Horse to go?

Dollardog

So, so sorry that you have this awful decision to make. My heart goes out to you. I am really glad to hear though that you are being careful about where he goes. You are not letting him down at all, you are trying to do the best thing for him.
Hopefully the listing on the EMW site will come up with something positive.
I think personally I would be a little wary of the riding school option, unless you will just be loaning him to them, in which case, you could find yourself in the same situation again in the future. The danger of letting them have him is that when he becomes of no commercial use to them, they could let him go to a dealer and then there is no telling where he could end up.
Its a long shot, but have you tried these:- http://www.bransbyhorses.co.uk/ Its a horse sanctuary in Lincolnshire, perhaps if they have no room, they may know of someone who has approached them wanting a loan or companion horse.
Also, Wood Green animal shelters also take in horses for fostering out and have an active riding for disabled group, with his dressage experience, he might be useful to them:- http://www.woodgreen.org.uk I have been there and its a wonderful sanctuary.
I used to have my own horse and don't know what I would have done faced with a decision like yours, I could no longer afford to keep a horse now but mine had a heart attack and died overnight in the field, so I didn't have to make any decision.
My heart really goes out to you and I hope something positive comes out of the situation.
Someone came up with the idea of not having him shod and just using him on soft surface, would save you a bit, although you would still need to have the hooves attended to so that they didn't get overgrown.

Hope you find a solution that is good for you as well as Jim and that you can continue to see him. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Thinking of you.

ANY_CHANCE

Thanks for all the lovely posts again lots of great ideas x

I was hoping he would go bare foot
I did take jims shoes off for around 12 weeks but had to replace them for his own sake (obviously it costs me more to have him shod and i was gutted) I could no longer bare to see him hobble to the field shoeless, he also lost quite a bit of foot. He has very small, upright feet for his size and it was not practicle for road work as he is lightly ridden.
It seemed better when the ground was soft and he struggled with the hard ground (concussion) as we are on clay it dries quicker.
Keeping him in a smaller area is a great idea so he cannot hooley round and damage feet but all this as you guys know is short term and this lovely fella needs a loving home.

I am still not considering a riding school. There are lots of great schools out there and some horses do really well but it is not for him he just doesnt suit it and it would be difficult to monitor.
Also i agree with Dollardog that he could be returned and i would be in the same position.

Frugal_Mouse

Hi ANY CHANCE.

First a big hug for you and a scratch behind the ears for Jim. I really do feel for you as I too have been in the same situation when I had to give up my 17 year old xTB. He went to a very kind family who loved him to pieces and were still riding him out on a regular basis until he was well into his 20s. I am sure that there is also a fantastic home out there waiting for Jim.

Have you thought about contacting the Blue Cross? I am not sure about their acceptance policy but I have seen horses and ponies on their website available for adoption - some of which are on a companion only basis. Might be worth a try? Their head office details are below, they seem to have a few equine centres about the country:

Blue Cross head office
Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF
Tel: 01993 822651
Fax: 01993 823083
Email: [EMAIL="info@bluecross.org.uk"]info@bluecross.org.uk[/EMAIL]

I wish you and Jim the very best of luck.

Frugal Mouse
x

ANY_CHANCE

Thanks Frugal Mouse i have emailed them this morning

I am sorry you had to part with your horse, it must be comforting to know he had a lovely home when you parted.

Do you still ride now or did you give up?

Nicoll

Really feel for you. Having to get rid of my horse would be my worst nightmare. Mine is 19 and I've had her since she was 2, so like you I'm really attached to her. I've some major vet bills for her lately as she has arthritis. Most of the bills are sitting on a 0% interest credit card! Not ideal but you have to try and do what you can

I'm sure this has been a really difficult decision for you so good luck with finding him somewhere nice. As for advice, I would do what you're already doing and contact the main horse charities. He's a gorgeous looking boy by the way.

Good luck

ANY_CHANCE

Nicoll wrote: »

Really feel for you. Having to get rid of my horse would be my worst nightmare. Mine is 19 and I've had her since she was 2, so like you I'm really attached to her. I've some major vet bills for her lately as she has arthritis. Most of the bills are sitting on a 0% interest credit card! Not ideal but you have to try and do what you can

I'm sure this has been a really difficult decision for you so good luck with finding him somewhere nice. As for advice, I would do what you're already doing and contact the main horse charities. He's a gorgeous looking boy by the way.

