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Retiring your horse

3K views 18 replies 18 participants last post by  its lbs not miles 
#1 ·
So, you' ve owned your horse most of its life, or maybe not that long, but its riding career is over. What is your plan for your horse's retirement? A 401(k) stashed away? Picking a sunny day to send them to heaven despite good health? Maybe just trying to find a "good home" by offering them up for free and hoping the person who takes them is true on their word.
What about retirement board? Would it be within your means to retire your horse to a facility wherein they took full care of him/her for the rest of their days? Maybe close to home? Or maybe somewhere physically easier for the horse to live where "getting them through the winter" isnt such a hardship?

I'm interested to hear your thoughts. I own a 29yo arab, and a 33yo Wb and have come to realize that these horses work so hard for us, break their minds and bodies for us, that maybe they need a good place to rest.
I am thinking of opening a retirement farm in the aiken SC/augusta GA area. Who here thinks there would be an interest in a professionally run retirement facility?
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#2 ·
A friend of mine retired her horse in a way that I would like to follow, when the time comes. She hasn't sent her horse anywhere, she would never consider PTS just because the horse is older, instead, she is boarding him where she can visit him every other day, she has sold all his tack and she spends her time with him just by going on walks in-hand, by teaching him some stretching exercises and easy tricks, by ground driving a little, generally - by giving him some food for mind and providing him a good horses' life, 24/7 in pastures with a friendly herd. The horse is thriving and almost looks better than he did in his working days. He's a family member to her, a friend, and she wouldn't consider just parting after all those years of partnership and self-sacrifice both of them have put into their relationship.
 
#3 ·
I am a believer that as long as possible, horses need a "job". So, when I had to retire my Clyde cross, I free leased him to a therapeutic facility. He gives 1-2 30 minute lessons 5-6 days a week, which consist of walking on a lead for the most part, and the rest of the time he is in a pasture with his friends or getting loved on by disabled or ill children or Vets. He is very well loved there, seems happy and still has purpose, and they just LOVE him. I love going to see him and see for myself just how much he is giving. When he can no longer do this, he will return to where my other horse is boarded and live out his days as a pasture puff. As long as he is comfortable he will have a place with me.
 
#6 ·
That is something else I would look into. The lady that ran the therapeutic riding center that I volunteered at in high school (it was then located at my barn) was always trying to convince me to let her use my horse in her lessons once a week. Seeing as how my horse was in full training and I was showing him I wouldn't allow it, but I'd definitely look into it in the event he became mostly unusable. Especially if I wouldn't have to pay full board...
 
#4 ·
If I can afford it, I plan on keeping my boy boarded at his current stable (potentially elsewhere if I move down the line, but this is one of the cheaper full boards), and take him out regularly for a good brushing and bath as necessary. If this is too expensive with any potential horses that I may have in the future, then I will probably look into retiring him in a pasture at my boyfriend's family's farm.

I completely agree that a horse's life should not end once it is not rideable. However, I also understand that horses are very expensive. Not everyone can afford to keep a retiree in addition to his younger, sounder replacement. That said, there is no excuse for letting your horse rot away in the pasture because they can't be used. If you have a hard keeper and can't afford the upkeep, then put him down. Don't just let him wither away to nothing, and be VERY careful about finding him a "retirement home" with some strangers in a pasture.
 
#5 ·
My dad's mare has navicular. She may come sound after field rest after a long winded and expensive treatment she has received, but she may not. She is in no pain, and currently lives in the lap of luxury with the most lovely family in the Netherlands.

If I had the ability to send the horse to a retirement home, or stick it in a field with oldies I would till the horse reached that 'point'. Unfortunately a lot of horses don't pass away in their sleep and drop weight and have a tough time.

If I didn't have the availability for the horse to live out his days, or the horse was in pain, then I would put to sleep. You have to take every horse and situation as different.. no black and white answer ;)
 
#7 · (Edited)
My horses go and live with my Mum when they get older, we currently have 1 30yr old pony and a 22 yr old companion at home with mum, living the life of Riley. they come in and out of the stables as they want, have the run of 4 acres of land, are fed a couple of times a day and generaly doted on.
When we had Pride, he needed work to make him happy. When we retired him to the field (age 23) he went down hill fast, brought him back into work and he happily hacked out 2 - 3 times a week with a tiny tot on his back and lived very happily untill he was 28, he was rather fat towards the end, we finaly lost him to Colic.

I'd never send/give a horse away to a stranger nor.

I'd only have a healthy horse PTS if I had no other option (so if mums wasnt available) the best thing I can do for a horse who has given me his all is to ensure I can control his future. If the only way to control that future is to have it PTS then I'll do it to ensure that there is no chance of the horse suffering. The saying goes "Better a month too early, than a second too late".
 
