Your opinions on this situation please

[Stoxx]

I have always been in the 'look after your old horses, don't pass them from pillar to post' camp.

However a friend has found herself in a difficult situation. One of her horses is 20, sound, happier for being in work and fit. He did have a tendon problem about 7 years ago, but has been sound ever since with no issues. But for this reason she doesn't want him jumped too much and makes sure he is ridden carefully depending on the ground.
For one reason and another (good reasons) she can no longer keep him as she has. She has the option of turning him away to retire but she is worried she isn't going to have the time to check him (due to what is happening) etc etc. Also he is happier for being in work and has had pretty low mileage.
So the other option is finding him a new (good) home but then that means she is passing round an old horse.
PTS really can't be an option, he is so well in himself you wouldn't think he is his age.

So, your opinions?? She feels like she is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

[TS_]

Could she see if she could loan him out to someone as a happy hack, or if she herself doesn't have the time to do him full time then could she not try to find a sharer to hack him?
Also if he is sound and fit I think this an example of when passing on an older horse to a responsible, loving home would be no problem. As with the proper managment he could potentially have a year or two yet.

 

[Worried1]

What about loaning?

At 19 Trooper was retired to the field with mild arthritis in his neck, however he was a pain in the bum and so I decided to look for someone wanting to hack and do low level RC stuff. I took my time and I found a really lovely lady who has had him for 5 years now. He is still 'mine' but unless something drastc happend he won't come home.

She adores him and he had much more time and attention than I could ever give him if he remained a field pony. Her other horse is a retired army horse. She has always taken on oldies and is even happy to pay for bute or remedial shoeing which they often need as age comes into the equation.

She mainly hacks, does the odd sponsered ride but mainly loves having a horse at the end of her garden.

 

[Kenzo]

Can she not bob him out on loan?, so she still has control of his welfare but without the added guilt of passing him on or the risk of him being sold about.

There are lots of people out there who don't mind taking on a mature horse to potter around on and also to keep their own company...its just finding them, so long as she is careful that she finds the right loan home and comes to a mutual agreement should the horse require treatment due to his age in the future.

I personally don't think it's right to put a healthy mature horse down if there is a way round it, even if he's finished his working life, they deserve a happy retirement for a few years at least.

But at the same time we can't help unforeseen circumstances, better to let him go than not have time for him.

Hope things work out for your friend.

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

My husband had an IDxShire who was 20 or 21 when we made the decision to sell him. My husband had changed jobs which meant he didnt have time for his horse and I already had my own horse and couldnt ride two. Our old chap was as fit as a fiddle, lively and happy and really not ready to be retired. We found him a lovely lady who wanted to regain her confidence and have a horse to pootle about on and pamper, and that is where he lived out his days.

I think as long as you are realistic and spend time looking for the right home (as much as you can do, anyway!) there's nothing wrong in principle with rehoming an old horse.

 

[Silverspring]

I don't see in problem in selling a fit rideable 20 year old so long as you are checking the homes they are going to. I got my girl when she was 18 and now she's 23 (good lord where does the time go!) I would maybe be more hesitant to sell her on as she maybe only has another 3 - 4 years of work left in her. But if the worst came to the worst she's a sound rideable horse, I would PTS or retire, I'd sell or loan.

 

[M_G]

My boy is on loan to me he is 19 and I wouldn't ever change him for the world & when the time comes for him to retire I will keep him (if owner is ok with it) and pamper him as I do now.

19 is no age if the horse still wants to work

 

[Stoxx]

Thanks to everyone.

I agree in that I think she should look to loan him and then if the loaner got on well with him and wished to keep him she could always sign him over. That way knowing that he was going to go to a good home.
He is a brilliant hack and would escort babies out etc.

I think her main concern with loaning is that she worries someone will do too much, break him and hand him back. She is after all only doing this because she is going through some huge changes in her life and has to think about what is best, now.

 

[shoeey]

Just be REALLY, REALLY careful. H&H reports all the time about horses loaned to supposedly lovely homes and then sold on.
I know if you get a loan agreement and live close enough to see the horse regularly you should be fine but I would only loan to a friend after what I have read.