Are horses for life?

ChewyDog · 07-28-2003 12:11 AM

Okay no fighting ppl :starwars: ...lol...I just thought some interesting points were brought up on this so I decided to make a poll.

IMO finding the right horse is like dating (as I said previously), sometimes you have to go on a few dates to meet the right one. Some dont work out, some are good for a year or two, and some get married and stay together forever.

How do you feel about this.

ChewyDog · 07-28-2003 12:19 AM

okay this thing wont let me post a poll

I tried three times

Here are your options...I guess

I keep my horses for life.

I keep my horses as long as we are happy together, but will sell them If I feel it is whats best.

I wish I owned one of every breed, in my backyard, and they could live with me forever.

Gem · 07-28-2003 01:13 AM

OK heres my view on this. My horse will stay with me *forever* or untill I can no longer look after him and it's in his best interest to have a different owner (I doubt this will ever happen). Soon after I bought this horse he injured his stifle and I was not sure he would ever be able to do what I hand in mind (jumping/eventing/dressage), he was also a very difficult horse, I don't mean dangerous just a complicated ride and he has a history of abuse. Most people would probably have sold him but I refused to get rid of him even though almost everyone at my old barn said to get rid of him. When I buy a horse and things don't turn out as I hoped I MAKE it work out...training and tonnes of hard work. Of course if the horse is physicaly not able to perform the way I would like I wont force him but training issues can and will be fixed and then I will have the horse I want.

Gallamist · 07-28-2003 01:19 AM

I keep my horses for ever....Ericka I bought and said would never sell her and I didn't. I really don't see me selling Sammy in the future. I pay for my horses before I pay for anything else if I dont have the money I find the money....lol

If I could have one of every breed then I most certainly would have!...lol

I think there is a right horse for everyone and it's a matter of finding them. Like with us and soul mates, do they exsist tho?...hahah

tapestry · 07-28-2003 01:35 AM

I beleive that if a horse does not enjoy or is not capable of bringing his/her rider to the level the rider wants to be at, it is fairest to the horse AND the rider to either sell or lease the horse to someone who is able to enjoy the horse in its own discipline, at its own level.

I have a mare who absolutely loves hunters. But I don't like hunters. In fact I find it mind-numbingly boring. Don't get me wrong, this mare has taught me a lot, and I peaked her dressage potential to the point where she just can't give me any more. Is it fair to me to keep her and not enjoy riding her? I'd probably stop riding her after a while. Is that fair to the horse? Is it more fair to the horse to make her do dressage, even though she can't physically do it? NO.

I have another mare who has dressage talent, but is quite old and needs to find a home where she can retire when she's done working. I can't afford to keep a horse that is retired. If I could, I would. So she has gone to a very loving home where she will do trail riding and beginner lessons, and the owner can afford to give her the home she needs when she's retired.

tapestry · 07-28-2003 01:42 AM

Before anyone accuses anyone of abandoning their horses or treating them like sports equipment, think about the saying "If you love something, let it go."

Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for something you love is to set it free and allow it to flourish in its own environment. It's hard, and it might rip your heart out, but by placing the horse's needs before your own you are doing the best thing to make the horse happy.

modbec · 07-28-2003 02:00 AM

allo

i intend on keeping chai for life... i am hoping to do carting with her and i think she'll excell with that, but even if she wasn't i'd keep her. she will be around for my (non-existant as of yet) kids to ride and outgrow and i'll still keep her. she gets me out and about... off the couch and out from under the spell of television! she is a great jogging partner! i ride "real" horses for other people and enjoy them very much, but there is nothing like having your own! and though she is not perfect -- as in i can't ride her! -- she is a personality in my life that although has been around for only a short while... i would miss greatly if she was gone... and would have missed out on tremendously had she never arrived in the first place.

modbec · 07-28-2003 02:03 AM

however... i agree with tapestry. if you are in it for more than just a pal... sometimes you have to be realistic! my pony is more like a dog than a horse! lol (i don't have to be realistic!) (in fact i shy away from being realistic! ROFL)

naughty · 07-28-2003 03:02 AM

Well, although I would love to have a ton of horses in my yard, the only way I would do this is if they would all go out and get full time jobs first. It would only be fair! :P But I would have to say I don't think that the horse I have now is going anywhere, but any other horse that I decide to purchase next will just be for me to learn and compete on and then when we can't take eachother any further he can help to teach someone else.(unless he actually does go out and get a full time job!

).

modbec · 07-29-2003 01:51 AM

lol

07-28-2003 12:11 AM	#1
ChewyDog Ultimate Member Join Date: Jul 16 2003 Location: Maple Ridge Posts: 2,214	Okay no fighting ppl :starwars: ...lol...I just thought some interesting points were brought up on this so I decided to make a poll. IMO finding the right horse is like dating (as I said previously), sometimes you have to go on a few dates to meet the right one. Some dont work out, some are good for a year or two, and some get married and stay together forever. How do you feel about this. __________________ "If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing." "The beatings will continue until the morale improves."