Good luck

Hi Nicoll,;)
Horses are like part of the family arnt they
Glad you are managing to keep your horse, vet bills are very expensive. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately being on a Debt management plan (OH secretly grew debts of over 40,000 on loans and credit cards, without me knowing) means that a credit card is not an option. If you can afford to pay back that debt then great but i know we are already trying to pay our outstanding debt without things getting any worse. I have already hung on to him for longer than i should have. (remortgaged my house to pay for hima few years ago)

This is not just a case of i cant be arsed to take resposibility for him its now a case of if he doesnt find somewhere to go now it would be unfair on him as i could not afford treatment, also non payment of essential bills, i have three children to look after (i have tried selling them but no takers:p )

ANY_CHANCE

I emailed blue cross had a reply to get in contact with one of the centres.
I phoned rolleston and so now just waiting for a return phone call

I sent the following e mail


I am writing in the hope that you could help me find a solution for my horse.
I have had my horse Jim for 11 years he is 16 now. Jim is a 16.2hh Hannovarian x TB Bay gelding.


Jim was origionally bought for me by my mum, she was terminally ill and she she paid for him with her compensation money and paid for his livery. All was well untill she died in 2000. Even though i did not want to i knew i would have to sell him. When i tried to sell him (as i knew i could not afford him) he failed the vetting due to an arrythmia caused by atrial fibrilation. He was treated for this and the treatment was successful. As mum had bought him for me i have to admit i was pleased he didnt go, i love him very much and he did help me get through the horrendous experience of losing her.

He is a wonderful horse, we competed at many disciplines and he was especially successful in affiliated dressage working at advanced level and gaining points at advanced medium level.

After a few years, having 3 children and increasing debt problems i am now unable to pay for him it is breaking my heart to think of parting with him but i dont know what else i can do.

I sent him to a college where had very good care but he did not look happy and it did not suit him and problems with soundness started to occur (they did often use him one lesson after the other) He lost his sparkle and top line.
I tried to sell him 18 months ago but again he failed the vet due to an injury he sustained in the field to his near fore. A small splint now interferes with his suspensory ligament and so his way of moving is affected. He has also thrown large splints/ossification on the off fore. He may have some OCD in joints.

He has been a good allrounder having done riding club competitions, intro eventing did well at dressage where he has points at advanced medium level.
More importantly he is a good fun horse, though not always a novice ride is a pleasure to own hack, jump and school.

Past injuries have been
* arrythmia but this was converted at leahurst and is to my knowledge all ok.

* Some initial stages of arthritis but at 16 probarbly nothing too unusual?

* Splints in his fore legs one affecting the suspensory ligament but so far is not having any particular lameness problems with this just the swelling.

My vet advised to keep him stabled eg overnight to rest the leg and keep him with other quiet horses to reduce wear and see how things went. He is still able to be ridden i have done some light hacking round the village and in the fields and occaisional schooling.
I am a student nurse, and have three children i am finding it difficult to find the extra time to ride out so i havnt been able to test how much work he could stand eg regular lessons/long hacks

He is good to shoe clip box travel hacks out alone or in company (can get a little excited if in a group going for a canter!)

I can supply rugs with him but will have to sell the tack to pay debts built up from keeping him for longer than i should have! (vet bill and livery)

I tried him without shoes but this was very uncomfortable for him and his feet just seemed to break up with the hard ground so i had to have the shoes put back.

I am not looking to loan him myself as i am aware that i may find myself in the same position again if he was to be returned. I also do not want him to go to a riding school for the reasons i mentioned above.

Thanks for your help he deserves a good home, I am struggling to pay for him, even though i have cut costs to the basics of £165 per month(not including vet bills) Financialy we have no surplus money after the bills, mortgage and Debt Management Plan payments, so my overdraft is growing which in my situation with the DMP is not good!
I have attatched photos of him
I realise you must be inundated with request but i remain hopeful that you may be able to help

Rummer

Morning

Like so many of the posters I understand exactly how you feel, when I could no longer afford to keep my horse I desperately tried to sell her or to give her to one of the charities but with no joy.
Eventually I put out the word to all the horsey people I knew and riding centres/farms in the area that I would give her away to a loving home. I was lucky enough to find a very experienced family that were looking for a horse that just didn't have the money to buy one outright. It was a good solution all round and it meant she was going somewhere where I knew she would be well cared for.
Good luck with your situation and I hope you get something sorted soon.

Frugal_Mouse

Hi ANY CHANCE

Just stopped by to see if there was any news, still have my fingers crossed for you. In answer to your question.... no, not riding at the moment. I have spent the last few years doing very little but work. However, that is all about to change as I am just about to take a year off. Hopefully I will be able to start riding again plus will also be able to help at local RDA which I haven't done for ages and I miss because it is always a lot of fun.

