Horse given to me, but can't have *Rant*

Ok, so I go over to get the Vet info for Aussie at my friends house. Max is a older gentleman who has been a neighbor to my Mother in law for 30 + years. He has 6 work horses that pull wagons and such. He also has a paint. I asked him who the paint belonged to. He tells me that when he bought a mare a few years ago he didn't know she was pregnant. He goes out one day and there's this colt. The mare won't take care of it and has no milk. So they bottle feed him and raise him, send him off for training.
Now, Max tells me he's not allowed to "sell" the horse. Also, he knows about my Kay's issues and that I haven't been able to ride her. So, he tells me if I want to take the paint, he's mine. I can try him out, see how he does, if it doesn't work out, call him, he'll come get him and we're still friends. I told him I'd have to talk to my MIL as the horse would be on her property, which is around the corner from Max's.

I go tell her the awesome news and she gets mad. (He didn't offer the horse to her) She tells me if I want the paint I have to get rid of Kay She says she's not going to feed and clean up after three horses everyday. Excuse me. I feed at least once a day and clean the barn every other day. She cleans Mon, Wed & Fri. I clean Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun. I also buy my own horses grain and hay, pay for vet and farrier. She's been after me for a few months, coming up with different reasons to get rid of Kay. Kay is the dominant mare and rules the barn over her 25-30 year old mare. She's always saying I need to get a gelding and let Kay go, because she prefers geldings. I am so frustrated with trying to deal with her. Now I have to pass on the paint, who would be a awesome horse for me. BUT, if Max was to go down and tell her that SHE could have him, he would be moved on to her property that same day!!!!!!!!

I am sorry things are not going to work out for you about the paint.


But really the bottom line is, you adding another horse is more burden on her on her property. So she has a right to say no and limit the number of horses you have on her property to one.

Have you offered to do all the chores in exchange for being allowed to have your horse there and maybe the additional horse will not be an issue.


Why not take the paint and board it some where?

Could you keep the paint where he is if he is so close to you or at least go ride him

Grrr. Your MIL sounds like the psycho BO I have that changes her mind every other day about everything. Huge, huge reason why I'm looking into finding an empty horse barn and pastures to take over. Actually, I am going out to look at a 9 stall barn with indoor/outdoor arenas and 60 acres of trails. But I think Noblesville is still an hour from you??? So that won't help much.

Anyway - all that aside - boo hiss to your MIL. It sounds like you're doing your fair share of chores.

I agree with AlwaysBehind.. the fact is he would be on her property she is entitled to say who is there and how many. It doesn't matter that she would take him in a heart beat as you explained because that's her doing and her right to do so because it is her property. Of course I also feel as a trade of for even keeping one horse on someone else's property it would entail doing all the chores and feeding if I was getting to put my horse there without any fee. It's a respect thing, they allow you to keep your horse(s) there and you show them respect by doing the work or paying them money it's that simple.
All of us have been offered free horses at some point I'm sure but if it is not within our ability to take complete care of them or have to rely on someone else to do it part of the time then we don't need the horse..or any other animal for that matter.

Boo hiss? Psycho?

There are two sides to the story. We are only getting one.

I am not hearing who is doing the fence and pasture care, barn repairs, paying the property taxes . . . Etc.

There is a LOT more to horse keeping than feeding and shoveling manures.

Why can't you just go to Max's house and ride her and all that good stuff?

ITA - honestly, I'd be grateful for the allowance of having one horse there rather than throwing a fit over not be allowed to keep two. OP, if you truly want to have the other horse, perhaps it's time to look at other boarding options - of course, that would mean giving up the existing generous free board you are enjoying.

There is? Wow. Learn something new every day.

Who pissed in your Body Buddies this morning?



Geez.

What MLS said makes sense and obviously the OP (and you) have forgotten that.