ideal.
 
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I think putting her to sleep is god dam cruel! Especially when there's nothing wrong with her and shes only 9! There's plenty of people that would have her as a companion, why would someone say that!!!

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She cannot keep another horse that cannot be ridden - her daughter is a very talented youngster and they just don't have the space. She wouldn't want to sell her for a few hundred quid or give her away, as chances are she would get passed from pillar to post, end up ridden or put in foal etc. I think she feels having her PTS would be kinder for her in te long run if a companion home cannot be found.

With regards to ET, I suggested this but when I inquired about my mare (IDxTB) they don't like pure TBs or mares under 16.2hh (this mare is also 15.2).
 
What so Marmalade your saying that if you couldnt look after your own horse yourself you would put him to sleep instead of letting him live the rest of his life with someone else? When he could still be enjoying himself and pain free, just like this TB mare???
 
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I think putting her to sleep is god dam cruel! Especially when there's nothing wrong with her and shes only 9! There's plenty of people that would have her as a companion, why would someone say that!!!

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Why is PTS cruel? The horse would not know what was happening and would not worry or pine for its future, it would just die. It would be sad and tough for the owners, but sometimes it's the right decision.

OP: there is no harm in trying to loan her and seeing what happened. Embryo transfer mare or the blood bank are also possible options, although I imagine they are innundated with inquiries at the moment. Failing all this, PTS is the only responsible option if they can't afford to keep her at grass livery.
 


She cannot keep another horse that cannot be ridden - her daughter is a very talented youngster and they just don't have the space. She wouldn't want to sell her for a few hundred quid or give her away, as chances are she would get passed from pillar to post, end up ridden or put in foal etc. I think she feels having her PTS would be kinder for her in te long run if a companion home cannot be found.



Im sorry but not everyone in the world is nasty, I know lots of kind horse people, and Im sure there are a lot of people out there, its not hard to regulary check up on the horse, thats kind ! Not throwing her away at 9! Rescue centres (they're all over the UK)
 
IMO if she is only field sound then I would either investigate embryo transfer or PTS. Even the most hardiest of TB's are still high maintenance and to loan out is still frought with uncertainty... look at all the horror stories we hear of horses going missing on loan or companions sold on as sound riding horses.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh, but realism does need to feature in todays society, not everyone is honest or can afford passengers.
 
I don't quite understand why, if your friend can afford to pay vets bills etc etc that they can't afford to keep the horse themselves? But, that's by the by. I think a TB is as rehomeable as any other horse as a companion and , contrary to what people think the majority of the are not costly to feed any more so than a native plus you are unlikely to have the additional problem of grass related issues such as laminits with a TB.

Our TB I am sure could quite hapily live on hay throughout the winter to be honest but we do supplement him with hard food as we feed our others. However, he is 26 yo so probably needs a bit more feeding up. He was 'broken' (tendons went) many many years ago and we took him on aged 19 and (touch wood) he has cost us very little as costs nothing to feed really as lives out 24/7 and so far has pretty much been injury free/problem free.
 
When my old boy dies/is pts I will be looking for another tb as a companion...its that old chestnut of tbs only really loving the company of other tbs my tb mare (retired) is terribley bullied by anything that isnt another tb and for her to have a happy retired life she deserves the company of a horse she gets along with! She isn't that old either but I have chosen to keep her to live her days out here with me, shes very special and I have the space and already have a young horse I'm bringing on to take her place ridden wise... not everyone can do this I realise.
I definately think there will be companion homes out there and she should try this route first. I do agree though that if nothing can be found pts will be the kindest option.
 
If you read my post LadyT, I don't state that my friend can't afford to keep her - that is not the case - they do not have the space at home (they have their own yard/fields) or the time to rent fields elsewhere and see to her daily.

Equestrian92 - not everyone is nasty, no, and you go on to say "its not hard to regulary check up on the horse" - erm, that is why she wants to loan the horse as a companion rather than sell her, whereby she loses all control and she might well end up in the wrong hands. She only said to me (exact words) "Or would calling it a day be kinder than risk her ending up emaciated and ill treated" with reference to not finding her a loan home, and having to sell her instead.

I would have taken her on myself but I am trying to downsize as it is (it seems like everyone is!). She is a very easy going mare, not highly strung at all - she gets on with any horse and is always bottom of the pecking order. I've only had contact with her a handful of times, but I've been told she is a friendly mare to be around and easy to keep.
 
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Im sorry but not everyone in the world is nasty, I know lots of kind horse people, and Im sure there are a lot of people out there, its not hard to regulary check up on the horse, thats kind ! Not throwing her away at 9! Rescue centres (they're all over the UK)

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And why do you think there are rescue centres all over the UK? Because all over the UK there are people trying to make a quick buck out of horses that really do not have a future, just like this one.