Frugal Mouse
x

ANY_CHANCE

I had this reply - i can fully understand why they cannot take jim on and i am thankful for their reply

Thank you for your email regarding re-homing Jim, my apologies for the delay replying to you. Unfortunately we are experiencing a high volume of calls relating to horses in welfare situations and I hope you understand that these must take a priority.
Unfortunately, as a welfare organisation, World Horse Welfare primarily accepts equines from prosecution cases and other welfare backgrounds. As and when we have spare capacity in our centres, which is usually for a very limited time in the summer, we take in some rehabilitation cases. These tend to be horses with some identified physical problem, which we think we have a good chance of putting right, and re-homing via our loan scheme as a ridden animal, but where there is a good reason why the owner is unable to do this themselves. We are unable to accept non ridden companions or equines with permanent conditions such as arthritis, laminitis under our rehabilitation scheme. Unfortunately, World Horse Welfare has to be very strict with our criteria at present due to a large amount of welfare cases that we have had in and continuing to come in. All our Recovery and Rehabilitation centres are currently very overstocked and with this in mind we must only accept equines into our care that are in immediate welfare situations.

There are a few charities that I am aware of that may be in a position to help, please see their contact details below:

(edited)
The list of charities above are not recommended by World Horse Welfare, we would recommend that any charity that can offer Jim a home for you to go and visit the charity to ensure that you are happy with where he will go and that you are fully aware of their procedure before you sign over ownership. Some of the charities listed above may not be represented by NEWC.

If you are unable to place him with a charity then loaning him would be your next best option (Which I realise you are slightly hesitant at doing but this maybe your only alternative and at least you can continue to safe guard his future). I would only advertise through your vet, farrier and local feed merchants, hopefully advertising him this way will give you the reassurance that they will look after him because they are attending these places or the fact your vet/farrier has recommended them. Ask them to come out several times to ride/handle him, this will allow you to see that they are keen and more importantly capable of riding/handling him and are prepared to do this on a daily basis. You can also ask to visit where they wish to keep him, this will not only give you further reassurance that they will care for him by the condition of other horses in their care but also that their facilities are suitable for Jim. If everyone is happy to continue then I would advise you to have a written loan agreement and that both of you have a signed copy. If you are unsure how to word your loan agreement then you are more than welcome to contact me, I would be happy to send you by post a sample loan agreement that World Horse Welfare uses when placing our own horses out on loan.

I completely understand that this is a difficult decision and that there is a huge link between Jim and your belated mother and I can only imagine how upsetting this is for you. My only other advice for you if you are unable to place Jim with a charity or rehome privately would be to consider having him put to sleep. I realise that this is a very upsetting conversation and not one to be made lightly. But this is the only way to keep Jim safe, all he has known since being with you is love kindness and loyalty and he deserves to continue to have this and if that means having him put to sleep will protect him from harm then this has to be the kindest option. I personally think that this would be a kinder option then taking him to a market or selling him privately. Unfortunately we hear all too often the horror stories of people re-homing their horse as a companion/ridden horse and then finding out they have been sold on to an unsuitable owner. World Horse Welfare was involved in a case where the lady had purchased a horse (£2,750) for ridden work only to find out that the original owner had sold him for £100 as a companion due to navicular and arthritis. She went to court and the seller was ordered to refund her in full, but it then left the horse, she obviously didn’t want him to go back to the seller for fear they would try to sell him again. The courts could also see the potential worry if they allowed the horse to go back to them so they ordered that the horse be given to World Horse Welfare (If the court had not asked World Horse Welfare to take the equine, we would not have got involved in this case). The original owner was so upset that this had happened to her beloved horse and after speaking to her to get all the relevant history on this horse, she said, “I wish I had put him to sleep, at least he wouldn’t of gone through what he has” and to be honest, I couldn’t agree with her more. After many tests the results confirmed the worst and sadly we had to have the horse put to sleep (World Horse Welfare does not re-home any equines on permanent medication, World Horse Welfare cannot be seen to rehome a lame horse and as mentioned before, we would not have taken this horse on because of this problem if the court hadn’t insisted that we did). Your conscience is clear that you have done all that you can to find a safe and secure home for Jim and you are not cruel and if anything you are just as responsible and caring.

I am sorry that we are not in a position to take Jim and my apologies if I have upset you, I certainly do not mean to. I hope that you can understand why I have put the above and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards