having to rehome my horse :'(

[jordan04]

I don't no if anyone's had to sell a horse to rehome it because they could no longer keep it but id like to hear your stories for comfort, I've got to rehome my stunning boy because im now unexpectedly pregnant and don't have the time and money for both.

you don't have to rehome him, you can loan him to someone.

Why don't you loan him or get a sharer until you are able to take him on full time again .

X post , also unless you are giving him away it's not re homing ,its selling your horse and hundreds of people do it every week .

he's being rehomed to a retirement centre because I brought him doped and he has major behavioural issues he's to dangerous to loan or share he hates to be ridden he's had his back done and x-rays and there's nothing wrong he just needs re-educating or retiring he's has a rubbish life and been passed from dealer to dealer home to home so he's a bit of a tricky case

Aw that's sad - can you find somewhere ok for him! I'm struggling with being 34 weeks and managing my horse at livery. Just about coping but there's no way I'd sell her

yeah I've found a home where I can still visit and help out once baby's here though doctors told me id never fall pregnant so I brought a horse and fell in love the miracle I did fall pregnant so my baby has to come first I couldn't for give myself if my baby got hurt taking out this horse in the morning as much as I love him im trying to prioritise

he's 11

With some changes I've managed my horse ok whilst pregnant. I gave up riding at 11 weeks and she moved to full time turnout with one or two others for company. I reinforced absolute obedience when she was being led with rewards such as wee bit of apple and (touch wood) we've managed!

That's good if you can find so where that you know he will be ok and you can still visit. There's not many situations where you would get that.

Do you retain ownership? Just be careful about handing over his passport etc

yeah I do retain it :) and yeah I have tried training him way before I fell pregnant sure he's a bit riggy lol I've tried head collar Monty Roberts head collar bridle he's now being led out in a chifney and I still ski to the field but its not just his behaviour being a single parent with the cost of a horse as well I think will be to much and I don't want to neglect him

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with your horse, especially when you are pregnant.

Where exactly is he going? Are you paying for him to be at a retirement livery? Or are you gifting him to someone else who will retire him for life? The second option sounds too good to be true and probably is too good to be true. There are quite a few unscrupulous people around who take on problematic horses promising a home for life, dope them up and sell them on, as I imagine may have happened to you. Charities are full to the brim and I know won't take private horses just neglect and abuse cases, so be very careful where you send your horse.

Hello, congratulations on your pregnancy! my horse is quite hard to handle and riggy too, rig calm global herbs supplement does help but is expensive to feed especially to bigger horses, my boy is almost 18 had him for 6 years and has had same - back X-ray, new saddles, new bits, physio, lessons, trying different work etc, I have retired him now as he is too strong to ride and has injured my back and would again, he is now happily munching 6 apples a day in his feeds and enjoying the autumn, I have seen too many horses being passed around and not looked after do not trust others with him he is very expensive to keep fed and agree with the too good to be trues. He is older and injured with arthritis setting in, I cannot afford to keep him in retirement, tried to get a field for him to live in and could not, he is therefore being pts next month which I am crying over a few times a day and can't sleep/ waking up in the night with it. The fact is though that I cannot afford him any more and he cannot be passed on, he is happy at the moment and I will always know what has happened to him. It does help with the decision that he is older and has a degenerative illness which I could not insure as it relates to an injury. I have seen a pony given to a friend of the owner for light work with a Jeffries saddle as too injured for jumping be sold on less saddle with no mention to old owner, heard pony was gone from yard and feared meat man but had gone to someone else who was not told about the injury, beautiful ex eventer sold on to a hopeless woman who seemed nice at first but would leave it without water/ rugs or turn out if she could not be bothered, the old owners tried to buy it back to no avail. Be careful with these people xxxxx so sorry you are in this situation I know how painful it is xxxxx

CountryCob that is an awful situation to be in but you are doing the right thing. It will be terribly hard for you but PTS is the best option for your horse. You've made sure he's had a good life and you are being a responsible owner right till the end.

Thanks booboo, it is really hard but in my heart I know it is the right thing, not an easy thing to talk about and a lot of people do not understand but I need to know that he went nicely and never had to endure neglect or aggressive "reschooling" which would not work, sometimes the best thing you can do for them is to let them go xxx

Country cob huge respect for you. I think your making a big but very correct decision. A couple of friends have made similar decisions and while upsetting, def the best choice all round. I also know people who've given them away free and just don't know what will happen.

I would do the same in your position. Hugs

CountryCob we were in almost exactly the same situation many years ago and made the same decision. I was quite young at the time and have always felt terribly upset and wondered whether it was the right thing to have done. Thanks so much for sharing, reading your post made me realise that it was absolutely for the best. Hugs and respect for you x

Thanks perfectly and horsey that helps a lot xx we are enjoying the last of autumn and he had a great weekend, big groom and graze in hand Saturday and Sunday went to small competition at really friendly yard as a companion given that his favourite thing and special skill is looking out trailer window as he travels, he licked a lick it in a bowl while his field mate competed and I was groom, as he was not being ridden he was not stressed for once and it was a lovely sunny day, one of our best trips out ever xxx next month is going to break my heart but I can honestly say I tried my best and do love this horse

Also i had good nhs referral Physio session last night to sort out my injured back / neck and with a few more should be much better...

Countrycob, the kennelsman came out only this week to put down my horse. The kennelsman was very kind and gentle and my horse bear ate some feed and carrots as the sedative took effect before the kennelsman did his bit. Bear was itching his head on the pistol and cuddling up to the kennelsman (he always liked men most for some reason).

I decided to put bear down as although he was only in the early stages of wobblers, because of his breeding and competition mentality, he was absolutely not a hack and because he was 17hh and a big lad, although gentle type, most people couldn't/wouldn't want to Handle him.

It has been a very sad decision, but I know that bear had a wonderful summer with his mates, got too fat and was playing with me until the end. No decline, no looking poor in a harsh winter, no being mishandled by someone, nobody trying to get a final season or two of competitions out of him. Horses have no concept of how long they have lived and no concept of the long term future. They do know if they are happy, comfortable and well looked after right now, and that is the note they should end on. You are making the right decision with your boy and I can tell you from my experience, it is a sad thing to do but not devastating as the rightness of it eases the distress.

Good luck op.

Thats a lovely and thoughtful post, ehhn. Sorry for your loss though

Ehhn thanks for your message as you know you did the right thing for your horse and he was happy right til the end xxx