Who all has horses that have a "forever" home with you?...

[Freebird!]

Just curious. Though I have 2 horses I am trying to sell, my 13.3 hand pony mare, Happy will never be up for sale. A friend of my husband's offered him $5,000 for Happy, and my husband just shook his head saying "You'll never get her to sell that pony." It's true. She escaped the dog pen she had been living in, and we found her in our front yard 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary. No, she's nothing fancy, but I just love her to peices, and will have her till the day she dies - which I hope is many years from now, as she is only 6. So, how many of you guys have horses that you will NEVER sell, no matter WHAT happens to them, even if they become expensive yard dogs, that can't be ridden?

Edited because I English is no longer my best subject... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

HUKT ON FONIX WURKT FUR ME!

[This message was edited by Freebird on Jan. 23, 2004 at 07:09 PM.]

[Freebird!]

Just curious. Though I have 2 horses I am trying to sell, my 13.3 hand pony mare, Happy will never be up for sale. A friend of my husband's offered him $5,000 for Happy, and my husband just shook his head saying "You'll never get her to sell that pony." It's true. She escaped the dog pen she had been living in, and we found her in our front yard 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary. No, she's nothing fancy, but I just love her to peices, and will have her till the day she dies - which I hope is many years from now, as she is only 6. So, how many of you guys have horses that you will NEVER sell, no matter WHAT happens to them, even if they become expensive yard dogs, that can't be ridden?

Edited because I English is no longer my best subject... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

HUKT ON FONIX WURKT FUR ME!

[This message was edited by Freebird on Jan. 23, 2004 at 07:09 PM.]

[Parade]

I do!!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Parade will always have a home as long as I have one. I promised her when I bought her that she would always be mine. I figured she had gone through enough owners by the time I got her!! She is nothing special to anyone but me.

[bigbay]

I have three- two that honestly deserve it for their sainthood, and one that no one else would ever want! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif Think Hell Bitch from Lonesome Dove. But I love her anyway. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

"Today I will ask so much of her, ask her to leave her equine world and join mine. And if I am very good today- if I am a true horsewoman- she will be happy that I pulled her away from her green grass, her friends, and everything that makes her life happy and secure." - Bo Derek

[tarynls]

Oh boy. Long story, but worth it..

November 2000. I wasn't looking for a horse at the time but I saw his picture on a racetrack-reject-rescue internet site from Michigan (I am originally from NJ, but was living in KY at the time). This was a Tuesday night. Emailed the lady, she responded in about 10 minutes. Since I worked for a major airline at the time, I hopped on a plane that Friday (Mom flew in from NJ to make the trip with me). Flight that had many many seats open Thursday night turned out overbooked on Friday. We somehow got the last two seats on the plane (flying standby). Turned to my mom, told her this was an omen and the horse really had to screw something up to not come home with me.

Got to Grand Rapids and found the cutest, sweetest TB ever. When I sat in the back of the rental car to write the deposit check for him, he stuck his ENTIRE head and neck in the car (up to his withers!) and would have tried to come in further had we not stopped him.

Came home the following Friday, the bowed tendon he had was worse than we thought. The surgeons at Hagyard Davidson McGee in Lexington did wonders with his annular ligament and he has been sound since (knock on wood!), has seen me through back surgery, etc...

He is the biggest ham, FULL of personality, his name is Genius (whoever named him knew what they were talking about!).

Taryn

[BlackWatchLady]

I plan on my horse to be with me until he dies.

Tara owned by Boo the wonder pinto
formerly known as IrishGreen
founder of the most embarressing injuries due to falling off horse clique!

[Picturesque]

Paparrazi was her show name and Linda is her barn name. She is now 29 years old and will live here with her best friend Rosy (31 years old) until they pass on. I have had Linda since she was 15 (bought from Richard Taylor and Stuart Koehler at Frying Pan sale ages ago) In her early days she did the 1st years, small juniors, childrens and anything else they asked her to do. Then She packed me around in the children's, then my students from short stirrup through the children's, taught lessons and basically earned sainthood millions of times over. Rosy was given to me on a "Free lease" 15 years ago and has done it all. The old ladies can be seen wandering around the front yard soaking up the sun and enjoying great grass in summer or hanging out together fat and fuzzy in winter. Rosy is to unsound to use anymore and Linda is a little senile when Rosy is not by her side so she to is retired (even though sound as a bell) Both get 30lbs of equine senior a day and I never think twice about paying the bill. To a couple of great ole' girls!

www.picturesquefarm.com (http://www.picturesquefarm.com)

[Darkhollow Farm]

Me http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Living the pasture ornament period with my two old fellows.

In case something happens to me they are taken care of in my will too.

[bigdreamer]

me! got her for christmas, and never plan to part with her. shes only 12, but i already have her retirement plans arranged http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.
she will live happily ever after until the end of her days. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

*************************************
...all you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you... ~gandalf
**Proud member of the Riders of Rohan**
http://eventingforlife.tripod.com/bahada/ ~the mares site

[Goofy TB Mare]

I do...Betsy was my first horse and is truly my horse of a lifetime. She will be with me to the day she dies.

http://community.webshots.com/user/chunkymonkey868

**Forever South**
**Bama's Blues** not mine but he's my babyboy!
**Brinkum's Cross**

[Rifter]

I do. I will keep my horse with me no matter what happens, as long as I can still provide adequately for him. I was told his old owner was either going to give him to someone or have him put down. So I purchased him for $1 back in April http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif He's my darling and no matter what, I want to provide the best home possible for him... even when he's old and becomes a pasture ornament (We've got some years before that though... he's 10). He's had a rather tough life, and I want him to know some stability and love... so I will never part with him.

*-Rifter-*
Proud Member of the Dirty Grey Horse and the Disgruntled College Student Cliques

[kari]

Count me in.http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Woody, my 28 year old Hanoverian, who qualifies for sainthood, has a forever home with me. He is the love of my life, the apple of my eye. The sun rises and sets on this horse. Need I say more? Love him to pieces, and he is now retired and busy being the king of his kingdom. Daughter's Quarter pony, now 18, also has a forever home with us. He is tempermental, fiesty, a pig in his stall, and seems to have some form of horsey ADHD. He is a pain in the a$$, but nobody will ever understand him the way I do (or put up with his crap). He and daughter have an unbelieveable bond, and she is moving up to a different mount this year, and he has become my trail horse. So, these two have a forever home with me. No doubt about it!

******************************
~head chef and mothermucker for Woody, KC, Jonah,& Kassey~
------------------------------
"To be loved by a horse or any animal, should fill us with awe-for we have not deserved it."
~Marion C Garretty

[fargonefarm]

Me - Tan is 26 and Bucky just turned 40!!! They are here till they day they die, no matter what my boyfriend says.

Riding: the art of keeping a horse between you and the ground.

[HuntJumpSC]

I was lucky enough to track down my first pony and eventually get her back. Miz Scarlett has been back at my farm since '97, where she will live out the rest of her years being spoiled rotten with hugs and kisses and treats...unless she outlives me...she's 41 now! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

II===II SUZ II===II
"On second thought, let's not go to Camelot, 'tis a silly place"
*No Regrets, Sentimental Journey, & Miz Scarlett*
http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gifSCer's Clique*http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif*Group W Bench Clique*http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif*Packrats Anonymous Clique*http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif*Flying Horsewomen Clique*http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[Imaginagent]

Pretty much all of mine do. I jsut can't sell them. One is 24 this year, he was promised a home for life when we bought him, but definitely has earned it. He taught me so much, and is my first horse. My other palomino will more than likely be here forever. I won a world championship on him, which I wanted forever, so he has earned it also. Plus, we have a great connection, and he is so much fun. My Thoroughbred is 15 this year, so sweet. Basically a lawn ornament, as I just dont have time to ride her, but hope to get a baby or two.

"I never play horseshoes 'cause Mother taught us not to throw our clothes around," ~ Mr. Ed

[num1train]

Our mare, Sweetie, will forever have a home with us. She is one of the family. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Don't just appear in life, STAR in it!

http://community.webshots.com/album/95482669jtPjKw?504

[tatertot]

My horse will be with me for the rest of his days, he has been to alot of places - he is the perfect horse but everyone always sells him to "move up", I figure he deserves the stability and I couldn't love him anymore than I already do, he has given me so much in the year that I have owned him as far as my confidence and saving my butt jumping - so I promised him I will keep him forever and I will - the crazy part of me thinks he knows it too.

Proud member of the "chicken Jumper clique"

[IUPRider]

Me http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Heck, I wanted my current horse so badly I said I would buy her even if I knew she could never be ridden again (thankfully, that isn't the case).

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

My mare, Miss Bugs, will be with me forever, she is the equine equivalent of my soul-mate. I love her to death and she has definitely qualified herseld as a saint in my book. What a girl!

My colt will be with me for the rest of his life as well. Even if he grows up and can't do a darn thing. He carries with him 1/2 of his mother, and he is the kindest, sweetest most laid back colt. In his 9 1/2 months of life he has taught me so much.

I will have other horses in the future, but I never planned on getting rid of Bugs's baby. Those two horses are priceless to me. I know I can't keep all of the horses I will eventually get, but these two are keepers. I am so crazy about both of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy
Owned by:
Cute as a Bugsear (Bugs) JC OTTTB (Isella x Annie Somebody)
Pippen (Frodo) ATA Anglo Trakehner (Paramoure x Cute as a Bugsear)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[royal militron]

Count me in! I have had my guy since he was six months, he's now 2. He will be with me forever!! And when I make a will he will be in it, we're going to grow old together! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Ishi]

I've got 4! My fancy retired A/O hunter that took me from the Children Hunters to the Lg Jrs to the A/Os and some Eq thrown in for fun. I've had him 17 years, he's now retired and will never leave.

My ISH that is only 11 but with a bad stifle injury that ended his very promising jumper career right after his first grand prix (he was 6th in it too!). I was devasted, and was told by 3 vets he could be a dressage horse, but no longer jump. Well, I don't do dressage, so he's now another pasture ornament, and loffing it!

My 2 CANTER boys, they both are amazing, have been through heck and back, and I will never part with them, they deserve that much. I'm at my limit, so no new horses for me for a long time, but that's cool with me, I loff my boys!

Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love. We call this stable management.
- George H. Morris
http://community.webshots.com/user/flycak

[hideyourheart03]

