horses as business?

I read a lot of blogs who have links to rescues and retirement set-ups for horses and I'm full of admiration for them. I can think of nothing better than giving happiness and care to wonderful, deserving horses, particularly where their previous owners have not been so kind.

I can also think of nothing worse than the inevitability of losing them all to old age or illness.

I suck with death. People, not so much. It shocks me and I grieve, but it doesn't devastate me - although I know that one day it will, when it is a person I love dearly. The death of animals I love devastates me. My best friend's family dog passed recently and although I only visited them a few times a year for the last 10 years or so, I loved that dog and I couldn't help but cry.

What my link to my post title is therefore, is that my attitude to horses varies as to whether I am working with them, or if they are my own. I have never sold a horse of my own and never will. I am fortunate in that my mum agrees with this. When I went to college, Frankie was still a good age and full of potential and I suggested that maybe we sell him, so that he could carry on doing what he enjoyed for someone else to appreciate. She wouldn't hear of it. I used to torture myself at night, thinking what a waste it was of a great pony and what he could have been doing, but what did he know of that? He was happy, living in his herd with regular feed, water, shelter and care. He's as loved by me and my mum as he could be by anybody, and right now i'd probably still cry myself to sleep if he had gone and something had happened or we'd lost touch with him. I have no idea if I was right or wrong, but at least he's still around, fat, healthy, sassy and happy to prove that it wasn't the worst outcome.

I couldn't imagine selling on or getting rid of a horse that couldn't be ridden anymore, not where I had such a close bond and love for the animal. It appalls me that people will sell or dump animals in their 20s or 30s who have been family pets and children's wonder horses when they can no longer be ridden. Morally, how do you do that? Emotionally?

I know i've been lucky with Ollie and Frankie, and I'll be forever grateful to Ian for finding them both for me. They were both the perfect ponies for me at each stage and Frankie is my equine soulmate. If I could have any horse in the world for the rest of my life, it would be him. I tear up just thinking about it! I'm not special, I think he'd do most anything for anybody if they asked him right, but I've had the pleasure of being the asker and the receiver of his abilities and bravery and the wonder of going from local shows one year to HOYS the next because of his scope, honesty and his faith in himself, not in me thinking that a fence was too scary. It so wasn't!

There are so many things I still want to do with him but due to circumstances, I don't know if it's possible. I'm in Canada right now, and he's at home! Still, if horses are to be my business, it won't be interfering with the pleasure I take at having such a perfect horse for me.