I'm just digesting a very difficult conversation with the woman who shares my pony, in which one of the things she raised was whether I should consider putting them both (horse and pony) out on loan.
I think there are a few things behind it, she shoulders a lot of the worry and she would in many ways like the pony full time and closer to her, but she has well grounded concerns about my ability to look after them. I'm shit in the winter anyway and then the added problem of my hip still not working properly. Now my car is dead and I haven't been to see them for ages I think she is right to be worried. I'm not in the financial position I started out in where I can manage to repair or replace vehicles quickly. Plus I had a hospital admission last year and am quite up and down and keep losing farriers :(
The way I look at it is that I pay someone to do them every day, I have the pony sharer and the horse sharer and that between us they are cared for. They would never not be cared for. But the pony has bog burn and has had to be stabled, the girl who does them for us doesn't have time to muck out - she just did their feet and rugs by or in the field each day - AND she is leaving at the end of the month.
How can I weigh up what she is saying and respond in the best interests, primarily of the horses but also everyone concerned? It's painful that she has a point but I think it might finish me off if I put them both on full loan. Welcome your thoughts on this.