How do you guys do it?

[ontherisefarm]

Cristina, it is never easy. Sometimes I wish I had listened a little more to my heart than to my head....

 

[Mr.T]

try to sell them to a friend, or someone near by. and make a deal that you will be able to visit them.

 

[maplegum]

I couldn't do it. The heaviness in my heart would kill me. But then again, I only have 2 horses, don't breed either. I took my horses on for life.

 

[fancyappy]

Thank you for starting this thread. I have been going thru the same thing and the replies are helping me sort out my feelings. We are selling our babies..the colts born this Spring. We have too.... We simply can not keep all our horses.

However my hubby and I are having a very tough time even thinking about letting them go.

I have someone coming Sat to look at both of them and even though they are great buyers in everyway, we are still very sad.

I think knowing that heart horses have great homes and that they are safe and healthy is going to help us.

Barnbum said " Claire sold when she was 2 weeks old, so it was easier because I kept the mind set that I was her caretaker, not her owner.

I'm also an obnoxious seller--I ask grill potential buyers--but hey, if he/she is confident their home is a good one, the questions are fun, not bothersome. "

And I found that response helpful to me.

I wish you the best whatever you decide.

 

[georgiegirl]

That is exactly why I do not allow myself many horses (either mini or large)
I do not ever sell anything. A couple of times I have let go of a large horse. I do not sell anyone of them. I carefully place them in loving, lifetime homes at no cost to the recepient. I keep very close track of them and I have a signed statement that if they can no longer properly care for them, they come back to me.

The horses that stay here, are here for a lifetime.

While this is good advice. Keep in mind these contracts are very very hard to enforce. I have a friend on one side of the country who let someone do a free lease on a dog. Similar contract, but very detailed including limit on breeding rights etc. That dog is now on the other side of the country in the hands of the kennel that the true owner (and breeder) of the dog specifically was making sure did not get him. It will cost her thousands that she does not have to fight it.

I know exactly where the horses are and exactly who has them. They are local people that I have known for many years. I wouldnt let any person, with less references, have a horse that belonged to me.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

We need to cut back on some horses. Recently, a friend was looking at new foals, and admiring one in particular. She is a filly, and we plan on keeping her. I laughingly joked that I could breed the mare back the same way and sell the mom to them. They told me to set the price, and they would like to pick her up when the foal is weaned. It has been over a week (actually two), and we have yet to set the price. We have planned for a year to sell the mare, but it is a little difficult for us to actually take that step. She is very well bred, produces nice foals, but they are small, and we want to go larger. She is only 30 inches, and most of her foals are about the same. It is really difficult to sell one I think.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Cristina, it is never easy. Sometimes I wish I had listened a little more to my heart than to my head....

You will never regret listening to your heart! Not if you're paying attention to that honest little voice inside you, and not layers of cultural programming or "But everyone says I should...."

One thing I forgot to say also- talk to the horse about your decision before you sell them. Explain what you're considering, and why, and ask for the horse's input. They'll tell you how they feel! I think half the time we have trouble it's because the horse is startled and shocked and being ripped from their homes and we sense that. How can we not grieve when they are? Give them some warning and let them know they need to tell you when they find a person they want to go home with and things may run a bit smoother. Of course there's always the chance the horse will categorically refuse to leave, but that may be a message for you too! The only regrets I have with my animals are the times I ignored what they were telling me and did something anyway. They may forgive us, but the violation of trust lingers in the memory a long time and remains a wound in our hearts long afterwards.

Leia