dnooman - My text is gone, since it was flagged and removed and I’d deleted the e-mail, but it’s more or less exactly what I posted in my OP. I itemized the potential monthly expense, gave them the alternatives (handicapped program, riding lessons) and pointed out the lifespan of horses so they’d know how long they’d likely have to bear the expense. I mentioned the recent neglect cases and told them that people didn’t go into horse ownership intending neglect, they just get in over their heads.
I’m not by nature a tactful person, but this was as tactful as I could make it. These folks didn’t even have a place to keep horses, although they were looking for property. So they were asking that the donor/seller continue to keep the horses until they had a situation were they could take them. They would be happy to come on weekends, though. :rolleyes: I didn’t add in the cost of fencing the property they may (or may not) get.
Here’s the text of their post:
WANTED: Horses, Pony or Ponies for forever family
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We are a family of 5 looking for 3-5 horses, preferably two horses and three smaller horses or ponies. We have three girls, one is autistic and need a horse to ride for therapuetic reasons (muscle tone and balancing). We live in Mt Juliet but are hopefully purchasing land soon (10AC in Westmoreland) and are searching for places for horses. We are happy to come on weekends for riding to get to know horses and any routines or conditions (esp. for rescues) to make sure we will be able to take care of them forever. We are praying for low cost, due to medical issues with daughter, or free to good home animals. Happy to take mare and foal. Good dispositions are a must.
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StG
I can’t imagine how these points could be taken as being a jerk unless it was done in the tone of “how could you be so stupid?” instead of “here are some alternative ideas, reasons, etc”. One of my major concerns wouldn’t just be the cost and care of 5 horses but the idea that any horse that was broke enough to be safe with an inexperienced family and an autistic child would NEVER EVER EVER be “free” and except for a elderly horse that would require quite a bit of health care, wouldn’t even be “cheap”. The horse market has gone down lately but broke, safe horses are still several thousand dollars each. A friend of mine just sold an unregistered 4 year old mare, green broke for $2000. In another couple of years she would be ready for this family but by then you are looking at $2500-$3000 or more. In the ad they say they will accept “a mare and foal”. Colts are especially dangerous to beginners- they have to be handled with knowledge and not spoiled. Put children in that recipe and you are asking for a tragedy. I agree with those that say the autistic child should be enrolled in a therapeutic program. The family does show interest in really taking care of the horse “for life” so if they did purchase any- I would say they would be best off investing the money in two older, very broke (almost comatose ) horses. That way you have two horses for the kids to share and if mom and dad want to go riding alone, you’ve got a pair. There are no bargains in the horse world- you will get what you pay for!
Obviously if they have no idea how much money and work horses are, they can’t ride themselves. I’m wondering how non-riders could work with an autistic child on riding? I sure as heck couldn’t teach a non-autistic kid to ride, let alone an autistic one, however affected said kid is. Wouldn’t a horse need special training itself if the daughter is really severely autistic, as well? The more I think about this, the dumber this whole idea sounds, and I’m not a horse person!
I’m reminded of the (possibly true) Indian tale of the maharajah who got his revenge on a merchant by giving him an elephant, thus ensuring his financial ruin.
Five horses? That’s so completely retarded I don’t know where to begin. What are they planning to do? Take a trail ride together and just hope the young 'uns hold on? And what happens if, oops, like many fully-functioning, non-auticstic kids, they decide they don’t want a pony after all. Who gets to do all the work?
As has been mentioned in other discussions about giving away dogs, if someone can’t afford a small adoption fee, especially for a horse, then they can’t afford the vet bills.
And the OP posting a public respinse is a public service, but I would have also written to the family directly telling them no offense, but they’re better off going to a special farm once in a while.
) horses. That way you have two horses for the kids to share and if mom and dad want to go riding alone, you’ve got a pair. There are no bargains in the horse world- you will get what you pay for!