Horse Serious

If you’re in the horse world at all you have definitely come across posts or listings that say

 “Can’t ride anymore, need to find a good home for my older horse” or

 “ Can’t keep my lame horse anymore but want to find a good home”. 

If you’ve ever been in this position you know how heartbreaking and difficult is to figure out what is best for your older or lame horse. The horse you have may be too old or too lame to ride and this is affecting his quality of life. Perhaps, you want to keep them but you don’t have enough room or you’ve lost your job and can’t afford to keep them because of their special needs, whatever the reason may be, it’s always a tough decision to come to.

When it comes to giving up your older or lame horse there are options and things to consider.

If they are rideable, consider selling/donating them to a school for children/people with disabilities. There are such facilities out there that will give your horse a loving home with plenty of affection. 

Ask your friends if they need a companion horse. You never know, maybe your friend also has an older horse and is in need of another one to keep them company. This can be a win/win situation for everyone. Your horse gets a new friend and you can still see them as often as you’d like. 

Beware of people jumping at the idea of taking your horse. These people may not have the finances or knowledge on how to properly care of your horse. Or, in a much worse scenario, they could sell your horse to someone with unkind plans. 

If you cannot find a friend in need of a companion horse, or they are unrideable, you may be faced with a very difficult decision. Do not post or advertise your older, lame, or horse with special needs on Facebook for free or cheap, they deserve more than that. It is a sad choice, but if you have no other option, call your vet. Spoil him/her, give them lots of love and let them pass peacefully with you. It is sad, but it’s one of the only ways you can ensure your horse will be treated with respect until their last day. 

Here is what you can do if you think you can find a home for them:

If your horse is rideable but old and you can’t afford them any longer, do these 4 things and ensure you do not consider giving them up without them:

1. They have a vet reference with a name & number. Make sure you call the vet and verify how well the vet knows the buyer. Look at the vet’s reviews as well. Maybe even schedule a visit to their clinic. 

2. They have a farrier reference with a name & number. Just like with the vet, scope out the farrier and ask them how well this potential buyer takes care of their horses. 

3. Get photos & schedule a visit to the facility. Be sure you know exactly where your horse is going. Get pictures of everything. 

4. Deliver the horse yourself. When it’s time, deliver the horse yourself and do another check to be sure that the quality of care is high.