See HH-G you’re assuming it went to bills.
If I assumed she stuffed it in her mattress I would get lambasted, so I ASKED.
And get lambasted anyway.
New Job
DMC- could your guy have a new job instead of showing. For example, I have many middle-aged re-ride clients who would die to have an ex-medal horse for a buddy. Many of these women don’t really ride competively (in fact many don’t ride) but they bask in the glory of retiree who has been there done that. These horses are well cared for and are pets for life. Maybe you will be lucky and find him a good home. I am sorry for your circumstances
Asking someone what they do with their own money is in some cultures considered rude. :winkgrin:
Considering retiring him…
[QUOTE=dcm;3821981]
I’ve started to post this several times, but stopped for whatever reasons, but I will try again.
I do have a show horse on the downside of his career. When my daughter left for college, we leased him because he was still young and he loved to horse show. He has been to Harrisburg eq finals 6 times and the Maclay finals 3 times. He has won state eq ride off finals in two states, and many year end awards for several different riders. He has told us he wants to move down, so he is only leased to show the 3’ divisions. He has paid his dues, but is not yet done. He loves the shows and loves the attention. He is healthy and he is happy doing what he is doing.
The problem? At 14, he is approaching retirement, and I find in my post divorce situation, I cannot afford to give him that retirement. My daughter cannot either any time soon. Who knows how her finances will be in the next few years. I thought we would own this sweet boy forever. And it is breaking my heart.
The point? Do not judge all the prior owners of a horse who wind up like Dux until you know the story. I fear this for our boy, and I fear more that there is nothing I can do to save him if he is no longer in my control.[/QUOTE]
Before he is completely spent. Find him a home as a trail horse maybe, before he is incapable of even that. Someone may want a companion horse. If he’s quiet and calm, therapeutic work may be a consideration. Maybe let him go as a “free lease” so you have control over his whereabouts, or, if you sell, include a right of first refusal, so you get notified if they cannot keep him. And, in the event he is not sound enough to be comfortable (please know I do not wish this on ANY horse) consider a humane and dignified end, via veterinary euthanasia.
Ideally, I would love to see all horses provided a forever home with the person they packed around and won alot of classes for.
I am wondering, if there is insurance for performance horses, that once they are not capable of work, there is a payment made. And that payment could finance their retirement.
I know people sometimes donate their horses, because the write-off can far exceed a possible sale price, and in those events, the last owner is benefiting. What do donors realize from this situation, 1/3 maybe? Why not use that benefit for the horse?
Maybe I’m just rambling, but they are questions and ideas I had.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;3822397]
I guess it is hard to read tone in your post, but you did come off as being very judgmental.
To me it sounds like DCM is having a hard enough time with the situation with out someone telling them they should have done it differently.
And I do not do cornflakes. :yes:[/QUOTE]
Read what I wrote, I did not tell her she could have done it differently, I ASKED if I was wrong in the numbers I had heard about how much a horse of that calibre got leased for.
I could just walk off thinking dcm is full of it, she got oodles of money for that lease and is now whining… I prefer to think there’s something I am missing that s/he could explain if s/he so chooses.
Money is a very very personal and touchy topic. Why don’t people choose to live in small homes and drive little economical cars so they can put XX amount of money away to care for their old animals forever and ever? They just don’t, usually.
And there are so many factors to consider. Perhaps the SO and the children don’t want their lifestyles affected for the sake of the old horse. Perhaps your own medical issues, or divorce, or a financial crisis such as we are experiencing right now make what used to seem possible…no longer possible.
TAZER…there is “loss of use” insurance but it is VERY expensive and the insurance company takes the horse once they payout. Some of these horses wind up in research facilities and other bad situations.
I know, I know–research needs to be done to help provide treatments for our horses…I just would not want my horse to become a subject.
[QUOTE=2bayboys;3822417]
Money is a very very personal and touchy topic. Why don’t people choose to live in small homes and drive little economical cars so they can put XX amount of money away to care for their old animals forever and ever? They just don’t, usually.
And there are so many factors to consider. Perhaps the SO and the children don’t want their lifestyles affected for the sake of the old horse. Perhaps your own medical issues, or divorce, or a financial crisis such as we are experiencing right now make what used to seem possible…no longer possible.[/QUOTE]
Which is why I asked the rude question, fully expecting she can tell me to mind my own business but thinking it was better [less rude] than assuming s/he’s full of it.
Next time I’ll go with the quiet assumption.
We are using this wonderful thread to show how very closed minded we can be. We should let the thread go back to being about a wonderful situation.
