Former Junior Hunter mare needs help

[MorganMaresVT]

@Christa_P

One possibility is the USEF could create a page within the USEF horse registrations where former owners can offer the horse a retirement home whenever it may be needed.

We have this within the American Morgan Horse Association - it’s called the Full Circle program. You do have to know their registered name to search for them, but you don’t have to be an AMHA member: https://my.morganhorse.com/Registry/Full-Circle-Program-Enrollees

I’m a listed contact for all the horses I’ve ever owned, and all the foals they’ve had. I’ve never been able to find out how often it actually serves to get a horse out of a bad situation using a Full Circle contact, but I do appreciate that it exists.

[piaffequeen2]

Not as much as you think-my trainer got a dressage “lesson horse” because the owner wasn’t happy with what the college was going to give her. This horse was an upper level horse who got ruined by the owner. Horse was much happier at my trainer Lynn’s where he clicked with a student of hers.

[Bogey2]

I have a friend who donated her horse because she would be lucky to get 7,000 for her…the adjuster said horse was worth 20,000 and that’s the write off she got. Thankfully the horse was retired to a student who made sure to do right by her!

[ThreeWishes]

I think this whole thing is a very complex issue. For many of us… Our horses are beloved partners, and pets and athletes. There’s always a conundrum isn’t there when you move a horse on Whether it’s through just a flat out sale or a donation we all know that right of first refusal and all those good things don’t mean squat in the real world so what’s the answer? We don’t do this with dogs. Because we don’t sell our dogs when they need to move on for whatever reason. But imagine if we did.
I have never in my life, sold a horse or moved it along before my teenage daughter stopped riding Smiley was not donated to a college. He went to a high-end Hunter jumper barn as a lesson horse. He was mid to late teens by then. He was quite successful and had a USEF record. But his latter years were mostly being a lesson pony. 14.3. And sometimes being leased out for the low hunters at rated shows. When he sustained a suspensory injury that required retirement The people I sold him to called me. They had reached out to the barn that my daughter rode at during her junior years and got my number. They asked if I’d like to retire him and I did. And he’s still here. Nearly 3 years later. Living his best life.

This whole long post is just that I don’t think you can police morality. Or doing the right thing. There will always be people that find horses disposable. So what’s the answer? Keep a horse forever.? I sold smiley because he was a good reliable successful horse that still had a lot to give Thankfully the people I sold him to appreciated his long service. And by the way, he was a riding horse long before I bought him and long after I sold him. But thankfully, I was able to give him a soft landing. I’m not sure you can police that.
Picture tax

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[jvanrens]

@Annie10

Kind of like what the jockey club is doing where you can register on their website for particular horse to offer aftercare for it if it needs it. I think that would be a good idea and it wouldn’t cost anything or be horribly difficult to implement.

I’m not sure if the JC calls it the same thing, but AQHA (I think they started it, but my recollection could be off) and USTA & Standardbred Canada have a Full Circle program people can put on a horse that they want to keep track of.

[hrlo_1722]

This is a GREAT idea. At the very least, have contact information (which could be blinded, similar to Craigslist, if needed, or presented in a form) available for registered prior owners of horses.

Part of the reason I was comfortable jumping into horse ownership was that my horses’ breeder and his first owner are very invested in his well-being, and if something were to happen to me, I know they would help him find a soft landing. I plan on owning him for the rest of his life, but it’s comforting to know other people care about his well-being.

[SonnysMom]

My understanding is that with some colleges/universities the horse becomes an asset. He/she cannot be rehomed or given away. They asset must be auctioned off like an ATV or camper. It must go to the highest bidder. I think this is more likely for State Colleges/Universities than private one.
If they are treated as an asset he cannot go back to the donor, student, instructor, rescue, UNLESS there is an ironclad contract in place allowing that. It is also unlikely those institutions would sign that type of contract as they would need a lawyer ($$$) to review said contract or draw that contract for them. Too much trouble for a horse that is probably a minor cog in their institution.
So basically be careful where you donate your horse to and read the fine print on the contract. You do have a contract, RIGHT?

[Bluey]

@jvanrens

I’m not sure if the JC calls it the same thing, but AQHA (I think they started it, but my recollection could be off) and USTA & Standardbred Canada have a Full Circle program people can put on a horse that they want to keep track of.

The AQHA has had such a program for a couple decades.
It was called Greener Pastures, or Forever Home, I think:

AQHA Debuts Greener Pastures Program