07-28-2003 12:19 AM	#2
ChewyDog Ultimate Member Join Date: Jul 16 2003 Location: Maple Ridge Posts: 2,214	okay this thing wont let me post a poll I tried three times Here are your options...I guess I keep my horses for life. I keep my horses as long as we are happy together, but will sell them If I feel it is whats best. I wish I owned one of every breed, in my backyard, and they could live with me forever. __________________ "If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing." "The beatings will continue until the morale improves."

07-28-2003 01:19 AM	#4
Gallamist Resident Nag Join Date: Jul 16 2003 Location: Sherwood Park. Posts: 8,151	I keep my horses for ever....Ericka I bought and said would never sell her and I didn't. I really don't see me selling Sammy in the future. I pay for my horses before I pay for anything else if I dont have the money I find the money....lol If I could have one of every breed then I most certainly would have!...lol I think there is a right horse for everyone and it's a matter of finding them. Like with us and soul mates, do they exsist tho?...hahah __________________ R.I.P. Ericka, Dusty Dawn &and; Lady..04/26/03~

07-28-2003 02:00 AM	#7
modbec beset by minis Join Date: Jul 18 2003 Location: Yarrow, BC Posts: 6,353	allo i intend on keeping chai for life... i am hoping to do carting with her and i think she'll excell with that, but even if she wasn't i'd keep her. she will be around for my (non-existant as of yet) kids to ride and outgrow and i'll still keep her. she gets me out and about... off the couch and out from under the spell of television! she is a great jogging partner! i ride "real" horses for other people and enjoy them very much, but there is nothing like having your own! and though she is not perfect -- as in i can't ride her! -- she is a personality in my life that although has been around for only a short while... i would miss greatly if she was gone... and would have missed out on tremendously had she never arrived in the first place. __________________ Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven Luv Mi Outfit - Creating fun apparel... sharing the Luv with Canadian Charities.

07-28-2003 02:03 AM	#8
modbec beset by minis Join Date: Jul 18 2003 Location: Yarrow, BC Posts: 6,353	however... i agree with tapestry. if you are in it for more than just a pal... sometimes you have to be realistic! my pony is more like a dog than a horse! lol (i don't have to be realistic!) (in fact i shy away from being realistic! ROFL) __________________ Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven Luv Mi Outfit - Creating fun apparel... sharing the Luv with Canadian Charities.

07-28-2003 01:13 AM	#3
Gem Ultimate Member Join Date: Jul 18 2003 Posts: 3,127	OK heres my view on this. My horse will stay with me forever or untill I can no longer look after him and it's in his best interest to have a different owner (I doubt this will ever happen). Soon after I bought this horse he injured his stifle and I was not sure he would ever be able to do what I hand in mind (jumping/eventing/dressage), he was also a very difficult horse, I don't mean dangerous just a complicated ride and he has a history of abuse. Most people would probably have sold him but I refused to get rid of him even though almost everyone at my old barn said to get rid of him. When I buy a horse and things don't turn out as I hoped I MAKE it work out...training and tonnes of hard work. Of course if the horse is physicaly not able to perform the way I would like I wont force him but training issues can and will be fixed and then I will have the horse I want.

07-28-2003 01:35 AM	#5
tapestry Forum Chatterbox Join Date: Jul 17 2003 Posts: 5,246	I beleive that if a horse does not enjoy or is not capable of bringing his/her rider to the level the rider wants to be at, it is fairest to the horse AND the rider to either sell or lease the horse to someone who is able to enjoy the horse in its own discipline, at its own level. I have a mare who absolutely loves hunters. But I don't like hunters. In fact I find it mind-numbingly boring. Don't get me wrong, this mare has taught me a lot, and I peaked her dressage potential to the point where she just can't give me any more. Is it fair to me to keep her and not enjoy riding her? I'd probably stop riding her after a while. Is that fair to the horse? Is it more fair to the horse to make her do dressage, even though she can't physically do it? NO. I have another mare who has dressage talent, but is quite old and needs to find a home where she can retire when she's done working. I can't afford to keep a horse that is retired. If I could, I would. So she has gone to a very loving home where she will do trail riding and beginner lessons, and the owner can afford to give her the home she needs when she's retired.

07-28-2003 01:42 AM	#6
tapestry Forum Chatterbox Join Date: Jul 17 2003 Posts: 5,246	Before anyone accuses anyone of abandoning their horses or treating them like sports equipment, think about the saying "If you love something, let it go." Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for something you love is to set it free and allow it to flourish in its own environment. It's hard, and it might rip your heart out, but by placing the horse's needs before your own you are doing the best thing to make the horse happy.

07-28-2003 03:02 AM	#9
naughty Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17 2003 Posts: 282	Well, although I would love to have a ton of horses in my yard, the only way I would do this is if they would all go out and get full time jobs first. It would only be fair! :P But I would have to say I don't think that the horse I have now is going anywhere, but any other horse that I decide to purchase next will just be for me to learn and compete on and then when we can't take eachother any further he can help to teach someone else.(unless he actually does go out and get a full time job! ).

07-29-2003 01:51 AM	#10
modbec beset by minis Join Date: Jul 18 2003 Location: Yarrow, BC Posts: 6,353	lol __________________ Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven Luv Mi Outfit - Creating fun apparel... sharing the Luv with Canadian Charities.

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