will take in horse needing home

lamoncha lover · #1 03/16/10, 06:51 PM

I keep hearing about free horses. I have decided I am going to get one more horse. If anyone hears of a good riding horse looking for a home please let me know. Must be sane sound sensible and not ready for the grave. Don't care what sex..no stallions. Don't care what breed. Must be broke to trails and calm. Will pay reasonable transport fees/ or adoption fee for right horse.

starjj · #2 03/16/10, 07:18 PM

Hey if you get an overload of responses send them my way. I keep HEARING about free sane rideable horses but none seem to come my way.

wr · #3 03/16/10, 11:04 PM

starjj, all yu need to do is borrow a truck and trailer, which you will leave unlocked at your nearest horse auction.

Joshie · #4 03/17/10, 12:20 AM

Most of the free ones are worth what you pay for them.

bergere · #5 03/17/10, 10:11 AM

Everyone wants those kinds of horses and unless the owner dies or someone gets a nasty divorce, they are not going to be free.

SFM in KY · #6 03/17/10, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

I keep hearing about free horses. I have decided I am going to get one more horse. If anyone hears of a good riding horse looking for a home please let me know. Must be sane sound sensible and not ready for the grave. Don't care what sex..no stallions. Don't care what breed. Must be broke to trails and calm. Will pay reasonable transport fees/ or adoption fee for right horse.

The problem is that there are a lot of horses "out there" but as it has always been, the good ones that are well trained, sane, sensible and reliable usually have a waiting list, even in the current economy.

The "free horses" for the most part, are the ones that would have gone to the auction sales in the days when there was a slaughter market and been sold there. Think of them as you would reading current vehicle or real estate ads now ... "fixer-upper" ... "needs work" ... "minor repairs" ...

Here in KY there are a lot of "weekend riders" and before the economy got so bad, most of them had half a dozen or so horses in the backyard. A couple "old reliables" for weekend rides a few times during the summer and something the "city cousins" could ride around the pasture safely when they came to visit. Several more that the good riders in the family were riding to train and maybe one or two not quite ready to go under saddle.

With the economy, these people don't ride as often, can't afford to feed that many so something has to go. What stays are the "old reliables" ... the ones with very minor health issues that you can pull out of the pasture, saddle on and ride without worrying they are going to object. It's the youngsters, the green horses, the ones with more serious health issues or ones with reliability issues and/or gaps in their training that go.

2horses · #7 03/17/10, 11:09 AM

Yeah, when someone offers a horse because they "need to cut back on their numbers," you know it's the culls that are being offered, and not their best stock.

saanengirl · #8 03/17/10, 11:44 AM

The horse I got for free a year ago meets those requirements--now. When I got him he was a 3 yo stallion and had no training. Fortunately he has a wonderful temperament, was fairly easy to break, and now a year after being gelded and worked under saddle consistently he is an excellent riding horse. No, I am not giving him away.

SFM in KY · #9 03/17/10, 12:29 PM

And the other part of that also, is that if someone really does have to find a home for one of the really good, solid reliable ones, they usually know one or more people that are looking for one like that, often neighbors, friends, relatives ... so that is where they go.

You're more likely to find one if you talk to your local vets, farriers, feed store people ... those are the kind of people that are more likely to know of something available. Most of the people who have this kind of horse, if they don't already know of someone, will put the word out personally rather than advertising them on the Craig's list type of thing.

LisaInN.Idaho · #10 03/17/10, 01:04 PM

If anyone is in the northwest or wants to ship...I just got this last night (the thumbnail attachments are of a cute pinto mare:

Forwarded Message ----
From: Allison Burke <netminder2010@gmail.com>
To:
Sent: Tue, March 16, 2010 9:11:14 PM
Subject: large pony looking for a home

I have a large pony that I need to re-home. My financial situation no longer allows me to care for my horses. I am down to finding one a home. Merlot is a 14.2hh mustang (not BLM) mare. She is about 17yrs and loves to jump! With the right rider/trainer she would do great at 3 day eventing, which I've never had the guts to do. Currently I do not have a job and am running low on hay. The last thing I want is for my horses to go hungry. I never thought that I would find myself in this situation, however I have. I have placed two of my others and am hoping to keep my 28yro arabian, however she too may need a new home - I grew up with this arab, this is not easy.

Merlot is great on trails, in traffic, the biggest jump I've taken her over was 3'9" with a 4' spread.... I trotted her into the jump, she took one canter stride and cleared the jump with ease. She has speed and lots of love for jumping... she has even jumped little bushes in the field, and will jump in the pasture on her own if a jump is left out! She is small but stout and can handle a heavier rider.

If you know of anyone who is looking for a horse to ride and show, please send this email along. I have attached the few photos I have of her, the one of her jumping is her being lazy over a small jump, when she is faced with a larger jump her knees are up to her ears - very cute.

