Post by Wolf on Jun 28, 2015 16:31:11 GMT -5
SO. I haven't been around because life has taken some twisty funny turns and I'm trying to keep it all together but this thread is not for that. Essentially, I've had to entertain the idea of possibly selling my two horses and I'm trying to figure out options because there's no way in hell we're gonna get money for them.
George has stifle issues in one back leg that cant be fixed and he stabbed himself with a fence post in the other back leg, so his legs are shot. He gets around and up and down fine, just can't be ridden. He's got a lot of personality, a hell of a lot of spunk and look at me attitude, but I don't know of any home that would allow him to do anything other than be a pretty pasture ornament. People around here can't feed the horses they already have, so nobody's going to want to take something they can't ride.
Jack is...complicated. He's 18? ish? and a grumpy old fart to George, polite as can be around people but he's kind of a nutcase when I ride him, he just wants to G O all the time, there's no stopping him once he decides he's gonna run.
BUT.
If you put a child on his back and lead him, he steps like he's walking on china teacups. He's almost afraid to take a step for fear of spilling them off, it's so freaking endearing to watch.
Which made me go hey! Therapy horse? Maybe?
He'd need some good desensitizing to just a whole bunch of random stuff, but he's got potential? I mean, when family comes over with kids and we tack him up and lead them around, he's an absolute golden angel. I know it takes a special kind of horse to work with disabled kids (and adults) but I feel like he could be? He's not perfect but he's very polite with his mouth, has never nipped or bit anyone as long as I've known him, ties, loads, tacks up just fine, he's healthy, just fat and underworked and underutilized.
Should I contact a local therapy place to see if they need a horse and have them come out and see him? Right now all they're doing is sitting in my pasture and eating and being fat and happy. My family's finances are in trouble, my dad's credit is down the tubes, and I'm scared for their future, and I want to be prepared ahead of time, want to figure out where they're gonna go if we can't keep them.
George has stifle issues in one back leg that cant be fixed and he stabbed himself with a fence post in the other back leg, so his legs are shot. He gets around and up and down fine, just can't be ridden. He's got a lot of personality, a hell of a lot of spunk and look at me attitude, but I don't know of any home that would allow him to do anything other than be a pretty pasture ornament. People around here can't feed the horses they already have, so nobody's going to want to take something they can't ride.
Jack is...complicated. He's 18? ish? and a grumpy old fart to George, polite as can be around people but he's kind of a nutcase when I ride him, he just wants to G O all the time, there's no stopping him once he decides he's gonna run.
BUT.
If you put a child on his back and lead him, he steps like he's walking on china teacups. He's almost afraid to take a step for fear of spilling them off, it's so freaking endearing to watch.
Which made me go hey! Therapy horse? Maybe?
He'd need some good desensitizing to just a whole bunch of random stuff, but he's got potential? I mean, when family comes over with kids and we tack him up and lead them around, he's an absolute golden angel. I know it takes a special kind of horse to work with disabled kids (and adults) but I feel like he could be? He's not perfect but he's very polite with his mouth, has never nipped or bit anyone as long as I've known him, ties, loads, tacks up just fine, he's healthy, just fat and underworked and underutilized.
Should I contact a local therapy place to see if they need a horse and have them come out and see him? Right now all they're doing is sitting in my pasture and eating and being fat and happy. My family's finances are in trouble, my dad's credit is down the tubes, and I'm scared for their future, and I want to be prepared ahead of time, want to figure out where they're gonna go if we can't keep them.