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Veteran
Posts: 285
 
| I'm thinking of selling one of my horses but its such a hard decision. Im very attached to this mare and love being around her. BUT I'm going to school full time and have my older mare that's running and feel like I don't have time to ride both of them. I really don't want to sell, I love this horse, but I need the money at this time. So I guess I'm wanting advice from those of you who have sold horses that have a special place in your heart. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
   
Location: OH. IO | No good advice from me cause I cant do it.but prayers and hugs to you. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | jake16 - 2016-01-03 9:06 PM No good advice from me cause I cant do it.but prayers and hugs to you.
Same here, cant sell any of my horses that I'm attached too, thats why I'm so horse poor.  |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | Good luck I not good at it either. |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| I sold the horse that was the love of my life so now I can sell anything.
Example: (not the love of my life horse)I rescued a pony broke it out for my kids and they LOVED him but would not ride they rather give carrots and give him a pat. He was an awsome little ridding pony and I had grown attached to him just like the kids but he wasn't being utilized so I put a price tag on him that made it a little more worth it to me and sold him. Hurt is temporary. I rationalize it as there are always nice horses out there and nothing could hurt like selling my first real deal horse anyway....I know cold way of thinking about it but I would never sell anything if I let my emotions take control. |
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Location: OK | Some times you have to make a good business decision. I learned the hard way that sometimes you don't let go and then things change later that show you, you should have. In most cases the animal readjust's quicker than the person. Case in point, recently our cousin passed away and my sister adopted her dog ( she had told our cousin that if she should have to go to the Nursing Home that she would take the dog, she passed away in her home and my sister did go get the dog, It has been about a month and the dog seems to have adjusted and is very happy), I know this is a dog story but I think it might help you. I have sold several horses over the years and on more than one occasion I have literally " CRIED ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK."
Good luck with your decision, it can be a hard one to make. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | The one I regret selling was when I was in college, too. But, my finances had gotten bad enough to where I had no other choice. He was perfect. Would babysit a green rider or run in the 1D. (It was all jackpots back then, but he paid his own bills with his winnings.) I rode him in parades and won an all around saddle at our local association. Only saddle I have ever won. I have to say, if I was able to keep him, I would have. I'm sure I'm not helping you make a decision, lol. But, he was the perfect candidate for a new owner because he was so adaptable. I keep telling myself he probably settled right in and never gave it a second thought. Plus, I leased him to the buyer for about six months before they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I asked around about him for years. He was a high school rodeo horse for several girls and I'm sure he was well loved. AQHA has him listed as deceased. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I sell a fair number of horses and as much I know that I shouldn't, I can't help but become attached to some of them. In the end, I just have to tell myself that the sale is necessary, pray that they get a good home and move on. It sucks, but there's not a whole lot to be done about it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| I sold my two horses last year, one of which I owned for over 8 years and he taught me everything I know. It was the hardest decision I've had to make and many tears were shed but I wanted to start running barrels so something had to give. I sold both horses to get my one barrel horse and it was hard but I did what I had to do to reach my goals. I'm in school full time as well, and working, and owning one horse is so much easier than two at the moment (even though I would love to have more)! |
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 Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273
Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon! | I broke every rule. I didn't have a choice because I was going through a divorce and with the price of rentals in this area I knew I couldn't afford rent, plus board for 2 horses. I had to choose the one I hadn't had as long and who wasn't quite as versatile as my other mare. Also, the mare I've had longest is a horse that I feel like I owe a lot to for taking such good care of me.
Luckily, I have some friends who really liked the horse I needed to sell. Over the years the husband would admire the mare, come up to her and talk to her and love on her, compliment her and tell me that if I ever wanted to sell her to let him know. It was all in jesting, but it turned out that I did end up needing to sell her.
So, I broke every rule. I started by getting an appraisal by a mutual trainer friend who had put training on her for me. He priced her at $6000 and offered to find a buyer. I contacted my friends and said I'd offer her to them for $4500 with a 60 day trial. They would board her and I would take let them put the fees against her sale price. I let them make payments also. There was a really good contract and it went as smooth as silk. They ended up buying her at the end of the trial.
It was the only way I could do it. I had to know she was going to someone who loved her, and I had to know that I had given them ample opportunity to ride her and see what she is like in all situations. She is a quirky mare and I knew she wasn't for everyone.
