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Post by Ryan&Dizzy on Jan 4, 2009 23:37:02 GMT 1
i need your opinions and past experiences.
ive decided to let Ryan go, as im struggling with him in a number of ways that i wont go into here.
but the point is that he has issues, ,main one being he has kissing spines, he is under no treatment for this at the moment but has had one lot of steroids about a yr ago and it cant be ruled out that he wont need them again in the future. this has also led to a mounting issue i dont honestly think that with a decent ridder with the time to put into him it would take long to get over as he isnt mallicious he just gets scared.
on the good side hes a gem on the ground (has been used for RDA handeling and childrens lecture at a riding school), is a pretty boy and is the most honest gentalman you could ever meet. and once youve mannaged to get on he is an angel to ride however he does need a lot of schooling on the flat. he also has a huge jump.
now my predicament is i dont know whether to put him up for sale for a small amount, put him up as free to good home, or loan him. i just want what is best for the horse i have already lost money on him and i dont mind that i just want to see the horse back in work and being happy.
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Post by beany1 on Jan 4, 2009 23:54:43 GMT 1
I have this decision to make with my NF - he needs much more work than I can give him, but he needs so much preventative care regarding his feet - I have to keep on top of him most of the time (checking pulses) as it doesn't take much for them to go up and he gets sore. I'm sure he is heading down the IR route, and will never be easy to look after, although is a dear, safe little chap. I have come to the decision if I do anything I will only ever loan him, and hovver around springtime! I can't risk an uncertain future for him by giving him away or selling him. However, that's just me, and you have to do what feels right in your heart. They are expensive creatures and sometimes you have to make tough decisions ... good luck
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Post by june on Jan 5, 2009 0:06:34 GMT 1
I don't think giving a horse away is the right thing to do unless you know the person well. If something costs money people seem to value it more. So, either sell for more than meat money, or loan so you're in control of his long term future. Maybe loaning through the project horses site would be a viable option?
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Post by Ryan&Dizzy on Jan 5, 2009 0:12:15 GMT 1
yer this is my thought too, i know that hes not really worth much but i dont want to sell him cheap or give him away and he just get passed from pillar to post. but then i also know that not many people are likely to want to loan a project horse as i know if i were in the situation ild be expecting the owner to take them back as soon as they were sorted (which is not the case here at all).
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hope
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 130
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Post by hope on Jan 5, 2009 0:18:47 GMT 1
Hi
I know only too well what you are going through and it is a very tough decision, especially when you get so attached to them. I bought a horse a few years ago who had mounting problems which were thought to be a reaction to a previous badly fitting saddle. I did have his back etc. looked at and he was fine so the assumption was that it was remembered pain rather than actual pain. Also, I did eventually get to meet his previous owner who filled me in on all his history and because he had dumped her a few times when he was in pain with the saddle, she understandably became frightened of getting on him and never really tackled the problem. I got Sue Brown, RA out to help me and Kay Humphries to make him a saddle and although it took six months, I eventually got him to trust me enough to let me get on him. However, this horse also had lots of other trust issues with people and I think he might have been a rig. He was totally unpredictable in his behaviour, especially to catch and in the box and often used to turn on people and he meant it. He also exhibited stallion like behaviour and was a nightmare around mares - I found out that he had badly injured people in the past when they tried to get their horses out of the field. It got to the point where I was asked to leave every livery yard I went to because of his behaviour. I eventually gave him away to a lady who said she was a student of Kelly Marks and Ian Vandeburghs who had her own farm and had done all the IH courses. She promised me that it would be a home for life and that her daughter would ride him and compete him as he was a very good show jumper. Sadly I got a call 18 months later from a lady who had bought him from her for a lot of money and had traced me through his passport. He had turned himself inside out and dumped her several times and she knew nothing of his previous history. She was horrified when she found out about all his previous problems and promised me that if she could not return him to this IH person (who I am tempted to name but won't), that she would have him put down as he was just too dangerous. I suppose what I am trying to say is that some horses just can't forget their past or their past pain no matter what you do and that it is always a risk trying to rehome them as unfortunately even people that you think are honourable will let you down if they think they can make a bob or too.
