Buying a 17 year old pony? I need talking into, or out of it 🤣

[Patterdale]

Thoughts?

It ticks all the boxes, every one. But I have two children and I’d like to think the younger one could go onto it after the older has outgrown.

Am I being silly to think that a 17 year old pony could do this? And still be jumping 70 at pony club at 22?
Or am I being silly to not buy the perfect pony because it’s 17?

It’s also not the ideal time because the kids are not riding much at the moment due to the weather and having no arena. But if I wait until spring then the world and his dog will be looking…

I will also get into trouble at home as I’ve not been well lately and I’m supposed to be taking less on. But it will really cheer me up! And the child does need a bigger pony this year, that can’t be escaped from.

All input appreciated please!

 

[doodle]

17 is nothing for a pony. You could easily have 10 more years jumping 70. Get the pony!!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

17 is nothing for a pony, many of them are still going strong in their late 20s. If the pony is what you need now, buy it. None of can foretell the future, even young ponies can have illness/ accidents that cause plans to change.

 

[First Frost]

17 is not that old for a pony. Also if they have got to that age without any probems they usually continue well into there 20's.
Go for the pony that is right at the moment and then keep your fingers crossed. Ponies are often tough little beasties - love them!

 

[Annagain]

17 is almost the perfect age for a pony who's going to teach a kid the pony club ropes. 22 is even better! I know so many oldies still going to pony club and those are the ones whose riders are having the best time as they feel safe and confident on a pony who's got every T-shirt in the book.

 

[Cortez]

Older horses/ponies are to be preferred for younger/less experienced riders. 17, for a pony that has been consistently sound, is just getting going! Whilst it is possible that it could still be jumping, etc., at 27, it would be sensible to consider that the pony will be needing to slow down or retire in the not far distant future and plan accordingly. I would also be looking at the price being asked.

 

[webble]

17 is a good age assuming there are no obvious issues

 

[ROMANY 1959]

I know of a few ponies bought at 15 or older, still going strong in pony club, they get handed down or passed to a family who need a steady neddie to start children on. A fair few are 26 or more now and still do if PC camps
If it suits you best buy it

 

[Glitter's fun]

If it's perfect in every other way definitely buy it. No animal of any age has a life mapped out ahead it it, anything you buy could go lame tomorrow or be fit for another 15 years! There's no point agonising about things you cannot possibly know. The younger child might even hate riding in a few years. Ponies that tick all the boxes don't come round every day. Get it snapped up now & take the future needs as they come.

 

[Lamehorses]

Definitely go for it, an old yard owner used to say if they are sound at 12 they go on for ever, it's getting them to 12 that is the hard bit.
Having pts a 10 Yr old, whilst still pottering around on the 28yr he'd been bought to replace l wholeheartedly agree

 

[Abacus]

If you are definitely looking to buy a pony, this one sounds good. If he is still in great health, in work and happy, and the price isn't too steep, then worth a go - better to have a good pony even for a few years than a young one that isn't right or damages a child's confidence. And the latter might still break down.

I saw a Horsequest ad this morning for a saintly 15.1 that sounded utterly perfect at 15, and they are asking 10k - which is a lot for that age, but they might get it.

On your situation: this is different... given the weather at the moment, the fields and mud and not much riding, as well as what you say about your health and not doing too much... well, think it through. I bought a horse in early December (having sworn not to get another until spring) and really struggled to keep two in work. My own fault entirely. I've had to let the new one have a month or so off until it's easier - no big deal as he needs to fill out and grow, and I have some help on the yard. Hopefully I won't regret it in time...

 

[94lunagem]

17 is almost the perfect age for a pony who's going to teach a kid the pony club ropes

Absolutely! If everything else about it is the right fit, I would be snapping it up.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Oh definitely, great age!!!

 

[dorsetladette]

If its the right pony for the older one now - buy the pony.

Pretty sure the kids will want to ride more (even in terrible weather) if a new pony is at the yard!

