Anna Swell wrote an answer to that in 1877 which basically became the foundation of the current PITA movement
I feel like this topic proves that a person with a horse at the end of its fancy level showing career are wrong no matter what they do.
Reach out to the breeder/original long term owner - you are wrong because they assume you are evil and not willing to care for the horse.
Step the horse down to lower levels - you are wrong because Dobbin deserves to stand in a field and relax.
Retire them to stand in a field - you are wrong because Dobbin could have taught all those kids.
Etc.
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It truly is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t. In the context of this thread and trying to keep it tangentially related, a retired show horse for many who are NOT the uber wealthy actually means no showing, and maybe no riding, for 5-10 years….most retirement board options around me are $300-500 per month, with some charging extra for grain. Add in basic annual vet, maybe some extras here and there like a replacement blanket, one time illness or injury bills, etc, and you’re looking at $7-8000 conservatively per year to retire that horse. If he lives 10 years into his 30s? You’re likely spending close to $90k or more to keep him in a field.
For many of us, spending $90k on a pet is just not feasible. You have to make a really hard choice to try and even RIDE once a week, let alone spend $2-5k a week at a horse show. It’s truly baffling how much we all continue to be priced out, even if you aren’t even showing and just trying to retire a good horse who you’ll never sit on again……
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I’m with you on this one. There’s a world of difference between someone whose financial situation has changed and can’t afford their horse anymore, and someone who just wants to get the horse off their payroll so they can get a new one. You know going in to ownership that retirement is always a possibility, if that’s not a risk you’re comfortable with leasing is always an option. And I board, so I understand the financial trade-offs. I have no problem with people (responsibly) selling, leasing, finding a cheaper board situation, or even euthanizing in certain circumstances. I do have a problem with people who put their desire to ride and show above their horse’s welfare when that horse is no longer useful to them.
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I will also add that the more ‘popular’ horse shows, the only way to get a stall if you are not famous is to give a donation to the show in exchange for ‘advertising’.
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So you’re not allowed to sell a horse needing a career change or a step down? You can’t decide you bought a bad match and sell it? Decide you want to do ranch instead of hunters and buy a different horse?
What is responsibly selling? Are you putting parameters on people selling horses?
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I literally said I dont have a problem with that:
To me responsibly selling means looking for a good fit and considering whether it’s in the best interests of the horse. We’ve all seen the FB ads of people trying to “sell” the now-unrideable 25 year old who faithfully carted them around the show ring for 10 years, because they can’t afford two horses. There are never any guarantees but we owe it to our horses to give them the best shot possible. Once you take ownership that horse’s future becomes your responsibility.
And we’re talking about retirement, not career changes or bad chemistry. No idea where you pulled that from but also not something I have an issue with.
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So if I buy a 3yo. That 3yo doesn’t want to do dressage, but it enjoys trail riding. I “responsibly” sell the horse and I am now bound to keep track of that horse for the rest of it’s life?
I saw this with a pasture sound horse I purchased from a kill pen out on a free lease which is a burden I chose to take, but not a burden I expect everyone else to take.
I take no issue with people asking if you could retire the horse at your farm - I take issue with them not offering an compensation for it. “I’ve loved having Dobbin and it’s time for him to retire; I thought your setup might be appropriate for him. If this is something you would consider, can you let me know what you think is fair to compensate you for his care either monthly or annually?” is a lot different than “I’ve loved having Dobbin and it’s time for him to retire; do you want him back?”
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Are you even reading my posts? Once again, literally just said I don’t have an issue with that:
A sound 3 year old has a lot of options so it’s pretty easy to sell him with a good shot at a solid future. Huge difference from selling a 25 year old with basically no market value.
I’m really not sure why you’re so offended by the idea that you should make decisions with the horse’s welfare in mind but yes I do think we owe it to our horses to be careful about when and how we let them out of our control.
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yes, very much agree. Since I have retired everything I personally own, I am already a bit strapped myself. To take on another without any sort of compensation for doing so is a huge undertaking. I would love to but I am certainly not the wealthier of the two in the situation.
I am very happy they have asked. I think it needs to be the norm. But the norm also needs to be some self responsibility for the animal you own and that responsibility shouldn’t just be immediately unloading them because they are no longer of service to you.
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I just spent 8 months looking for a home for an older horse whose owner moved and left her w me. I was able to find a great home where this very sweet horse will be loved and cared for. Her owner couldn’t have cared less.
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This is amazing, and also so frustrating. H/J horse shows don’t need to be the way they are, except for an insane profit motive. FFS, HITS got bought out by private equity if that tells you how much profit (or potential profit) is there.
I know, the footing and facilities and blah blah blah, but those have become the expectations because it is so expensive. It’s a vicious cycle.
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Turn it into an op-ed!
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