22 year old pony to buy or not??

I was in pretty much the exact same situation myself only no little children - my mare is 19 this year and I bought her a year ago. Everyone is shocked at her age she looks so fantastic. Having broken my back four years ago in a car crash I was anxious to get a safe ride (been 36 yrs since I last had a horse but it was a life long dream to have another once we has the land and finances!!) it has been the best most amazing thing I have ever done after becomin a wife and mum. She has transformed my life and I hope I have transformed hers. She is an only child and is very happy in her five star home. Yes I fear her ageing but its much better than the alternative!! Your paths have crossed for a reason- buy her yea!' ;) x
 
Hi, I'm new to this forum but have just read the thread from start to finish and I'm really glad you decided to take on your lovely little mare. She seems very sweet and I don't think you could have lived with yourself not taking her! Cushing's is a manageable disease, especially if caught early, which it seems yours has. Cushing's can often lead to laminitis, as I'm sure your vet has said (sorry if you've said this). Here is a really good free webinar about Laminitis/Cushing's from a vet at Liphook Equine Hospital. Some of it is quite technical but it contains the most up to date information about laminitis and it's a really interesting watch (it's about an hour though!) and hopefully will help you understand a bit more about it.

http://www.bi-learn.co.uk/categories/equine

Honestly though, she sounds like she's in the best possibly hands and it's great she's been given a fresh start! I hope you have many happy years together.

Edit: The webinar is free but you do have to register.
 
Sorry my last posting seemed to have popped up a little late in the thread- glad you have bought her and fingers crossed you will have her sorted and in tiptop condition soon ;)
 
Hi, she looks so sweet and well for 22 !, I think perhaps the owner should at that age be more concerned about the home (which sounds ideal) than the money, maybe a token amount so you 'own' her. All older horses come with health issues like us and any animal,but as a light hack and the right care there's no reason why you cannot have years of fun with her !

Good luck ! :)
 
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just an update on angel here of some pics of her progress shes looking fab and is as healthy as can be shes now in light work to build muscle she even left the field todays for the first time in years and traffic does nt bother her buses skips nothing bothered her. next week she,ll be ridden out I ve had an instructor out helping me and helped my confidence. im getting her hoof boots this week to help with her flat feet , Im so glad a took the gamble on angel shes perfect.. and by Friday 28th she,ll have company on her field 2 cob geldings are moving on !! so all is fantastic im really chuffed with her so though id share my news and thankyou all for your support advice and encouragement regards becky
 
cptrayes said:
Just a quick point that although she is obviously worth something to you, in the current market this little mare is not actually worth anything, especially if her passport has been marked as not for human consumption. I know you will probably pay what you have to now that you have taken her on and love her, but I hope that you can bargain the current owner down to a very small sum. Most people would be looking to try to give away a horse as old as her in her current condition, not sell it.

You sound like you will care for her so well, and I really wish you luck.
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hi angel was given to me by the old owner once I explained her poor neglected state I payed for her tack though. she,ll never be sold on her home is with me for life I will get something bigger in the next year or so then angel will become a semi retired lead rein pony when she needs it x
 
She looks like a different pony, she has a lovely happy face in the last pic :) What a lovely story, hope you both continue to have a great time together!
 
thanks everyone the 1st 2 pictures are the first week of me getting her the others are this week yes huge transformation and her movements are all very welshy too no stiffness and dragging and no going on 3 legs shes very happy always comes running to me for our little snuggles and can act like a 5 year old at times shes a darling and im so glad she came into my life cause her life has changed so much and she will always be cared for like the angel she is x

oh forgot to mention I have held of treating the cusions as she is showing no signs at all so no point treating just yet the tablets wont cure or slow cushions only treat symtoms which she has non of so when she needs the treatment she will then start
 
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havent read all of the thread but well done for taking on an oldie and hope you have many years of happiness with her.

:(:(a note of caution!!!!!!!

she may not be showing signs of cushings but if her acth levels are raised one of the results of this can be laminitis!!!!!

starting medication does not cure the condition but would control the symptoms and would give a much higher chance that she will not get laminitis. i know its an expensive treatment(mine is now on 3 prascend daily) but laminitis is such a horrible painful condition i would rather take as many precautions as poss....
 
sorry, just remembered breathing problems can be a cushings symptom and on reading the rest of the thread it seems that your mare is breathing oddly.
 
Only just seen this thread and have sat and read the whole thing.
Brilliant, just wonderful. She is looking beautiful in those last pics. You should be very very proud, you've done a lovely thing for that old girl. :)
 
Thank you I will keep you all updated on her progress im so lucky for her to have come into my life she's a perfect 1st pony yes its been hard work lots of worrying about choices to make but look at the result. . Thanks all again im very proud x
 
What a wonderful story! Brought a tear to my eye. So many older horses get left on the scrap heap with nobody to care for them. It's so lovely to read this thread and know that this old girl has found somebody to love her in her old age! She looks great in the recent pics you have posted. Good luck with her, I hope you have many happy years to come with her! What a lucky girl! :D
 
Just found and read this thread... Such a fantastic job, a credit to your dedication and love for her. I started reading the first page and kept thinking omg, I really hope she keeps her, there was something about the thread. Amymay said straight away, don't wait, get her now... Now normally that is the total opposite of advice given on here, but there was something that just felt right about you having her... She looks a million times better, you can tell how much she means to you in this thread. Only a special few would take on a golden oldie... You should be incredibly proud of the new life you've given that sweet little mare x
 
Well done OP - looks like you are doing a fab job, she is looking great!

While doing some research for a hormonal mare, I came accross a thread that recommended chaste berry for cushings. You can buy it quite cheap over the internet. Might be worth invesitgating further to see if this would help your mare?
 
looking great :), I think you will just have to be a little aware of her weight given her likely cushings (and holding on to coat like she has is also a symptom) to ensure she doesn't get unnecessarily footy.
 
hi everyone just a few pictures of Angel .. shes thriving and is so much happier with her new field mates!

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Ooo, thank you for posting. Was only thinking of you last night and wondering how you were all getting on. She's looking wonderful.
 
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massive difference!

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