If anything was to happen to me? I'm not sure if many of us or any of us has put any thought into what was to happen to your horses if something was to happen to you. It's not something I've thought about until recently. I cannot remember which month it was, but within this past year, A couple and their grandkids died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their camper/trailer while at a horse show. This couple bred and raised Clydesdales and were at a show, I believe, when this happened. I know in the end, the horses, and there were a lot of them, were auctioned off. If something was to happen to me, I could count on Steve to feed them, but when it comes to knowing they're ill or need trimming or need to gain weight rather than lose, or even if they were sore or injured, he himself admits, he would not know it. So we discussed this the other night and I told Steve what I would want him to do, unless for some reason, Zoe, would want the responsibility, which I doubt, I would want them to go to a rescue, but not just any rescue. One inparticular, in this area. It is called the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation . They take great care of their rescues and have strict rules for adoption and follow-up for at least five years. That is my plan, if something was to happen to me. What's yours?
16 comments:
Great, thought provoking post Callie. You bring up a good point about people not wanting to face their own mortality. Not only do we need to provide for our families should something happen, but we need to consider our horses and other animals as well.
Since I do not techinally own any horses at the moment, I dont have any plan in place. But we DO have Jo the WOnder Nanny Dog, and a plan needs to be made for HER.
Thanks,Mrs.Mom, I know Steve can handle the other animals in our care, but the horses and their quirks that only I have grown to know is quite another thing and I don't think it would fair to Steve to expect him to. It happens all to often. I've read of a man whose dream it was to raise TB's down in Louisianna and was diagnosed with Cancer and just before Christmas, his wife was struggling to find the horses he had bred new homes. It's an aweful thought and you're right most of us don't want to think about our own mortality.
Good post. I think on this a lot. I've already told a few people specifically which horse goes with my daughter no matter what, that should I die tomorrow, they would have to take my daughter and the horse.
I count on my friends and family to farm out the rest to who ever they can. I would hope a rescue like Painted Promise would take a few and rehome them.
It's a tough thing to do. The dogs are what I worry about. Hard to find a good home for dogs, especially those used to being together. What a sad thought...
As you can imagine for me this is a very complicated issue. I have a life insurance policy in place that it totally about taking care of the horses. There is a plan in place and the funds from the policy are so that plan can be initiated. I want proper homes for these horses as well as not wanting my family to lose out on the investment we have made in them. That's a pretty tall order but I think the plan will be effective.
Mikey, It's good that you have thought about it and have formulated a plan of sorts and have family to count on. I know Steve could handle the dogs here just fine.
Mikael, That's real good as I'm sure with a business, it's much more complicated but it sounds like you've got it completely worked out, even legally. That's good.
My dad died without a will and it was a mess. Luckily, all of the horses were in my name and stayed out of the probate.
Right after that, I made a will leaving everything to my mom. As time has gone on, I have updated it to include Megan and my share of the ranch.
Specific instructions have been left for everything else. If Megan can't or doesn't want to take the dogs and cats-Chris will take them.
When Megan reaches legal age, I will again have to re-evaluate my will and decide who goes where and with who and I also include a back-up plan if someone cannot take something.
Besides not making arrangements to start with, people forget to update as their life and aquisitions change.
We have made arrangements with one of our attorneys as to where our horses will go and money is provided for their care until they are gone. Different horses go to different people that I know would take good care of them. Funsize (my niece) has her Morgan (which is really mine) and I made arrangements for him to stay with her at the stable and money is privided for his care. She has no place to keep him as she rents an apartment in town. We spent quite a bit of time working all of this out but where we fly a lot I wanted everything in place in case the plane goes down. Sounds gloomy but these things have to be taken care of. I've seen too many good horses just go to auction when something happens to the owners and they must be spinning in their graves over it.
Good post, it makes people think!
BECowgirls and Midlife Mom, Both good plans. I have my plan but I do need to put it in writing as Steve and I both need to sit and put this stuff in writing.
I have not made formal arrangements, I have only owned My Boy since December. But I know my sister would have first choice since he is already there under her care. My parents would have the next choice (my dad will be looking for a horse in a year or two, after he has knee surgery), or, one of the 4 other horse-owning members of my extended family. They might be fighting over him....well, maybe I should get it in writing! ;)
It's never too early, Pony Girl, but it sounds like you have a lot of family willing to be there.
I had to think about that. I would hope my dad would come out at get Maddy and take her home to Minnesota and let her live out her life. Good thing to think about and discuss.
Do you have written instructions in your barn about how to care and feed your horses on a daily basis? Besides the long term planning, I realized one day that if I was in a car accident or something prevented me from getting home, I wanted anyone - my neighbors or any non-horse person to be able to jump in and help. I also have a couple of friends with horses and I posted their phone numbers prominently in the tack room in case of emergency. It's all so important to think about - great post!
Photochic, It is important and does need to be discussed. I still need to put it in paper.
Victoria, What a good idea! I'll formulate that this week and put it in a plastic cover to keep in the feed room.
Man what a great post and thought provoking! Hubby did admit that he would be able to get the horses by, but the TLC and all the extras that I do he would lack. That is just because he is working and I always take care of them. I do have a great friend that knows each of our horses and there needs. Knows what I feed them and there special needs, vet, etc. As I know hers. We do not have anything in writing, but guess we need to get something done. THanks for sharing this post!
Kris, my hubby, the same. He would be able to feed them, but subtle changes or a lameness issue unless it was obvious, he would not notice, even colic.
Post a Comment