How do I ask to buy a horse back?

I have just located my first horse who is enjoying retirement. I would love to own him again for his final years. Can anyone help me with how to ask the current owner in a tactful way? I actually trained him in WP which her daughter showed him for years and won alot it sounds like. He is now 19.

It sounds like to me that he is happy where he is at. Although you trained him, it sounds like this family has had him for years. I'm sure he means a lot to them. I think he belongs with them. I think you should be glad that he was lucky enough to have a family that loves him and allows him to retire.

The only situation in which it would be ok to get the horse back would be if his current family is facing financial situations and they would actually be better off without a mouth to feed.

You can carefully try your luck with that: contact the new owners, tell them how happy you are for the horse, tell them how much it means to you, ask for some pictures or eventually if you could see him again.

At the end of the visit (or of the email if you could not meet him) say something like

"If you ever find yourselves in a difficult situation and you can't keep him anymore, I would be more than happy to have him back"

And um, that's about it. If they are having issues with money, space, etc, I am sure they would trust you most to rehome the horse.

Okay. Any one else- I would never force it or demand they give him to me, just see if they would be willing to part with him back to me.....

I don't know, maybe just have a conversation with him saying how you really liked him, and had hoped he'd retire one day with you. Mention if they ever wanted to part with him you'd be happy to take him on, but I wouldn't ask straight out. He is their horse now.

Well, unless they are planning to sell him they seem happy with him.

Approach them slowly, maybe contact them through email or over the phone, tell them that he was your first horse and you would love to see how he was doing, ask if you could visit him. If they don't seem like they're interested in selling him I wouldn't bring up the idea, but instead as if you can come visit him every now and then, care for him a bit, maybe ride him? :] I'm sure that would be a compromise they would be really pleased with if they weren't looking to sell him.

Just ask. Tell them he means a lot, and you'd love to buy him back. If they say no, then let them know if something comes up in the future where they can no longer care for him, to please let you know first.

I don't know that I would ask. If he's happy and well taken care of I would probably leave him where he's at, his rider surely loves him....

Citrus, if you have an e-mail addy, you can send them a quick note telling them how he was your first horse, that you're glad he's in such a wonderful situation, but if they ever need to rehome him, to please let you know as you'd be more than willing to take him back.

That way, if they want to respond they can. If they don't, then all you've lost is a minute or two of your time.

Good ideas- thank you all of you :)