Sold Gunner today

bit · Sold Gunner today

Let's face it, my back can't handle five horses. My back can't handle a trotting horse. I put an add in equine.com and a lady emailed me back. She lives pretty close, brought a vet down with her and we took Gunner for a test ride today. Yep, I had to ride him too because she wanted to see how he moved. I'm in pain. After some negotiating, some tears, some thinking, she bought him. He's moving to Nebraska with a really nice woman. Her hands are soft, her seat is lovely, she's gentle and kind and Gunner fell in love with her. As of tomorrow, I have four. And counting. Hopefully Hawkie will find his special human and I'll have three. I'd like that. Happy trails my Gunner pony.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Awww Deb. It is always sad to say goodbye to one of our loved ones. It most often is a good decision....HUGS.

Chablis

Aw, sorry to hear he has left you but glad to hear his new home is lovely.

<hugs>

merle

(((HUGS)))

It never matters how perfect the home is, its always hard saying good bye. It does sound like you found a lovely home for him and are making a wise decision. Don't forget the tissues tomorrow...

Tigerlily

hugs....hard to let any of them go. I have to sell my husbands horse that we have only had for a month or so.....to pay for chacote's first vet bill......hope we get lucky and find her a good home too....even though I we havn't bonded or anything, will be sad to see her fat A$$ go! I too seem to get stuck at 5.

hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs!

bit

He just left. He knew. It doesn't help to know he's got a great human. The best. There's a hole in the middle of my chest. lol, but not in my wallet.

jackspark

You did the right thing for him.......... you gave him his very own adoring human. It takes great strength to do what is best for our horses; you are a strong woman and he thanks you.

misstux

Hugs to you. I know how I felt when I gave up Scout and we weren't a match.

Katharine

Hugs from me too. And I am sending positive thoughts out for Gunner's new adventure.

dmcamelothills

Hugs to you and many good wishes to Gunner with his new family. I'm sure it is hard, but you were able to evaluate the new family and hopefully will have further contact with them. Good wishes to Gunner.

dkgoodman · The mixed blessing....

Oh, Bit. I really feel for you. I was forced into a similar position where I had to sell or rehome one of my wonderful partners.

My girl, Starfire, 4-yr-old MFT, has locking stifles which occur with her growth spurts. Brenda Imus (who seems supported by the research I've done myself) has reassured me that this should not be a lifelong issue for the mare if she is kept in good physical condition. Her brother, Zane, 5-yr-old MFT, has always been mine and I love him as much as I love my Paso Fino, Chiron. But Zane has NO health issues. So my dilemma was who do I "let go"? I found that I have fallen in love with both. I found out that selling either of them, even in this economy, was NOT a problem. Go figure! But I simply could NOT sell my Zane and I was worried about what might happen to Starfire if she did lock up on the new owners...would they work with her or would they resell her, or worse????

I have friends in Ohio who wanted Starfire and I was all set to gift her to them with the agreement that they could NOT sell her, she would be returned to me if they EVER did not want her. As I thought more on this, though, they have 5 other horses with only 3 acres and they do not ride much. Obviously this would not be a healthy home for Starfire. So....I asked if they would like my Zane under the same agreement; of course, they said yes. Its best for all, but my heart has just been torn apart over this....my fault for ever buying the mare with foal (Zane who was the one I wanted) and a pregnant belly. I should have waited for Zane to be weaned and just have purchased him. What is it that they say about hindsight!?!

Anyway, Zane and I are leaving for Ohio on October 14th. My friends are so excited to have him join their herd and I know that he will be happy and well cared for. My plus is that he stays in my life....I'll even get to ride him when I visit my friends and my son, who also lives in Ohio.

Such hard decisions we have to make, but we always have to keep in mind what's best for our horses.

Bit, I'm sure that you made the best decision for your boy and he will be happy to have a new owner who is able to ride him (comfortably) and love him.

Take care.

bit

Just got an email from woman that bought Gunner and he is lame. She is trying to say that she might have to give him back, and this is five days later. He was sound when I sold him, vet checked by my vet, her vet, the farrier, and he was one healthy dude when he left. Um, and I've spent a good portion of the money on fall camp for Hawk and Eclipse.
So what are the rules here? My horse leaves here sound, comes up lame five days later.

Clarissa

What has she done with him since he arrived?
Was he lame getting off the transport?
Did the transport people notice he was lame.
Has she removed his shoes (if had them on) & has she housed him on different footing that may make him sore a few days until he adjusts?
Has she had another farrier or vet look at him since he arrived at her place?

The answers from those Q's will show you your next move.

If the transport people noticed him lame but didn't report it then she should go to them.
If she has changed his hoof care & made it different to what he is used to she should get a vet check at her expense & ask for advice to fix the situation.
Maybe slower transition from your style to her style. If she has removed shoes that's her problem.

If he has developed shifting lameness since arriving it could be from being chased around by paddock mates or a kick to 1 or more legs or stone bruise, etc.
If she is working his ar$e off she should back off the riding & reassess his hoof care & footing.
If she is generally working him hard online he might be sore from that.

He's recenetly been to a trainer who would have worked his ar$e off also but did he come up lame there?

So many possibilities.

Some answers to those Q's will show the way I'm sure Bit.

Good luck.

creekwood

What does your contract say? Hopefully you should have something in there along the lines of "once horse leaves my possession..."

If her vet PPE'd him clear, you should be okay.

It would be a major bummer though, to buy a horse and have him lame 5 days later. Hope everything works out for you

.

My mom just had the same thing happen with a gift horse/retraining project- the day before she went to pick him, owners had farrier out, farrier hacks off WAY too much wall, horse can barely walk. 4 weeks, big farrier & big vet bill later, and horse is still off (but getting better).

creekwood

http://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/howgoodisyoursalecontract.html

bit

Yep her vet did a through vet check, and I mean through. Dane looked him over really well too, as did my farrier. He was sound, and happily trotting and cantering away before he left. The woman's vet is the one that came down with her, and helped her transport him home.
I'm not sure where he is, what kind of environment he's in, if there are panels, wire, electric fence, box stall or what. I feel badly that he's not ok, but horses get boo boo's. Hoping some bute, a couple of days and some cold hosing will get him back to where he was.
Sucks about your mom's new horse, Kelsey. I used to supervise this farrier in Mammoth that was constantly wicking horses. I made sure he left plenty of hoof on Bit. Hope horse is better real soon.

Sold Gunner today

The mixed blessing....