I hope that I will never ever have to sell mine that I have right now. I will do ANYTHING to keep him. Also if my first show mare ever retires/needs a home, I would love to take her. And the same thing with my second show horse. If his owner ever decides to sell him I want him IMMEDIATELY!!!

~~~~~~~Samantha~~~~~~~

Hide Your Heart aka ELI

Junior Clique * Baby Greenie Support Group * MOOP Clique * Non-GPA Clique * NC Clique

"The real me is a Southern girl, with the Levi's on and an open heart" ~ Jessica Simpson

[Mariequi]

I did for 20+ years until she left me 2 weeks before Christmas. Forever Girl would be a great name.

[FifteenOne]

I cannot (and don't want to!) imagine the circumstances that would have to happen for me not to give my horse a forever home. Spenser is with me until one of us dies.

[caryledee]

I've had my first horse Daryl for 15 years now. I've sold several horses in that time, but hopefully he will be with me for life. Several years ago, someone called him "your appendage"...I have to admit, it fits! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[BelladonnaLily]

I definitely have 2 "forever" horses. Tracey, my oldest daughter's pony, has proven herself to be a terrific, safe kid's mount (and wins her share of ribbons to boot) AND has had 2 very nice foals for me. She's extremely easy to have around and has become a part of the family. She's earned her keep and we love her dearly. My filly, Lily, got her "forever" status because her dam, Belle, was my mare, and although I hadn't had her long, had gotten very attached to her when I lost her only a month after weaning Lily. I decided then and there that I would never sell Lily. Completely emotional decision, but so far I'm not sorry and have become very attached to her. Our others, Grace, Spencer and Lucy a/k/a Cocopuff (don't ask http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif) could very well achieve that status but only time will tell. If I had lots of $$$ and pasture, I'd have more forever horses...I hate selling.

[alabama]

Mine will be with me forever. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[CanadianGolden]

Yes...way too many. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

There's Garant, a Hanoverian we've had since he was 16. His barn name is Grumpy...but only for the scary faces. Imported at some point, then my mother bought him (not from the person who imported him) and got her USDF Bronze and some Silver medal scores on him. He's now 29 and retired--extremely fiesty. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Frequently runs us over when being led inside.

Then there's Faby, my Oldenburg, who is 28, looks 12, and is totally perfectly completely sound. He was imported at 8, shown to GP, and given to us to have a happy semi-retirement home. He is amazing. Still does absolutely everything, I Pony Clubbed him up to my C2 (used a different horse for jumping that high), took him to some dressage shows, everything. He's remarkable. He still looks awesome, even at his age.

These guys will never ever go anywhere.

Somehow I doubt EM Bo Peep will be sold either-- she's my mother's breed show horse extraordinaire and I showed her at Devon this year too! ( http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif)

And I know I'll never sell Dandy, my first pony. He lives at a friend's house as a companion because he has COPD (all that smoking, you know http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif) and it's hard for him to live inside.

We also had a pony that we kind of adopted who lived to be about 35...colicked while I was out of town and we had to euthanize him. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif He was known as the yak--very small, and very very furry, and very friendly. Slightly senile. He used to get wads of Dengi stuck under his upper lip like chewing tobacco. He ate that because he couldn't chew hay--he'd chew it and spit it out and at first we thought there were dead rats in his stall. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Samra

=Future Johns Hopkins University Student=
=Member of the Only Child Clique=
=Member of the Teen Clique=

*You mean there was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?*

[Phaxxton]

I do!!

My arab will have a home with me forever. I always said that he could go lame tomorrow and I'd have him until the day he dies. He's just such a special guy. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Love him. I'd choose him over any horse on earth anyday.

I am hoping that one day I will have a big enough place and I'll get to keep all the horses I buy (not that it will be a whole lot) for life. That's my plan, anyway. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Mngirl]

Yes, my Vannie will be with me for the rest of her life. I bought her off of a circus pony ring. I taught her to drive and she has raised too beautiful fillies for me. She is as trustworthy as any horse or pony I know and has been as solid as a rock in the most scarry situations.

Her two daughters, Breeze and Pixie will more then likely be with me the rest of there lives also.

Ponies are horses too!

[*In Your Dreams*]

Dream has a home forever. I realized that even if he doesnt become a 1* horse, I will never sell him just to be more competetive. He has his quirks, but most of the time he is Mr. Wonderful.

Andrea
Music the great communicator ~ use two sticks to make it in the nature-RHCP

[vxf111]

I do. My 15 hand, western bred QH/paint with legs like a post and teeny feet. He's nothing fancy but he taught be everything I know, has enough personality for 10 horses, and never once set a foot wrong. I learned how to jump on this guy and the barn where he was was running him into the ground as a lesson horse. He was miserable. So I bought him. He would do anything for me and I feel the same way. If I could only afford one horse, I'd sell my show horse and keep him. He's mine for good.

~Veronica

"The Son Dee Times"
"Sustained"

[Jewels]

Awww guys! I read all your posts and your horses are so lucky to stay with you forever. Its making me all teary eyed http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

I've never had a horse, but I know my first one will be with me forever too http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

"You could say I'm a few flakes short of a bale" http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif
*Member of the Short Stubby Leg Clique* *Teen Clique* & The Riders of Rohan Clique*

[horse_poor]

i have a horse that will be with me forever---

i took him from a friend when his health started to fail and she couldnt be bothered with such inconveniences and he couldnt pull his weight in her lesson program http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif needless to say she is no longer a friend

he is a character and swears he is of englands royal family----just ask coreene-he speaks with her about it at great length!

molly
*member of just about every clique*
http://community.webshots.com/user/mavw1971

[AilleXWest]

I have three. One is a 39 year old pony that I got went I was 12 she will stay as long as I can keep her happy. I hope that I will be forever but I know that she could go tomorrow http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif. Then there is the one that was my mom's. Went she died I told him as long as he was here I would take care of him. He know what I ment and gave me a hug went I told him. He is like a brother to me and he is the last horse my mom road. The other one is the horse my dad gave my as a two year old I have goten him to the point he will jump 5 foot and hunt so as long as I am here he is here and I do not think there are many that could ride him. He has a mind of his own http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

AilleXWest

[Batteries Included]

ooh,ooh,ooh pick me pick me!!!
I love my billy-boy...he's not going anywere!

[ThirdCharm]

My husband has two:

Handy, 29 years old this year, a blazingly fast QH with a reputation for running into fences in pursuit of cattle, knocking over barrels and poles when he's DONE, bucking, running off with folks.... my husband says he'll never leave b/c this was his first horse... I contend no one would take him! Little bugger is SOUND though!

MT, 25 years old (I think), Handy's sidekick and opposite in every way--not the fastest in terms of raw speed, but a stalwart and consistent performer, outran the world champ one year 4 out of 7 times on poles, multiple state championships, gave kiddie w/t/c/crossrail lessons for a while and now completely retired.

I have one:

Copper, my 14 yo TB stallion (registered as Lose That). Bought him off the track when he was five, he has competed in dressage, eventing, jumpers, hunters, pleasure, trail, ran barrels and poles one time for kicks, and has produced about twenty lovely foals in the last few years. Turned down a WHOLE lotta money for him once. Retired from serious competition due to traumatic-injury-induced arthritic changes, he now gives five or six lessons a week ranging from w/t to Second Level dressage and 3'6" jumping. If he ever becomes unrideable I'll just turn him out with our grumpy ol' broodmare (he's great with foals).

My new mare Livi could still be bought at the present time but she's working on being number 4!

JenniferS

[SaddlePotato3]

I sure hope so! That's actually the dispute we're having now! My first horse, Killian has sadly had to 'semi-retire'. He taught me everything I know and we've gone through SO much together! He was the first horse I ever showed on.
He had an old injury. I wasn't very sure of his history unfortunately, and what was called a 'blemish' turned out to be an old injury that caught up with him. My vet said he can still be ridden and can do a little jumping (thank god, because he loves it, and gets mad when he doesn't!)
Now I got a new horse, b/c i need to keep going, and hopefully can do some pleasures with him this spring and summer and fall. Currently he's a chubby boy and is a little hitchy, so we keep tossing around the idea of giving him to someone as a trail horse. But I'm so worried b/c he can be 'misunderstood' and I had SUCH a hard time getting him to bond with me, and...oh...sorry...i'm rambeling. I just love him SO much!!! So we're going to see how it goes. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[M.K.Smith]

I have two that have forever homes.

Squall is my 1987 tb mare that I've now had the pleasure of owning for eleven years. I've had her since my senior year of high school, she got to come to college with me (IA) and then make the trip back to MD afterwards. I remember when I was a college senior without a job, I'd give her a hug and tell her that I didn't know what we were going to do, but that she'd always be with me. We've been through thick and thin together. Squall even fractured her radius in 1999 and made a complete recovery. She's also blessed me with her wonderful son, Remington.
Squall headshot (http://www.leakycreek.com/albums/sq_iowagames/sq_head.jpg)

My other forever horse is Tiny. She is the most tallented, athletic, and intelligent mare I've ever worked with. That said, she also has a quirky sense of humor and likes to keep you on your toes when you're riding her. She's the first horse that I did all of her under saddle training and she has turned out to be awesome. I don't really think my training had anything to do with that...I just think she's a natural. She loves attention and adores being brushed. As my horse, she doesn't get to live up to her full potential, but I think she's happy http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
Tiny (http://www.leakycreek.com/albums/ti_candid/tiny_resize.jpg)

Dear little Remington is also trying to charm his way into a forever home. He still has to prove himself worthy, but he's off to a good start.
Remington (http://www.leakycreek.com/albums/remington/DSC00512_resize.jpg)

MKB...

________
http://www.leakycreek.com/
- new & improved (over 1000 pics in Photo Gallery)

[Lord Helpus]

I sort of have two:

Commanche Trail is a horse which my mother bred and sold (for a tidy price) as a yearling to a wealthy race horse owner. He won $400,000 for that man and became a graded stakes winner. Then, as he got older and lost a step, he slid down the ranks until I found him running at Mountaineer Park for a $4000 claiming tag. I immediately claimed him and brought him home. At the time he was only 9 and sound, but with arthritis that had shortened his stride.

"CT" has no jumping talent and hated learning his leads, so he went to my mother's farm as a trail horse. He is very happy there (and this Graded States Winner is now taking handicapped people for rides and doing a great job). He also took Mr. LaurieB for a trail ride and was a perfect gentleman the entire time... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Whenever my mom sells her farm (she is getting on --84 -- and is close to paring down on the farm, CT will return here for full retirement. That is what I promosed him when I claimed him off the track 5 years ago. He has a lifelong home with me, whenever it is time for him to come back.

The other is Warren. Poor Warren. 10 years old and retired. He has been for 18 months. His breeder said that she would take him back and give him a home for the rest of his life, but I just cannot make that phone call. I enjoy him and just seeing his face leaning over his stall door makes me happy. Knowing that there is a gorgeous 300 acre farm waiting for him when he is ready to go "home" may mean that he does not live out his life on my farm. His birth farm is only 10 minutes away, and I could visit him..... But it would not be the same if Warren was not here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather-who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

[BogyNme]

I had Bogey, the most incredible horse in the world,....and I always swore to everyone that he'd be mine until the day one of us died....and he did in august. I'll never have another horse like him. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif

Heather

http://community.webshots.com/user/bogynme

[big boy]

I have to say that everything that comes home with me is there forever no matter what.

6 horses, 2 billy goats, and I lost count on the barn cats. I found an extra the other day sweet little yellow and white tom cat. I guess someone dumped him.

[Beezer]

I'm in. In fact, we always have one or two who have earned "most-hallowed lawn ornament status" hanging around El Ranchito. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

The original Beezer, of course, was the first one. He set the tone for all who followed: Milk the deal for all it's worth. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Then there was Tudor, a wonderful old campaigner who needed to drop down a couple of pegs (he carted around cousins and nieces at their first several shows) before he was ready to settle into retirement. Then came Jazz, truly the fanciest, BIGGEST horse we've ever had; we showed him for years, then he ran the place for years -- to the very end, he wasn't convinced he actually WAS retired and considered himself still the biggest big shot around. I lost my dear Mizzy Hoy, my retired jumper, just a few months ago. The current retiree is Tailor, a veteran of indeterminate years, who won just about everything a confirmed 2-6 horse could win, including assorted county medal finals, for my cousin.

Since our herd is now pretty much "closed," I imagine that barring one of them doing something to get voted off the island, all of the current kids will live out their days with us. Considering that they vary in age from 3 to lord knows what, I trust that that's a long time away. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

***** Currently assigned to the mouth-gaping, lip-flapping, head-twisting, wood-chewing, boot-shredding phase of baby greenie ownership! *****

[N103]

My horse (my only one so far) isn't going anywhere http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I leased him through high school, and then his old owner gave him to me last year. He's an 18 year-old slightly crazy Paint/TB cross.

He was rescued from slaughter (and severe abuse) in CA as a yearling, and brought across the county by a women who's army husband was being relocated to the East coast. He was so head shy, they couldn't do anything with him, and because of the long trailer trip he's been scared of trailers since http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif The old owner's niece overcame some of the head-shy issue, and taught him some dressage and jumping (he's 17 hh), and he evented a few times. He then did nothing for 10 years because he was huge, still pretty head shy,and too much for kids and teenagers to handle. (I rode for 12 years at a barn owned by a wonderful 4-H leader. Everyone just leased her ponies and horses until they stopped growing and then usually bought their own horses.) But since I was pretty tall at age 14, and pretty laid back and patient, I was elected to start working with him.

He went to his first real horse show w/ me when he was 13 and I was 16, and he has come a long way since then. He still has bad ground manners (I've tried everything...) and can be a real jerk, but I love him http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif His old owner offered to take him back if I ever can't afford him, (which is hard w/ school), but she isn't particularly wealthy either, and has other horses to take care of. Plus, I don't think I'd ever sell an animal, unless it was a "return to me only" type of deal. And to be honest, he doesn't have "retail value" http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif If he wasn't given to me I would have gotten a nice, sane Standardbred, but he needed someone to take care of him http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Whoa, this was long-sorry http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[BasqueMom]

Fudge (pushing 30 and my first horse) is with us forever. So is Basque, a 13-year old TB who was diagnosed with EPM 8 months after purchased.
And I don't see myself getting rid of Cash, 9-year TB who came along when I had to face the fact Basque would never be 100% again.

Julie

www.centaurfencing.com (http://www.centaurfencing.com)

[situpandride]

The day I handed $500 dollars to the previous owner and got the yellowhorse along with all her tack, I promised her she'd never be sold or given away, she'd always have ahome with me whether she let me ride her or not. I fell in love with her. It was the best money I ever spent, she was a one in a million horse of a lifetime. At some point I was offered $8000 for her but I turned it down, she is buried in my back field and I miss her every day.
My blackhorse has a home for life, she was the yellowhorse's best friend, she has been unrideable for a number of year, she is 17 and very healthy excet for her stifle. she is here for life. I got her when she was weaned and at 4 she broke her leg.
I have placed a few other horses, they just came intomy life and really needed homes, I knew they were passing through but I wanted to get them healthy and trained enough to move on first, I know where they are and they can come back.
I have a new horse who is here for life. she is a funny, aloof, crafty redhead, she has been a giant pain in the neck but she is a good ride and tries her best.
At one point I was laid off and thought I would lose the yellowhorse, I had made her a promise, it turned my life around, to get control of my future and make sure she would never be in jeopardy, it was the push I needed to get my own farm, I owe her alot.

[Samson]

I do too. He is my QH gelding that we bred and raised and he has been through a lot with me, but unfortunatley he is lame and will be for a long time but he is fat happy and feralhttp://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

I went riding today. Horseback? Sure. It came back before I did

My Photo Album (http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3303244&uid=1718926)

[Dancing Lawn]

I have a bunch. Splash, a heavey mare that I got at a meat sale, had been very badly abused, and has never let me on her back. I love her dearly, and she's here to stay. Kate was dropped of by a dealer, who was on her way to the meat sale at Kitchener. Big, black, unbroke, extremely headshy, and defensive. Gorgeous horse, and she can jump the moon. She's over at the knee, she toes out, she's cow-hocked, but what a beautiful head, and top-line. She stays. Bill, my stallion, was a rescued pmu foal. He's produced a couple of stellar babies. Annie, (Dancing All Day) another PMU baby, was only 7 weeks old when she came to me, after going through the auction out west, staying at the sales barn for a week, and then being trucked out. She was totally emaciated, was lame behind, and had a huge umbilical hernia. I names her Hiatus Umbilicus-Regina because of it. She is now a solid 15.3 mare, with stunning markings.(She's a pinto). Fury is a standardbred mare that I have taken in, and will breed now and then. She gave me Steve, by Bill(Dancing All Night)this year, and I think Steve(Astaire) will be a keeper, too. Also, there's Polka Dot, my newly adopted pmu mare. She's in foal to a belgian, and I've agreed to keep them both for life. As well as Dancing with Wings, and Dancing in my Heart, my two other adopted pmu mares. Heart is also in foal. I've lost count now, but I think I have a few too many Dancing Lawn Ornaments. Everyone else on the farm is for sale. Thank goodness.

less hard work, more fine dining.
www.dancinglawnhorses.com (http://www.dancinglawnhorses.com) updated Dec. 29/03

If guys can do it, how hard can it be?

[dressage]

I have 3 keepers. One is a 23 yr. old appendix QH mare that took care of my husband and son for the few years that they rode. She gave me a now 5 yr. old mare who is a cross with a Percheron. She is green broke and will be brought on the trails this spring. I have my TB mare who I've had since 3 who is now 10 who is off the track and never raced. She is my dressage, trail and beach riding horse.

They all have a life time with us as they are family.

[Cognac]

I've got one. He's age 17. Can't be worked anymore. Extremely expensive to keep due to degenerating coffin bones/ and related foot issues due to it. He'll never go anywhere. I adore him, he adores me. He's my mental Oak Tree. I 'thought' I had to completely retire him earlier last year. It's been about nine months of work, and research. I 'think' he may be up for a bit of more fun at this point. Yes!! Barklay with a heart the size of Texas.

[Just My Style]

Who doesn't have a forever home with me? Let's see. We gave my short stirrup pony, Honey Bear, a forever home. She was pony clubbed for years and then was a schooling pony. We were her first real one-on-one owners in years and we loved her so much that she was retired when I out grew her. She passed away, in her 30's, when I was a senior in college. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

My large pony was purchased for $425 w/ delivery as a companion in 1984 for the above pony. We found him tied to a tree at a riding camp. He had a western saddle on him that was so big it almost touched his tail. He was "difficult". Turned out that he didn't neck rein for them because he was trained to drive. So, with a little bit of training, he made a wonderful english pony and ended up winning in good company at some "A" shows. He is mostly retired now- except for teaching my three year old son to ride. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

My junior hunter was purchased as a five year old. He carried me safely around from everything from the maiden equitation to 3'6. He was for sale once, but he dumped the girl that tried him as if to say, "No, I like you guys and I am staying right here." So , he did. He is 26 years old and totally retired. He is the happiest camper when there are treats around, but he will pin his ears at me when he sees me getting ready to ride. He just wants to remind me that he is off limits. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

My new horse is a draftX. My first thought when I saw his face was that he looked exactly like the first pony- oh great. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif So, I tried him for 20 minutes, fell in love just like I did when I was a kid, didn't vet him and put him on the van for home. I swear that my short stirrup pony has been reincarnated. He is only four, so I did the math and and I will probably be riding him when I am in my 50's. That will be just fine. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

GA Clique/Drafties Clique
Live Large- Ride a Drafty!

[captain]

i won't take on an animal that can't stay here for life. i have horses because i love them for what they are. animals, in general, are far better teachers, companions, and are easily more trustable for me. i would be lost without an animal in my yard/home.

[levremont]

I can say that my 2 school horses Basile and TP, my school pony Dusty, my broodmare (my old jr jumper) Pretty Perfect, my other broodmare (ex jumper) Zena are all here to stay. Once they earn enough gold stars they are not going anywhere (not that anybody would actually pay much for any of them!!!they are worth their weight in gold to me! I have had crazy offers on Basile and TP in the last 5 yrs though! The answer has always been NO!

visit us at www.levremont.com (http://www.levremont.com)

[War Admiral]

The Ave-man, of course. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

______________

"Those who use horses just for the business are crass, classless horsemen."
--George Morris

[Louise]

All my animals are lifers. My two "geezers" are both retired and will be with me until they go to the Rainbow Bridge.

Promise is 21 years old now, she was four when I bought her, my very first horse. She was diagnosed with a cracked pelvis at five, and has been a lawn ornament ever since. She has earned her keep, though, by being my rock when I am in difficult places. She's normally kind of aloof, but when I hurt, she seems to know and she lets me hug her and cry on her shoulder. She has the most adorable whinny, sound like she is under water, and I love hearing that every time I walk into the barn. She is frail, and has been sick a lot. I didn't think I would ever get her to her 20's and I treat every day with her as a precious jewel.

Then there is Stormy, 29 years old now, and bought when he was 20. He is a pain in the butt, a terrible ride for an insecure and timid rider (oh, lets see how fast I can terrify this one) and has terrible feet that we have been struggling(very expensively) since the day I got him to improve. He is also the biggest goof and has the warmest heart of any horse I have ever seen. He's been retired for a few years now, and I hope he will go on forever.

---------------------------
"This it be die most importante thing in die world, that someone they loff us."
Willem

[Equine Connection]

My first horse was a wonderful Quarter Horse & I had him 26 out of his 30 years. Once I got him, I made a promise that he would never get shifted around again and that he would have a wonderful retirement. And that he did. There were times when he and my loving cat ate, and I did not -- and we survived a divorce. He was a wonderful horse and we had many years of great fun together.

Happy Hour is definitely the horse-of-a-lifetime, and I (we) will NEVER, EVER sell him to anyone. He's the most kind, loving, affectionate, personable, willing, sensible creature I've ever known and I love him dearly. A number of people have been interested in purchasing him, and I just get a pleasant & appreciative smile on my face and very glady reply in the negative... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

My big boy (18H) is out of our exquisite Trakehner mare who died in 1998. Both she and my Quarter Horse are up on the hill under the trees. He too is a "lifer" and I love him dearly. He was our first "home grown" baby -- and what a big boy he is now!

In May '03, our very nice TB mare (she's a keeper too!) gave birth to a fabulous colt by our stallion. While he was "supposed" to be for sale (that was the original idea), he's SOOO nice in all respects (not being barn blind either...), and has his father's temperment, SOOO we've decided to keep him. It's just amazing how quickly he stole my heart! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

A year and a half ago, we imported an absolutely lovely purebred Trakehner weanling filly (she's getting even better every day) -- she was to be Happy Hour's future ladyfriend. She is the most personable, kind and sweet filly. But, since I probably won't sell anything that we would breed, it probably makes best sense to stick to the "daddy" end of the equation. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Very regretfully, she is probably the one we will have to sell as we just have too many. But, we shall see. We'll take her out this year to some breed shows and work with her. If the "right" person comes along, well then maybe... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

For the most part, it's a lifetime commitment when I have a horse. I'd never make a good sales person, as I just can't part with them!

"HAPPY HOUR" & Hawk's Run Trakehners
http://www.happyhour1.com

[MyShadeOfPink]

I always said I'd have my mare forever... but there were different ideas in store. She has a great home with a 12 year old girl who loves her to pieces, rides for fun, and brushes her daily. We also have an agreement that if she EVER decides to sell that I'm the first person she contacts. SO Pink and I have already decided to set an ammount of money aside for those reasons come spring just in case.

Did I mention their building her her own barn?

Jennie
"all these lines fall short of what i had in mind
a failed attempt to capsulize a feeling
so i just try fail and try and try again"
See my albulm Updated 11/11 (http://community.webshots.com/user/myshadeofpink)

[cgn38]

All of my horses have a forever home with me. I couldn't do it any other way. There are way too many people who have good intentions but still allow their horses to exist in misery, or to be sold into misery. I cannot stand to see wonderful older horses "go down the road" because there rider "outgrew" them. I get sad every time I think of the horses that I know who ended up in way less than favorable conditions even though their previous owners thought they had found a great home for them. I will step down from my soapbox now.

[Oakleigh]

My beautiful old broodmares have a forever home with me. They have given me many beautiful babies and great joy. Of course, their babies are either for sale or were sold, but the mommies are with me for life.

I appreciate them!
Oakleigh

