superpony
Well-Known Member
I have a 14.1hh welsh x rising 12 year old gelding. I've owned since I was 13, he was my first pony and i'd never part with him. My problem is I don't know what to do for the best for him.
In the past we have done very well in dressage, placed and won at prelim level, he has the potential and paces to go much further in dressage, he would definately go affliated, only not done more dressage due to lack of time. He has also won and placed at showing.
He had a hard start to life, we got him very underweight as a 5yr old just gelded and broken, hes had a lot of veterinary problems. He had artritis in his hocks at 8, perentinitous the year after when we nearly lost him, laminitis at 10 and last year he had torn a ligament in his back and chipped part of the bone off his pelvis. At this point the vets said that really i was too big to ride him. (I'm 5'9 and 10 stone)
His other problems are that he is very rude on the ground (always has been) has got better over time but will still take the mick if he can and he sometimes nips. He doesn't like heavy traffic, he gets very excited out in company out hacking (bucking, rearing and jogging). He has not jumped for his years due to his vet problems. But in the school doing flatwork he is a total schoolmaster and an absolute star.
So selling is not an option.. apart from the fact i couldn't bare to part with him, he is also best buddy's with my new horse who i bought last year and I dont think anyone would want to buy him anyway with all his problems! Do I try and find a light weight sharer to ride him? Options here are limited as its finding someone small and very experienced both riding and handling. But he does seem to enjoy still being ridden and used to love competing. Do i retire him? Or semi retire him? (This is what i thought might be the best option and just quieting hack him out.. if he lets me. But then I think hes going to waste as could go really far in dressage.)
Cookies for everyone getting this far! Thanks guys. Really looking forward to everyones opinions.
In the past we have done very well in dressage, placed and won at prelim level, he has the potential and paces to go much further in dressage, he would definately go affliated, only not done more dressage due to lack of time. He has also won and placed at showing.
He had a hard start to life, we got him very underweight as a 5yr old just gelded and broken, hes had a lot of veterinary problems. He had artritis in his hocks at 8, perentinitous the year after when we nearly lost him, laminitis at 10 and last year he had torn a ligament in his back and chipped part of the bone off his pelvis. At this point the vets said that really i was too big to ride him. (I'm 5'9 and 10 stone)
His other problems are that he is very rude on the ground (always has been) has got better over time but will still take the mick if he can and he sometimes nips. He doesn't like heavy traffic, he gets very excited out in company out hacking (bucking, rearing and jogging). He has not jumped for his years due to his vet problems. But in the school doing flatwork he is a total schoolmaster and an absolute star.
So selling is not an option.. apart from the fact i couldn't bare to part with him, he is also best buddy's with my new horse who i bought last year and I dont think anyone would want to buy him anyway with all his problems! Do I try and find a light weight sharer to ride him? Options here are limited as its finding someone small and very experienced both riding and handling. But he does seem to enjoy still being ridden and used to love competing. Do i retire him? Or semi retire him? (This is what i thought might be the best option and just quieting hack him out.. if he lets me. But then I think hes going to waste as could go really far in dressage.)
Cookies for everyone getting this far! Thanks guys. Really looking forward to everyones opinions.