I am sorry for your predicament and hope that you can resolve it one way or another.
Best of luck!
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Post by Liz on Jan 5, 2009 1:43:08 GMT 1
I don't think giving a horse away is the right thing to do unless you know the person well. Absolutely second that, even if you have good references. I speak from experience and have PM'd you.
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Post by ba on Jan 5, 2009 2:03:24 GMT 1
HI Sophie, Could keep him as a companion or even loan him as one - maybe agreeing to pay some of his continued vets bills? At least you will remain in control of his future, but you won't have the long term day to day costs. Correct me if I am wrong but don't you have your own stables/fields? I would be tempted to rough him off for the winter, let him forget about things and then try again in the summer, maybe with a knowledgable sharer? Maybe an RA student would help for free in return for gaining experience needed to gain their qualifications? Apologies if this isn't what you want to do, just thought that a bit of brain storming might help :-)
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Jane
Olympic Poster
Colo ("koala")
Posts: 938
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Post by Jane on Jan 5, 2009 4:06:55 GMT 1
After a year, can you be sure that his back is not still causing the mounting issue? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe injections reverse this problem, simply alleviate it for a while. Excuse me if you've already looked into this.... it's just that if it were me, I'd not let him go anywhere while he might still have the physical problem.
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milo
Grand Prix Poster
milo, lily, bob,henry and monty
Posts: 2,704
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Post by milo on Jan 5, 2009 8:34:57 GMT 1
try him on project horses ,listing all the treatments and what care he will need etc and see what response you get,at the moment i'd try him as loan with view to buy and see how they get on with him first, my friend had a poor horse with back problems that dumped her at every opportuntity,she ended up in hospital with head injuries, she managed to loan her horse out after being very truthfull of all his problems, the loanee's had his back done again loads of time ,he too had kissing spines,but they persevered and have now brought him and hes a different horse as they are confident enough to ride him and work with him too , so there are caring homes out there and project horses seems to be the place to find them.
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Post by gordo on Jan 5, 2009 9:38:25 GMT 1
Do speak to Liz about her experience with her dear boy and the so called 'home for life'. I would loan, not sell, as there are many wicked people who would bute up and sell on without a moments thought for the horse. There are genuine people who could offer a good home but its finding them particularly now. Very difficult decision for you whatever you decide x
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Post by gwenoakes on Jan 5, 2009 10:00:05 GMT 1
I second what Gordo and Liz have said. Saying 'home for life' and meaning it are unfortunately two different things to some people!!
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eden
Olympic Poster
Posts: 662
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Post by eden on Jan 5, 2009 10:00:27 GMT 1
I have to agree with gordo and Liz please, Liz's horse went to a home for life!!!! ( Need I say more) I'm sure what ever you do will be right by Ryan. Much Love .xx
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Post by ruthp on Jan 5, 2009 10:07:57 GMT 1
Strongly echo the comments here - I gave away a horse last year, with a written contract that he was to be kept or PTS to someone I believed to be trustworthy. Five weeks later I had a call from someone who had just bought him at Melton market.
Having been through that experience I would NEVER give a horse away again, and if I couldn't be sure that I could ensure totaly security for ever I would seriously consider PTS for a horse with serious issues.
Sorry - I know this is a really hard situation, but I can promise you that finding that a much loved horse is doing the rounds of the markets and you can't do anything about it is much worse.
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Post by magicgirl on Jan 5, 2009 10:11:36 GMT 1
I think you need to have a long hard look at your options. In this present economic climate people are struggling to sell horses which have no medical problems or issues. If people want a companion they don't usually want a high maintaince one.
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varkie
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Grand Prix Poster
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Post by varkie on Jan 5, 2009 10:17:38 GMT 1
If you put him up for sale, I think you'll be very lucky to find him a buyer - who, seriously, in their right mind, would knowingly pay money for a horse with behavioural problems related to a major physical issue which may require vet treatment and even mean horse may become unrideable in the future?
If you must rehome, my suggestion would be that you look for a home which is a loan or loan with view to buy (buy in the sense of sign over membership), but don't actually sign over for a good amount of time, i.e. a year or two.
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