~~~~>>>>****~~*~~****<<<<~~~~
Breeder of Superior Sport Horse Prospects.
Oakleigh Sporthorses (http://hometown.aol.com/psulli1002/page1.html)

[sweetnlo]

I had my forever pony til she passed away, I rescued/leased a couple horses that I knew came in as a temporary stop, now I have my forever horse. They don't have to be fancy, spectacular or even what you had thought you wanted in order to turn out being what you need.

[Painted Joe]

I too have a few that will never have another home but mine. Skip will forever belong to Mr. KC. Although we have been offered some nice $$$ for him. The same goes for Joe and Imagine and Annie. I can't blame people for trying to offer $$$ for them. They are great horses. I will probably sell the babies from Joe/Imagine or Joe/Annie unless one of them is something really special. That is still a year + away.

Member of the Western Clique, Quarter Horse Clique and Stallion Clique

Owner of and slave to a small herd - Indio Joe (Paint Stallion), Im A Skip (AppY Gelding), You Cant Imagine (QH mare), and Miss Orphanannie Two (QH mare)

http://community.webshots.com/user/katomcree

Added pics of my other three horses I had - Pahrump Playpoy, Cree's Tom Boy and Shuggy's Graceful Lady

[coalybay]

my horses are all "forever keepers"
i have a 28 yr old,his son 25 yrs old,
a mare 19 yrs old,her filly age 7,and a mare age 5,
i took early retirement to spend more quality time with them and i am not "rich"
i hope to enjoy them and care for them until they cross "the rainbow bridge"

[Drummerboy]

We have two that won't be going anywhere! My husbands gorgeous mare, who has done it all, including going through a year pretending she was a Lippizan...got over that though. She is a once in a lifetime mare, without a doubt.

Then there is my daughters pony...we went through 4 ponies before my daughter turned 5, which I know sounds unbelievable! Two were put down for Cushings, one we had for 24 hours before it turned into devil spawn and was promptly returned, (throwing oneself on the ground does not seem suitable for a childs mount, nor does trying to climb out the trailer...)one we kept for a year, but she never settled, then we found Onyx! Her sixth birthday present! She is now ten, he is coming 8, and a snotty, cute, stubborn, complete pony. He will hopefully teach her children to ride someday. Perhaps he will be more agreeable by then...

[Raven's Wing]

I have a 22 year old pony and a filly turning 2 that both have permanent homes with me. (Barring anything happening to me.)

[Keep Counting]

My old horse, 19 now but has had a long life, has a home forever with my family (I'm in college, and he's stay where he's at! but he's always family). Despite low income, my parents let me keep him. He taught me, he changed his way of going for me. And when it became too much for him, it was hard to tell..He'd just keep trying. We moved him to pasture, and my mom goes out on weekends, brushes him and feeds him and ocassionally takes a walk on him. He should be eligible for sainthood, after all he's put up with. And of course, whenever I go home, he's the first one I see. But shh, don't tell him he's retired. He still thinks he's 5!

--Liz

Support bacteria! It's the only culture some people have.

[Adelita]

Me!

My mare is mine till she dies or I do, she's the horse of my heart. We have an amazing bond, I've never had this before with any horse. She's only 9, so hopefully she's gonna be around for a while (she has a chronic wound due to a life-threatening injury, so I hope it's okay).

If I have to live in a cardboard box for her, I will. She's my girl.

>^.,.^<


www.imom.org (http://www.imom.org)
501(c)3 all volunteer organization that helps those who cannot pay for veterinary care for their pets.

[OhioColleen]

I just lost my mare Classy last summer. She was 34 and I'd had her for 16 years.

The mare I have now I will never sell. I think that I've lost the gene that allows you to part with animals..

To you, she's a horse. To me, she's a family member who is big, hairy, walks on all fours and is easily startled.
~Colleen

[Box-of-Rox]

my family has two--my mother's horse, who we've had for 13 years, and one of my jumpers. Both horses have been excellent show horses, winning basically everything you could ask them to win, but more importantly they've kind of wiggled their ways in to our family where they're not just horses, but are verifiable pets. As much as we love all of our horses (and with my brother into polo there is definately a menagerie), even some of the "great ones," like my junior jumper, are not *pets,* but rather really nice horses. Because of my family's situation, where we will never be able/willing to have our own barn or be able to see the horses every day, I sometimes feel like while it's a nice idea to say that you'll have your horses forever, unless you can really provide for them, and have them be YOURS, then they might be better with someone else. Personally, I think it would be unfair for me to keep the horses i had while i was a junior, because they love to show, and I really can't any more. Hence the one horse, who is old, and only can show as much as I can.

BoR:
"I always feel like an idiot. But I am an idiot, so it kinda works out."--Billy Madison

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."--Churchill

[sophab]

When I bought mine 4 years ago, I named her Abby. She was a 16 y.o. OTTB that had done god knows what in the 14 years since her time at Rockingham Park. She has since had her name changed to Piggy Pig (seeing her stall some mornings, I don't question why), and finally last year she became "Big Mama". Her filly is my Sophie, I will have her forever too.
She's almost 21 now, and is the sweetest, most kind soul you could ever ask to meet. She packs around just about anyone who gets on her, and only asks that you not bounce on her back. She looks amazing, not even really swayed yet. I think having the baby has infused new life into her as well.
I can't imagine life without my Mama, and my Soph...don't even want to.

[Barnfairy]

All 5 horses in my herd have a permanent home with me. Some of them are now in their thirties, and have been together for more than a decade. I wouldn't dream of separating them, seeing how happy they are. Some of them helped me make a living back in my teaching days. After all they've done for me, I feel it's my duty to ensure they have a permanent home where they can enjoy their golden years.

