Would you try to force a non loader to load?

[TheLoneWanderer]

My mare won't load and the last attempt took 6 hours, with much distress. I cannot stay where I am as I can no longer afford it. Even after the old man is pts. I would rather have her pts too than try to force her to load and send her somewhere she would likely be mis treated as she is very sharp, and quirky. Someone I know is telling me I should give them both to a charity. No chance! a 30yo with Cushing's, arthritis and allergies and a 15yo that is a massive laminitis risk and no way could she live out and she is not the easiest to handle. She's currently non matt's with no bedding as I really have run out of money, but she is fed watered has hay and is safe and happy. My so called friend has made me want to never speak to her again with her pathetic opinions

 

[[153312]]

If you have really run out of money then I'm sorry but pts may be the kindest option for them both.


Really though it's none of your "friend's" business; they're not her horses so it's nothing to do with her.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I would invest in training but it doesn't sound like that's possible.
Can you get some Domosedan from the vet and dope her up?
I would only use force if it was an emergency and the horse wasn't going in.

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

I would invest in training but it doesn't sound like that's possible.
Can you get some Domosedan from the vet and dope her up?
I would only use force if it was an emergency and the horse wasn't going in.

Won't make a blind bit of difference

 

[Sossigpoker]

Won't make a blind bit of difference

I'm sorry to hear that. I could only load my old horse with Domosedan.

But if you aren't able to look after them,.then perhaps surrendering to a rescue or PTS might be the best option.
I'm sorry this is happening to you.

 

[Cortez]

Every horse can be loaded, it’s a matter of training - how come she is like this? How did you get her to where she is now?

 

[Winters100]

Well 15 is not so very old, and it depends on what you mean by sharp and quirky. I always think that it is a mistake to think that we are the only ones who can manage our horses, and it may well be that there is a good and knowledgeable home out there for her. Why not start with looking for a good home, be open about all her good and bad traits, and see if the loading can be managed, maybe with some sedative. If I had a horse who was outright dangerous I would PTS, but a bit sharp and difficult I would try to find another solution.

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

I'm sorry to hear that. I could only load my old horse with Domosedan.

But if you aren't able to look after them,.then perhaps surrendering to a rescue or PTS might be the best option.
I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Never in a hundred millions would I send them to a 'rescue' clearly you missed that part. Far far worse fates than pts

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

Well 15 is not so very old, and it depends on what you mean by sharp and quirky. I always think that it is a mistake to think that we are the only ones who can manage our horses, and it may well be that there is a good and knowledgeable home out there for her. Why not start with looking for a good home, be open about all her good and bad traits, and see if the loading can be managed, maybe with some sedative. If I had a horse who was outright dangerous I would PTS, but a bit sharp and difficult I would try to find another solution.

I've had her since she was 2yo. She hates other people. If she was loadable I would turn her away. She isn't. Far worse fates that pts.

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

Every horse can be loaded, it’s a matter of training - how come she is like this? How did you get her to where she is now?

Clearly you have never met a non loader. No not 'every horse can be loaded' there is no reason for her to not load. I've had her since she was 2yo and she had never left where she was born. The last time I moved her it took 6 hours and much distress to load her. She is sharp, bolshy and will not have anyone ride her if she takes offence. It's purely that I have had her so long I can manage her. In the wrong hands she would be dangerous.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

If I’m understanding your post the question is: if a move is inevitable, would I load my 15 year old horse or put her down? Well I would load her. Ideally Id train her to load willingly but if necessary I’d sedate to travel. The idea of euthanising a horse rather than cause temporary stress via loading her seems extreme to say the least.

If you can’t afford to keep her regardless of the loading issue then that’s a different dilemma and I guess your options then depend on what other issues she has.

 

[WispyBegs]

I think you’ve answered your own question here…

You don’t want to force your horse to load and you won’t look at other options, so sadly it does look like pts is the only option you leave yourself with.

Tough situation to be in, I feel for you

 

[SOS]

Clearly you have never met a non loader. No not 'every horse can be loaded' there is no reason for her to not load. I've had her since she was 2yo and she had never left where she was born. The last time I moved her it took 6 hours and much distress to load her. She is sharp, bolshy and will not have anyone ride her if she takes offence. It's purely that I have had her so long I can manage her. In the wrong hands she would be dangerous.

Get a horseman out and they will load her in no time. Micky Gavin is one of many who works extremely well with horses and is very good with timing to make decisions black and white to them without being harsh. Something 99% of amateur owners will not have mastered, myself included.

Also stop thinking of her as a non loader. She does load, you just said she did but it took 6 hours. A positive mindset helps a lot - I had to learn that with my tricky loader.

I don’t think you’re wrong to PTS if you have no money and don’t want to mare to be passed around. That’s fair enough and never the worst decision for a horse. However if she was mine and I had the money and want to keep her, I’d figure a little bit of stress induced by a professional isn’t so bad to get her to a new home.

