To ask if you would stretch yourself financially for the sake of a pet

[holdinoniknow]

My current situation is that I'm able to keep my horse somewhere for free and I don't need a car for it. But over the last few days various things have changed and I'm no longer in this position (nothing I can change)

So my current options are as follows:

1. Keep my horse, move him to a stable which would be around 250 a month all in, and buy a car (I'd have to, nowhere local), which would really stretch myself financially BUT enable me to not have to say goodbye to my horse

OR

2. Sell/loan my horse, be comfortable financially BUT potentially regret it

It sounds like such a stupid dilemma but I'm really torn between my head and my heart. I really don't think I'd be able to afford keeping my horse and a car, but at the same time, I feel like I'm giving up.

I haven't had my horse long and he's difficult so he's not going to be an easy sell either. I keep thinking I know I need to be sensible, but then I go to write his ad/look at pics and feel awful

Sorry stupid first world problem I know.

It sounds like big stretch. Going from walking to free stabling to buying a car and paying for stabling.

Can you really afford it? The stabling, payments on a car, insurance and tax and petrol for the car? Plus you’ll need contingency money for when things go wrong with the car or the horse gets ill.

Unless you currently have hundreds of spare £ every month it just don’t sound doable I’m sorry

Hi,

I think you should consider loaning your horse, or find someone to part loan with.
I met my two best friends through part loaning a horse. Her owner financially couldn't keep her, so put her up for loan and my (now) friend took her, and advertised for someone to part loan with. I was the stranger that replied to the advert and I can hand on heart say that part loaning the horse changed my life and is one of the best things I have ever done.

As it happens, our beautiful girl had to be put to sleep last year and I don't think the three of us would have got through it without each other.

If you are going down this route, make sure you put together a loan agreement and get a decent insurance policy for vet's bills, to safeguard against any difficult discussions if anything bad were to happen.

I have a dog and work in the equine industry.

I have recently put a £1500 deposit on a rental house to keep my dog.

I am stretched financially.

A horse is not a pet in the same way. I have loved my horses more than my partners, I’ve been absolutely traumatised by having to sell them, I sold one ten years ago that I still think of and get upset.

But the reality is that they cost a huge amount of both time and money. Insuring a horse costs 4x more than a dog. There’s loads of exclusions if they ever get ill/lame. A dog you insure, feed, walk and you are generally ok.

Horses are a pain in the arse. They break and cost money. They get sick and cost money. They die and cost money. It’s hundreds to even get their bodies taken away.

I am not in a position to own a horse, because I would want much more disposable income than I have in case anything went wrong. I would sell/loan if it was really stretching you.

I would because I consider them family. When my dog had a stroke I would have remorgaged the house if it had meant saving her. But can you realistically manage it? It's one thing to stretch yourself but a whole different kettle of fish to let yourself go into debt to keep him. I wouldn't have let Ddog die if there was anything to be done for her, I'd find the money somehow even if I had to sell my body. wouldn't fetch much but you're not talking about one off expensive lifesaving surgery, you're talking about having to sustain higher outgoings than incomings. It's sad but if you don't have the money and can't earn more then what can you do?

As pp said I'd part loan him. That way he is still your horse and someone else that maybe can't afford the full costs of a horse can have one too.

Or short term loan until your situation changes.

Are there any horse schools nearby? My dm cut down her livery costs to practically nil by allowing riders to learn on it at a local school (horse one, not childrens obv).

If you can’t afford a horse, don’t have a horse.

I've kept horses in the past, but don't know just because life is too busy and financially I have other priorities. Personally, no, if I couldn't afford to keep an animal (especially if I couldn't even afford a car or potentially other bills), I would have to let him go. I loved having horses growing up, but it got to a point where it wasn't a feasible life choice anymore. I needed to pay for university and then life, car, kids, etc. I would love to have a horse again one day, but only when I'm financially comfortable enough to be able to meet everyone's needs. I know it's a hard decision, but if there are no alternatives, I would prioritise other things first. Could you loan him out until you are more secure?

It depends on the horse (my opinion might not be the most sensible!!). It's hard to find the right horse for you, esp if you have quirky taste! If the horse is one that is irreplaceable then I'd relook at budget ... Can you rent a field anywhere short term? Can you do a part time sharer who would give 20/week contribution? A good rider looking for a challenge might want something like your description. What horse costs can you cut? Front shoes only/ no shoes for winter/ reduce worming costs by doing testing not worming? Can you sell old tack? Then look at other options - can you find someone to offer reduced livery in return for stable chores/ poo picking etc. In meantime - can you get a car loan you can pay off over time, and set up min amount a month to put into account to build up in case of future vet bills if you don't have insurance. Or.... Can you find someone to put him on grass livery cheaply for the winter if he can live out, might cost £100/month but buys you 5 months to put away some money/ sell stuff, etc

I had a similar situation with a ‘project’ horse. Although wasn’t financial issues - I was struggling to keep him for health reasons, which were temporary but lasting long enough to make it very difficult to keep him.