My first horse, a lovely little pistol of a TB mare, has been with me now for 18 of her 20 years. I hope to have her for 18 more. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

Jaaane, stop this crazy thing

[Sobriska]

I promised my boys a forever home. Forever came for one last week. Something I am only barely becoming able to share. My other boy is going to be 24 this year. Though I promised them a forever home, they gave so much more to me.

I'm not crazy. I'm just a little unwell.

[Drive NJ]

Our horses come for forever too. We spend a lot of time making sure we are making a good decision for that reason - and then we meet the right horse and fall in love.

My old guy was with us for 29 of his 39 years, my sister's first horse left us in his mid 20s, so did the terrific horse that replaced him.

Now we start over with young horses again and they have already wormed their way into our lives. Some people wonder what you are thinking boarding an old retainer who can't do everything their young horse can... but I figure with everything they give us, we owe them a loving home for as long as we are given.

[glimmerling]

Two of my guys have a forever home with me. Tonto, who is 22 and mostly blind, really isn't 'worth' anything to anyone except me. I fully expect him to live another 10 or more years (appys you know...). I seriously don't think anyone could offer me enough money to take him away from me. He is my best friend and the funnest horse I know. Flirt also has a forever home. He was seriously abused before I adopted him and I barely trust anyone else to ride him, let alone take him out of my sight!


glimmerling

[FLF]

Me too - Jasper was my mother's Welsh breeding stallion until she died in 1989, making me promise to never sell him. He was leased for 11 years, but now he is 30, retired and back with me until the end!

I love this country!!
www.foxlairponies.com (http://www.foxlairponies.com)

[doublete]

Oh I wish I didn't have so many.. Im only 20 and my parents agree I've got a few that I can never sell..
One is my QH mare that was abused in front of me when I was about 10 and I was absolutely disgusted.. My father told me a week later that I could have my first 'real' show horse (I'd had all resales, to bump myself up in quality up to that point)... I told him I wanted this mare.. She was perfect, 9 at the time, sweet, and loved me to death. She took great care of me, galloping through the fields, jumping, showing, everything. She was pregnant at the time, and when we bought her it was too late to abort the foal, her son was born HYPP N/H due to the fact the stallion did not advertise he was double positive. So Scarlett and her son Timon will live with me (or my mother as they are currently) forever.
Two years after Scarlett, I needed a more competitive QH to show... We planned on breeding her to Musical Lark, but he died tragically in a barn fire. His owner looked for a son/daughter of his and found my perfect horse. Irish is now 10 (was 2 turning 3), has shown the AQHA circuit with me(getting me just shy of my youth versatility), done dressage, cross country, and now schools 2nd level dressage, jumps 3'6", gives lessons, and always trail rides for anyone that needs a safe pony. He's my buddy and will NEVER leave me. He goes to school with me and everything.
Then recently (a year ago) my father bought a broken down racehorse (suspensory injury) for me to rehab and hopefully get back to the races. I did... He raced 3 times before getting incredibly sick with a virus and then ulcers irritated by the banamine/bute that we used to control his 105+ fever. In the year that I've had him he's always been extremely attached to me, and gets physically upset when I'm not there for him every day. Soooo... Yup he's with me for life.

Oh, I have a mare that is 5 this year, she's leased out though for now... She was practically given to me because her owner knew I'd love her. She'll never be sound, her knee is a mess. (xrays showed you could take out the chips but there was so much damage there was no guarantee). Sooo.. She's with me for life too.
I have a stallion at home that I *may* keep forever, for now his future is undecided. At 13 horses one can never tell... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Retraining and rehabbing Off Track TB's.
http://www.geocities.com/doubletefarm

[username]

once years ago I did NOT take an offered parrot because it could have lived 50 or more years and I (rather sensibly) didn't want the responsibility. then (fool that I am!) I took over the ownership of a horse, which rather too rapidly became plural form. And now there are three!..holding only because I had enough foresight to build only a three stall barn!

The first was a birthday gift for a little daughter who HAD to have a strawberry roan appy. which lasted about a week after he arrived and she realized that she didn't know anyone else with a horse and riding alone was a bore. Exit kid, enter mom, re-kindling a long-dormant dream. Horse is a wonder: gratefully retired from an active but beautifully maintained life, he is our special pet and mostly just wanders around the place being nosey from behind the saftey of his fences.

Number two was girl's second try at horse-owning
which worked well till she discovered boys and got a car. He has earned his place forever, being the main factor in holding her head together when she was going through some very difficult times. He will be with us forever.

Third aquisition was for mom and was a gift from a lady who would have had him put down before she would consign him to hell as a school horse, and he, as the others, is a holy trust. I would give up the spouse before those horses. And I suspect he would want me to! They are respectively 32, 17, and 20, and I hope they all live forever!

[ljo]

My first horse. He's 35 now.

[Lazy Palomino Hunter]

Well, right now I'm getting ready to go to college, and I lease a horse from my instructor. I love him dearly, and plan on hunting him down after college and buying him, no matter what the cost. I want him to live out his days spoiled rotten. I'm worried about what might happen to him after I leave...

We have a lady at my barn who is truly a terrible rider. She's about 75+ lbs overweight, and she has no sense of balance. She bounces and pounds and her leg is all over the place. She has no ability to see distances, and watching her jump is frightening- she LITERALLY just stands STRAIGHT UP off her toe... her body is a straight line from point of toe to her head, with her hands down by the pommel. She sees distances and lleeeaaannnsss up her horse's neck (which is quite a bit of weight to throw up there). She is such a nice lady, but she has ruined two lease horses. The first, she fried his little brain by scaring him jumping (he is unridable mentally), and the second was an old old packer. She was showing him 2'6" this year, and leaned up his neck and ground him into the base of so many jumps that his knees just broke down. He took complete care of her, and sacrificed his physical well being for her. He is totally unrideable now, and cannot do anything but be a pasture ornament. As she is currently horseless, I was talking to her about it. She has tried several other horses, but they all had the self preservation to dump her when she heaved herself up their necks... she said to me "I just LOVE Mugsy... I'm thinking about leasing him after you go away to college! He may have dumped me once or twice, but he is just so pretty and he has such a great personality!" (she rode him twice, two years ago, and he dumped her both times)

Seriously, when she left I started crying http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif. He's my baby, and he allready has soundness issues. I'm afraid she would seriously injure him. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif But he isn't mine, and I have no say in it. I don't know what I'm going to do, I love him so much...

You guys are so lucky to be able to hold onto your horses forever...

Alison

Farriers are like cats. They don't like to go out in the rain and they don't come when you call them.

[darcydude]

I have one. Rode and showed him for eight years and all his medical problems became too hard to handle (and NO, I never showed him drugged). He now lives happily on a friend's farm with a nice little mare, the love of his life. He will stay there forever; will be buried there. I don't see him too often in the winter but get out pretty regularly in the nice weather to see him, groom him and give him lots of treats. He is 20 now and I hope he will have a good long life ahead of him.

"Why am I so soft in the middle when the rest of my life is so hard." Paul Simon

[Madison]

Count me in - Madison is a "forever" horse. In the two years I've had her, I've already turned down more sale inquiries than I remember, and I can't think of any amount of money that would make me part with her. I just love seeing that face hanging over the stall door, ears up, waiting for me to come give her her treats! So, I should probably buy into the StudMuffins company as I plan to be buying them for her for many years to come http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://community.webshots.com/user/madisonav

[atr]

Well, you don't sell members of the family, do you? Mine are here for life, all things being equal. I now buy horses only on the grounds that I will have them for the rest of their lives, not to turn over. (Well, I did buy a project horse 4 years ago. He's still here. I learned my lesson http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif)

[Tory Relic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lord Helpus:

Commanche Trail
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I *know* this horse's name. Maybe from a thoroughbred list somewhere, sometime. I just remember the horse mentioned by someone who loved him. It had to be you. :-)

[Tory Relic]

My thoroughbred mare, So Fine. She was an adoption (not a rescue) from a racing owner who wanted this nice, sweet mare to have a good home. Someone who knew him who knew somone who knew someone who knew me thought I was the right person. I've had her five years now. I need to drop him a line and tell him how we've relocated from Virginia to South Carolina and this mare is in the bosom of my horsey family who have (all except me) kind of drifted away from horses. It's like a horse revival. They pet her, talk to her, as you all say here "loff" her and she's in horsey heaven :-). She's like an extended family pet.

[My Own Barn]

I've only had one horse, and he's staying with me forever. I got him when he was 5 and I was just turned 15. He wasn't broke - he belonged to an elderly man who just didn't seem to get around it - but was such a sweetheart! As soon as I saw his head, I knew I had to have him, and I wasn't even sure he was the horse for sale! So I used my hard-earned money to buy him, and I trained him myself. I've had him 10 years now, and I can't believe he's become the old safe horse.

My sister's horse lives with him, and she may get to stay forever if she can behave herself. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[PuffyDo]

My mom bought us (she rides too) the first horse we looked at, and he will always be ours. No matter how much he pisses me off sometimes, I can always look back on how much we have accomplished regardless of his "outbursts". He is the greatest.

Sara

_________________________
**Sleep Deprived College Student Clique**
**I Miss My Pony Clique**
**Shory Stubby Leg Clique**
"Here is me [holds up one hoof], and here is the universe [other hoof orbiting around the first hoof]." -Puff

Puff thinks you are cute! http://community.webshots.com/user/sanrrich
Come say hello!

[Liretta]

Gardenia will be with us until the end. It would break my heart and hers if we parted, not because she loves us that much (you would have to know her) but because she has had so much loss in her life. From what I gather about her history, after leaving Poland she was a brood mare in Ocala, FL and lived there for 13 years. During that time someone taught her dressage and trail riding, and she is very good with kids. Her last owner lost everything in a divorce (I think) and all of her Polish horses were sold at auction for pennies on the dollar. My mare was brought to Michigan most likely by herself (imagine being in the same herd for so many years and then being split from all your buddies http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif), and by the time I bought her she had been through quite a few auctions. God spared her life from the killers and now she lives with us. She will be 26 in April and still going strong.

[Holly Jeanne]

Hand raised. I do! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I have a beautiful photic headshaker I only ride in the winter (weather permitting) and an OTTB I adopted from ReRun with a lifetime adoption agreement. I doubt I'll ever sell my first homebred either and she's just 8 months. I'm a confirmed member of HHA (Horse Hoarders Anonymous.

[BeastieSlave]

Me too.
We have at least 2 'lifers'... I've got my old TB mare (she's coming 26) and the kids' Welsh pony is leased out, but she'll come home when she doesn't want to train kids anymore.

Holly Jeanne- We've got a ReRun beastie too!

[Holly Jeanne]

Hey, my ReRun beastie's daughter lives in Georgia! She was also adopted out through ReRun as she is blind in one eye from a pasture accident as a baby. Keep your eyes open for Misha. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Beck]

"Officially" four of ours are family and never-to-be-sold, no matter what.

Fox and Chiqui are the offspring of my wonderful first horse Chino, and Charm is Chiqui's daughter...they are family and permanent. Chino and her first son JJ were ours to the end. Our grandkids will be riding Chino's grandkids.

And we will keep Maximillian of Hufflepuff forever and ever - he is six years old, 40.5 inches tall, adores kids and will probably last forty years, right?

UNoffically...well, I may as well face it, some of our beasties may be here for a long long time.

I know I am very lucky to be able to make that happen.

[Elkene]

Yep - my 14 y.o. mare - knew I would always have her when I bought her; she's firey, high maintaince and has taken a ton of work (shoeing and lately meds http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif ) to keep her sound a majority of the time. I think most everyone knows were hot lame horses end up...

I don't plan to ever sell her colt either - he's got great feet (unlike mom's) - and so far he's smart like she is, but is not as hot tempered as her.

[lovetoride]

My horses do. My first horse, a thoroughbred mare, I had for 17 years. Her last 10 years I did not ride her because she had navicular. My next horse, a thoroughbred gelding, I got him just before he turned 2, and he is now 19. My next horse, a thoroughbred x Hanoverian mare, I got just as she turned 4 and she is almost 15. She was supposed to be an investment, but I just couldn't go through with it. Oh my, where have all the years gone?????

[magnum]

My dearest Fred, who taught me more about riding than any other horse -- PERIOD.

He was my event horse and we traveled coast to coast - eating, driving and sleeping together as the endless miles rolled by. No, he wasn't always the bravest jumper on record, but it was fear, not obstinance. And he always fought his demons as best he could, winning as often as he refused.

... Then, we retired from eventing to do "dressage." He really excelled at this. Pretty mover, light on his feet, and some powerful in the HQ's! Fred DEMANDED that you ride SOFT in your hands and with PROPER leg support (oh, the days my legs ached at getting USED to that after too much past "hand riding" .... ).

... Then, he was struck with EPM and we have struggled together for these last 3 years. By now, he is pretty much recovered, .... albiet he is now older and wiser .....

He is as good at giving "kiddy rides" as he is a being a COMPLETE gentleman AT ALL TIMES. I've never MET a horse with such impeccable ground manners.

We look forward to shows this year, and more trails, too (oh, it's too fun to be legal -- spooking and getting a little too jolly while out in the woods)! ....

Fred had too many homes to count. But, I have assured him that he will not be sent away every again. No more broken homes, hon. No matter what the future holds, you have EARNED your right to live here with me until death do us part. And then some.

