Horses are not disposable
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people treat horses disposably. As a rescue we get calls all the time for animals in need of homes. We do our best to match-make and support horses finding appropriate homes. We empathize and understand all the legitimate reasons people need to move a horse to their next home. Horses lives ~30 years, it's not realistic that all of them will get lucky enough to have 1 home through it all. But in order to prevent the slippery slope to slaughter, horses NEED at least 1 person who was in their life to step up and commit to their end of life care. It's painful, difficult, and often very expensive to provide care for the horse's last few years, but because we CREATED and USED these horses throughout their lives, it is our responsibility to provide them a humane retirement and peaceful passing. No Matter What. It's part of the deal. We can't pass the buck.
Every horse, Every Single One, will have times throughout their life where they can not be ridden. Some may be longer than others, some may never be rideable. This does not make them disposable. This doesn't mean they have no value. But this does put them at high risk for ending up on a bad path, so they need you now more than ever. If you love your horse, if you care about them, budget for their retirement, budget for their end-of-life, write a will, make a plan for the worst case scenarios.
We understand and empathize completely when people aren't able to keep their horses, we rescues are here for you to help you in every way we can. Finances, life situations, tragedies, and other major challenges like these happen, don't beat yourself up by making the kind choice to let your horse move to a home that can care for them best. There are so many legit reasons this happens. But "I can't ride them anymore" or "they can't compete the way/level I want to" aren't acceptable reasons to put a horse at risk. If you can find them a great home, that's great, but it's on you to keep track and make sure they stay in that good home and don't end up getting passed on again, and again, until they're in a dangerous situation.
If you can't ride your horse, here's a list of ways you can still enjoy your relationship and keep your horse safe. An unrideable horse is at great risk in life, if you love them, if they've served you, PROTECT them.
How much money, how many ribbons, how well-behaved, how perfect does a horse need to earn retirement? We have had horses who won actual millions on the tracks, horses who have served as reliable lesson/show horses, horses who have been devoted and loyal family members all dumped the day they were deemed unridable. It infuriates me, because they gave us their EVERYTHING. They did everything right. These are amazing horses who did everything they were supposed to do and when their day of need came, they were treated disposably. I can't get over that betrayal on their behalf.
WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER. Horses are not disposable.