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  Discussion on Do unsound horses find good homes?
Author Message
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 - 9:15 am:

Hi Gang,

I had not idea where to put this post so...this is where it landed. My young horse (7) has just been diagnosed with navicular synDrOme (via MRI) and has been given a poor prognosis. It appears he will never again meet the goals I had set for us (very modest, as a 1 m jumper with a few shows per year). I am having a very hard time coming to grips with this. Based on what has happened over the past 7 months, I expect I can make him quite sound (i.e., sound when just doing the occasional trot and canter with his pasture buddies) but he would likely become sore with anything more than light hacking (but who knows).

The question is: are there actually good homes out there that will take this type of horse. He is extremely well mannered and super friendly with people, dogs, cats, and other horses. He is about 16.1 and a very nice looking horse (black with big white blaze). Although he is normally quiet I would never call him bombproof; he is a happy 7 year old hannovarian.

Any thoughts?

Lynn
Member:
canter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 - 10:32 am:

Hi Lynn,
There are homes for this type of horse, but I think they are far and few inbetween. If you look at some of the sales websites, you'll find a lot of unsound horses looking for good homes. But with patience and diligence, you may find the right type of home for your horse. My first horse, a young TB, was diagnosed with all sorts of soundness issues (arthritis) within 2 years of my buying him. It took some time, but I found a home that just wanted to use him for light trail riding. I sold him for a nominal price (just enough that it wouldn't pay for them to ship him to a kill buyer) and with a right of first refusal in the sales contract, should they decide they no longer wanted him. I have kept an eye on his well being since I sold him, ready to buy him back if I had to.

Talk to your vet, to your farrier, and everyone horse related - ask them to keep an eye out for you. Advertise locally and on some of the websites. You never know...someone may be looking for an attractive lawn ornament, or for a nice horse for a light riding kid or husband.

Good luck - this situation was heartbreaking for me and I agonized over it for a long time.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 - 10:51 am:

The right of first refusal and the right to come and visit anytime are important imo. Tough choices, but I agree it can be done.
Member:
lilo

Posted on Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 - 5:04 pm:

I just want to wish you luck in finding a good home for your horse. Someone might want a companion horse for their horse. Would he be suitable for a therapeutic riding center?
Lilo
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 - 6:17 pm:

Lynne,
I have to agree with all above. I am in need of a filly. My sorrel mare bonded with the filly we got on the same road trip when we bought her. I told Walt that selling SUnshine was a mistake, but my concern was that SHE would not thrive and would take it worse than Tuffy. I was wrong. Sunshine is doing just fine, but Tuffy is depressed. She is in a turn out with our donkey, and a gelding quarter horse who now bosses her around. She is sad, and it is killing me. I try to spend more time with her, groom her every day, slip her treats, take her to the best grass growing outside the fence, but it doesn't make up for the companionship she lost. She is losing weight, which is a good thing to a certain point. I want her to feel happy again, and I know she is not. They even looked alike, people all thought they were mother and daughter, although they are not. I would gladly take in a filly who looked like Sunshine but had no riding future, so I bet you can find a situation for your gelding. If there are any Egala EAP centers around you, they do not put their therapy patients on the horses so if he is patient and compliant, that might be a good option for you too. He would be performing a service without being pained to do so. If it worries you, try to stay local so you can keep an eye on the situation, and keep in touch
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