-------------------------
*The lesser half of a team who BEAT EPM!

Member of the Susie Ormond clique!*

[caffeinated]

I can't even imagine life without my baby-boy

At some point I will probably get other horses, and they will be 'projects'- but yoda is my baby for life. I could never sell him, and am working out arrangements now for what happens if I die or am incapacitated, or can't provide him with a good life, so that I will always know where he is and that he's OK

_____________________________
"It takes a whole lot of testosterone to wear a beret and not look fruity"
**

[trademark]

I told my Katie bear she'll be with me forever...and she will. Unfortunatly, with me looking at 7 years of university in another province, she'll need to find another home for a little while. If we can't, my mom will build a barn in our back yard to keep her. I've never been able to really ride her, and never will. It doesn't matter, because she is my life. We possibly have a good home lined up for her, friends of friends, he loves clydes and spoils his rotten. Hopefully he'll take my girl for a couple years to keep his mare company.

[suniday]

I have my first horse "Y Not" who will have a home with me forever, too. He was just offically retired in December, 2003. He is now 20. I bought him 9 years ago, two months before I got married. There have been times when my husband has said that he knows better than to make me choose between Y Not or hubby as he KNOWS what the answer would be. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[eponacelt]

I don't think I could ever let Ian go to another home. He is almost 20 and still going as strong as ever. His legs look so bad (windpuffs, ringbone, bone spavin, god knows what else) that its amazing he's sound, but I've hardly ever known him to take a lame step (knock wood). Everyone at the barn is convinced he'll be the horse that happily lives to 35, wreaking havoc wherever he goes.

[FrenchFrytheEqHorse]

My eq horse French Fry has his forever home with me. I bought him in an abusive situation, was told he was a big time eq horse in the mid 90's, did some research and discovered he was ridden by several of the biggest name jr. riders at some of the biggest finals in his heyday. He taught me so much, and in the 2 years that ive had him, hes never as much as blinked an eye at anything or put a foot out of place. I love him more than any horse i will ever own and plan to name my farm after him... :c)

Sugartowne II- "French Fry"
Ears To 'Ya- "Jake"
http://community.webshots.com/album/86540446bdOIrj

[mighty mite]

My horse is with me forever. Knew it from the day I first took ownership of him 15 1/2 years ago. He's now approaching his 8th year of retirement. He'll be 32 on February 15th. His lifestyle has not changed since he retired. Still has a cozy stall, turnout everyday with his buddies. He's just not ridden anymore. He's an ex-racehorse, ex three-day eventing champion and treasured pet. I've even taken him to Europe with me on one occasion when I thought I wanted to move there. Long story, but we were there for a month. That trip alone cost $20,000 just for his fees. So no, I have no problem with spending money on him, whatever it takes. And I'm by no means a wealthy person. Just have priorities and he's top priority.

[RumoursFollow]

My "western horse" will be torturing my trainer and his family for the rest of his life. I bought him when he was 2 and he's 5 this year. I agreed to let someone try him once and decided that if it worked out, fine, but if not, THANK GOD! lol.

I cant even begin to imagine what his attitude will be like when hes in his 20s.. because at 5 he's the most opinionated horse I have EVER known.. but I'm willing to suffer. I love my "mule" like a child.

I'll also get my junior/childrens hunter back soon.. hes 19 this year and doing the pre-childrens. My guess would be that after this year the kid will sell him and move on, and then he'll "come home to mama!" He was sold without my knowledge in an unfortunate incident when I was still in high school and 5 years later I still am not over him. Crazy TB that he is, hes my favorite, and when he comes home, he'll be there to stay. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Pictures: My Album (http://www.picturetrail.com/romeorocks)

[Nylar]

Both of my guys are "forever" horses as well. I bought Nylar so I could retire him properly (of course, he's sounder now than he ever has been http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif), and I know Dunn could never leave the farm - he's been there longer than I have, and there are far too many people there who adore him.

[ML]

Had my app for 25 years now. He came to me when he was 2. Breeze has been a great buddy and friend. A gentlman in every way and teaches lots of horses to be on the trail and not be afraid. Still likes to lead on trail rides. Funny how many horses will follow the blind horse any where. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/20037957/Images/Redhrt.jpg

[Charlotte]

Yup.
My sister's first pony.
Absolute saint. Any kid can ride him.
An absolute gentleman.
We'll lease him out to the right person for a limited amount of time (most likely month-by-month basis), but we aren't selling him.

Charlotte

[Iron Gate Farm]

The two we have now will most likely have forever homes with us. Bailey- well what can I say? He can be a grumpy old man, but we love him! He taught my dad how to ride, and has always been a safe mount. At seventeen, I'm sure he'll be with us always.

Rosey was bought with the intention of training her, then selling her, but I honestly didn't think she'd be the amazing horse she is. I feel completely safe on her, and completely safe putting anyone on her. She has such a huge heart and follows me around like a puppy--I'm sure I'll have a **very** hard time selling her if I ever decide to. I'd definately like a foal out of her one day! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

--Edited because I can't spell! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Deep Thoughts By Jack Handey:
#314: It's too bad cowboys didn't eat much pizza back in the Old West, because I think a good painting would be a cowboy giving his last slice to his horse.

~*Proud Member Of:*~
-Drafties Clique
-NH Clique
-Disgruntled College Students Clique
-Mares Rule Clique
-Green Bean Support Group

[eventamy]

Sterling is with me forever. He had a hard life before me as a jumper, his previous owner pounded him into the ground and did very little actually flat work. Just Jump, Jump, Jump! He deserved a good retirement!
My husband and I just bought a new house with enough land for him to come home to be with us! So as soon as the barn is up in the spring....

[creseida]

Cressy will be living in my back yard until the day she crosses the rainbow bridge. I've had her 14 years, and she's now 24. She is my first horse and we've overcome some amazing obstacles in our relationship. She really just doesn't trust others, not even Mr. Creseida whom she sees as often as she sees me.

~&lt;&gt;~ COTHBB Leather Care Guru~&lt;&gt;~
~Member of the *Horse Vans* clique~

"Learn the rules so you may break them effectively"~Dalai Lama

[shiloh]

Shiloh has a home with me forever - I owe it to him. He has been and done so much for me - it's the very very least I can do and he deserves nothing less.

[camohn]

My 2 year old filly's dam was my "forever horse" and this filly was to be sold...and she WAS sold right after she was born. Cute as a button. But, shortly after that her dam colicked an died. The buyer did not want an orphaned filly so I happily bought her back. So...that little girl (who is thankfully the spittin' image of her momma in gray instead of bay....and not so little at 15.3H) is now the forever horse.

Providence Farm

[Estelle]

That would be every horse I have ever had, but one...and that one went to an excellent forever home with a good friend...it was a rescue I took in, got healthy and fat again, but just didnt have the room to keep him permanetly...the 2 I have now I have had for 6 years and they are in their forever home...to many bad things can happen to a horse once you let it go..I take my responsiblities extremly seriously...

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Freebird:
Just curious. Though I have 2 horses I am trying to sell, my 13.3 hand pony mare, Happy will never be up for sale. A friend of my husband's offered him $5,000 for Happy, and my husband just shook his head saying "You'll never get her to sell that pony." It's true. She escaped the dog pen she had been living in, and we found her in our front yard 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary. No, she's nothing fancy, but I just love her to peices, and will have her till the day she dies - which I hope is many years from now, as she is only 6. So, how many of you guys have horses that you will NEVER sell, no matter WHAT happens to them, even if they become expensive yard dogs, that can't be ridden?

Edited because I English is no longer my best subject... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

HUKT ON FONIX WURKT FUR ME!

[This message was edited by Freebird on Jan. 23, 2004 at 07:09 PM.]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves for we shall never cease to be amused.--Erin Mack

[relocatedTXjumpr]

Rudy is a forever horse.

B & B Sport Horses at Second Chance Farms

Member of the Paint Hunter Clique

http://community.webshots.com/user/ga_jumpr
Dont put the cart before the horse, unless he knows how to push it of course. ~~ Pat Green

[IndysMom]

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gifI was probably one more fall from never riding again when I bought Indy. I've had him since he was 7 and he's now 19. I might lease him to the therapeutic riding program now that I have another horse-to show. (it's a big might, mostly because I'm selfish and I want him to ride when I can), but his retirement is with me and no one else.

[crackerjack]

Casey is a forever horse. He was my first horse... and regardless of anything I will always keep him! Yes he could be the biggest pain in the bum and he can now be a grumpy old man I still love him dearly and would never let him go to anyone else!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Freebird!]

Just found this old post and decided to bump it up. As an update to my post that started it:

One of my horses that I was trying to sell ended up dying almost a year and a half ago, so he did end up being my "forever" horse. The other one that I had for sale, was turned down after being vetted, so I said the heck with it, and decided to keep her. So, now I just have a pasture full of my "forever" ponies http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Still have my Happy girl, who is hanging out in my back yard.

I have a 5 year old Mini, Simba, who is my son's forever pony.

Maggie - the mare who was for sale - who we will most likely never part ways with. She was our first, and only to date, homebred, as well as being the only horse my husband will willingly ride.


Lexie - yup - another forever one. I bought her with some of the Ins. from when my Val was put down.

Thistle - he will never be sold, though he is leased out at a farm nearby, teaching a little girl theopes of showing.

[Emryss]

The Antique Mare, Shadow, will always have a home with my family. She pretty much is a yard ornament at this time, with occasional pony-ride duties thrown in, but she brightens our lives nonetheless.

[mairzeadoats]

16 years ago I rescued my arab, a former regional halter champion, from a 10x10 steel stall with no windows that he'd been slowly starving in for nearly 2 years.

Promised him a home for life back then. Haven't had to renege on the promise yet, thank goodness.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Ted is with me forever. Period.

[msj]

Thirteen yrs ago I rescued a starving little QH, Chocolate, and he has been with me ever since. He made an issue in the Chronicle in 2001 when Nicole Lever did an article from this bb on 'Your horse's Bumper Sticker. He's now 18 and has been retired for 6 yrs with my other 'forever keeper', Tiger Bay.

[Critters Everywhere]

Sera, my 5 year old TB mare will always be mine. That horse & I went through hell, and she's my girl. I might at some point send her out on a broodmare lease, but she's mine forever. (or I'm hers might be more accurate!)

Zarah is here forever because there isn't anyone else who would want her. I'd rather she went someplace where she got more attention, but there just aren't many quality companion-only homes available (especially for a horse who, as she's gotten older, is a screaming lunatic if you take her buddy even out of the pasture).

Thunder, my rescue mare, will be with me forever. I *may* let a little girl at the barn borrow her a bit for lessons, but as someone else said, it would be very short term and she'd still be ours.

Brandy, I assume is my forever-horse. I can't imagine anything that would make me want to sell her. I'm certainly not going to outgrow her, I've known her for years (before I bought her this fall) and absolutely love her to death.


Karma is NOT supposed to be a forever horse but with the horse sale market is starting to turn into one &lt;sigh&gt; Hate that horse.

[TropicalStorm]

I have one forever horse out of 3 http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I made a promise to him, when I bought him and he was 900lbs at 17.2hh, head shy and beaten that i'd never sell him.

The other two are going to be hard (especially my Arion, who I've had since week one) but I could do it if the right offer came along

[*Southwinds*]

All 6 of my guys are stuck with me forever! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif
Have had my first horse now for over 10 yrs, and others I have gathered along the way. I love them all too much.

[bewitchedarabians]

All 5 of mine are with me for the long haul. And should they outlive me, arrangements have already been made for who goes to live with which (carefully selected and in agreement) friend of mine. I've asked the family to keep my stallion, and possibly his permanently injured son, as well as my goats.

[icicle333]

my girl now will be with me forever.

i got her as a 15 month old and i am her 4th owner http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif she made it through the auction twice...i feel i owe it to her! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Bluesy]

My two are.

Bluesy is one of those once in a lifetime horses who is the most gentlest kind sweet thing I've ever known. He has not a mean bone in his body. He also is athletic and tries so hard to please. And he's so cuddly!

Jet I love too - but man he drives me nuts ometimes,I swear he knows how to push my buttons. He can be such a jerk. He once bucked my friends off (a non rider) into a fence because she asked him to walk. After that I realized he hates beginners.

[CMBEQ]

Both my horses are forever. I got Sonora when she was 6 mos. And Monty raced 'til he was 7.5(now 9), had a bunch of owners, moved a lot and he's just too amazing for me to ever get rid of.

[enigma99]

My guy Iggy will be with me forever. I have even joked around & said that he will have to be on life support until I die. I have known him since he was born and raised, broke & trained him all myself. There is just something about him...

[Dancing Lawn]

I got The Rocket off the track, sight unseen, as a two yr. old. He died of natural causes when he was 24. He's buried behind the barn.
Eddie came to me off the track, also sight unseen, as a 9 yr. old. I had him euthanized after he lost his last tooth, at the age of 28. He's also buried behind the barn.
Miles, I found in a farmers field as an unbroke 10 yr. old. Had him until he was 25.
Now, I have Annie and Bill, both rescued pmu babies. They're 5 now, and will be with me until the end. Kate was on her way to the meat man, as a 6 yr. old. She's now 11. She won't be going anywhere. Splash I bought at the meat sale, as a 9 yr. old, she's now 20. She won't be leaving here.
Snicks arrived with a severed tendon, and has been here for years, I guess she's here for life, too.
I'm having second thoughts about selling any of the young ones, too. could be they'll have forever homes, as well. I keep turning down good offers for them! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[LessIsMore17]

I've had Lester, my OTTB for 10 + years and never plan to part with him, he is my second horse.

