We kept her on land we rented. Since she was 25 when we bought her and lived a further 10 years in work we hadn't much choice. She went off as a companion with lifeling friend of hers we sold, sadly she had to be pts shortly afterwards - didn't want to be retired and wanted to stay with us.....
This is Nutty (yes I am aged 7, and she is living in the back garden!!) she cost £50, saddle cost £25, and she would be considered completely unsuitable as a childs pony now!!! (wish I could get the picture bigger!!)
kept her, still have her now. She's far from a childs first pony, we tried to put her out on loan a few years ago but every child left crying after trying her. She's in her 20's and retired now, kept as an expensive companion to my boy
We kept Muffin, and she's at livery. However she did go on loan a couple of times to kiddies doing pony club as she was just too young to sit around just doing hacks with me.
She came home for the final time about 4 years ago and is now on loan at the yard to my best friend from uni who lost her nerve on biig horses. The whole point of keeping her was that she had a home for life and that she'll be happy until the end of her days.
Trouble is I've kept first 'horse' too who came after Muff so now I have a yard full of OAPs!
I keep him at home. I occassionally gently hack him out (but am too big!) although last year I took him to some an adult games competition - he won every single game AND the handy pony! he he, he's still got it!