To start with I offered him for ‘free’ to a good home. Unfortunately I quickly learned that when someone hears ‘free’ they will effectively put their fingers in their ears and sing la la la when you are telling them the honest truth about what they are taking on. A few months later I was offered the choice of taking him back or they were going to get rid of him to a dealer. I took him back but I was in so much pain it was a real struggle to care for him.

I then advertised him for sale with a honest advert for £500. Within 2 weeks I found a wonderful home for him.

In my experience £500 is a good amount to sell a horse for that isn’t worth anything really (there are so many ‘projects’ out there) as it isn’t much compared to what a horse could cost, but it is enough to prove that the buyer is serious. It’s a token of commitment.

I’m making lots of assumptions and not really answering your question (sorry!), but I wanted to put my personal experience forward in case it helps - basically only put out on loan if you can have him back at short notice. Otherwise you should sell him.

What is the harm in advertising him for sale? You can change your mind. I said no to two ladies who I didn’t like before I found a really super home for him. I still get updates and photos of the two of them together now.

It’s a horrible thing to decide. I hope it all works out for you.

If you would be struggling to make ends meet then no . A car or a horse is a big financial commitment, never mind both together.

But hate the thought of you giving up a much loved horse op, it's so hard to find one that's right for you in the first place.

Is there any other way around this? Could you increase your earnings (maybe having a car would allow you to get a night job if convenient?).

Look around for other options for shared livery/grazing such as finding others to team up with?

I would for a pet that lived in my home, but not a horse. I don't think they know any differnce if they get a new owner. Why on earth did you get a horse in the first place?

Bloody horses. I'm currently trying to find someone to take my particular needs beast off my hands. Trouble is they are such a huge expense. On top of the stable costs have you properly added up all the other stuff & Inc petrol, extra help when you need etc. Is there no grass livery near you. I kept my old mare by working for her stable because there was really no choice practically or emotionally. The gelding I have I would give away tomorrow if I could find him the right home. Honestly I would say it's not worth sacrificing everything else for & getting into debt.

I wouldn't not in a million years, we only have dogs but honestly while I care for them and wish them no ill (have them insured etc), if I couldn't afford them I would get rid of them.

I think its best to give him. I know it feels really bad and guilty but how can you if you are not able to afford him? What if he gets sick? Then you'd need a fortune to get him well. At current state, you will not be able to handle it and I'm afraid then your horse will end up being really sick or worse. So why not give him to someone who can afford him and loves pets and one who maybe allows you to visit him once in a while?

As others have said there's a difference between one off extra costs and ongoing extra costs.

Our cats cost us a thousand pounds in vets bills last year, which was not easy for us, but a mixture of credit card transfers for no interest deals and some money from savings got us through. Then we had another £600 or so this year. And lost one of them which was worse than the cost.

(And I know we should have had insurance, but we'd never needed it before (I know, I know) and we moved a couple of years ago and the vets here must be twice as expensive at least as our old vets.)

Part loan him and ask for a small financial contribution? Even just towards his shoes/trimming would be handy.

You could always consider a loan with a specified end date, for example a year, your circumstances may have changed by then. (I understand a lot of people wouldn't want to take a green horse on, to effectively do all of the work and then be out of pocket when it went back to you, but he could be ideal for a teenager before they go off to uni, etc)

I would spend a lot of money to keep my animals, no horses anymore but my dog costs a fortune with doggy day care. But I wouldn't go silly. You could sell him as a project or a LWVTB.

There is nothing stopping you from giving your first option a go and reevaluating in a few months, perhaps with a part share. I'd go for that for now. I part loaned a difficult, green, daft horse and brought him on a lot while paying for the privilege so there are mugs like me out there ;)

Good luck!

Yes - have definitely stretched for pets (including running up a credit card debt on vets bills) and I would do it again. That said, horses are so so expensive to keep so understand why you are torn!

I've seen people locally offering horse shares - you get to ride their horse and share the livery cost. Could you find somebody who would enter into an arrangement like this with you?

I nearly put a very similar post the other night. I'd loan out and sleep easier at night in ways so you have the best of both ways.

I am kind of getting to this point with my cats and am so stressed. I am not in the same situation I was when I got them through no fault of my own but am slowly getting worse off trying to pay for them. It is such a very hard decision to make..I look at them and cry and can't do it but i also need to live.

Could any of your neighbours take him in and in return you help out with theirs a few days a week? Whereabouts are you?

I thought this was going to be about sickness and treatment. Yes I would in that scenario
If you cannot afford it I'm not sure what you can do. If it is likely to be temporary then perhaps that would justify it. Otherwise I would consider selling or loaning option. Not a pleasant decision to have to make, much sympathy.

I wouldn’t.
Horses are very different to other pets too. It’s more normal to sell / loan as needs change over the years you may own them.
They are very expensive to run day to day and it sounds like one large emergency vet bill for example could tip you over the edge financially. Even a pts / disposal can run into the £100’s...
Find a cheap field for the short term (easier said than done!), loan, sell or share but don’t feel bad about what you need to do.

I would stretch myself for a pet I already owned but not for one I was thinking of getting.

No I wouldn't stretch myself for a pet, on a long term basis. It's not worth putting yourself under so much pressure.