Hey all, I have a horse I can no longer keep.
I've had him for 12 years (he is now 18). I purchased him out of a low-end sale - he was sold loose in the ring.
He is unregistered and 18 years old.
He is a runaway "unfixable" according to many good trainers.
He is rideable but it takes a lot of work and he is not suitable for just about every discipline out there besides trail riding and he is only kind of suitable there.
Selling him, with the way the market is, he'd probably wind up in a Mexican slaughter plant and I can't do that to him.
The rescues are full and I don't trust many of them anyway.
Putting him down? That just seems wrong but then I can be assured he had a good life/death with me. Perhaps that is selfish?
Selling him, I feel like I'd be ditching him. I believe he'd feel like I was ditching him. He is extremely sensitve and is liable to run off, kick or pull back if he feels pressured.
Can't lease him. Everyone capable of not getting hurt by him doesn't lease horses and doesn't like horses like him. He really requires work.
I can't keep him because I lost my job and am having a really hard time making board (among other things). His board will have to start going on a credit card. As it is, the last two years, I've only been able to get out to ride him once a month or so.
Advice please! This is quite possibly my hardest decision to make.
I really really want to do the right thing by him. That is what is most important to me.
Thank you
I've had him for 12 years (he is now 18). I purchased him out of a low-end sale - he was sold loose in the ring.
He is unregistered and 18 years old.
He is a runaway "unfixable" according to many good trainers.
He is rideable but it takes a lot of work and he is not suitable for just about every discipline out there besides trail riding and he is only kind of suitable there.
Selling him, with the way the market is, he'd probably wind up in a Mexican slaughter plant and I can't do that to him.
The rescues are full and I don't trust many of them anyway.
Putting him down? That just seems wrong but then I can be assured he had a good life/death with me. Perhaps that is selfish?
Selling him, I feel like I'd be ditching him. I believe he'd feel like I was ditching him. He is extremely sensitve and is liable to run off, kick or pull back if he feels pressured.
Can't lease him. Everyone capable of not getting hurt by him doesn't lease horses and doesn't like horses like him. He really requires work.
I can't keep him because I lost my job and am having a really hard time making board (among other things). His board will have to start going on a credit card. As it is, the last two years, I've only been able to get out to ride him once a month or so.
Advice please! This is quite possibly my hardest decision to make.
I really really want to do the right thing by him. That is what is most important to me.
Thank you