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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 07:49:04 AM
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Forgive me, as I may upset a few people, but I really am sick to death with hearing everyday, of so many lovely old horses, being given away free to good homes, or desperate people trying to rehome them. If these horses (in the so called majority of pleas) are loved, why palm them off to an uncertain future, and for someone else to pick up the tab, best way or end up in a sale, neglected and dying in a field!! It makes me sick. Horse owners, dog owners and all animal lovers have a responsibility to their animals.
It would be like rehoming your parents, grandparents etc., just because they are too old, cost too much to keep etc (yes, and there are those people around too).
If you can no longer keep them, then surely the kindest option is to have them pts. When will these people wake up, stop being sentimental and do the right thing by their livestock. This problem gets worse by the day and will not improve. Why should all the rescue centres have to take care of all the casts offs, that people can no longer be bothered to care for.
I had to have my darling Welsh Cob mare (whom I have owned for 17 years) put down on monday this week, (she had severe pedal rotation, arthritis, and breathing problems due to a previous illness). Yes, it was not cheap, £400 including cremation, but at least I know she had had a good long life, not been shoved round from pillar to post. I did it for both her and me. RIP my darling Cory one day we will meet again!!!
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
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pat ww
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3459 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 08:08:10 AM
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Could not agree more with you. But there will be people out there who have had a life long friend, whose circumstances change so they just cannot care for them, and not everyone is strong enough to say goodbye in this way, especially when it might still be fit and healthy.
In the present economic climate the is not always going to be an easy answer.
you at least took the courageous decision to end your cob's suffering. |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 08:32:34 AM
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I do agree with you, but there are sometimes circumstances that dictate an old horse needing to be rehomed. I was offered - and a friend now has - an old Arab mare whose owner had died. The mare, although around 30 now, is fit and healthy and thoroughly enjoying life with her new human, and it would have been a shame for her to be PTS. She's owned by a rescue centre so her days are secure.
I have to agree 100% though, that people who pass on their old horse so they can get a younger model should be ashamed. And, IMHO, if you can't afford to keep your old horse and it is economics forcing you to sell, you should be strong for them and have them PTS at home rather than risking an uncertain future.
Sorry to hear about your mare, Nicola, it's always hard to make that decision. xx |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 10:46:12 AM
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so sorry to hear of your bad news big hugs and my thoughts are with you at this sad time |
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Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 10:55:41 AM
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Sorry to hear your mare has gone, but do agree you did the right thing for her.
Unfortunately sentiment plays a huge part in this country with the way we keep all animals. I would never allow my old friend to suffer and would do the right thing for them at the end...........however as previously stated the rescue centres are full of old bods that no one wants, but they want to feel that they have done right by them! It's complete nonsense and the sooner people realise that animals don't have the same sentiment that humans have the better. As was said in the first post, you wouldn't dream of neglecting your grandparents/parents just because they had become a burden to you........Though I suppose when you think about it the old folkes homes are full too!!!! It always saddens me that human nature will make a great song and dance about animal neglect, but totally forget about other humans who are in dire need!
Anyway I'd say a huge well done to those that make the right choices for the horse (not themselves) and see things through to the end. |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 10:57:40 AM
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Lynda, Pat, Karon and Gerri. I accept that sometimes some old horses do get lucky and find loving homes in their Autumn years, and god bless the people who take them on. I just think that now especially during these resent economic times people dont or wont take them on.
Pat I agree with you young horses that need to be found new homes and for them, their owners must do everything in their power to do that.
Nicky |
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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
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BabsR
Platinum Member
England
2790 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 12:12:36 PM
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Whilst I really understand that there are Owners of old horses which are still fit and healthy, it is the Owners responsibility to ensure the future of their veteran friend.
Unless they can find/know of a genuine person whom they personally know, will ensure a caring home for the rest of the horse`s days, it has got to be the best option to PTS in familiar surroundings with people they know and trust.
Sending to a Sale, Loaning or giving away as
a companion.......almost always guarantees an uncertain future
There are those out there, who will make you all the promises you want to hear....for you only to find out shortly after you have handed over your old Friend, that the most likely destination
might well be the abbattoir......Please dont risk this fate unless you are 100% sure of the buyer.
