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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Over the past year I have given away several decent horses. All sound all broke or green broke to new homes. Only to see every one of them back up for sale less than three months later.
I brooded and stewed over placing these horses in new homes where they would do more than stand around while I was building my place or If I should just keep them and feed them. I screened these homes and checked references etc. They all check out. I thought. They have gotten rid of them because they couldn't afford hay, they didn't have the time to finish one that was green broke, and one somehow became too tall after they got her. I didn't get rid of these horses so they could be passed around. I wanted them to have good homes and to have owner who would love and appreciate them. I guess I just take owning a horse more seriously than a lot of people who just have them when it is convenient for them. The only way you know if they will be taken care of is if you keep them. I'm just feeling disappointed for my horses.
Edited by equussynergy 2013-12-05 9:27 AM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
  
| I have never sold a horse, so I guess that makes me serious about owning one. I was given a gelding a few years ago. He's finally starting to make something of himself. He had some issues, but I knew those before he was given to me. I put lots of time and effort into him to make sure he turned into something. He wasn't convinced he want to be something! LOL, but like I said, he's earning his oats now. :) |
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 Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | not very..... |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I own 10. Two in their 30s that just eat and poop my money away, one broodmare that is so severely damaged from the morons who tried to break her, she is unridable. I bred her for one colt, but since that time, she has been a money eater and pooper too. That leaves 7 rideable that I honestly don't have time to ride like I should, but I will never sell. My reasons for hanging on are selfish. I can't let them go and not be certain of their fate. I understand your frustration. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| mine tend to stay with me for life. I couldn't stand the thought of one being mistreated and mine have it pretty good so they could easily find themselves in a lot less cozy homes.
Even more than horses, though, I feel this way about dogs.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | I take it seriously but am also the type that if a horse doesn't work for me I will sell them if I can find someone who they click with. I always keep track of where the horses are and put in a contract that they must give me first right of refusal. It's sad I can't keep them all but the homes I have found (albiet two) have been amazing and the owners and I have become great friends.... sadly the ONE home I thought would be the best pretty much starved my horse and I TRIED very hard to buy it back and even brought hay over to it which they RETURNED!!!!!!! I am devestated over it... so what I've learned if things can happen and it makes me scared to sell other horses. This was a GOOD friend that I trained, hauled to shows etc for FREE for years, her parents tend to be very tight and always trying to save money... breaks my heart!
When it comes to Dogs/catts I will NEVER part with them.... because they aren't as in demand and are usually free, giving them up puts them in danger in my opinion.... we have NEVER given a dog up... if they have issues we work with them and do what we need to help them adjust!
Edited by DLV 2013-12-05 9:56 AM
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I have never sold a horse and not planning on it either. They are who they are and I will try to train/ride them to the best of my and their ability. I won't be buying a new horse any time soon, as the 4 I own have me maxed out on space, time and money. They are my children and are treated as such. I love them dearly and they are my world. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | mine tend to stay with me for life .......
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Stop giving them away. You're the one putting the value (valueless?) verdict on them right out of the gate. If you must give an animal away, better be prepared to buy it back at a loss to you, or forever hold your peace. It's easy to peddle something you have no money in, but need a return on hay or maintenance. If someone has to put some equity into an animal (or anything, really) it's a lot harder to justify ditching it for a bottom price, or allow it to be abused. JMO. People that have the financial backing to provide good homes for luxury items don't usually check in the free bin. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | equussynergy - 2013-12-05 9:26 AM Over the past year I have given away several decent horses. All sound all broke or green broke to new homes. Only to see every one of them back up for sale less than three months later.
I brooded and stewed over placing these horses in new homes where they would do more than stand around while I was building my place or If I should just keep them and feed them. I screened these homes and checked references etc. They all check out. I thought. They have gotten rid of them because they couldn't afford hay, they didn't have the time to finish one that was green broke, and one somehow became too tall after they got her. I didn't get rid of these horses so they could be passed around. I wanted them to have good homes and to have owner who would love and appreciate them. I guess I just take owning a horse more seriously than a lot of people who just have them when it is convenient for them. The only way you know if they will be taken care of is if you keep them. I'm just feeling disappointed for my horses.
IMO, this is why they didn't value them. Despite whatever excuse they gave you, the horse was given to them for free and they felt like they could sell it to someone else and make money. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I guess I'm going to be the odd man out.......If that horse and I don't get along, I don't want it sitting in my pasture....especially when someone else could make something of that horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | classicpotatochip - 2013-12-05 10:05 AM
Stop giving them away. You're the one putting the value (valueless?) verdict on them right out of the gate. If you must give an animal away, better be prepared to buy it back at a loss to you, or forever hold your peace. It's easy to peddle something you have no money in, but need a return on hay or maintenance. If someone has to put some equity into an animal (or anything, really) it's a lot harder to justify ditching it for a bottom price, or allow it to be abused. JMO. People that have the financial backing to provide good homes for luxury items don't usually check in the free bin.
