My DH has just been offered a once in a life time opportunity to go and work in America. Will double his salary, and it has always been a dream of his.
- I would go in a drop of a hat ... if it wasn't for the horses.
Horse 1) - 21 y/o stressy TB. - To be quite honest I wouldn't even bother thinking about taking him, he's too old, too stressy - he wouldn't make the journey. But that's ok, I've had him for 11 years, my Father is also rather attached to him and would have him as a field ornament, with occasional riding by a friend or sister-in-law.
Horse 2) - 3.5 y/o QH - She is my issue really, I've had her since she was 18 months, broke her in myself - I don't have quite the same attachment as with the old boy, but it's getting there, even more now she's being ridden.
My first reaction was sell her or lone her out. I have never sold a horse in my life, I'm not sure I could do it, I would feel so guilty and heart broken + if I come back in 2 years (which is possible) then I would have to track her down before thinking of buying a new one. If I lone her out while this young, she wont be the horse I remember, she would be moulded to the loner's style so I might as well sell her ...
But ... she's a QH - If I bought one in america it would be a QH, and I have a perfectly good one which I have put so much work into here .... Her mother was shipped over, as was her dad -and they both where happy enough when i met them. How stressful is the shipping for the horse? According to the websites they are driven to Germany then fly from there, quarantine is done at our end so not too bad. But it doesn't give you a idea of how long it would take? - with a stranger, on her own? And then the cost - about £10k .... + I would have to wait at least a year to make sure it was a one way trip, I don't want to ship her over, then back again in a year.
I think I know what I want to do, but I don't know anyone who's done it?
WWYD?