From: GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan)
Subject: Re: sentementality
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 23:58:56 GMT



      lbishop@ringer.cs.utsa.edu (Linda Bishop) writes:
Subject: Sentimentality at its worst (or best)



I want to share an unfortunate experience I had this past
weekend.

When I was 13 my grandfather gave me a two year old
Quarter Horse (Hank). Hank is now 19 (you can calc. my age).

Four years ago, due to my financial situation I could afford`
to care for only one horse.  I chose my much younger Anglo-
Arabian dressage horse and 'leased' Hank to a man for pleasure
riding. The deal was he took over Hank's care with the
understanding (I thought) that I would take Hank back at some
time in the future.

I went out to visit every six months, always finding Hank in
good form and the man happy with the situation.  I then got
lax in my visits and it`s been a year ago last May since I
went out.

This last Saturday, 9/26, I was in the area and went by to
see Hank and the man said that since he hadn't seen me in some
time he thought I was no longer interested and he had
SOLD Hank.

Jim's side of the story was that a high school kid came looking
for a 4-H horse and Jim offered Hank free if it was a good
home(he says he checked), but the boy had been saving his
money and his Dad wanted him to recognize the value of the
horse so they paid.

I believe, and will until proved otherwise, that Jim thought
he was acting in Hank's best interest and that as long as
he went to a good home I would be happy.  Jim offered me the
money and called the people to explain.

I have talked to them breafly and will go out next Sat. to
meet them (i.e. check them out)

If the place checks out and Hank looks good, I'll probably leave
him there until the kids are out of 4-H or Hank gets too old to
ride then bring him home.  This time with a written contract.
The good side is if this is a good place for him, he'll thrive on
the attention. (I have grad school, work, and my Anglo).

I still hold his registration papers, and I don't know if they
even know he's registered.

Hank has taken such good care of me all these years that I
always thought I would take care of him in his old age.  I felt
like I abandoned him 4 years ago and I feel even worse now.

Any comments or suggestions?

Linda





Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Sentimentality at its worst (or best)
Summary:
Followup-To:
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Keywords:


-------------------------------------------------------------------
I would be VERY VERY upset.  I don't understand why Jim could not
extend you the courtesy of a phone call.  I  my experience, which I
will relate, people generally don't value "free" or lease for care
horses.

When I was pregnant 6 years ago I started looking for a really good
home to retire my 25 year old mare, who still had lots of spirit and
was sound.  I even at one point tried to donate her to the Stanford
Equestrian program but they came out and rode her and said she was
just too fast.

I found a person I knew through work who had been taking riding
lessons and said her husband was looking for a horse for sort of a
backyard pet.  They had a 1/2 acre.  Sounded perfect to me.  I gave
them the horse, with pages of information about her and the
understanding that I wanted to know if it didn't work out and I
would take her back.  Keep in mind that she needed more care than I
had time for, extra rations in the winter, etc. and I had been
boarding her out and just couldn't make the hike up to see her and
supplement her, being preganant.  They sent be a note after about 3
months that she was just doing fine.

Almost a year later I received a phone call from a stranger that
now had my horse and said that the people I had given her too had
flagged her down on the street and asked her if she wanted another
horse.  She was almost starved to death.  This new person send me a
photo, and gave me directions on where they were now boarding her.
I went out to visit and cried buckets over this gaunt (but
recovering) horse that still recognized me.  They seemed like nice
people (the new owners) and I said I would like to stay in touch.

Two years after that I heard from the grape vine that someone was
trying to get rid of my horse.  I tried to get information and went
out to the stable to look for her in the pasture, as we were in the
process of buying property and I wanted to retire her there.  I
never did find her, and have felt very guilty after that.

My husband told me at the time I gave her to the first party (who
starved) her that I had to stop worrying-that the reason I had found
another home is that I no longer had the time or energy to take care
of a horse.  I still feel now that I would have been better off just
putting her down rather than give her away to a so called good home.

I would be very tempted to take your horse back if there is a way,
or have a very strong contract that protects you and the horse so
that you can retrieve him if there is any abuse or neglect.  If you
don't you might really end up regretting it later.  My horse was
really my best friend for 7 years and I feel really sorry for the
way I let her down in the end

Karen
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian