Would you...

R

Riverboy

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Hi all... as you may or may not know I am (unsucessfully) hunting for my new horse after my disasterous two horse years... Whilst hunting I am paying to keep my stable at my wonderful yard.

I've just had a call from my instructor/surrogate mum to ask me a favour and I was wondering what your views on it were. She sold a youngster about 6 months ago and has just had a call from the womans husband, she has broken her legs and they keep the pony at home, he doesnt have a clue how to look after it and they have 2 small children. He's asked RI to look after the pony but she doesnt have the room, she has asked if they paid my livery bill would I have him until they decide what to do with him. It seems the lady was not the person RI thought she was when she sold the youngster to him and she is concerned for him...

So my question is - would you? I would want the agreement in writing to ensure I didn't get left with him, but I think it may stop me impulse buying the wrong horse as I am getting to the point of desperation in my hunt... but I am wary of being landed with a horse that wasn't what i wanted because I feel sorry for both RI and pony...

Have a Sunday evening home cooked cup cake and hot choccie for your advise.

T x
 
Hm. A difficult one....

Understand you wanting to help out, but how does one make sure you don't end up with the pony; or that the pony is still in your stable when you do find The Horse...?
 
Eeek, tricky one! My head definitely says no, but it is hard when someone you're close to asks for a favour. The real problems are:

1-'Until they decide what to do with it' Once again, just eek!
2-What if your dream horse crops up in the meantime?
3-Do you mind looking after someone else's horse?
4-If it's a youngster, are you prepared for some baby behavior?

On the other hand, it might be fun and you'd be helping out a friend. This is a difficult situation, good luck.
 
You have identified my concerns... RI is a very close friend and I love her to bits, but I am worried what would happen 'if' perfect horsey comes up whilst he's there, or if they just leave him with me.

I'm ok with baby behaviour - I broke Luca in with help from RI myself and quite enjoy the babies, and actually helped out backing this one before he was sold... but its a fair amount of work, but then it pays for the stable that I am paying for and keeping empty and would fill the void I am currently feeling...

T x
 
I know you say its the perfect yard, but there are others perhaps not with the ties and so convenient but why should you be saddled, firstly with a bill for an empty stable and secondy with the time to look after someone elses pony? If this person is like your surrogate mum money wouldn't be a motive IMO - sorry if it sounds harsh, but I find this a bit one sided as far as business is business not emotion.

You are right, you are paying for a void you can't fill, maybe it's time to move on and let it go? Then you have a chance of putting your last 2 years to rest, it will take the pressure off of finding a "right" horse so you can start looking objectively and not just feel desperate to fill a stable.
 
The trouble is there is a long waiting list for my yard and having been to others in the area I want to be sure that I have my stable ready for when/if I find the perfect horse.

The void is less the empty stable but more not knowing what to do with myself a lot of the time - I really miss just the day to day horset tasks - I'm even mucking out for friends with relish.

To be clear - the pony isn't my RIs its one she sold 6+ months ago but feels obligied to help them out, nor is the yard her yard - she hasn't the space for him. The money isn't a deciding factor as I have no objections to paying for the empty stable and am happy to do so for as long as it takes. I have thought about taking a break from all this, and I did take a while to start looking again.

Thank you for the advice though - I need to have a long hard think about things.
x
 
I understand if money isn't the issue, but I was thinking that an empty box puts pressure on you to fill it. In my simple mind, this means if it was me I would be feeling that I need to find a horse. This means perhaps to compromise in what I want. I also believe that if you really want something you find a way to get it. so your horse that you really want hasn't come up, it will when you find it which might be the most inconvenient time, therefore face it, if you want it you will find a way of having it and if your box is filled you will find a way of homing it. So if your livery yard owner is such a friend they will find a way to help you. Harsh, yes, but I don't believe in paying for something you don't need and if you are paying for something you "might" need then they aren't doing you any favours either.
Save your money, let the box go, let the people who need it use the box, put the money towards the next horse and expand your budget - unless its limitless it will make a difference, then you might find the horse you really want (and no I don't know your history but I do know that budget does affect what type of horse people can buy.)
 
No what you have said makes sense, I hadn't really thought of the people on the list who need the stable, I have perhaps been sensible.

Sorry just to confirm my RI is not my yard owner, I keep my horses somewhere else and she has a small yard that is hers.

I think I just wanted to make sure there were no 'issues' finding somewhere to keep the horse when it comes along, as we all know finding a yard you love can be difficult.

Thank you though - I had never thought about the people who need the stable, or about the pressure I may be putting on myself having an empty box to fill.

Thats why I love this forum a different perspective you may not have thought of.

x
 
I hope you find the right horse and I do think that if you want something enough you will find a way to do it. The ideal livery yard is great, but having the ideal horse to me is more important. The ideal horse is out there, you will find it, just when you least expect it!! Please take your time and then enjoy it, too many people post on here that feel they've done the wrong thing and instructors are only human like you and me!!
 
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