how do you find retired horses?

[lisad123]

DD1 and dd2 go to a riding therapy centre. They are a charity, and run to pay the bills and to care for the horses but dont make money iyswim.
The horse dd1 rides is sick and dying and can no longer be ridden and we are prepared that they will have to put her to sleep.
They have 4 other horses that ride out, 2 small ponies to groom and 2 massive fields. Not all the horses in the stables are able to be ridden by the children, they just dont have the right personality, or havent been schooled well enough before being given to the stables.
They are looking for 2 more horses to take on that are retired. The most riding they do is 30 mins slow walking though woodlands(plus run round the massive fields of course) so have found retired horses better. The thing is as a charity they cant afford to buy another horse. BUT how likely is it retired horses are given away? They have been really lucky in the past but most of the horses belonged to the head coach before she set this up.

So if you know of any horses that need a good home, what would you do with them? is there soemwhere they have adverts??

[Callisto]

Blue Cross and ILPH immediately spring to mind. You could also try local riding schools etc.

[lisad123]

wouldnt blue cross charge?? they certainly do for rehoming dog :)

[Booboostoo]

Is this centre affiliated to the RDA? The RDA are really the best people both for training instructors and horses. The RDA centres I have worked with have either bought horses directly or had them gifted to them, but the horses have them been put through a rigorous assessment and training programme. Unfortunately many horses are retired because they are unsuitable for riding or although retired they may still have temperamental querks that make them unsuitable for therapy work.

Do they do lead rein work only? That would probably make it easier to find something - have you considered a wanted ad on somewhere like Horsemart/Horsequest? Or posting on the Horse and Hound forum?

There is also a Veteran Horse Society which specialises in helping rehome elderlies although they are often described as 'not novice rides'.
www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk/

[lisad123]

no not RDA. Its not about the riding, more to do with the therapy side of it. Mine really didnt like RDA :(
Yes they are always lead and reined (unless an adult is riding who knows what they are doing). Its not really about learning to ride iyswim.

Will tell them about ad :) thanks

[Haggydclohbatspus]

What size horse is required? It shouldnt be too hard to find some, most of the horse websites have free to good homes, the problem you have is that a lot of freebies are unrideable. There are lots of small rescue centres around who might have something suitable, I know Redwings are at double capacity right now. If your place is a charity, they may give some help with the rehoming fee, but do remember that the rescue centres are charities as well.
Id imagine that if you advertise, you will be inundated with offers, people cant give horses away right now!

[Mirage]

Try preloved.There are always companion or retired ponies on offer there.Whether they would be suitable for light work or not I don't know,but worth a try.