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

Sharaway

Rem at the risk of sounding arguementative, if you can't afford to keep the horse you may not even be able to afford the vet to put the horse down let alone have it cremated. The few dollars that you may get from the pet food people may in fact buy food for the rest of the family.
Its not a perfect world and often a very sad and cruel one for both horse and owner.

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Working for the horses, oh and the bank lol

Rem

That's one of the reasons that my horses are insured for vet expenses and also a small replacement cost which would cover the cremation expenses. We aren't able to bury horses on our property because we are on the Gnangara Mound and there is no way I would let them go to landfill.

It can be a cruel world Sharaway but I see no reason to add to it and I will always do my utmost to protect my horses from it.

Bon & Ted

As soon as I get the dosh I'm going to sort out insurance.

My mum was going to pay to get Ted cremated ... until she realised how much it cost.

I was living in a rental at the time, which was only going to be sub divided anyway, mum's property I would have LOVED Ted to be buried there. But we live on solid rock and the time it would have taken to sort out some heavy machinery to dig a hole....well it was 40 degree heat and we couldn't wait any longer.

So my OH organised the guys with the truck - gosh I can't even remember who it was, such a blur! and yeah I guess Ted went to landfill. Even if he had not been pumped full of drugs and greendreamed, I couldn't possibly have let him go for meat. Not my best friend.

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Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for ~ Bob Marley

Nushie

I have 2 horses, both are retired. One is 33 the other is 14. Both retired due to different reasons. But the last thing i would think of doing would be to get rid of them. Both are fine in the paddock, can canter comfortably and half the time you wouldnt know that they are unridable. I havent ridden a horse in nearly 6 years. And there is nothing I like more than going and spending time with them, grooming, feeding, watching them graze. Nothing beats that.

Im lucky that my mum is also very horsey and understands the bonds you have with a horse (unlike my other half who insists i am wasting money) if the situation came down to it and for some reason i couldnt support them, mum would take over until i am back on my feet.

EVP

At what point does a horse that is not in any pain become unfit for riding? Who makes the call that they are not in any pain? And who makes the call that they can't be ridden?

I think these questions are ones for your employers. They are probably alot smarter than me.

Webby

Pat them feed them, LOL Same thing I do with my broodies and young horses.

I would never give a horse away as a lawnmower or companion, If the perfect home came along then I would lease them out so that I knew the right thing would be done with them. (2 ponies I havent seen for yrs but I know they are safe) Otherwise if I could no longer keep them i would PTS.

THat way I can always guarntee quality of life.

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Kimaley

Well said Caroline. Paddy will be kept with me even in retirement until his quality of life is no longer there. I am lucky, I have my own property and can afford to keep him. Some of us don't have that luxury and agist and therefore only can afford 1 horse.

I would prefer to put mine down then risk passing them on for free and not knowing what happened or seeing them not looking so good. I used to be trusting and give horses away for free (usually rideable Stbs that came off the track that I would start under saddle and rehome), the number I have found later not looking so good, I know why a lot of trainers choose to put them down now.

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Don't let your ego get in the way, you can learn something new about horses every day. If you don't think you can, you won't do your horse any justice at all.