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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
   
Location: SW North Dakota | We have an 18 year old gelding at home that we raised. He's been to 3 world fairs and 2 pumpkin thumpin's. So careful and responsible. Runs all youth rodeo events- keyhole, barrels, poles, ropes, safest kids' ranch horse and can work a cow with no help from his rider... everything. He is a big guy- like 16h and 1500#. No one is really using him here, but he has more than earned his lifetime of retirement. We all love him. Here is the question. Would you feel guilty having such a gifted kids' horse just sitting around? I would love to be a philanthropist and just give him to a family of little kids who would care for him and let him teach them the ropes, but that can get messy. Bob (the horse) certainly doesn't care if he never gets ridden. He's out with the cows and maybe gets used 3 or 4 times a year. He's fat and happy, I just feel kind of bad that we aren't sharing him. Would you?
Maybe I'm just hormonal or something... hahaha
This video is of our daughter, when she was 5 and Bob was 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6THbkLbbZ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv-fDzm4nBw - Elli was 9 years old
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVesv-dWZ_c - Goat tying- no child left behind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml4YtolbNx8 - Elli was 10, I think...
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Nope, I dont and wont feel bad about the others I put out in the semi retired/retired pasture.
Too many people out there who dont appreciate a good horse and they end up under fed and under utilized. If you have the means to keep him I would. Those great ones deserve to be well cared for forever. |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | Yes, we definitely have the means to keep him and I would just die if he was mistreated in any way. I still have his mother- she is 27 this year. I also have 2 other "colts" out of that mare, they are full siblings out of a different stud and have more fire in their shorts, so we are still using them. My daughter is running barrels and poles in the Junior High rodeos and is competative on Bob's half sister. I just see nice families with kids on junky horses and feel like I should share Bob. I have no trouble hoarding him! haha |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Not one bit. Sounds like he's earned a great retirement.
Too many times I see old guys get hammered on by people that don't know better. If he was mine, I'd just let him enjoy being a horse.
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I feel you, and have been lucky enough to have family keep using my 'Bob'. He's always stayed at my barn, I don't know that I would feel comfortable letting him 'live' anywhere else. I also always haul him if he goes anywhere.
Do you have anyone that would lease him while under your care? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | He sounds like hes happy and being very well cared for, let him live out the rest of his life with his family. I got where I dont trust much anymore and would worry about his well being. |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | It's BOB!! 
That big hunk of handsome could come to Florida in a skinny minute. 
I'm no help on your dilemma - I'd probably hang on to him myself. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| Only if you could supervise the kid and horse and the horse could live with you would I consider it. I have a couple at my place who will never leave. They have hit "superstar" status and for that they will retire here. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | We have had several lifers that have earned their keep. They will retire happy and in my care. I don't care how much they would be worth if sold. They did their time and owe me nothing. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | I wouldn't feel bad at all. I feel the right thing to do would be to keep him and insure he is safe and loved for the rest of his days. Horses like that deserve it. Parting with one that special always makes me worry about what their future holds. There are too many people out there that are not so nice and once he does get up there in years, injured or too old to be ridden, they may not care for him as you do and may send him to wherever they can get the most of their money back. If you have the space and resources to provide a loving retirement home for him then by all means keep him with your family. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Nope, don't feel guilty for one second. I have a 28ish year old gelding that is a real been-there-done-that kind of horse. The only times he gets ridden is in a parade or something, when my mom needs a safe mount, or when my nephew decides he wants to ride for about 5 minutes. Other than that, he just sits in the pasture enjoying the retired life. I don't feel bad at all that I'm "hogging" him.
Ones like that are good to have around "just in case". Trust me, you'd regret it every day if you sold him. Since you have the means to do it, let him stay right where he's at. |
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| KEEP HIM!!!! We had the same kind of horse and felt the same way and gave him to some kids thinking that we were doing something great. A year and a half later when we saw him he was skin and bones. We brought him home and tried our best to save him but couldn't. Biggest regret of my life. He was such a good horse to us and I felt like we wronged him. |
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 Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Keep him. You will never regret that. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Keep him. He is loved and you already said you don't care if he is ever ridden again.
Also - Ummmmm where was this kind of goat tie horse when I was learning!!???! LMAO! He's stood so perfect! LOVE it! My little mare from growing up would let us bail off and then she'd high tail it for the other end of the arena! She was our "Bob" and often let us pile 4-5 kids on her, ride into the stock pond, and let us bail off her. She lived to 28 at my parents house and I am pretty sure my Dad cried the hardest when we had to put her down. She has an honored burial site on the hill that overlooks our house.
ETA - my spelling mistakes corrected
Edited by lindseylou2290 2016-02-02 2:22 PM
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | OK, then I'm not weird for letting him enjoy the wild life. I am not talking about selling him. There is no amount of money that could convince me to sell him to "just anyone."
We live in the boonies, so it's not likely that someone could come over and leg him up to use him in our care. He can just pin his ears at cows and hang with his momma as far as I'm concerned!!  |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Only if I knew the people who were going to give him a home REALLY well. I gave a horse to a family and he is well taken care of and the little girl will only ride him. I sold another oldie but goodie to our FFA teacher and his son and when they were done they called and asked if they could sell her to their nephew and niece. Again, the mare was well taken care of and much loved. It's hard decision to make. Both of these people contacted me, and I never had the horses for sale. It just kinda happened. However, I think the crew I have now will just always be with me, I don't think I would sell them. I think I was really lucky, because I have also had to repossess a couple also. Not going through that again. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | Same thing happened to me as to the poster above. The man that used to shoe all our horses moved away. He later contacted me and asked about my middle aged gelding, if I would be willing to let his daughter use him for high school rodeo. I trust this family and know them well, the only reason they were able to take Sparky. I get videos, pictures, and texts. Sparky made the family Christmas card as well.
I wouldn't feel bad keeping your good horse home and safe either. I wouldn't have let my guy go to many people...real short list.
Edited by luvropin 2016-02-02 2:32 PM
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | lindseylou2290 - 2016-02-02 1:20 PM Keep him. He is loved and you already said you don't care if he is ever ridden again. Also - Ummmmm where was this kind of goat tie horse when I was learning!!???! LMAO! He's stood so perfect! LOVE it! My little mare from growing up would let us bail off and then she'd high tail it for the other end of the arena! She was our "Bob" and often let us pile 4-5 kids on her, ride into the stock pond, and let us bail off her. She lived to 28 at my parents house and I am pretty sure my Dad cried the hardest when we had to put her down. She has an honored burial site on the hill that overlooks our house. ETA - my spelling mistakes corrected
He will NOT leave, but he will also NOT run by. As soon as he feels his little package get loose, he stops. LOL. No child left behind. Ever. hahaha. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| I don't have kids but *I* want Bob!  He's one cool dude. Peace of mind to always know where he's at and how he's doing. Like you said leasing can get hairy. I'd just look out my window and enjoy the eye candy if I were you! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| No, I would not feel guilty. |
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