OT: To all those horse lovers

[allthingsag]

As some of you know my 9 year old granddaughter is very much into horses. All she wants is a horse. She rides at two different barns in two different states. She also rides at a stable near me when she visits. Her favorite horse is up for sale at the barn in NJ. She is really upset because she loves this horse. Her parents don't want the responsibility of owning a horse, especially when she rides in two different barns. They are not up for leasing either.

When my dgd was here last time she told the owner of the barn that "her" horse was up for sale. Now the owner of the barn near me wants to go to NJ to see the horse and wants me to go with her. I told her I would since I have been there many times to see dgd in shows. She also wanted my gd to ride the horse so she could see how good the horse is. My gd is away on vacation and is totally conflicted. She wants the horse to stay at the stable in NJ but also wants the owner near my barn to go up to see "her" horse. It's a very awkward situation. If the horse gets sold to someone else other than a NJ barn rider she'll never see or ride the horse again. If the owner near me buys it she can at least see and ride him occassionally.

As her grandmother I would love to get her the horse, but I have been told I cannot.

All you horse lovers out there I'm sure you understand my dilemma.

[horsemom]

So if I'm understanding you correctly, you would buy the horse but her parents don't want you to? I guess I can understand that if they had to pay for all the expenses, since the long-term care is what costs the most. However, if you are saying you want to buy the horse and keep it for her without them having to contribute anything, I can't really see what their hang-up would be with it. Maybe I'm not "getting it." How old is your granddaughter and how long and serious has she been in riding? Are her parents concerned she would grow tired of owning of horse and not be responsible or ??? It is a big responsibility and cost, but if you would really be the owner then how would that be different from the current situation? I'm guessing this is a lesson horse up for sale...? Just curious.

I feel for your granddaughter, but all of us who ride and train horses that aren't really ours go through this at some point and learn to remain a little less attached. I desperately wanted a lovely young paint horse I worked with as a kid when it came up for sale, but my parents just didn't have the money. I was sad, but eventually got over it and bought my first horse at 20. Now I have two- they're my "babies"! If your granddaughter is really serious about horses she will persevere and get one eventually- she'll never grow out of the "I want a pony" phase. Though this may be very difficult now, she will find her perfect horse one day.

[ponydreamer]

Oh...I really feel for your granddaughter. I also understand her parents not wanting the responsibility. Becoming a horse owner is a huge investment of money and time. The purchase price is the smallest expense in the long run, too. Horse care is very expensive.

I've recently shared my sadness with giving up my horse, so you all know how much that bothered me. But I'm an adult, and I can handle it.

When my DD was 13, her horse contracted a rare disease, which rendered her unsound at the canter. ( for you horse owners out there...she contracted EHV-1, at a horse show) Anyway....she was sound at the walk and trot, and just a gem of a horse for kids. DD was heavy into Pony Club, and really needed a horse she could jump cross country, and show jump. After lots of soul searching, we decided to sell her horse to a family that needed a theraputic horse for their son. It was the perfect situation for the horse, but really heart wrenching for DD. I will never forget the night the horse left. I laid in bed that night listening to DD sob...and sob...and sob. It was awful! But we couldn't keep that horse, and afford to buy the type of horse she needed to continue to compete.

The result? She ended up with the most amazing mount for Pony Club. She still has the horse, and will have her the rest of the horse's life. She gave up one horse that she thought was the best, and ended up with one that was much better. These situations always seem to work out.

The problem with girls and horses is that they tend to share all of their hopes, dreams, sadnesses, everything with their special horse. There is no better confidant than a horse. And when you are riding a horse on a consistent basis, you become a team, and you communicate in ways that you really can't explain to someone else.

So...I really do feel for you all in this situation. But have no fear...there will be other horses, other confidants, other best friends. And this will not be the last one she has to give up...... [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]