I bought a small aluminum stock trailer five years ago - one where the horse could walk on, turn around and walk off. I wanted to take my old gelding on trail rides with friends. I live in a non-horsy area with a fast, busy road blocking access to the few paths available and though my boy was as road safe as a horse can be, I always rode alone, and at my age that was starting to feel unsafe.
I also wanted to expose my young mare to new places and get support during her training. Again, always home alone on a youngster wasn’t safe.
I learned how to load both horses calmly by myself, how to drive with a full load, how to back and unload, etc. A very y positive experience for me.
The mare learned to load well and got to go to a nearby arena a dozen times. I took the gelding to the beach once (a childhood dream … he hated it because he was alone)
No one followed through with their offers to ride out with me on the trails. And though my mare was lovely to ride most times, she had an unpredictable buck issue which I found out was genetic - same for her full brother and sister (a girth/back problem?), so I decided not to risk my old bones on her. Then I got injured (not horse related) and couldn’t ride for two years. Then the old boy got sick and died last year.
The mare is now ten and a lovely pet who knows a long list of ‘circus tricks’. I enjoy her very much. I bought a two year old pony this spring to be pretty company and maybe, only maybe, to ride someday - if she grows big enough (not looking likely right now).
Yesterday I parked the trailer in the school where I will gradually teach the pony to load.
Then what do I do with the trailer? I haven’t used it in four years. I pay to get it licensed and inspected every year but it sits there reminding me of dreams that didn’t work out. If I sell it I could use the money to support the horses - it's worth at least 6 years of hay. But as I near retirement, I will never afford another one. So it just sits there, steadily aging.
What would you do?