My first horse I will forever regret giving her away http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/no.gif I didn't want to, but after she broke her hock and recovered I thought "pasture life" would be the best thing for her. My ex vet's wife took her(she had her 2 years), I kept in touch and asked her all the time how my mare was and would go see her every few months. One day I ran into my ex vets wife and asked about my mare and she told me she didn't have her anymore. My heart sank and she told me she donated her to a home for abused childeren to use in their riding program. Too make a long story short I contacted them and went and saw her, she was skin and bones and they weren't caring for her very well. I told them I wanted to do volunteer work for them and she could be my "project". Then they told me that she had too many problems and that they did not want her anymore and that they were going to get rid of her http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif so I told them I would take her back. The day we went to pick her up and take her home she had re-fractured her hock and I decided to have her put down http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I think back all the time and second guess that decision, but I feel lucky that I was able to reconnect with her before the home sent her off to an auction where she would have undoubtably been sold to slaughter.
I will NEVER loose contact/ ownership of one of my beloved companions again.

[Huntertwo]

My 6 yr old POA mare "Twinkie" will be with me as long as possible. Can't say forever, because who knows what could happen financially in the future.

She is the first horse since I have owned as a teen that I have really bonded with and miss sooo much when I can't get to the barn.

She has so much trust in me and will do almost anything I ask of her. She is truely one of those who comes around only several times in a lifetime.

[Appassionato]

I have one. My old TB, had him for over 15 years. And I don't mind a bit his special shoes (chronic founder case), his special diet of older horse feed and supplements for his intestinal cancer...I even tolerate the nashing while he is blanketed or unblanketed. And his special treats...

[Pandarus33]

Marshmallow- our 10.2h, 21yo Shetland pony- pure white and all attitude. If I ever sold her, I'd have nightmares about seeing her years later on some stupid pony carousel at a backyard carnival. She's cheapest of all the pets- cats and dogs!

Breeze- 15.1h, 9yo witch of an App mare. I've tried selling her three times. Each time, she's been injured right when I listed her and each injury has required double the healing time of the last. Her current injury will be six months in healing. I'm just not meant to sell this terror!

[tarragon]

My wonderful, wise saintly mare Fleur was my 10th Birthday present. She is probably the sole reason I managed to live through my adolescence- saved my butt so many times through all my stupid kid crazy daredevil stunts, gave me two gorgeous foals and stayed with me until I lost her 2 years ago at age 33, after 23 years together. I miss her.

[fergie]

All of mine (3). 2 girls and a boy. They all go out together and are a family. I can't get any more horses because I get too attached and sentimental these days. I get sad when someone else sells their horse and it leaves the barn!

[mustangrider]

Me too. I love my QH Woodrow to death and he will always have a forever home with me. He's 18 now but still going strong and I plan to keep him going strong as long as I am able. Luckily my husband loves him almost as much as I do so I get no arguement there. Woodrow has saved my butt so many times and taken me places that others can only dream about that I feel what I can do for him is woefully inadequate to what he has done for me.

[luckyducky]

Currently, all 10 of our horses have forever homes with us. What would it be like to sell a member of your family? I just don't know, I DO know however that if anything ever happens to me, my horses will all be humanely euthanized, rather than have them end up in some of the places I know some of my horses have been found in... Coni, my one eyed mare is 25 this year, she has given quite a number of girls thier dream come true.Younngstershow her andthey always come home with at least one ribbon every show!I've had her since the day she was born
(had Peni
her mom from age 14 to the day she died, I had her put to sleep when she went down out in the pasture, she went to sleep in my arms, it was peaceful and heartbreaking, I still miss her), she was 34. Coni is the apple of my eye, and she is very attached to her buddy Shom, my gelding I have had since he was a yearling, he is 18 now. I have picked up a few horses in the mean time, Nabila, is 18 and she is truly a blessing, a babysitter in disguise, she also brings home loads of ribbons and trophies for the children and adults who ride her.Sahib is my boy, he is young only 4 but, I picture spending my retirementwith him, as well as his son, Song of Supremacy (Handsome as we call him) they are the children of my retirement ( I of course will be 72 before I can retire!) Song, a heavey mare I got from a friend for a song, will live out her days here, she is so sweet and good natured, she just didn't deserve the trials and tribulations she has been through. Promise, I can't even find out much about her history, tracked down her original breeder, and they not only didn't care that their mare had a forever home with me they wanted to know how I had found their number! Spot, well, he is too darn cute to be anyone else's pony! My 2 newest aquisitions, are Bree an 18 yr old mare that has been passed around enough, and Buddy a Peruvian who has had many owners in his 17 yrs, my son ( who is 7) instantly bonded with this horse, so of course I have no recourse he stays. But, I also never even consider buying horses for resale, I am not in the business. I just want to do some good work here before my time on Earth is done. I DID however, give one filly away this spring, but, it is to a young lady whom I know will take the kind of care of her I would, she knows how much my horses mean to me, and has been known to tell her friends and family what an honor it is for her to have gotten this filly, she knows what my final wishes for my horses are, so she has a very special privelege being entrusted with one of my babies... She also deserved to have a horse to call her own, she has leased one of mine for the past 6 years, and has put up with my quirks and eccentricity for all that time! Anyway, what a great thread, brought tears to my eyes reading about all the rest of you and your dear babies! Here's to the forever home! May it be forever blessed!

[chai]

All of our guys are with us forever. When I went to college, I had to sell my horse. She was my life, and I was traumatized by letting her go. Freebird, your post made me laugh because we do have a bunch of unrideable lawn ornaments but we love them and they will be here forever. Our 33 year old QH is our 'hugging horse' because he smells so good and is just a good buddy when you need a hug.

[Fred]

the only horses that don't have a "forever" home with me are the foals I breed. It breaks my heart, but those I have to sell. Everybody else stays to the end!
Sadly, in the past few years I have had to put a few of my precious old friends down. Age catches up eventually - and that is the hardest thing.
Right now my 'forever' horses are Fred, his sister Cricket, my retired broodmare Macassa.
I have a couple of beautiful young broodmares who I think I should probably find homes for now. I worry about me being able to live long enough (or be well enough) to care for them in their old age! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
I also have a very old shetland pony mare, Miss Ima, who is my "boarder" - actually she was left with me a number of years ago... and I have not heard from her owner in about a year.
I have a feeling Ima ( who is about 25+?) will be here for the long run.

[TKR]

Is there a limit, LOL? My stallions, Master Huntsman (25 years old, bought at 8 months), Murray's Law (16 years old, I bred him and helped him come into the world), Metier (27 years old, bought at 3, she produced 10 wonderful foals for me), Pamela (26 years old, bought at 14, a breeding nightmare who never produced anything, but where else could she go?), Sneak Preview (my "boy toy" that I bred and adore, 12 years old), Pure Preppy (came in as a consignment/training project off the track, we bonded unbelievably, I think she's 10 or 11, she thinks I'm "hers"), With Panache (Metier's last foal, 7 years old), Remastered (2 year old colt by Huntsman, line-bred for possibly my next stallion). But I DO have some young ones for sale, LOL! Oh, does my German Shepherd count? Norman is just awesome, I'd probably sell my husband before parting with him -- shhhh!
PennyG

[county]

Over the last 40 years I've had a few horses that were forever ones right now at least two that I have will be here till the end. My old stud is 23 and will never leave. I have a mare that I raised as an orphan thats here for the duration. The rest are either breeding stock or horses I buy that are neglected. I fix them up and sell them, the breeding stock I sell either as breeding stock or when there breeding days are over hopefully as riders. In the last 10 years alone I've owned over 250 horses not very practical to keep them all forever

[Seahorsefarmtobe]

All 3 of mine did.

[JumpTheMoon]

I've got 1! I've only had him 5 years and he is (only...ha!) 14 but he is with us for life! I bought him when I had absolutely 0 confidence in myself or my riding. He was my "hopefully move up the the Childrens" horse and well, he took me much past that! Childrens, Juniors, Eqs, great ribbons at WEF, and then on to the adults. He is now happily being taught dressage by my mom while I crack down on school a bit. He is totally the apple of my mom's eye and she just thinks the world revolves around him. I could not have asked for a better horse at a better time so he deserves to have a great home for life!

I am also trying to get back my "once in a lifetime horse" but it's not been an easy process. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I want him to spend the rest of his life with no one but ME but trying to convince my dad to buy another forever horse is not easy...he knows what comes after that (the farm, collecting more horses, the donkey...). I'm won't give up though, one day he WILL be mine again even if its 10 years down the road or when he only has a year left with us on this earth. The moment I can affod him myself, he'll be on the first truck headed towards me. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[CowgirlDressage]

My Maxximus will be with me always! I've had him since he was a yearling & my 'baby' is about to turn 5, yikes! Where does time fly? LOL!

I know my husband wouldn't ever part with his girl Shaboom either. That mare is a gem.

[EBO]

All of mine are staying as long as I can limp out there to feed them, and see well enough to tell if all their parts are still properly attached. I only have 2 who are under 20, though (out of 7), so that's not the committment it might be.

They've all, with the exception of one of the rescues, been with me for a very long time, so it seems that both them and me are profiting from our association. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Leah A]

I have 3...In actual fact, I have never sold a horse that I rode for myself. I find that you bond so deeply with the horses you ride and really think of as a partner.

I have a 23 year old mare that we bought when she was 6. I rode her to the limit of her abilities then let her live the life of leisure in the pasture with the occaisional ride. She is the kind of horse you can pull out of the pasture and put anyone on and have a good, safe time. I couldn't put a price on her because I'd be hard put to replace her.

My 23 year old TB gelding was my 3'6"-3'9" horse and was an open horse in his day. He taught me the most about riding and was my absolute best friend. He was retired early due to navicular changes, no doubt due to the amount of jumping he did as a young horse before I got him. He now is also a pasture pet and ruler of the roost!

Both my first pony and the horse I rode between the 2 listed above ended their days here already.

The last one is my daughter's pony. He is an absolute gem and I'm very grateful to have found him. Safe, kind, gentle, with some definate spark left! I promised the lady that I bought him from that he'd live with us forever and he most certainly will. He'll be loved by my children and neices and nephews for ever.

Gosh, I'm a bit teary.... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

[ML]

I think this is the reason if ever purchase another horse it has to be older since I am older now. Still have a horse that was purchased 27 years ago, he is 29 now. He is so loved a farm was purchased just for him. He is still just the most perfect horse and blind as a bat now.

[3fatponies]

All four of mine. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif The buying/selling thing irritates me so much that I would rather be happy with what I have than keeping looking for something elusive, like perfection. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Of course, with four, no one horse has to be everything, so it all works out.

[Chief2]

In response to your original query, once I buy, they are welcome to remain with me until they die.

[Susan P]

I bought Nomad at 23 years old for my 9 year old son and he had a great time with him. When my son turned 13 he gave up riding, big surprise huh? He also gave up Nomad and he became mine. I was too big for him so I decided to drive him by the time he turned 28 or so and even got to do that once. He had more training, he had been driven as a young horse but then he had done everything as a young horse, hunt, western, dressage, sidesaddle besides driving. Then my husband and I bought close to 12 acres so Nomad would have a place to retire. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I always said that if I ever had a farm I would name it after him. So before his 30th birthday I got him his own farm, so it was a happy birthday to Nomad on Nomad's Oasis. This is how my farm got it's name, it's the last place he'll ever be moved to. After a lifetime of being shuffled around and sold to new people he has a forever home on his own farm because I love him so much. He'll be 35 on July 2nd and you're all invited to his birthday party. If you're anywhere near Fair Hill, MD or the southeast corner of PA or Delaware let me know if you want to help me celebrate his birthday. You can PT me with your private email and I'll let you know when the time comes. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif It will be party time at Nomad's Oasis!

[Claudius]

We have one old broodmare who has produced many top racehorses and she stays forever...she is 28. And we just retired another, who also produced a Breeder's Crown winner,and she will stay also. ANd, my 5 year old mare that I am starting the pregreens with this year...she is the last of several I have had of the same family and I had great respect for them all...so I think she will be a keeper forever, and hopefully someday a broodmare!!

[Susan P]

Claudius, I think we think alike, don't abandon a horse in their old age, they probably have earned their retirement if they manage to live that long.

I sent you a PT.

[buckinbailey]

My mare has a home for keeps! She's 4 now. At her first show, at age 2, she was champion of her division at an A-rated show, and we were offered $38,000. We turned them down, of course. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Trakehners2000]

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif<span class="ev_code_BLUE">My stallion, Karino's Fire (aka Shadrach or Shad). Shad is not only a dream come true...he is part of me now, and life without him....I don't know...he is my once in a lifetime and I'd rather without things for myself, than not have Shadrach.</span>My forever horse... (http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL673/3013403/6102621/119915551.jpg)

[snkstacres]

Well, I have hung on to my rescues clear across this continent and guess I will continue to do so. I could not part with them. My daughters first horse from the meat market is here with me today and will die with me. I have about 10 rescues that are well into there 20's and they are guraranteed a home till they go over the bridge. And any that were adopted, when they come of retirement age, they too will be guaranteed there forever home. Hence, that is why I only take horses old enough that I can make that committment honestly. A two year old horse will outlive me for sure.

[Kaydence]

I haven't read the thread, just the first post so this may be way off topic by now but I have two forever horses.