Thank you for all your help,

Allison

starjj · #11 03/17/10, 01:51 PM

I know it is a fantasy but there have even been a few on here that have ended up with a good horse that wandered onto their property and the owners couldn't be found or they ended up not wanting them back. Thngs like that don't happen to me but I can dream. I have everything ready, hay, brand new saddle, shelter. I just need the perfect horse.

mayfair · #12 03/17/10, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starjj

I have everything ready, hay, brand new saddle, shelter. I just need the perfect horse.

Keep putting the word out and be picky about the one you choose. People with good horses often place them through word of mouth (like other posters have said). If you get the word out that you are a good home and are looking, then you should be able to find one. Vets, farriers, 4-H -- all good places to ask.

LisaInN.Idaho · #13 03/17/10, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starjj

I know it is a fantasy but there have even been a few on here that have ended up with a good horse that wandered onto their property and the owners couldn't be found or they ended up not wanting them back. Thngs like that don't happen to me but I can dream. I have everything ready, hay, brand new saddle, shelter. I just need the perfect horse.

South Caroline isn't so far from KY....check this guy out:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=246849

starjj · #14 03/17/10, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayfair

Keep putting the word out and be picky about the one you choose. People with good horses often place them through word of mouth (like other posters have said). If you get the word out that you are a good home and are looking, then you should be able to find one. Vets, farriers, 4-H -- all good places to ask.

Mayfair,
That is WHY I don't have a horse because I am picky. Some will remember I went through a bad horse deal before so it has me where I fail to trust almost ALL horse people. Lots of people give me leads or say they know so and so and they have a horse but it turns into a dead end or the horse is shall we say less than desireable.

Lisa,
That is a nice looking gelding. Thanks for posting the link.

wr · #15 03/17/10, 05:20 PM

starjj, I wish you were up here. The test pilot's girlfriend is thining out her herd (apparently 31 head is a few more than she really needs) and they're all sound, outstanding conformation and all trained by her. She's got a thing about cartwheels and roman riding so in her mind, nothing is considered trained until she can ride standing up and do carwheels off her horses.

starjj · #16 03/17/10, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

starjj, I wish you were up here. The test pilot's girlfriend is thining out her herd (apparently 31 head is a few more than she really needs) and they're all sound, outstanding conformation and all trained by her. She's got a thing about cartwheels and roman riding so in her mind, nothing is considered trained until she can ride standing up and do carwheels off her horses.

If you fold them in 1/8ths do you think they would ship priority mail?

bergere · #17 03/17/10, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

starjj, I wish you were up here. The test pilot's girlfriend is thining out her herd (apparently 31 head is a few more than she really needs) and they're all sound, outstanding conformation and all trained by her. She's got a thing about cartwheels and roman riding so in her mind, nothing is considered trained until she can ride standing up and do carwheels off her horses.

To be fearless and young again. I can only dream. LOL

wr · #18 03/17/10, 09:52 PM

bergere, there's days that I look at her and wish I still had her outlook and when I get out of bed in the morning, I'm reminded that there's a few lessons that I'd rather not relearn.

bergere · #19 03/18/10, 07:12 PM

LOL WR, I know the feeling.

sidepasser · #20 03/20/10, 07:39 AM

You can find nice free horses out there but you have to weed through a lot of horses with issues or problems. I have three here that were all free, two are the babysitter types that are used for lessons for my grandson and his little friend and one is a pony that has been in training for a year now and is coming along very nicely. I have a 4 year old Oldenburg that was a gift as well and she is doing very well but is under the guidance of a trainer. She will be the one that does upper level dressage, but will likely be a pro ride until she's 8 or 10 due to her temperment (very alpha mare).

The others are a 28 year old QH mare that has taught lessons for 15 years and a 21 year old TB gelding that is a saint on trails and in the ring. Neither have health problems and both eat regular horse feed, have good hooves and teeth and are well mannered.

They are out there in this economy, but as with anything free, check under the hood and take it out for a spin to make sure all parts are working, both mentally and physically.

There are also leases to be had where sometimes the owner just gives the horse to the lessee after a year (to make sure that horse has a good home). I've been offered a lot of those, but with 8 horses now and having to move, I have to say no to even the nicest horses.

Fortunately I can retire the older horses at my mom's farm, so will be able to keep all of mine and the trainer and my daughter have agreed to feed the ones I can't take with me when I move.

It's a hard time to be a horse right now if it has any issues at all, because so many folks will give away a horse due to no job or hours cut back at work, etc. Prices have been falling for two years and horses that sold for 5,000 in 07 are barely bringing 1500 now and those 1000 horses are not bringing 500. Seems that the top end of the market is holding for the show horses and good ranch horses are still bringing good money, but the lower end and the middle of the stack are not bringing near what they are worth.

Post an ad on Craigslist or on the net..you'll be swamped with offers inside a week. Then wade through the issues and you can find what you are looking for. Tell the farrier and vet what you are looking for, post an ad at the feed store. People will find you!