#8 ·
My mare is definitely not elderly, but at 19, she's got an opinion about how much she wants to be ridden ;)

For now, the plan is to keep her where she's boarded for the forseeable future. We are considering building out a barn and pasture on our property, and I think the timeline of that will probably coincide with when she's ready to really retire, at which time she'll come home permanently.

My biggest concern is that whenever she finally sees her last day- which hopefully is many years in the future- how will disposal work? There are a few horses buried on the boarding property now, but I have never had the conversation with them regarding whether or not they'd let another one be buried there. I personally detest the idea of shipping off to a rendering plant, but I'm not sure what my other options are. I know she'll have the best of care up until the end with us, but then what happens after is something I need to work out.
 
#9 ·
I dealt with the "what to do" question with my kids first mare. After my thinking and planning, she led the process.

When she became too old to keep up with the day to day work, she became the favorite for short rides by us (check water, open or close a gate, get the mail) and took unskilled guests around the pretty pasture in front of the house. When her conformation changed and saddles didn't fit right, but she still felt well, she became the horse that we led little ones on with a bareback pad. When really all she wanted to do was stand a bit, eat a bit, and drink enough, that's what she did. For about 8 months.

Finally, most of her teeth were gone. She was 32. Winter was coming. And there was no way I was going to a) keep her stalled (away from others and risk the health problems associated with that), or b) let a predator take her down and... well, they start eating herbivores like horses, deer and all while still alive!

So I put her to sleep, non-chemically, because of the toxic results on the environment. She was not going to be able to maintain health that winter and condemning her to that would have been unkind.
 
#19 ·
I dealt with the "what to do" question with my kids first mare. After my thinking and planning, she led the process.

When she became too old to keep up with the day to day work, she became the favorite for short rides by us (check water, open or close a gate, get the mail) and took unskilled guests around the pretty pasture in front of the house. When her conformation changed and saddles didn't fit right, but she still felt well, she became the horse that we led little ones on with a bareback pad. When really all she wanted to do was stand a bit, eat a bit, and drink enough, that's what she did. For about 8 months.

Finally, most of her teeth were gone. She was 32. Winter was coming. And there was no way I was going to a) keep her stalled (away from others and risk the health problems associated with that), or b) let a predator take her down and... well, they start eating herbivores like horses, deer and all while still alive!

So I put her to sleep, non-chemically, because of the toxic results on the environment. She was not going to be able to maintain health that winter and condemning her to that would have been unkind.
It's always been that way with my family. Horses need to work. I even sold one of the best horses I've ever had because I was no longer able to use her to anywhere near her potential (I wasn't working cattle or hunting from her back anymore) so she went to someone who could appreciate all her talent.
They work at something and when the time comes that their quality of life and ability to do things isn't there anymore they've been put down by someone in the family.
My cousin Russell will teach them to pull a plow and wagon when they aren't up to the riding needs and when the plow is too much they can turn the cane press. When they can't do that then they basically can't walk well and their quality of life is gone and they'll be starting to suffer. Then it's time.
While I'd have a tough time eating one of mine, I'm thinking about looking into dressing out one that's not mine. When you think about the amount of meat that's being left to the worms or buzzards. It bothers me to think about mine rotting and becoming a lower life form more than it bothers me to think of them becoming a higher life form. Just haven't mastered being able to take a knife to one of my horses (or dogs), but I could do one that I didn't know. I might need to visit Russell and see who's getting old (besides Russell :lol:)
 
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#10 ·
I believe old horses should be honored and cared for as long as they live. I have one buried on a hill behind the house. I was lucky with him because he died instantly at the age of 38 on his own. No decisions to make,

I have a 29 year old that is nearly blind that I've had since he was three. As long as he is healthy, he has a home in my best stall and maintains the status of king of the barn.
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#12 ·
I've got two in retirement right now. One is 26 and the other is 27. The 26 year old was my old "gaming" and trail horse for years. The 27 year old I got as an 18 year old when her owner had to go in for mulitple surgeries and could not care for her. She was shown as a youngster all over and retired to a broodmare. Sorta wish I had gotten a foal out of her.
The 26 is in great health other then a small blind spot. The 27 year old is also having eye problems and getting arthritis now, so I'm supplementing, but I don't know how she will handle this winter.
I'm lucky enough that I have 160 acres and rent another 80 acres so I'm not short of space for them. I will let them stay here until they go of natural causes one morning or I have to make that decision. When I was in a car wreck and couldn't walk for 5 months, it was the youngsters that went, not my old ones. Letting them go in a tough decision, but I won't let them suffer, either. I suppose they will both let me know when it's time to go.
 