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
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Edited by - BabsR on 27 Mar 2009 12:15:09 PM |
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rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 1:41:35 PM
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so sorry to her of your loss Nicola.
Agree with everything you say - so sad when owners trade in for a younger model.
There are genuine cases where owners have to rehome due to dire circumstances: eg. serious illness of owner etc, but it does seem that there are so many old horses on the market. Some of these horses should possibly be PTS?
IMO some owners pass the horse on to save on vet & disposal costs, but maybe they shouldn't take the committment of a horse on, without the FULL responsibility.
My mare has been with me for over 18 years & she's here for life, as is our youngster.
Lisa |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 1:58:55 PM
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I agree with what your saying in the case of people just wanting rid and replace them with a younger model thats not on! But there is lots of people that have no choice but to part with their loved horse and if they are 100% healthy just a bit old if they can find an excellent home y not let them be happy!
I have read honest stories off people looking for new hoomes for there old loved horse im sure if it came to it they would hopefully choose the PTS option rather than sale and passed around as they really love there horse but cant keep them.
My friend re-homed her very very nervous (dangerous due to it) pony to the blue cross if they didnt have him he would have had to be PTS as he had already been passed around sooooo much. But he is loved and cared for and SAFE and will live the rest of his life in there care!
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Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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Delyth
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1425 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 3:28:30 PM
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I love my oldies. They are so even tempered, so straight forward. Sometimes I don't know how I'd manage without them. They become the nannies !! You can have a real battle of wills with a youngster whereas one of the old girls says 'don't do that' and they behave instantly !! Saying that mine aren't particularily high maintainence but when the day comes that they need something then they'll get it. I don't smoke, I don't have a lavish lifestyle, I don't need/want a summer holiday every year.......I want my girls  |
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applause
Bronze Member
England
134 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 5:34:19 PM
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| couldn't agree more my oldies would never go anywhere from here i had my anglo put down april we had battled with laminits due to cushings for several months after 18 years of him being my best friend. I have his best mate my 25yr old gymkhana pony (still thinks she is) an 20ys old TB who came to me after a rubbish time but has had 4 happy years with us and hopefully many more. I think Delyth is so right we don't have holidays or smoke and the only thing we are lavish about is making sure the horses have everything they need. Horse don't owe us anything but the least we can owe them is making sre there latter years are good years in their home. taboo |
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carole ferguson
Silver Member
United Kingdom
457 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 6:17:09 PM
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I have three oldies - my sons first pony - Lucy Locket - nearly 40 - his second pony - Boveycombe Barley -27 next month - and the first horse I bred - Astarte - three quarter saddlebred - was 21 last Tuesday.
I have Boveycombe Barley's last foal - 9 this year - Astarte's daughter by Sherruggi - 7 in May - and her daughter by Legend Ghost Moon - 3 in May.
None of them will ever be sold or leave the place as long as they live. |
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BabsR
Platinum Member
England
2790 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 6:32:00 PM
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Echo all you say Delyth...a home for life means `a home for life` Our homebred veteran stallion and brood mares, we owe them so much and will continue to serve them for the rest of their days.and when the inevitable day comes, they will then be put to rest under the green carpet they used to graze 
We never yearn for a holiday, we must be soooooooo boring to none horsey peeps.
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
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Edited by - BabsR on 27 Mar 2009 6:33:18 PM |
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Pashon2001
Platinum Member
3575 Posts |
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Stagborough
Bronze Member
England
54 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2009 : 7:07:42 PM
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A few years ago I was county representative for the Veteran Horse Society. One of my main jobs was rehoming. If a horse was offered for loan I would check it out and also inspect new potential homes for loan horses and keep a watch on horses that were loaned in the area. This worked very well and I was able to match up some lovely schoolmasters and companion ponies to very good homes. One of the most common reasons for rehoming was the owner moving abroad and, under this scheme, they could be assured that someone was checking up on their horse.
My own older horses have been with me so long that I don't think they would adapt well to a new owner and would PTS my 22 year old who has been with me since a foal if I couldn't keep her, but the above mentioned scheme worked very well for many horses. |
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