Ellie, Friesian for sale
There are a lot of dodgy people in the horse world. Whether this Frisian is the focal point of a scam I certainly cannot say. But there is an important lesson here.
If one owns a well loved horse which has been in the family for some time, the prime concern of the responsible owner, if one has to pass the horse on, becomes the future well being of the horse. A horse is a dumb animal which can't speak for itself and which is 100% dependent upon its human owner for its quality of life. A horse is not an appreciating asset or even a chattel which has a monetary value. It is a companion in the sport of horse riding. The daily cost of keeping that horse is significant. Here in the UK it certainly costs as much to keep as a family car - including the cost of depreciation. The real financial benefit to the existing owner of passing the horse on, is the relief of the cost of the upkeep of the horse.
In the past when I have come to the conclusion that the horse must go, I have been tempted to give the horse away to a deserving home. But then I came to realize that if the prospective owner did not have the money to pay to buy the horse, then they would not have the money to cover the costs of insurance, shoeing and the vet bills even if they owned the land and stables on which it could graze.
Then there is the dealer. The horse dealer's business is to buy a good horse cheaply and to sell it at a high price. The matter of whether or not the horse is suitable for the new owner, is not of prime concern to the trader in horse flesh. There are I know some very good ethical dealers but there are also some shysters. The seller should be able to spot the difference a mile off. But some dealers are very adept at persuading folks that they are not dealers and all sorts of ruses are
deployed in both the buying and the selling.
AS for giving the horse to some young deserving soul who desperately wants a horse, that too is fraught with problems. If she has no money then sooner or later there is going to be a problem arising that she does not have the money to find a solution for.
Neither would I want to sell the horse to a local. I don't want to see a horse that I love falling into bad condition. If it is out of sight, then somehow my conscience feels easier.
If I have to sell my present horse then I have a problem and I know it. She is not the easiest of horses to handle - she is too wilful and too intelligent. She'll do most things if you ask, but she will fight back if she is forced. You don't shout at her nor do you carry a whip. But if you treat her right you have a polite, kind, sharp,obedient, sensitive and forward going horse. Some so called horse owners can't cope with that, they would want to dominate her and quickly she would lose her spirit.
So if I knew someone whom I respected as a horseman or horsewoman, my problem would not be for me the price which to ask for my horse - it would be to persuade the horseman to take her on and to look after her as perhaps I might.
The alternative, if I could not find the right home and if I had to part with her, would be to consider putting her down.
If the seller is genuine, then I, as a buyer, would expect a lot of questions about my ability to keep the horse - namely my facilities, my hopes for the future use of the horse, my experience, even my ability to support the horse. I would want to watch the buyer ride my horse. In other words, I the buyer would want the seller to show some remorse at letting the horse go.
There are two time worn expressions which come to mind:
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" &
"A fool and his money are soon parted"
But I would add that there are an awful lot of caring owners out there seeking a good home for their horses
and equally there are some crooks out there who want to steal your money.
Me, I'd go along - without the trailer - and I'd look for myself. The horse looks pretty enough - is it sound? Take a camera with you and make sure you photo
the horse and the seller.
Take care
B G