#13 ·
I have been lucky enough to keep my retired horses at home when they are past their prime. That is my first choice. We also own a Retirement Facility as of a few years ago :) For most people we would have no advantage over keeping their horse at home where they can take care of them themselves. We mainly have clients that don't have their horses at home, or that save quite a bit of money boarding with us over a traditional riding/training barn. There is a definite market - but it is small, so we have grown slowly (perfect for us). Do a business plan - it helps a lot!
 
#14 ·
I have a 28 year old gelding that I've had since he was 2. He more than earned the retirement that he's enjoying although he still has a few odd jobs. If there's a little kid here that just wants to sit on a horsey, he's my man. If one of the younger horses are spooked by something I can use him to show them there is absolutely nothing to be scared of. He's also the herd leader so they pay attention when he's showing them something is ok. He gets whatever he needs in order to keep him healthy and happy.

With that being said, he is the most expensive horse to keep that I own. So, if you want to start a retirement boarding facility don't go into it thinking you can charge way less than a normal boarding facility, throw them out on pasture and make a profit. Sure some can thrive that way up to a certain point but there comes a time where you have to supplement their pasture with feed. Then there'll come a time when they can no longer easily chew their hay in winter so you have to provide processed forage (soaked hay pellets, cubes, beet pulp, whatever). When you add all these things it takes them forever to eat and you'll have to make sure they are separated from the other horses so they don't get run off before they're finished eating.

If you plan on your boarding facility furnishing all the food they need & full care just keep all that in mind while considering what you are going to charge.
 
#15 ·
My barn where I board does a few "retired" boarders. We had a nice show mare come from California to live out her days with the herd, a nice old gelding who lived out his days in the field, and a couple of others. I like the idea of a retirement home for horses but personally I don't think I could send either of mine off. I don't think that with my current two I could send them to a therapeutic place because I enjoy their company too much and though it's selfish I want to see them every day. (Well, and my geldings neurotic and my mare retired from lessons so other than the occasional short pony ride she's never going back to that).

I'm having to consider these things about my mare as she's about 20 and is beginning to show her age. I decided that I'd break her to drive and if she takes to it then great, if not then that's swell. When she can't do the riding as much or at all I'll start driving her until she's no longer sound for that. I believe work is good for the older horse, and keeps them from tying up and getting arthritis real bad. My mare will always have a home with me even when the most she can do is eat and keep me company.

My gelding is another matter, he's up there in years to, but when he is no longer okay to be ridden honestly I will probably keep him as a pasture ornament and just continue his trick training. I don't trust him pulling a cart and he's been through enough in his life all ready that I want him to live out the rest of his days in his herd and with his people.
 
#16 ·
I dont have the land to keep mine through retirement age unless I'm retiring from the saddle as well, but already know both will go to my old boss. He is a trainer who also breeds a handful of mares every year. My gelding will become a babysitter for the foals once they are weaned. He will still have a warm bed, and a full belly every night but his job will be simply to keep the youngsters calm and relaxed. No better man for the job and I love knowing I won't have to worry about him as I can visit him whenever I want :)
 
#17 ·
I have land, so as long as a retired one is comfortable they will be staying here. If they are not comfortable then they will be put to sleep so they don't suffer. They will not be passed on to anyone else.

However - your idea of a retirement facility is a great idea. There is one a couple hours away from me that has a really good reputation. People from out of state keep retired horses there even. So if you research and then work on getting a well-run facility that keeps a good reputation you will get customers from all over.
 
#18 ·
My horse will also not leave me once he becomes unrideable. I hope it will be many years from now, and not sure what the arrangement will be then (in an ideal world, we'll have enough space to keep him on our property by then), but he won't be going far away from me.
I am VERY wary of giving away an unusable horse for free and I question the motives of people who are willing to tae on a free retiree. Of coure, there are always exceptions to the rule, but I've seen too many cases of these horses going on a painful journey through a few hands, because the new owners lose interest or realize there's more to caring for a retired horse than putting it in a field and letting it eat grass.

A "retirement home" in my vicinity I might consider, but I wouldn't send my horse far away where I couldn't check up on him regularly. I think the problem with retirement facilities and such is that a horse usually becomes more and more expensive to maintain in good shape as it becomes old (feed, extra care, vet, teeth etc). Many people - despite good intentions at first - are not willing and/or able to pay this for a horse they don't use. So I agree with the previous poster, if you want to do things right, you'd probably end up charging more for the full care of a retired horse than one that's healthy and still being used. Also, what if the owner lives far away and you disagree on when a vet is needed, when the horse shuld receive etra feed / supplements, etc? Would you be able to make an owner pay for the care that you deem necessary, or would the horse go untreated in your care?

All things you would have to cosider carefully before starting such an undertaking...
 
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