Forever Home

White Horse Pilgrim and Pony Girl have interesting posts going on "Forever Homes" -- buying a horse and keeping it until death do you part. It's something I'd rather not think about, because I'm not sure I'm able to do it.

There are so many good reasons to have horses, and to do everything you can for your children to have that experience. There are also good reasons to go to college, pay your mortgage and save money for retirement. Sometimes owning a horse can make these other things almost out of reach. Horses take time, money and space.

When we started keeping horses when Lily was little, I bought her a one-eyed Shetland pony we named Arthur. He cost less each month than the cats to feed. I cannot say the same of Buddy and Lucy. Nor was he ever lame, required fancy shoes or anything other than a move into Equine Senior food.

It is a painful thing to sell a horse. I can't believe that I sold the best horse I'll ever have, Jack, when Lily was two and I couldn't imagine ever riding again. I thought I'd keep him forever up until she was born. How could I let such a horse go?

I'd let someone I trust lease him while I was pregnant and when Lily was small. When he came back, I almost wept to see him. Then I didn't want to see him anymore, because I knew that I couldn't do with him all that needed to be done. He was talented and liked his work. I'd be lucky if I had time to feed him. All I could figure that would happen to Jack is that he'd sit in my pasture and AGE.

I was seeing too many people (my parents) and old dogs and cats age, and I couldn't  bear to watch the horse of my dreams, the horse of my life, start to go downhill, too. There are some things that are too much to face all at once.

(My post-partum depression went on for a few years.... can you tell?)

So, I called a friend and former instructor, told her how much I wanted for Jack, and she came for him. He spent two nights in my barn. My horse I called my Gift from God, because he was better than I could afford and better than I could ever be. She took him to a fancy A-circuit barn run by famous people, and they sold him. I don't know what they got for him but when I heard what they were asking I was flabbergasted.

Of course, he didn't vet out. He had navicular changes but was not lame. But I still got a decent price, and I'm sure they did, too.

And I have to hope and pray that anybody who would pay that much for a horse would do right by him. I intentionally did not find out more than the bare facts about his buyer. I didn't want to ever be able to find him again. (Picture the scene at the end of Casablanca, only it's Jack getting on the plane and I'm Humphrey Bogart.)

Will I keep Buddy and Lucy, like the neighbors behind me with their five aged horses, one of whom requires an air conditioned stall? I'd like to think so. My heart would break to look out of my office window and see an empty pasture. There would be a hole in my morning if I didn't hear Buddy neighing for me to hurry up with that breakfast stuff.

But the sad fact is I can't make promises of any kind. All I can promise is to do my best by them.

Comments

[BrownEyedCowgirls]

I think the idea of a "forever" home comes into play as a horse reaches a certain age or becomes limited in their ability to perform. I see no reason why selling a horse in his prime or who needs a rider of another level-sometimes higher, sometimes lower should ever be miscontrued as not caring for our equine companions.

I think the crux of the whole "forever" home has a lot to do with the number of people who are trying to find "pasture pet" homes for older or crippled horses rather than having these horses euthanized because they can't take care of them anymore. The other reason I think people are trying to get rid of these types of horses is because of the lack of availablility of carcass disposal and if there are places available the cost is so astonomical that people are willing to say their goodbyes and send the horse through auction knowing they are more than likely going to slaughter.

[Victoria Cummings]

Your story about Jack makes me so sad. I think you're right that it's hard to predict in this unnervingly chaotic world what will happen and whether any of us might not have the rug pulled out from under us at some time. Anytime anyone asks me if they should buy a horse, I ask them if they are truly prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for this animal's safety and well-being for many many years. Most of the time, it scares them and their answer is no. Buddy and Lucy are lucky to have you.