And now when I ride with them I still get to love on her and see how well she is taken care of. That worked for me and it was the most ideal situation a person could ask for. I am sad that I had to sell her, but I feel like I did everything in my power to make the perfect home an option by offering the reduced price, payments and a trial period.
Edited to add that it is fun to watch him taking her to the next level in mounted shooting. She is way too fast for me to shoot off of as my trigger finger doesn't move as fast as her feet. Tim can shoot very fast, so he can let her cruise and she doesn't have to rate back for me to catch the shots that are closer together. So, I say that to say that I think she will be happier ultimately. Sometimes what's hardest on us ends up being what's best for the horse and offers opportunities for them to blossom and excel in ways we can't take them.
Edited by Lady 2016-01-03 11:18 PM
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
I get attached to ALL of them, lol. But I generally get over it pretty quickly. It's more because I worry about them though. I have two now that I'm sure will be the last two for me. I don't think I'd replace them if anything happened to them, but I probably won't ever sell them either.
Do what you need to do. You'll be fine.
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | I have had to do it more than once and it hurts. but in life we do what we have to do. good luck and hugs  |
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Veteran
Posts: 285
| Thanks everyone. I just love this mare. I don't have to sell but could really use the money. Its tough. She's got such a sweet personality. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I sold my very first horse I owned. I was in high school and needed a rope horse. Dad said if I wanted a rope horse, I had to sell her. A family friend found a little girl that needed a horse to learn on. So I sold her. I always regretted it because I was worried she wasn't treated right. Then one day I was home from college riding in the neighborhood and there she was standing at round bale happily munching away with 2 friends. She was fat and healthy even though she had to be in her 20's. I felt so much better. She was just fine and healthy and happy. That taught me a lesson - I was not cut out for buying and selling horses. I have sold a couple others but I sure don't like it.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I never sold mine but I did lease her out when I lost my job. The girl that I leased the mare to ended up taking her to the Rose Parade, riding in all the rodeos in Southern CA, and then the girl went on to become Miss Rodeo USA. I love this mare and I am glad I didn't sell her (even though I have had lots of offers) because now my stepdaughter and son use her and she babysits them. I also couldn't afford to replace her with another horse that knows/acts the way this one does. If you have a loophole tight lease contract this might be an option for you, too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2152
Location: Northern MN | I am not very good at all...that is why I have 8. I have had my little paint gelding for 28 years and another gelding for almost 24. I am a big sap. Another mare is 19 and she has been with me since she was 4 months old. Good Luck. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | I think sometimes we are put in a situation to have to sell a good one because some person, deserving of a break, is out there praying to finally find a good one. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I can't do it either... That's how I ended up with my mare and gelding.
I have two horses and I'm still a foot. They'd rather mow my lawn than mow down a pattern or break open a rope box LOL |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | I sold one that I didn't think I would ever sell. It was a good thing for the buyer and the seller. Do I miss him yes and some days more than others. I know he is getting more attention that I could give him. He's helping a little girl run faster times and be a better horseman that she was before him, and I've made new friends. I know for sure that I could sell any horse I own since I sold him and truly loved that goofy horse. Broke, fast, willing, kind, raised him from a baby, etc... I've got two or three more that I'm going to sell now. Two will be really tough. One I've had since he was a yearling that my family had raised. The other I watched him for years before buying him and he let me win right out of the gate and helped me get out of trainer/colt mode. I can't thank him enough. I just know someone else needs them more than me with where I am in life right now. I have a couple of colts again and there just simply isn't enough hours in the day. I will shed a tear on all of them. I'd say there's only one I'm not attached too that I will sell and it makes me almost feel guilty that I'm not attached to her. I like her alot she's easy to be around, minds her manners, paid her way, bred good etc. Just don't have that connection with her (just got to sell before she foals or it will be a whole different ballgame, lol) |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: Back Creek Valley!!! | I'm in the same boat as you are. My daughter has a super nice mare that we are thinking about selling. She is nice solid 2D at the big shows. But she wants more. IT breaks my heart to think someone would abuse this mare or run her legs off. I'd love to find a lady looking for a solid running horse that would take care of her for life. Ugh!! |
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