I know most people probably don't look at Craigslist, LSN, and the horses for sale Facebook groups on a regular basis. Horse people should. Maybe if the horse community at large was aware of how large the "problem" is, we would all be more responsible. Better stewards. Make more responsible decisions when it comes to breeding, training, and selling. More willing to help our our neighbor who thought they'd be good and buy their kids a pony without knowing the first thing about horse care.
Among today's winners .... horses #24, #25, and #26 for sale (seriously, that's how the ads are titled) from "the boss has too many horses, needs to sell some" -- and they are all yearlings and 2 year olds. So, "boss" has known for at least 2 years that "boss" has too many, but has continued to breed. And, what's "boss" breeding? Tennessee Walking Horses in middle Tennessee, where the asking price is all of $300. It costs more than $300 to feed a pregnant mare, weanling and yearling properly. So, how do you even justify breeding multiple mares if you can't get more than $300 for their offspring???
An older pony who is "too old to ride" - although in all her photos she is in good weight - but the seller doesn't know how old she is and doesn't seem to care. Probably someone who doesn't know much and hasn't been helped or given any guidance. (Chances are, pony foundered at some point and walks like her feet hurt, leading to the "too old to ride" myth). Sorry, but look at the endurance Arabian still winning at 37. The average age of an NFR qualifier 2 years ago was 23 or 24. Some horses need to be retired; many others do best with some sort of job, even if it is light rides around the pasture a few times a week.
$75 and $100 "good" saddles. Newsflash: If it is a $75 saddle, you don't want to ride your horse in it. A poorly fitting saddle can cause all kinds of issues - sore withers, sore backs - have a horse that bucks, rears or doesn't want to move out? Check your saddle fit!
Horse's fault is that he throws his head and sometimes pops up -- Ever have his teeth floated? Chances are no, and chances are that's because he's never seen a vet or you never listened when the vet suggested it might need to be done. Sorry, but that's $80 you really do need to spend every year, whether your vet does it or you have an 'equine dentist' do it.
3 year old stallion is pastured with geldings -- and mares -- but "doesn't know he's a boy." Excuse me, but I'm sure he does. Even though he is your sweet, innocent baby that you think needs to keep his nuts for no good reason at all, if a mare's in heat and around a stallion, nature is nature. And, I'd bet next year's hay that you'll have some surprise additions to your pasture sometime this year.