I agree,  it seems to always be the lower priced horses who go to the worst homees... when people have to pay $10,000+ for a horse, you'd hope they'd take good care of their investment vs a couple thousand dollar one..... |
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 Uh....never mind
Posts: 2696
Location: Midwest Farmer's Daughter: Central Illinois | sophiebelle - 2013-12-05 9:40 AM I own 10. Two in their 30s that just eat and poop my money away, one broodmare that is so severely damaged from the morons who tried to break her, she is unridable. I bred her for one colt, but since that time, she has been a money eater and pooper too. That leaves 7 rideable that I honestly don't have time to ride like I should, but I will never sell. My reasons for hanging on are selfish. I can't let them go and not be certain of their fate. I understand your frustration.
Wow...I thought I was the only one who had that many standing around for different reasons. Glad to know I'm not the only one! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| I just gave away a mare last night. Actually I gifted her to a young lady. Its been a really really really hard decision but I feel like I made the right one. I raised the mare from birth and she will be 5 in a few months. I DID not enjoy riding her and she has just been standing in my pasture. I asked my husband if he would ride her. He said no. I tried to sell the mare to the people but they couldn't put out the money right now for a purchase price. Tuesday night it hit me that I really didn't want the mare anymore. I don't want to ride her and I hate seeing one standing around. So I texted her parents and asked if I could give her the horse for Christmas.
When she realized I GAVE her Diva she could not stop crying. It was a complete surprise. I wont lie, I cried. But it was happy tears. She will love the horse, use the horse and more importantly take care of the horse.
I could not have picked a better home. They take such good care of their animals and the young lady does her part. Shes a freshman with straight A's, has hopes of going to vet school. She has earned it. I pray this mare will help her further her riding and keep her away from boys and out of trouble. I see myself in her and I was blessed with some amazing people that helped me so much when I was her age. This is my way of paying it forward. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| RLB - 2013-12-05 10:13 AM
sophiebelle - 2013-12-05 9:40 AM  I own 10. Two in their 30s that just eat and poop my money away, one broodmare that is so severely damaged from the morons who tried to break her, she is unridable. I bred her for one colt, but since that time, she has been a money eater and pooper too. That leaves 7 rideable that I honestly don't have time to ride  like I should, but I will never sell. My reasons for hanging on are selfish. I can't let them go and not be certain of their fate. I understand your frustration.Â
Wow...I thought I was the only one who had that many standing around for different reasons. Glad to know I'm not the only one!
I understand that completely! |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Stop giving them away. If a horse isn't working for you for one reason or another SELL them. You get something out of them that way AND the new owner is going to take owning them a lot more serious if they've got something invested even if it's only a few hundred. Not all people truly appreciate being given an animal, regardless of if they think they wanted it.....when they have nothing into them it's easy to decide to make a few $ on them & walk away.
I take owning my horses very serious. If I didn't I wouldn't have just been outside in -40 windchills bedding stalls, feeding, thawing out water & making sure all 14 of them are warm & content. But if a horse doesn't work for me I WILL sell them. They are not guaranteed a home for life here until they earn it. They don't have to be a world beater to get to stay but they have to be honest, hard working & willing to do anything I ask from ranch work & ponying colts, to horse shows & mounted shooting. Right now there are 3 with guaranteed homes, all are 20+ & will be burried here. |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| SaraJean - 2013-12-05 10:27 AM
Stop giving them away. If a horse isn't working for you for one reason or another SELL them. You get something out of them that way AND the new owner is going to take owning them a lot more serious if they've got something invested even if it's only a few hundred. Not all people truly appreciate being given an animal, regardless of if they think they wanted it.....when they have nothing into them it's easy to decide to make a few $ on them & walk away.
I take owning my horses very serious. If I didn't I wouldn't have just been outside in -40Â windchills bedding stalls, feeding, thawing out water & making sure all 14 of them are warm & content. But if a horse doesn't work for me I WILL sell them. They are not guaranteed a home for life here until they earn it. They don't have to be a world beater to get to stay but they have to be honest, hard working & willing to do anything I ask from ranch work & ponying colts, to horse shows & mounted shooting. Right now there are 3 with guaranteed homes, all are 20+ & will be burried here.
Amen. We see them exactly the same. I have a couple of lifers myself, and sell horses all the time that don't work out. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I have a few that eat and poop my money out too  they are my retired horses that I could never part with. I'm lucky that I have pasture to turn them out on behind my house. The horses that I have now are here to stay for life. I did give one away a few years ago, she went to a neighbor down the road. And two were giving to me that I would never sell, they have a home for life with me here. One is a bang up barrel horse that got sore and needed lots of R&R so hes getting it.  |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | I was given a horse by a BB and I tell you what, this horse gets better care than I do AND I've never rode her. She's not sound for riding and needs special care but I knew this going in and she's been a great addition to my herd. Not every person who takes a free horse will try and resell them or lose interest in them. Its people that do that that give all people who take free horses a bad name. Are their a ton of people who do that yes but there are people who will genuinely care for a free horse. |
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Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | I know from now on I will not give away any horses, or sell them low (one was sold low) from now on. No matter what the people promise. You can't take anyone at their word. I thought I was doing better for the horses giving them to people who truely wanted and cared for them. If I am in the position in the future I honestly plan on putting them down, I just thought that would be a waste of a good horse if someone could use and enjoy them. I guess the part that bugs me is they are getting rid of them so soon and that I picked these people over others who may have really given the horses a good home. I guess I should just take peace that one is still with the gal who got her. She sent her off to be finished as soon as she got her home and now she has a good cow pony and loves her to bits.
Edited by equussynergy 2013-12-05 10:53 AM
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