My first fellow is a 28 year old QH who I'll probably have to put down this summer (he does better in the winter than the summer, the strange old guy.). I bought him when he was a 2 year old.

I rescued my 6 year old curly mare as a two year old and made her the same promise I made to the "Old Man". Sweetly enough, they are the herd leaders and closest buddies in the herd.

[beausgirl]

I do. I have four. Two are already pasture ornaments, the other two have plenty of get up and go. I will be there for them until the end, unless...some personal catastrophe occurs, and then I will do my darndest to make sure their passage will be good.

[Spirit_Rider16]

Me! My boy Spirit is my first and only horse so far, and he'll be with me forever (whether he wants to be or not http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif). I've had him since January of 2001, and we've been through too much together for me to ever give him up! He's amazing.

[Wonderland]

I do for sure. Its funny though, I always find that the not fancy horses are the ones we really bond with and keep forever.

Anyways. Dakota, my hanovarian will stay with me forever.She was a x mas gift and I just love her to death and have a strong beyond belief bond with her. She will stay with me until the days she passes on.

[Drive NJ]

Almost every horse we've had has been with us for the rest of their lives. And I might add we board our horses so there are some years we are paying board on horses that can't work for whatever reason - just goes with the territory.

We've only ever sold two... my first horse who was sold when I went to college - not an option to keep her; and a draft cross that we bought recently that turned out to just not fit us... just too big & round we thought it was a saddle fit issue, but turned out to be a short legged rider issue. We sold him to an acquaintence who loves him dearly and has been having a great time trail riding him.

Everyone else has come to stay -
Macrae with us for 29+ years, died at 39+
Harry with us for 16+ years, died at 25+
Mel with us for 13 years, died at 26+
and unfortunately Ned who died last year in a barn fire after only 2 years with us

Alex was also injured in the fire, and is recovering. He may never be ridden again, but we're thinking he'll be able to drive. In any event he's a love, has been a champ through his recovery and has a place with us for life.

[neVar]

Texas is my forever horse- he's SUCH my mount. There might be a time downt he road for the right person i'd sell him.. but i don't see it anywhere in the next 10-15 years

[HorseProtectionLeague]

My mare, Flame, is not for sale at any price. I will never sell her. I will, however, someday (probably someday soon if she and the little one are lucky) give her to the little seven year old girl who has been showing her. They are a better team than she and I ever were, and watching the little one ride makes me feel like the five years I spent retraining the little Arab I pulled out of a pasture skinny and greenbroke at the age of eight (her) and 12 (me) were all for the purpose of getting her ready to be this little girl's dream pony. I'm no slouch as a rider (and yes, Officer, I do own that horn I'm tooting), but she is so much happier when she knows she's caring for a child. I think she feels like there is meaning to all the going in circles and jumping fences you could easily go around when there is a kid laughing and smiling the whole time! The judges see it, too- they win durn near everything they enter at the local schooling shows.

Flame will (hopefully) belong to the little girl as long as she and her family can keep her. At that point, she will come back to me and look for her next calling- perhaps as a therapy horse?

[chism]

My horse "Chism" of course. He's such a complete and total a** some times that I fantasize about selling him but I don't think anyone else would put up with his crap. Besides...we've come to an understanding after 4 years of ownership. He finally trusts me and I don't do anything to abuse that trust. He was a schoolie at the barn I rode at, tortured the kids on a regular basis, bit, refused to be caught in his stall, turned his butt to you and threatened to kick, was even known to charge instructors during lessons when they were annoying him. I don't know why I liked him so much. I guess it was the whole "bad boy" thing. He became unsound and they couldn't find out the reason so they were sending him back to the dealer he was leased from. I couldn't bear the thought of not knowing where he ended up so I bought him. Thankfully his personality improved 100% with his "own" family. He's sound presently for flat work but his condition is chronic, he could deteriorate at any time. When you knowingly buy a lame horse...it's definitely a lifetime commitment.

[Phaxxton]

Phaxxton's my forever horse for sure!

I'm pretty sure Joey's my forever horse as well... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[JoZ]

Oddly enough, for me there are degrees of "forever".

Jesse is 31. I've had him for 20 years. I will not part with him. If my life fell apart, and I was no longer able to support him, I have a couple of friends I could ask to take him, but if that didn't work out, I would put him down rather than subject him to uncertainty and possible mistreatment in his golden years.

I have two other horses that I will not willingly part with, but in the dire circumstances described above, I would sell them, though it would break my heart.

Then there are a few I'd like to keep around for a while, until she has her baby, until he has a few more miles on him, until she comes out of her yearling fuglies and becomes gorgeous again.

The rest are for sale, LOL!

[Little Indian]

Basically all of ours have a forever home because, even though they are supposed (!!!) to be show horses, they usually end up more as pets. Though I'm sure if we were offered a huge price that we could not turn down, we would at least consider it. When Indy was doing well, we turned down some pretty significant offers (considering we got him for basically the price of dirt).
Indy is definietly a forever kind of boy. I don;t think anybody else would put up with his attitude, plus we've had him for such a long time (8 years!!!) I don't think I could ever do it. As much as an a$$hole he is sometimes, I couldn't imagine not having him. He is just the happiest pony!
Gomez I'm sure if we were offered a huge tag on, we would more than likely sell as much as I would hate it. He is the sweetest boy and really tries his hardest to do whatever we ask of him (unless of course it's a trail ride. he hates those).
We just had an offer on Monday (the rescue but born at home weanling). My dad priced him at 1.5 million (hahaha). Him and Fiona will have a forever home. Hopfully next year, Fiona will have enough training under her belt to become a school pony or a trail pony. We are currently looking (no flames please) for a sutiable boyfriend. She put the most beautiful neck on Monday and he has the absolute best mind in the world for as young as him is, that iw ould LOVE a sport pony out of her. We just got a DVD from Sir Andrew LDV, and are also looking at Triple Hill. so we are looking at very very very nice stallions, but are also considering the stallion Musing, even though he is a TB. But all of the current ponies have forever homes. We like it that way.

[ThreeHorseNight]

My first horse will be with me forever. I've owned him for 17 years now (hard to believe!), since he was 5 (almost 6). He is no longer rideable, so nobody would pay for him, but even if he were rideable there's no way I would sell him. He has done so much for me (and lots of other people), that I owe it to him to take care of him for the rest of his days (and they are very expensive days now!)

I feel very fortunate that I can continue to care for him in the manner he deserves, and still be able to have another horse. I know it's not that easy for some people.

[olympicprincess]

I do! My now 21yr Appendix mare "Emmy Award". http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Was my English equitation/pleasure, Pony Club, Hunters, Jumper, Dressage and Event horse. I learned so much on her!! ...and got many nice ribbons on her. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif She now has adv. arthritis and can't be trotted, cantered or jumped anymore (unless she chooses to on her own in the field). So now she's been bumped down to my beginner kids (under 125lbs) horse. They learn to lead, groom, tack-up and stop-go and turn on her.

[Ride On]

My horse Sam his show name is The English Gent will be with me forever as will my Friesian Pharaoh. I have owned Sam for 16.5 years and successfully competed him in dressage. He carried my daughter over jumps for awhile when she was interested. He carried beginner riders around and put them in their place when they got to big for their britches. I am still riding him now he is 22 and still is in good shape although he has Cushings. Clipping and Pergolide control that so we are all happy.

My horse Pharaoh is my healer and provides me joy. He presented himself to me a year and a half ago and it has been a wonderful journey. I competed him this year in dressage and did well. We did a musical freestyle in a tribute to my sister killed on 9/11. He never let me down.

I am very blessed to have my horses.

[monstrpony]

I tend to be a long-term owner, but have ultimately sold all but one. Goosie was definitely a forever horse, she was also my once-in-a-lifetime girl. She's burried in my pasture.

Monstr is a forever horse by default; he's not sellable, and I'd never give a horse to any kind of retirement or rescue unless there was no possible way I could keep him myself. He has too many maintenance issues, which have also become safety issues, to wish on any kind of volunteer or charitable organization.

DP will, I hope, stay with me forever; we have developed quite a bond, and I am unreasonably attached to his cute face.

I do find it difficult to buy a horse because I think of them as forever commitments. I've had people tell me "well, you CAN always sell it if it doesn't work out" and I look at them like they're crazy. It's limited me seriously as a rider, but I feel comfortable with it as a person.

[Cashela]

I haven't read much more then the first post. But all of my horses have a forever home as well as my other animals. They are my children. In fact, I just lost my first girl who was at her forever home on Thanksgiving night. She had been retired for six years. She was 23. I had promised to love her and care for her to the end and I did that. And God do I miss her so much even though she was getting harder to take care of.

[CharliesMom]

Sissy, my QH mare, has a home with me forever. I bought her as a 3yr old in 1985 and took her to college, to work at a rental stable, and finally across country here to GA. She's safe and dependable, so I let my friends all ride her.

Charlie has a forever home here (otherwise how could I continute to be Charlie's mom?) In the 5 months I've owned him, he's been treated for EPM and for Cellulitis. I'm hoping to begin riding him again tomorrow. Even if it turns out that he can't be ridden much, he stays.

My third horse and I have a love/hate relationship - some days she's lovely and some days she's horrid. I'd sell her to the right home, but I'm not advertising.

[Prieta]

I agree with Monsterpony about buying horses - I tend to take a good loooong time looking for a horse that I can keep forever! I cannot stand the thought of buying and selling so whenever I look at a horse, I see what he is going to be like in twenty year from now and see if I'd still like him.

[Susan P]

I'd rather free lease them locally if I trust someone a lot. I also have a hard time giving up any of my animals and want all that I know to have the best of homes forever. I am boarding a cute little Nokota pony 14H an he's for sale so I'm trying to help him find a home but we want to be selective. I just think he's so cute when he curls his tongue and sucks on it after he eats. He's such a character and talented too. I would like him to be a Pony Club horse, I think he loves eventing and he so fun loving. With him turning 5 in the spring he will be perfect for Pony Club. But the problem is when he gets sold I will be upset and will need to spend some time adjusting. I hope the new owners let me come to see him.

Did I mention how cute he is? http://www.tc.umn.edu/~zeig0014/website%201/Images/Ash.jpg

[Aptor Hours]

Aptor Hours and Twister have a home forever with us. Twister is in full retirement with limited riding at 23 and Aptor is still in full show training but may be leased out to a kid in the future if I buy another horse.

[boosma47]

Dear Dime, the Wonder Geezer, at 23 has a forever home with me - and the reason we are building a barn. If I can no longer care for him, a good friend, who takes immaculate care of her horses, will take him.

Miss Boo, having chosen me to be her caretaker, also has a home for life. She's only 9. She, likewise, will go to friend, or back to her NH trainer if I am unable to keep her.

Sell them? Never!

[millwrightmomma]

We rescue horses, and some of them we have kept and permanently retired.
One of ours was beaten with chains and is not sane, not adoptable, she is here forever,
We have 3 retired TB all in their 20's, here forever, a family quarter horse with a badly arthritic knee, forever,as well as an abused PMU mare.
Today we put down a 28+ rescue that we had for 5 years, we saved him from certain death by starvation, he had even forgotten how to eat.
I promised him , many many times if he lived I would keep him forever.
His time had come, and I will see him on the other side of the Rainbow bridge.

[blueboo]

All of mine are much more likely than not to be forever horses - but I promised Sundance he would be with me until one of us dies of old age. He'd been through waaaaay too much for me to ever consider hurting him again by letting anyone else have him - I don't care WHO they might be. And he repays me by his trust, by coming over every single time he sees me for stritches and kisses, by resting his head on my shoulder, by occasionally copping an attitude, by acting like a 2 year old (albeit for only a few minutes) when I turn him out, by meandering over("I just HAPPENED to be heading towards the gate anyway you understand")when I go to the gate and call, by backing up and asking to have his bum scratched, by looking to me when he's scared, or something hurts, or something 'new' comes up, by being himself and sharing himself with me.

Don't get me wrong - I adore the other two also and it would take a catastrophic event to make me even CONSIDER allowing one of them to move on - but with Sundance, simply because of who he is I have an absolute, without question, moral imparative to see to it that he never, ever again, is hurt or hungry or abused. And I'll do it too.

[midnights mom]

I do! Or will and way's. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif His name is midnight and I tave been taking care of him for 7 months now. I'm only 14 so raising $3500 is hard(expeacily with christmas coming!). But me and my 2 little sisters are saving up and I know soon i'll have my baby! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[fergie]

millwrightmomma,
You sound like a horsey angel. I can feel your compassion way down here in Delaware when I read your post. You are definately from horse heaven, and I would like to come back in my next life as one of your horses. I have one that definitely would end up in a can somewhere if I let him go. I would like to go to horse heaven with him.

[17handtb]

My horses are with me for life. No matter what.

[Levi's owner]

Since he is my first owned, Levi will always have a home with me. He's just one of those horses of a lifetime. He's just a KEEPER. Even if I have to send him to my sister's farm, I will still own him. I just don't think I could part ways with him. He my boy http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif
Besides, he's so damn sweet, he'd be a perfect lawn ornament http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[vxf111]

I could never sell my first horse. He's the best. Your grandma could ride this horse, but he could drop George Morris if he felt like it http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif He's so fun. He'e great for teaching beginners, especially kids. He's SO gentle and takes SUCH good care of them. But if I hope on he's still a challenging ride. If he senses you know what you're doing, he makes you do it RIGHT. He's a great teacher.

