No such thing as a free horse
A free horse is an oxymoron.
I get kind of depressed when I see "Free to Good Home" horses advertised, such as this one in a recent UK horse magazine:
Pretty Companion Mare
Dark bay Irish mare, 11 years old. Good with farrier, no allergies, lives out and easy to do. Can't be ridden any more due to a tendon injury but field sound. Free to the right person but good and permanent home essential.
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I'm glad that the current owner is screening to get a good home and at least they're honest that she can't be ridden, but honestly it sounds like they're trying to pass their vet bills on to someone else. How did the mare get her injury? In a riding accident with her current owner? At our stable there's an OTTB with tendon issues. He requires a lot of rehab and vet attention, but is now being ridden again. His owner was *very* committed and spent a lot of time and money rehabbing him. What happens to the injured horses when the owner can't be bothered? Is it fair to expect some third party who doesn't even know your horse to give it a permanent horse when you, the current owner, are washing your hands of the poor creature?
A free horse costs just as much to keep as a sound riding horse when you add up vet, feed, livery, maintenance, etc., etc. A free horse with medical issues might cost considerably more than a sound riding horse you have to pay money for.
Obviously there are legitimate reasons to sell or give away a horse: maybe you lost your job or are ill yourself and honestly can't cope. But it still seems unrealistic and possibly hypocritical to expect someone else to provide that permanent home when the original owner has can't.
In another horse magazine I found this Letter to the Editor which sums it up rather bleakly:
While searching for a new horse, I was surprised at the adverts I came across for cheap or free horses. My husband and I consider ourselves competent owners and thought we would take a closer look at a couple of these too good to be true horses. We were shocked by what we discovered.
One mare was being sold as a riding horse when it was obvious that she had serious problems with her back--she was very stiff and lame. When we looked under her tack she was actually stamped with a 'loss of use' mark.
Another, which was being given away, was an ex-eventer that had suffered serious injuries and was in need of extensive rehabilitation.
Both these horses needed a lot of time and money invested in them and their chances of being ridden again were questionable. We sensibly, but sadly, walked away from both but want to warn people of the importance of vetting a horse and not taking on an animal because it is cheap or free. You could be causing yourself a lot of heartache in the long run.
It's heartbreaking that some people feel it's OK to move these horses on in such condition.
I get kind of depressed when I see "Free to Good Home" horses advertised, such as this one in a recent UK horse magazine:
Pretty Companion Mare
Dark bay Irish mare, 11 years old. Good with farrier, no allergies, lives out and easy to do. Can't be ridden any more due to a tendon injury but field sound. Free to the right person but good and permanent home essential.
--
I'm glad that the current owner is screening to get a good home and at least they're honest that she can't be ridden, but honestly it sounds like they're trying to pass their vet bills on to someone else. How did the mare get her injury? In a riding accident with her current owner? At our stable there's an OTTB with tendon issues. He requires a lot of rehab and vet attention, but is now being ridden again. His owner was *very* committed and spent a lot of time and money rehabbing him. What happens to the injured horses when the owner can't be bothered? Is it fair to expect some third party who doesn't even know your horse to give it a permanent horse when you, the current owner, are washing your hands of the poor creature?
A free horse costs just as much to keep as a sound riding horse when you add up vet, feed, livery, maintenance, etc., etc. A free horse with medical issues might cost considerably more than a sound riding horse you have to pay money for.
Obviously there are legitimate reasons to sell or give away a horse: maybe you lost your job or are ill yourself and honestly can't cope. But it still seems unrealistic and possibly hypocritical to expect someone else to provide that permanent home when the original owner has can't.
In another horse magazine I found this Letter to the Editor which sums it up rather bleakly:
While searching for a new horse, I was surprised at the adverts I came across for cheap or free horses. My husband and I consider ourselves competent owners and thought we would take a closer look at a couple of these too good to be true horses. We were shocked by what we discovered.
One mare was being sold as a riding horse when it was obvious that she had serious problems with her back--she was very stiff and lame. When we looked under her tack she was actually stamped with a 'loss of use' mark.
Another, which was being given away, was an ex-eventer that had suffered serious injuries and was in need of extensive rehabilitation.
Both these horses needed a lot of time and money invested in them and their chances of being ridden again were questionable. We sensibly, but sadly, walked away from both but want to warn people of the importance of vetting a horse and not taking on an animal because it is cheap or free. You could be causing yourself a lot of heartache in the long run.
It's heartbreaking that some people feel it's OK to move these horses on in such condition.