ive had her since i was 12 and she's 18 right now but in really really good shape. shes really low maitence and isn't spooky and she's really good about going to new places (i just moved her to a new ranch for the first time in 10 years, just in april, and she's fine). but im graduating next month and im going to oregon and can't afford to take her with me. i want her to go to someone who will love her and keep her safe. theres a twelve year old girl who used to lease her who cried when i moved her from the ranch, and i could give her to her. but then my friend's grandparents own a ranch really close by and they would take her until i came back in 2 years to get her. cons: if i gave her away to the girl, i would never see her again and her training might hit the floor (i take her 3'3, pretty good for being 14hh and 18). if i put her on my friend's ranch, she might get hurt or she'll get really fat and spoiled or bored. this is like a really big deal to me. any advise would be good.
2007-05-09 07:58:58 · 7 answers · asked by maleenoodlesoup 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Get a horse trailer and find a boarding stable in Oregon to keep her at. And find a situation where you can work at the stable on weekends, etc, in exchange for cheaper boarding so you can afford it.
If you let your friend's grandparents keep her, you cannot dictate how they train her unless you hire a trainer to visit. I would find a rider who doesn't own a horse and share board/co-lease her with the agreement that they would ride her 3 days a week or something. That way she gets exercised.
What is more important, that she is a show jumper at the age of 20 when you return or that she is safe? i would not stress at them keeping up on her jumping. She is not at the end of her life by far, but she deserves a break
And if you end up giving her to the girl, and never see the horse again - you already made a choice to move and that outweighed your love for the horse apparently.
If you are going away to school you could have always gone somewhere nearby or within 2 hours where you could come back on the weekends. it may have not been your first choice in school, but then you would have been able to fulfill the commitment to a living creature in your care.
you created this problem - not the horse.
2007-05-09 08:13:05 · answer #1 · answered by JustMe 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Have you considered donating her to a riding camp or equestrian college? Usually the care is really good (but tour the place once announced and once un-announced) and the horses are very much appreciated. Horses usually have more than one owner in their lifetime and are very good at dealing with change over the course of their life. Sounds like you may be having a hard time letting go. You wish to keep possession of an animal you won't be seeing again until 2 years from now. Where in your life will you be in 2 years. Will you still want the horse? Or will you have kids, a job, other responsibilities?
Perhaps you need to consider other options such as a lease to someone who can take her for two years as you wish to put stipulations on a horse such as staying fit and trained. Maybe you can find a 4-her who needs a horse for 2 years until they graduate high school and would be willing to sign a detailed lease agreement.
2007-05-09 08:47:29 · answer #2 · answered by Pearson 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take it from someone who is trying to go to college and still spend time with my beloved horse. I also have many friends that were in the same situation as you are in.
It may be hard for you right now to sale her or give her to the girl, but in the long run it will most likely work out for the best.
Many things will happen to you in the next few years, intrest will change. I'm not saying that you will not like horses, just there may be other things that become more important to you. Many people I know have droped their horse for a boyfriend.
In 2 years she will age and may not be as fun as she was. It sounds like that girl will realy appreaciate her. And there are othere things that need to be woried about than the mare. After college you can buy another horse, you may need all the money you can get for classes.
Well Good Luck
Hope You have Fun at College
and Find a Good Home for the Mare
with You or Someone Else.
2007-05-09 16:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by hardy cowgirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why not have an arrangment with the girl where she takes care of it for 2 years at your friends barn, like a free lease type deal. The horse is old enough im sure its training will stick, and some work is better than no work, you can always give her to the girl with the condition that if she ever has to sell her you get first buy back option. Another option would be to give her to the girl with the requirement that you get to have her for her retirement, or that you get to visit the horse so many days a year.
Your horse would prob. be happier getting attention from a younger rider (as opposed to no attention), and im sure she will be able to teach the kid a lot. Having your mare sit in a field for a couple years seems kind of like letting her experaince and the training you have put on her go to waste.
Another posibility would be to move her with you, and lease her out to someone who will pay her costs, but you would still get to supervise her...
2007-05-09 08:20:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of the horse first not you if you love her like you say. If the little girl will take good care of her give it to her just keep in touch ask for periodic pictures write up an agreement with them and notarize it make it legal that way if it doesn't work you can get her back or giver her to a handicap farm that does therphy riding. I know it's a hard decision for animal lovers to part with their pets but we have to keep in mind whats best for them foremost . Good luck
2007-05-10 07:28:00 · answer #5 · answered by joannaduplessis@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is really super gentle, then you might want to think about loaning or even donating her to a theraputic riding program. They are always looking for good horses. And they give them wonderful homes. I gave one of my older show horses to them and they still have him after 6 years. He is 24 and still going strong and loving his life. And I still go by and see him once in awhile. Good Luck with your decision.
2007-05-09 10:01:56 · answer #6 · answered by Paint Pony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no matter who you give her to, she won't be treated exactly the way you want--because she won't be yours anymore. give her to the girl. a clean break is better. things won't be the same for you just to see the horse once in awhile or in 2 yrs. give her to someone who will appreciate her and will likely ride her often, even if it's not the way you like.
2007-05-09 08:15:46 · answer #7 · answered by KJC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