Advice please.

[Shay]

I would just like to echo the fleeting recommendation for Pony Club. A Pony Club linked center as a livery yard would be ideal of course - but even if you can't move her at all if you join your local pony club you will have a source of advice, support and instruction. They may also be able to connect you to a yard for livery until you can get a bit more experience. Whilst you are all ground bound you might want to try and research your pony's history if you can. As she came through a dealer there might be no history, or any history might be hidden. But if you can find out anything it might help shed light on the back issues.

I woud also echo the praise for you in indentifying you need help, seeking it and acting on it. Most folk on here will have had experience of making a pony purchase mistake and will be entirely sympathritc to you whilst you try to work your way through it.

 

[Dixiedoo]

I would just like to echo the fleeting recommendation for Pony Club. A Pony Club linked center as a livery yard would be ideal of course - but even if you can't move her at all if you join your local pony club you will have a source of advice, support and instruction. They may also be able to connect you to a yard for livery until you can get a bit more experience. Whilst you are all ground bound you might want to try and research your pony's history if you can. As she came through a dealer there might be no history, or any history might be hidden. But if you can find out anything it might help shed light on the back issues.

I woud also echo the praise for you in indentifying you need help, seeking it and acting on it. Most folk on here will have had experience of making a pony purchase mistake and will be entirely sympathritc to you whilst you try to work your way through it.

Thank you, I really appreciate your kindness and support! I've tried to contact the dealer on different phone numbers and she doesn't get back to me! I've left a couple of messages insinuating I'm interested in a pony she has for sale on NFED and she still doesn't return calls! It's very frustrating.
I have made enquiriesabout pony club and I'm waiting for somebody to get in touch. The only problem is I don't have transport for her.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

 

[paddy555]

Thank you, I really appreciate your kindness and support! I've tried to contact the dealer on different phone numbers and she doesn't get back to me! I've left a couple of messages insinuating I'm interested in a pony she has for sale on NFED and she still doesn't return calls! It's very frustrating.
I have made enquiriesabout pony club and I'm waiting for somebody to get in touch. The only problem is I don't have transport for her.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

you may find someone in your area who will either transport you or share costs. You may also find, thro the pony club a young rider with experience who will ride her for a while so you can see if there are any issues. The dealer may not be at fault as such, it may be that you have got a real 2nd pony when in fact you probably wanted a pony that was just a little more than a 1st pony.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Well done for asking for help, far too often I've seen people continue to muddle on only to find themselves in a worse predicament.

I can still remember 20+ years on that daunting feeling of having my first horse and totally agree with moving to a yard that can offer you all a bit more support to help you navigate the rollercoaster that is horse ownership.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the behavioural stuff you're currently encountering stems from that initial poorly fitting saddle. You don't say if a saddler fitted the treeless saddle originally but given the saddler who fit the new saddle said it was a poor fit I would imagine there would be some residual soreness even after changing to a more suitable saddle. Did you have a physio look at her in between? If not that would be my first port of call with your vets blessing.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would say the main issues are the fact she is being kept alone, and it sounds like the saddle has made her back sore, it sounds like you making the steps and getting some help which is the main thing, I think once you get into a proper yard set up and facilities and get the back problem sorted I am sure you will have a totally different pony.

 

[Shay]

Keeping any horse alone - and in many ways particualrly a mare -is going to make them more and more stressed as time goes by. That is an issue all on its own of course - but when you do get a paddock mate it also makes pair bonding massively more of an issue. If you can do try to get her onto a yard ASAP so she has company and you have support. You can also share transport!

 

[arizonalover1]

Let me tell you,
I have BEEN where you have been.
It’s the absolute worst!!
We bought this gelding who would be fine one day and then take off and bronc and be absolutely insane the next day. We had purchased him impulsively as a first horse.
At the time, i definitely didn’t know a lot about horse ownership😂
We brought him to a barn where the trainer was absolutely horrid and (he is more long backed, and therefore has to be ridden just a tad differently and be treated differently). The trainer had know idea what she was doing and he was muscled completely upside down.
Me, as an inexperienced rider had zero idea what to do and thought he was alright until he started to do the above mentioned.
The chiropractor was out and everything (the trainers) and she didn’t know what she was doing either, so the problem continued. Trainer even wanted to get the hocks injected...kind of random
Anyways, the point of this story is that i took him to a barn with a trainer who knew what she was doing and ACTUALLY taught me something and how to deal with him.
He ended up having bad ulcers and hated being touched on his stomach, hence the aggression when we put leg on. Besides that, he was muscled bad and wasn’t working through his back at all, which caused pain within his back.

If there is anything i have learned, go to a barn with someone who knows what they’re doing, and can help you. Doing horses by yourself is impossible, especially if you’re a novice rider. trust me, i know😂
It’s not worth the safety issues, money etc to be somewhere where it’s only getting worse.
Get a trainer, go to a barn where you feel comfortable & can learn and properly address this problem. especially for your two girls!
my guy now goes completely tackless and is the best pony out there.
Goodluck!!

 

[Chuffy99]

Poor you, this is supposed to be fun, I think you’ve got a good idea from the very helpful replies above but please bear in mind what Shay says above about pair bonding. If your friend gets a pony for her daughter you will have the added problem of if you don’t want to ride together one pony will be left in the paddock and will probably be cantering round calling and your pony upset and possibly napping or misbehaving to get back to her friend which can be very unnerving especially for small people.