I got an old broodmare from my parents stud back from breeding loan at 18 for my daughter to ride. She taught my daughter and step daughter to ride and then went back out on loan as a games pony at 20 and carried on well into her late 20's. she taught a lot of kids to ride (and adults to respect ponies lol)

 

[tda]

Oh hell yes, friends who did pony club, nearly all the games ponies were over 20!

 

[Patterdale]

Thank you

This is what I was thinking too. I DON’T need the pony right now, but I will by summer, when they will be back to being much more expensive and in demand.
I might also ask if they can keep it for a few weeks on livery.

Hmmm. I will report back!

 

[Snowfilly]

Get the pony! Good fit sensible ponies are rarer than hen’s teeth. 5 good years is better than the wrong pony. And lots of little PC sorts go on for years and years.

 

[sportsmansB]

I was supervising a friends daughter at pony club and the combined age of the 5 ponies in the lesson was c.110 (uncertainty due to some being born before passports!)

 

[Winters100]

More than 10 years ago an old school friend, who was not horsey, asked me if it would be a mistake to buy an 18 year old pony for her daughter, because she was worried that she would never be able to sell it. The pony has now taught all 3 of her children to ride, and when it was outgrown by her youngest she had a line of Pony Club parents asking her to sell. Because said pony is such a saint she wanted to keep ownership to guarantee it's future, but the pony is on loan and still going strong in its late 20s doing all PC actuvities including jumping.

If the pony is a good fit then I would definitely go for it.

 

[Surbie]

Def get the pony! We have one at my yard in his mid-20s zooming around pony club at the moment. A friend's early 20s Haffie has a queue of people wanting a share as he's so awesome. And I'm trying to talk my friend into an 18yo which is perfect for her.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Definitely buy the pony!
I got Rog on loan when he was 17! He only started taking things a bit slower when he was 28 but kept everyone very much in line until we lost him at nearly 30.

 

[meleeka]

Another saying buy the pony. Honestly, there’s no point in planning too far ahead with horses. If the pony fits now, then that’s the important thing.

 

[misst]

When my daughter was at PC there was a pony in his 30s who had taught some of the instructors to ride. He went on loan to families and turned up year in year out never lame or sorry and knew his job so well. He still jumped about 70cm very easily at his own pace looking after the children on him. He was worth his weight in gold and was known at all the local shows etc. There were several similar ones in their 20s too.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

We have a 23yr old 13.2 pony jumping competitively at 70, with the intent to go to 80 later this summer. He’s still full of it and worth his weight in gold (for a gutsy rider). I’m hoping he won’t be too much pony for my younger child to move onto in 2 years time!

I would need to know if any joints have been injected and would also run a cushings test as part of the vetting. Also have a think about whether you could manage retirement because it might be a bit harder to find a home for the pony in its mid 20s when it is out grown.

Also I would want the pony to be very comfortable at the height I wanted to jump, so that even if it is slowing down a little, the height you want to jump is still well within scope. Ours has jumped BS in his prime, so 70/80 is a doddle for him.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I bought my heart horse when she was 17 and That was the best decision I ever made.

 

[Ratface]

Buy the pony, for all the reasons given above! My first pony, a devil, cunningly disguised as a Shetland, taught me to cling on, kick on and stay on. His replacement was an Exmoor pony, who finished the above education. I started with the Shetland when I was two years old and, in my 75 years' history of riding all sorts of unpredictable equidae, including donkeys and mules, I came off very few of them.
Good luck, and enjoy the pony!

 

[Ratface]

PS. I bought my current horse, The Arrogant Arabian, when he was 17 and he's still going (very!) strong now, in his early 30's.
With ponies and Arabian horses, if they have consistent appropriate management, they can go on for a good long time.

 

[ycbm]

My friend had one who was doing PC rallies well into his 30s, still in lead rein work at 38 and PTS at 40. She had owned him nearly all his life, the age was genuine.
.

 

[jessykai]

I’ve just bought a nearly 24 year old cob as he’s perfect for a disabled rider.

17 is nothing if it’s the right horse for the job!

 

[maya2008]

Buy pony now before someone else does - ponies in their late teens are amazing! Settled, experienced, happy to look after a child.