Alternatives to a Dales Pony

Highflinger said:
I was looking for a highland or dales a while back and could not find anything suitable ( did not have facilities or experience for a youngster/unbroken) so bought 5 year Fjord- I know they are quite rare and i was very lucky to find him but may be an option?
Although if you have set your heart on a fell I would follow your heart
Good luck
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Thanks Highflinger. ?
 
Meowy Catkin said:
Oh yes, there are hot ones and as long as the owner/rider gets on with that kind of temperament it's fine. :)

I have found that my grey who has a higher % of crabbet bloodlines needs a lot stimulus to get on her toes. If she was a human, she'd be a very sensible librarian who enforced the 'quiet' rule very strictly. I think she'd wear tweed. :)
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I used to have an IDx who we nick-named 'Margot' from the Good Life, she sounds just like your mare :)
 
southerncomfort said:
I don't think I've ever ridden a Morgan and don't know much about the breed. Are they generally pretty good temperament wise?
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Orangehorse said:
Morgan? Although also difficult to find adults as people tend to hang on to them! Right size, helpful temperament, pretty (usually), a workhorse that will turn its hoof to anything.
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What Orangehorse said!

I did that very cliched thing of riding one on holiday and deciding I wanted one! I looked into the breed and everyone said they were intelligent, willing, friendly, versatile good doers. I kept an eye out for them for sale in this country - they come up occasionally. I ended up buying a 6 month old (I went to the stud "just to look"!). He is now rising 2 and so far it has been going well. I have never had a youngster before so don't have much to compare it with but he has seemed very willing and intelligent so far. Teaching him to pick up his feet/back up/stand for the farrier have all been easy to the extent that I sometimes think he has been taught it before (pretty sure he hadn't!). Fingers crossed I don't spoil him. Oh and he is *definitely* a good doer!
 
I have a Dales X, he is the sweetest, loveliest pony on the ground to handle, super intelligent, extremely comfy ride, his only downside is that he can occasionally be stubborn out hacking if he is unsure of anything and he is spooked by the silliest of things but always tries his hardest to please, super easy keeper but can be prone to pile on the pounds quickly
 
Lovemarmite said:
I have a Dales X, he is the sweetest, loveliest pony on the ground to handle, super intelligent, extremely comfy ride, his only downside is that he can occasionally be stubborn out hacking if he is unsure of anything and he is spooked by the silliest of things but always tries his hardest to please, super easy keeper but can be prone to pile on the pounds quickly
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My mare is a Dales x (and I’m loving this thread), your post describes my mare to an absolute T, absolutely fascinating. I’ve had horses for longer than I care to admit ?, my mare is without a doubt one of the most incredible horses I’ve ever had.
 
daydreamer said:
What Orangehorse said!

I did that very cliched thing of riding one on holiday and deciding I wanted one! I looked into the breed and everyone said they were intelligent, willing, friendly, versatile good doers. I kept an eye out for them for sale in this country - they come up occasionally. I ended up buying a 6 month old (I went to the stud "just to look"!). He is now rising 2 and so far it has been going well. I have never had a youngster before so don't have much to compare it with but he has seemed very willing and intelligent so far. Teaching him to pick up his feet/back up/stand for the farrier have all been easy to the extent that I sometimes think he has been taught it before (pretty sure he hadn't!). Fingers crossed I don't spoil him. Oh and he is *definitely* a good doer!
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He sound just lovely!
 
Ownedby4horses said:
She’s lovely. Sadly the sweetitch would put me right off.
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If it can be managed and you don’t want to show it doesn’t have to. We bought a youngster with suspected sweet itch a couple of years ago (lack of mane!) with no qualms. He was otherwise what we wanted and we have managed it before. Put a rug on this year to grow a decent mane and he’s doing well. He is also as amazing in temperament as he promised to be and the minor hassle of rug/lotions is definitely worth it!
 
maya2008 said:
If it can be managed and you don’t want to show it doesn’t have to. We bought a youngster with suspected sweet itch a couple of years ago (lack of mane!) with no qualms. He was otherwise what we wanted and we have managed it before. Put a rug on this year to grow a decent mane and he’s doing well. He is also as amazing in temperament as he promised to be and the minor hassle of rug/lotions is definitely worth it!
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It does very much depend on where you are though.
I cannot take in anything remotely itchy at all as have midges throughout the year, adjacent land to one side is part under water much of each winter. Its horrible for any SI animal, even the mildest afflicted ones sadly :(
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
It does very much depend on where you are though.
I cannot take in anything remotely itchy at all as have midges throughout the year, adjacent land to one side is part under water much of each winter. Its horrible for any SI animal, even the mildest afflicted ones sadly :(
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I know someone who had a super little cob but in the end had to have him PTS because his sweetitch was so bad. A sad day.
 
maya2008 said:
If it can be managed and you don’t want to show it doesn’t have to. We bought a youngster with suspected sweet itch a couple of years ago (lack of mane!) with no qualms. He was otherwise what we wanted and we have managed it before. Put a rug on this year to grow a decent mane and he’s doing well. He is also as amazing in temperament as he promised to be and the minor hassle of rug/lotions is definitely worth it!
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You have been Relatively lucky with your boy. We’ve had an unridden sweetitch sufferer for 12 years. It is hard to manage, easier having them home but on a livery yard it is a nightmare. He pretty much has lived in a fly rug and mask permanently, taken off for baths, quick groom and applying spray. Despite diligence there always appears to be somewhere the flies can attack and then he’s sore and we are the. onto creams as well. Being in a rug 24/7 when his best buds are nude and desperately wanting to groom is miserable. His needs were at the top of the list when we were house hunting and any house that had anything that could potentially cause him an issue where immediately ruled out.

Having also witnessed my friend having to retire her wonderful mare as despite all efforts she just became too unpredictable to ride, even in a fly rug. I just wouldn’t wish it on anyone (or more importantly, any horse).
 
Sweetitch is very mich dependent on where you live as to how they are affected. Plus how badly they have it and how much effort you are willing to put into it. I can fully appreciate and understand someone not wanting a pony with it. I have 3 shetlands here with it. All 3 will rub themselves given the chance but they aren't suicidal with it.
 
Have a look at Great all Rounders on facebook - local to West Yorkshire and some lovely horses. Not 100s for sale but worth a conversation with her, she knows lots of people in the Dales world
 
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