Should I? Or Shouldn't I?

My ex best friend (long story) has called me numerous times telling me how she no longer rides her awesome pintabian mare, and wants to give her to me because she knows I will ride and take care of her.

I was the first to ride this mare when she purchased her, she is an ex endurance racer, but I think would be hitting 18-19 this year..... she is an easy keeper. I know this mare very well, and have ran some barrels on her. However since she doesnt get ridden or looked after much by my ex best friend (because I am not there, she doesnt have the drive to ride anymore), and I just have my un patterned barrel mare (she is just started on barrels) but want to barrel race this year... I have been thinking about getting a new prospect.

My usual barrel mare, just gave birth to the pally filly (who will most likely be my next prospect in 3-4 years), so there is no running her until the baby is weaned. The mare I am planning to show/run this year is my moms, and well, frankly, I am tired of putting training and time into someone elses horse without so much of a thank you...

The only problem with this mare is when my friend got her, she had a growth of some sort on her vulva. Finally when she was urged by me to get it checked, it turned out to be a tumour (2 of them one bigger on the left side, one smaller on the right), and I do believe it is malignant as well. She had these tumours removed, and they were dosed with some chemotherapy, they have not grown back.

Do you think this horse would be more of a financial burden? she is a dark bay tobiano, so not grey...... She would be an awesome barrel racer, and I wouldnt mind breeding her once or twice (she won a lot of money in endurance racing)....But the only thing with that is I am also 100% sure that she would need a caslick, due to the surgery of the sides of her vulva...

I know how much the removal and the chemotherapy cost, and I know its not cheap, thats why I am hesitant..... my friend did tell me if I can no longer keep her, I am to send her back to her....

What do you all think?

We inherited an arab mare with cancer on her vulva... she was 20+ when we got her..the tumors had already been there...Dad thought it was too risky at that point to take them off, so we left them..yeah the weren't pretty, but she was a happy horse, and very functional.. She just died this winter at the ripe old age of 35. ..so basically, I would worry about the tumors..

BUT I would worry about getting this horse from your "Ex" best friend...if you do go thru with it, get something in writing and take it in to get it noterized (sp?)

Im going to stick my neck out and say, don't do it. Price of feed and hay. You have horses to ride. She doesnt fit into your breeding program. She has health issues. I have to say thank you, but now is not a good time. I just bought some projects and I need to put my time into them.

I agree with Triple J. Those could be potentially serious and expensive health problems And with her age, I really don't think she'd make that good a barrel prospect. You might be able to run a year or two on her, but then you are pretty much stuck with her because she would be getting too old to sell. Plus I 'm not sure of the wiseness of getting into deals with ex best friends!! JMHO though.

You posted this before you bought the new projects at the sale... I think a person can only do so many "projects" justice, so I agree this may be too many... And like TJ said, you can't have her in your breeding program... and like I eluded too, and the others pointed out, you don't mix business with friendship to begin with...and an "ex" friendship would be even worse!

my ex best friend and I are on fairly good terms, but the deal would be, I take her, when or if I cant keep her anymore, she goes back to my ex best friend, and it would be in writing.

However, with my new projects, I dont think I will take her.....

Thanks everyone for your advice!

My new filly was given to me by a friend, but it was in writing and she signed over her papers etc.....
I think you made a good choice on passing this one by, especially since she may end up having more health problems.