They go into a downwards spiral of totally unsuitable homes, being sold for less and less until eventually someone just shoves them into a field and forgets about them and they end up being rescued.

The fact that this woman is giving some thought to having the mare pts is not nasty, it is responsible, it is a much harder decision to have to make that doping it up to make it rideable and selling it for a couple of hundred quid or than selling it as a companion only for someone else to do the doping to make a few quid.

Zoeshiloh, I hope your friend does find a nice home for her as a companion, I know they are out there, but please do not try to dissuade her from having her pts if that's what she decides is best for the horse.
 
My sympathies to your friend, it is a tough one.

I would not be put off by a TB, the most important thing would be for the horse to have a good temperament, get on well with my horse and not to have too many impossible handling problems. An owner who would contribute to some of the costs would be a real bonus.

A suitable home will take some finding, but not absolutely impossible.
 
Yes I think this is pretty obvious but how could this happen if the lady loaned her, I understand some horrible stories you hear about loans going missing but like said she wouldn't go to someone not known etc.

But she may as well advertise her at least before considering all this!
 
I'd definately take a horse like this if I were looking for a companion, one that the owner was prepared to pay the expensive parts of (vet/farrier/worming).

I think she'd find a home quite easily for her if she's prepared to do this as that takes the worry away from the recipient at costly keep for a non native.

It would also be nice to know that the owner still had an interest in the horse and was pleased that it was being loved and looked after.
 
Thats just what I would have said myself, Chunkie.

E92, my horse has a heart problem that will eventually lead to heart disease, so he is on borrowed time anyway. It is up to me to make sure that he is never mistreated or neglected, and if I could not look after him myself for whatever reason, unless I could loan him to someone I knew well and who was on my door step, the only way I could make sure of this would be to have him PTS.

How would you know that he would be happy elsewhere anyway? A move could greatly upset him and finish him off! And rescue centres are already full of unrideable horses looking for homes.
 
OP, yes, I think there are people out there willing to take a TB on as a companion.

But I do think that sometimes the most responsible thing to do is PTS.

Equestrian92. If you have ever been in a similar situation and taken the decision to sell and it has resulted in your horse facing an uncertain future being passed from pillar to post you may start feeling differently. Spend long enough on this forum and you realise that virtually every other person on here has had a horse that has ended up in a scenario they wanted to avoid when selling it on. So given this I really do thing that sometimes it is best all round to PTS. It's never an easy decision but sometimes one that should be made.
 
my little one came to me from someone i know well & trust, she got him from another very good friend as a companion for her verry accident prone TB, he is acording to the vets approx 8-10 years old but in those few years he must have been abused so badly as he is petrified of everything you do (touch/move ect) his history from those 2 friends is over 5 years of his life so how he got this messed up so quick is frightning, he may well have been from one of those who believe in "cant ride it, oh well bung it in foal" but had no expereience with foals/youngsters.

if i can no longer keep/care for him & cant find him a home with someone i know/trust i would not hesitate in having him PTS he may be young but has had too much hurt in his short life already.

rememberit is easy to judge others, but take heed for they may well judge back.
 
If she is considering a loan then she should have the horse both freezemarked on the shoulder and also micro-chipped with the European standard micro-chip. This will ensure that the horse can always be identified as many horses sadly dissapear while on loan. If loaning to someone you do not know then ensure that they let you copy their passport, driving licence and rates bill so that you know exactly who they are and where they live. Also check out where the horse is going to be kept.
 
Equestrian92- there are many many people that cannot afford to keep an unsound horse. At the end of the day, they are expensive to keep, particularly tbs and the like, and many of us have them to do a job- which is riding. When they can't do this, pts may be the best option. It is not cruel- the horse doesn't know what's coming, and isn't going to live a life of suffering. PTS is a FAR FAR more sensible option than say, selling the horse as a companion- it is just asking for the horse to be buted up and sold on as a riding horse.

To to OP- Definately try loaning as a companion first, there may be a home out there. Needs to be local and horse needs to be checked up on regularly. Take a look at projecthorses.com for wanted companions. Can the horse be lightly hacked? If she could, she would be even easier to loan I reckon. My girl is on loan as a hack, had people queueing up for her, but she is not as bad as your friends horse by the sounds of it. Well done to her for being responsible and not selling the horse on.
 
i think she should try and find a nice companion home or put her to a charity if possible, seems a shame to pts, if someting happened to V that meant he could no longer be ridden or just a light hack it wouldnt matter to me he would be staying as i just love him to much to consider pts. x
 
If I was going to buy a companion for my TBX mare I'd look for a TB type - so they could both go out on decent grazing together, both come in together in bad weather etc etc. Especially if the current owner willing to contribute to upkeep she shouldn't be too difficult to rehome at all.
 
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