What you do with horse's that can't be ridden?

smash

but sharaway, isnt it those very same "i am so offended" people, screaming out for justice for those poor horses, left to fend for themselves, all because the "owners" can afford to look after them.
it is some times so much KINDER to have a horse PTS so it never has to be only of those starving, worm invested, lame, long hooved horses left to live their worst nightmare.
seems the "do gooders" cant find a halfway place for all their good intentions
cheers

colibanqh

In my opinion a definition of a retired horse is a horse that is kept out of work (being ridden) completely. If you still ride a lame bugger, then this horse should be called semiretired.
Everyone is different, I personally can't understand the need to ride a lame old horse full stop. I don't see the point in pumping it up with drugs and painkillers and then going and riding it. They've earned their right to be left alone. What's wrong with riding young and sound ones?. But because old horses are usually dead broke and dead quiet, they get abused till the time they die. It is just my personal opinion.
When people acquire or save lame (unsound) horses they should have a good think about their responsibilities and obligations as owners to look after the animals properly. Horses live long lives and cost a lot in upkeep.
If a person is in doubt, or not in a stable situation financially or for any other reasons, a horse in question is better off being humanly destroyed than passed on the chain of owners with an uncertain future.
I know what will happen to my crippled Bunny if she becomes uncomfortable or to any of my old mares or stallions. When their time comes, we'll get our excavator going and ask a neighbour to do the right thing for us..... I will sleep better knowing that where they are, they are at peace.
lena

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scotchmel

Ditti what coli said!

In a month we are moving to QLD, and with eight horses we had to think if we were to take them all. But the thought of "unloading" them to someone else was too hard, so they 2 are making the big trip, we are lucky that we are financially able to pay for them to come.

Gaia

I have 2 horses in retirement in Bridgetown with Antyk. One is a forced retirement due to lameness (Daisy) and the other I decided could go with her as he is 20 and quite arthritic (Saxon). While I can afford the agistment there, they will stay. Come a time I can no longer afford agistment, they will come home and I will care for them here, BUT, if ever a time came where i could not look after either of them properly, I would NEVER find them another home, I would have them PTS as I wouldn't want them sitting in a paddock without proper care rotting away. While Daisy is still lame, she is paddock sound and happy enough with her mate. If ever she was struggling to get around a paddock, again, I would have her PTS.

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KC Quarter Horses

I imagine if you had to pump a horse with painkillers to ride it you wouldn't ride it Coli.
My old girl was not ridden for a number of years ....but with all the treatment she gets, of which none of it is painkillers, she has a new lease in life.
Keeping her moving is better for her than leaving her just in a paddock.
I might add that for my old girl the vet recommended that she keep moving & actually suggested me allowing her to be ridden by the girl who is. Previously we just lunged her or ponied her behind other horses .....I think the comment was if you don't use it you loose it.

And so yes my old retired horse is now semi retired ..... I have her for her life & she will be PTS when the time comes.

Oh Yes I have lots of young horses that can be ridden & are. The young girl that rides Jenny rides 2 or 3 other horses as well, all of them much better behaved than Jen .....but as you do not ride, you might not understand that some horses like to have a purpose & love to go out. When you take that away from them they get depressed .. & that is why people with old lame horses still get on them & ride them. Trust me it would be heaps easier to just leave them in a paddock, looking after the physical & mental wellbeing of a horse takes a bit more effort than that.

GeeJay

They will tell us all when hey this hurts mind you they endure pain far more than what we can. Modern drugs help so much for us as humans just to give that bit more as it is hard to say good bye but if you live your life around these special animals you should know when its time to let go.

All I can say is never let them suffer and if they kick up and feel good well they are happy just make sure they are comfortable happy and enjoy life, thats how I feel and wouldn't want it any other way

deschuur

Yep I agree. Sad as it is that a paddock sound horse/retired or even older horse should be sent over the rainbow ridge it is sadder to see the state that forgotten horses end up in having seen a few of these cases I was moved to tears

If I can't afford to keep a retired/injured or old horse then I will definitely consider the PTS option. I would not trust anyone to keep the horse in the condition I have them, most are TBs who do require a lot of feeding so as companion horses they are just too expensive for some.

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Sharaway

I so love you smash can I have your baby pmsl. If it wasn't for my having to type this on my blackberry while at work - would have had a nice long rant about the "grey" areas of owning horses

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colibanqh

Would you have my baby too, Shar?
I actually in total agreeance with you on the second part of your post

as to the first part

I don't think it is good idea, some people don't look after freebies
lena

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tammyprez

wot do u think of this

a reitred pony, with a blue eye, horribly sore feet(been limping 4 about 3 or so years),probs about 15, artharitus, but he owners love her 2 bits and dont want 2 let her go
and they fill up with pain releif or something like that

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