The bottom line is, just because someone else does not think like you does not mean they are wrong. :yes: Not everyone thinks horses are pets and should be kept for life. There are many very respected people who have had horses, their lives have changed, and the horses were sold to new people. It is not wrong. It may not be what you would do, but it is for sure not wrong.
Insurance Company
[QUOTE=Addison;3822421]
TAZER…there is “loss of use” insurance but it is VERY expensive and the insurance company takes the horse once they payout. Some of these horses wind up in research facilities and other bad situations.
I know, I know–research needs to be done to help provide treatments for our horses…I just would not want my horse to become a subject.[/QUOTE]
O.K. maybe I’m reaching a bit here, but, what if these insurance companies, who offer this kind of coverage, align themselves with some reputable nonprofits that might be able to help rehome some of these horses? And I am sure those that are insured and not sound can be euthanized, worst case scenario.
I’m not too familiar with the loss of use insurance, but, I do know, when you crash a car and they pay out for the car, before it’s taken away you can buy it back, for a fraction of the payout. I had a F250 diesel that was in an accident. I paid $75 to buy it back, I used it for what I needed it for, but it could never be a road truck again.
(THE EDIT SCREEN LIMITS ME…SORRY) so, if the title on the property changes to reflect suitability, why not see if some system, similar but for horses, can be devised? The insurance company sends notification to the registration or association involved, the registration is revised to show new status of horse. The horse can never be completed at that level or similar, but he doesn’t HAVE to go for research, or worse. Or is that too far out of the realm of reality?
This is the last I’ll write on it, as I hate consuming this thread with this
Where, please quote me, did I write the word ‘wrong’?
Now ya’ll can have the last word, but I hope it includes being honest that perhaps you are reading my post as judgmental when in fact that might be all in your head. :yes:
Tazer,
Bless you for giving that wonderful old guy a home. I believe you will be repaid for your kindness many times over.
Angela, I think your question was fair. Performance horses (grand prix jumpers, eq. horses, race horses) actually providing their owners with financial benefits surely have “earned their keep” even in retirement? (NOT saying that they are the only horses deserving of retirement)
Perhaps there should be some way to set aside a portion of their winnings/other ways to PLAN for their care once they are no longer able to compete.
Unfortunately, most horses do NOT win enough to make a profit. They usually can barely cover the expenses. There is a saying that goes something like “It takes a large fortune to make a small fortune in the horse business”.
Loss of use insurance usually provides for 75% of the horses value as a payout if you turn over the horse, and 50% of the horses value if you choose to keep the horse.
Oh believe me - I’m WELL aware of the money pit that horse ownership is! 
But, Angela’s question was related to the financial aspect of an upper level Eq. horse - which we all know can lease out for considerable $$$ - income above and beyond expenses for the owner.
And, upper level GP horses generally ARE generating some income or increasing in value, which “pays” the owner when they are sold.
Which is why I asked the rude question, fully expecting she can tell me to mind my own business but thinking it was better [less rude] than assuming s/he’s full of it.
Next time I’ll go with the quiet assumption.
I guess I just plain don’t see what business it is of yours to ask OR assume.
Did you take into consideration how much it costs to BUY the eq or grand prix horse, board it, train it, show it, vet bills, farrier bills? Many times the high dollar lease is just a drop in the bucket to what has already been spent on the horse. Also, not every horse leased for the big eq comes with a hefty price tag. The proven ones get the high dollar price tag and usually, whoever owns it, spent a small fortune on it!
dear GOD this is turning into a train wreck. :no:
Dux, the Ladies Man
Well, he has made it clear what kind of company he likes…
He is enthralled with the oldest, crankiest grey mare on the farm. It’s pretty funny (after fence repairs and open latches) to see him quite content to bask in her glory. However… she is not quite as impressed with him.
I’ll keep you posted on this latest development.
[QUOTE=Tazer;3822651]
Well, he has made it clear what kind of company he likes…
He is enthralled with the oldest, crankiest grey mare on the farm. It’s pretty funny (after fence repairs and open latches) to see him quite contest to bask her in glory. However… she is not quite as impressed with him.
I’ll keep you posted on this latest development.[/QUOTE]
Yay for Dux! Everyone old man needs a girlfriend- even if it may take a while to woo her. My almost 26 year old retired mare and her 19 yo QH/overgrown pony pasturemate pass much of their time oogling at the boys over the fence. Sometimes the boys put on a show- bucking uphill, grabbing each other by the neck, and playing catch with their traffic cone.