 

[TPO]

I've had her since she was 2yo. She hates other people. If she was loadable I would turn her away. She isn't. Far worse fates that pts.

Then that's a massive failing on your part. Had a horse for 13yrs and she displays behaviours that have lead you to class them as "hates other people" and you can't load her.

Of course there are worse fates than pts but there are better fates than a home that would pts because they haven't trained the horse to load calmly.

Honestly dun roamin do you not get bored of this carry on under every new user name? We have to be 30 deep by now ?

 

[Winters100]

I've had her since she was 2yo. She hates other people. If she was loadable I would turn her away. She isn't. Far worse fates that pts.

So why are you asking us about this? You have clearly made up your mind to PTS. I feel sorry for the horse, because in knowledgeable hands a horse who had been in 1 home for 13 years would have been taught to load and to be comfortable around a variety of people. Since you have not managed this, and now keep the horse without bedding, sadly she is the one who pays the price.

 

[[153312]]

I sort of assumed OP wouldn't/couldn't consider getting a trainer out because of cost, it seemed to be saying in the original post that they weren't bedding down as could not longer afford to buy it? Maybe misunderstood.

Regardless they seem to have made up their minds and be looking for consolidation on their decision. It's not a wrong decision necessarily but should have been an avoidable one.

 

[pinkypug1]

What kind of horsemanship or lack of have you been practicing that your horse behaves like this after 13 years?????

 

[twobearsarthur]

Is this the mare your 9 year old nephew can handle without any issues? If so, has something changed to make her not so easy to handle?

I’m surprised you haven’t been able to train her to load in the past 13 years. You’ve said yourself in a previous post that you’re “not one of those namby pamby people. If a horse is asked to do something its capable of doing then its made to do it. Simple really.”

It’s a shame for a horse still in its prime to be PTS mainly due to lack of training, over a significant period of time, but as you say she’s now dangerous to anyone but you, so it’s probably for the best.

 

[Winters100]

Is this the mare your 9 year old nephew can handle without any issues? If so, has something changed to make her not so easy to handle?

I’m surprised you haven’t been able to train her to load in the past 13 years. You’ve said yourself in a previous post that you’re “not one of those namby pamby people. If a horse is asked to do something its capable of doing then its made to do it. Simple really.”

It’s a shame for a horse still in its prime to be PTS mainly due to lack of training, over a significant period of time, but as you say she’s now dangerous to anyone but you, so it’s probably for the best.

I really doubt that this horse actually is dangerous to other people. OP does not sound to me to be even a slightly knowledgeable owner. 13 years and you still can't load the horse? Seriously? It might well be that in the hands of someone that actually knew what they were doing this problem could be solved quite quickly, probably along with any other problem behaviors.

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

Get a horseman out and they will load her in no time. Micky Gavin is one of many who works extremely well with horses and is very good with timing to make decisions black and white to them without being harsh. Something 99% of amateur owners will not have mastered, myself included.

Also stop thinking of her as a non loader. She does load, you just said she did but it took 6 hours. A positive mindset helps a lot - I had to learn that with my tricky loader.

I don’t think you’re wrong to PTS if you have no money and don’t want to mare to be passed around. That’s fair enough and never the worst decision for a horse. However if she was mine and I had the money and want to keep her, I’d figure a little bit of stress induced by a professional isn’t so bad to get her to a new home.

No professional can load her,been there done that, they made her worse

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

I really doubt that this horse actually is dangerous to other people. OP does not sound to me to be even a slightly knowledgeable owner. 13 years and you still can't load the horse? Seriously? It might well be that in the hands of someone that actually knew what they were doing this problem could be solved quite quickly, probably along with any other problem behaviors.

You are thick a as plank. I've had her 13 years, the other 17 years, been riding 32 years and worked with horses on professional/livery/riding school yards 21 years. You clearly are the one that's clueless

 

[[153312]]

Ah, and there we were, naively thinking you might want to play nicely this time.

Reported for being quite frankly vile to posters making educational and well intentioned responses.

 

[asmp]

Reported too.

 

[Melody Grey]

Well, that escalated quickly! Somewhere in the world, it is always half term.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Well, that escalated quickly! Somewhere in the world, it is always half term.

Not half term, just a recurrent rude poster who keeps coming back under a new name each time she is banned.....

 

[Ample Prosecco]

And hopefully a troll getting us going rather someone who genuinely intends to put a horse down because she can’t load it!

 

[babymare]

Reported to

 

[Archangel]

Clearly you have never met a non loader.

I think she might have done and it very quickly became a loader.

 

[Xmasha]

None of your business freak

i can see why you chose that username ???

 

[Peglo]

So you think you are best/only person who can look after and care for your horse while also wanting to PTS because loading the horse is too much effort. Interesting ?