He's had a tough life, he started as a western pleasure and halter horse, the western and english equitation, then barrels and poles, then some baby jumper classes, and then he became my hunter. Lots of wear and tear on his tiny QH feet http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif and joints. So I promised him when I bought him that I wouldn't use him up and pass him along, like everyone before him. He never has to worry again. I couldn't sell him or imagine life without him. Stoney is the best!!!

Stoney in pony ride mode (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/vxf111/The%20Son%20Dee%20Times/StoneyandAnna.jpg)

Stoney in hunter mode (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/vxf111/The%20Son%20Dee%20Times/VeronicaandStoney.jpg)

[sprite]

Both of mine are. My TB mare Sprite, I'll have had for 8 years at Christmas (was coming 6 when I got her) and she's been the BEST! Not fancy, not the best athlete, just your average (though very well bred) TB. We've evented, done dressage, hunters, fox hunted- she's packed around beginners and was even a Western lesson pony for my program this summer. Since I don't have time to ride her and no farm of my own, she's in the local college riding program, teaching H/J. Andi n the summer, she'll be a Western lesson pony again http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

My ex-racing Standardbred, Arthur, came to us a freebie at age 5- he'll be 11 in the spring. I worked on the farm he was born and raised on, halter broke him, taught him to trailer etc...and put dibs on him then! So when his owners got out of the racing business they gave him to us. He was the EASIEST thing to break to saddle, never put a foot wrong- unfortunately has some health problems (recurring bladder stones) and is retired, currently living the good life at my farrier's as companion for her yearling.

[ol' QHJumper]

My Leo, aka Pony, will be with me until he crosses the bridge. I'm 26 now, he's 23-- I've had him since I was 13 and he was 10. When I first met him, he was a sour, fat, grumpy western pleasure horse. I started riding him english b/c there was noone else to ride. My parents leased him for me, but then we bought him within 2 months. He is a fabulous partner, babysitter, fire-breathing jumper, and ear nibbler. When we were away at college the first time, I had to euthanize a pup that I was bottle raising... afterwards, I went out in pony's pasture, and he stared down all the other horses and stood over me, chin on my head, while I sat and cried. Whenever my parents or my sisters call, they always ask about him.

Cutter, my $1 reject, may wind up having a forever home even though that wasn't my original intent, simply because he's such a retard about other people, and plus, he reminds me a LOT of Pony-- qualities which I've never found in any other horse.

[Clarion]

I'd like to think that a few of mine are, assuming I can always afford them. But I have one that I will keep if I have to give up everything else to keep him. Martini, my old man, the first horse I ever owned. He tore his biceps tendon five years ago and is unrideable. Two years ago he lost one of his eyes. This year he got cushings and foundered. Of course, no one else would ever want him, but he is my love and he will ALWAYS be with me.

My other forever horse that I will always try to keep is Rio, my five year old mare. She colics every few weeks, costs me a fortune in Ulcergard, but I love her to pieces. She is beautiful inside and out and I cannot imagine getting through a day without her soft face and big kisses.

[BornToRide]

I kinda sort of. My retired QH is with good friend's of mine, who adopted him. However, should they for any reason no longer be able to care for him, he will come back to me. He's no longer going to be passed around at 22. He deserves better!

[monalisa]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The Chronicle of the Horse takes no responsibility for such statements. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have an 11 year old WB mare that I have owned for 8 years. She will never be sold for any price whatever happens to her. She is the closest thing I will ever have to a daughter.

[Ethalo2]

My guy Ember, he's always taken such good care of me no matter what I put him through and takes care of anyone that gets on his back. I have my best friend that wants him willed to her(if something should happen to me...god forbid) but he also has a reserved retirement spot at my son and daughter-in-laws farm so he can become the lawn ornament that he's always wanted to be when he ready to retire. I'm sooooo very lucky to have found him.

[Bethe Mounce]

All our horses have permanent homes on our farm......I tend to keep, including those who just come for a visit, anyone who puts a hoof in our barn for a few days! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Our oldest passed away 2 weeks ago (he was 33), our hearts are broken, but we knew it was just a matter of time. Our next oldest is 30 and then we go from there to 2 1/2......we breed replacement dressage horses for ourselves. Never intended to sell anything. Did that one time, it broke my heart and I told myself I'd never do it again, and never have. Have had a few offers now and then, but nothing is for sale...we do all our own backing/training/showing....helps to have a veterinarian in the family! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Briarrose]

The reason I bought a place of my own was so I could have a forever home for my horses. One already is buried under his favorite tree in the pasture. The two boys now, I hope, have a long way to go as Dan was 29 the day he said it was time. They are only 18 and 15. However, I have already made provisions for them in my will as they have kept me going through some of the darkest times in my life. I promised Jake and Paces that even if I could never ride again, they would always have a job, mowing the grass in the pasture. They were happy to accept the deal.

[Susan P]

That's why I bought my farm, ha ha. Good reason to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars isn't it? I whined so much about it to my husband and finally found the land that even he couldn't resist buying. We made the deal so quickly I was shocked. When it's right it's right and now it's named after him. He is the king of Nomad's Oasis as it should be. I got him there just in time to enjoy a few good years.



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Briarrose:
The reason I bought a place of my own was so I could have a forever home for my horses. One already is buried under his favorite tree in the pasture. The two boys now, I hope, have a long way to go as Dan was 29 the day he said it was time. They are only 18 and 15. However, I have already made provisions for them in my will as they have kept me going through some of the darkest times in my life. I promised Jake and Paces that even if I could never ride again, they would always have a job, mowing the grass in the pasture. They were happy to accept the deal. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[eponacelt]

Ian has a forever home with me and my husband. He's 22 and he's been through so many owners in his life, and had so many careers. I can't imagine sending him down the road at his age, expecially since I fear that since he's still so spry, he would be ridden into the ground. So, he'll be with me til he's old and gray - wait, he already is! Well, he'll be with me til the end of his days...

[_Wallysfolley_]

I DO!!! My Lucas is my first horse and there is no way I could ever sell him. I bought him from a woman who saved him from slaughter. He had been so badly neglected, but with a lot of love and yummy food in his belly he started to feel better and came out of his shell and became a horse I fell in love w/. My parents bought him for me as my High School Graduation gift and we've been inseparable ever since.

Lucas (http://community.webshots.com/photo/61132268/87502242yOgIga)

[equescool]

I just buried one my forever horses, a mare 25 yrs old who I raised on a bottle. Her buddy, my arab gelding 27 yrs, is still going and will stay here. Her son, who is coming 7 yrs, will stay with me, unless I go first &lt;g&gt;. EQ

[Bacchus]

Bacchus has a forever home with me. Jefe? We'll seehttp://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Feenikks]

Have an almost 39 yr old horse that has been with us since the early 80's .. our home is her home for the duration of her life.

Have a pony who is 32, he taught everyone how to ride, he earned a spot in the barn for his life.

My horse, He is my keeper.. through thick and thin, he will stay with me.

Have another little superstar pony. He was tossed from circuit to circuit but then came to us for lessons.. he is worth his weight in gold and has also earned his spot.

[TheJenners]

I've had Aisha since I was a little girl (http://community.webshots.com/photo/119614746/119619304XavCen) and I still have her now. She is retired due to severe DJD, and just spends her days grazing. (http://community.webshots.com/photo/119614746/168820564GjAzFl) She looks so different!

I also have my stallion, who I leased as a 2 year old for a little less than a year. I had to end it for financial reasons, and cried the entire way home with an empty trailer. His owner put him up for sale last year, and I argued with myself over why I shouldn't buy him (cha-ching) versus why I should (I missed him). My husband finally convinced me to buy him because, as he put it, "all you ever talk about is that damn horse." Sooo, I sold a mobile home I owned and bought him. We have a "special" bond http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[Barnfairy]

I would fail miserably as a horse dealer.

I'm so pathetic as far as horse business is concerned; over the years I've had no less than three boarders end up giving me their horse (usually aged and of questionable soundness) because they know I'll provide an excellent forever home.

They way I see it is this: all of my current horses helped me put food on the table & keep a roof over my head in the 90's, the least I can do is see to it that they are ensured a happy "retirement" right here with their friends on familiar surroundings.

[MSP]

A ten page list is quite a testament to how many of us love our horses enough to keep them forever!

I don't sell my horses; I have my old pal Ace who is 32 years old and my new girl Gem who is 2 years.

[JackandMo]

My two horses have a home for life, no matter what. If I have to live off Ramen noodle and live in the pasture with them, so be it.

Jack, my QH, will be 13 on my son's birthday, March 1. I've had him since he was nine, but he has been in my family since he was five.

Moe, my ASB, who I have only had for almost two years, will also remain with me for life. He's nothing fancy and will never be more than anything other than a working cow horse and friend, but we just have a bond that can't be broke.

He isn't worth much, and I have never been desperate enough to need to sell him.

[AllWeatherGal]

Boldie did until this past October. (http://www.mightythoroughbredclique.com/photos/retirement.jpg) ... He lived out the last 3 years of his life at a horse retirement home, lording over a pasture of geriatric blind horses. He didn't miss me or trail rides or jumping and certainly not the dressage.

[smallfries]

Sarah is 36 yrs, midnight is 23, and trixie is 18 . We will never sellt hem or give them away! They are family members and my kids best play buddies!

[monday]

I have had Monday for 10 years, since he was 3, and I will have him till the end of his days. He has been such a wonderful horse and has already done so much for me that even if I could never ride him again he has more than earned his keep. I just love him!

[Janet]

Spy is 23, with hip arthritis. I have had him since he was an unbroken 10 year old, though I leased him out for 8 years. He was SUPPOSED to be a sales project but it didn't happen. He has a forever home.

Music is 19 and still going strong. I have had her since she was a long yearling, and she has a forever home.

Belle is 9, and she probably has a forever home. But if the right person offered the right amonut of money, I MIGHT consider...

Chief is a weanling (7 months) and a sales project, so he isn't supposed to be a forever horse.

[2 tbs]

I retired Logan at 17 years old. I bought him at 9, he was in training for a hunter around 3 - he worked hard for me for all those years - thought he would like living the easy life.

So far he has enjoyed it fairly well...living out 24/7 and he'll be 21 in May! He gets trail ridden on rare occasion. Otherwise he's just a pasture ornament that is arthritic in his hocks but healthy every other way. Sure I'd like to save the expense but he's my first horse and he's family...no matter what I will have him until his last day!!

Trevor is 7 and although I hope to have him forever as well, Logan was first and will always come first...should something happen and I need finances for Logan...Trevor may find himself in a free lease situation. I don't intend to sell him ever but he's young enough that I just don't know what will happen...I'll do my best and the plans are there so hopefully everything will work out that he is with me for the next 20+ years!!

I'm a pack rat...I get rid of nothing!

[Pocket Pony]

Well, The Old Man for sure has his forever home with me. Because, well, he's Old. He was a "gift with purchase" of our little farmette. He's lame, the other guys push him around, his feet look like they were put on crooked, his lips are saggy and his tongue sticks out. But he's cute and I loff him.

I sincerely hope that Miles and Paddy will be with me forever. As I tell them (and myself) - as long as I am able to keep horses, they will be with me. If something terrible happens and I can't keep them (knock wood that that doesn't happen), I would likely give them away or sell them very very selectively. They deserve only the best!

[Briarrose]

I just got back to this thread and had to respond to Susan P. No, having a place to always keep my horses did not mean I ran out and spent a couple of hundred thousand dollars. It meant that 20 years ago, I found a tiny two acre fenced piece of property with an unfinished house and a barn with two 8x10 stalls whose owner was facing foreclosure. I was just able to afford it on a state worker's salary. Later I bought the two acres behind me when the old man who had lived there for years died. Luckily I bought land where no one was buying 20 years ago so it was cheap. That's probably the way most single horseowners have to do it and now that I am disabled and had to retire early, it is all I can ever afford but my boys have a forever home, no matter what, just not some lavish farm that cost a couple hundred thousand. And they could care less about the cost.

[coalforge]

I have 2. Noel, a 17yr old ISH who was given to me 5 years ago. I used him for lessons and trails until he was diagnosed with arthritis in the fetlock joint. Add that to his funky hocks and it was time for retirement. He came home last month and now has 24/7 turnout, food and shelter. His partner in this equine paradise is Twist, a 12yr old Arabian mare. I got her as a possible school horse, but she doesn't like little kids. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif So she became my trail horse. When my 3rd level TB was diagnosed with EPM, she became his constant companion until his death last month. Her patience and kindness to him earned her a forever home in my barn and in my heart. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[imapepper]

Gosh I don't even own the one that I am considering a "forever" horse. She belongs to someone else and I am free leasing her. I just can't even tell you how much I adore her though. She amuses me whether I can ride her or not. She is one of the few horses that I can just hang out with and enjoy her company. And I will do with her whatever she indicates that she enjoys the most. She will chose her own career http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I'm thinking she might be one heck of a hunter but...we shall see when she gets more exposure http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I hope she doesn't want to be a dressage horse....her trot is hell to sit http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Denali]

Yep - Denali!

He will be 24 in March, has bad hocks, bad suspensories in both hind legs, is a hard keeper and has horrible feet. He has racked up more then his share of vet bills in the 7 years I have owned him. He is an angel, and after years of abuse before I rescued him, he absolutely deserves every ounce of spoiling he gets. I have had 2 really close calls with him, thought for sure I was going to lose him... I know when he is tired he will let me know, but losing that horse is going to break my heart. Until then I continue to enjoy his friendship and adorable face http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif As my BB name implies, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that horse!!