millsandboon
Well-Known Member
She can't go to the blood bank she's 13.2!!!
Companion pony - what do I do !?!
- Thread starter DIESELSUPERSTAR
- Start date
DIESELSUPERSTAR
Well-Known Member
I agree, thats why I havent been keen on contacting them as I am aware they must be full and struggling, and mainly for welfare cases. I thought maybe someone might know of someone up on the hills who liked to take in ponies with a donation, im sure ive heard of them before. Im not sure I could afford grass livery, but again something I could look into. I had a field down the road for £5 a week but he has just sprayed it all
WelshD
Well-Known Member
I think the blood bank is for bigger horses only
OP could you ask one of the sharers to move off? if they are paying for 'their' horses costs already they could loan the horse and do that elsewhere. Or even sell the share horses at a very low price as they seem to be rideable (?) as you are effectively keeping these horses for someone else's benefit
I think you have to understand why this has got everyone's backs up, this has been a much loved and nurtured family pet for ten years but it seems that because it doesnt make you any money (like a livery would) save you money (like a sharer does) or is of any use to you to ride it seems that she is just a huge inconvenience to you and you want rid of her.
The pony has been fobbed off elsewhere, the two share horses have been passed to others to look after, dare I ask what was wrong with them..... ? but do consider what you will do with the current 'in' horse when something bigger and better comes along
OP could you ask one of the sharers to move off? if they are paying for 'their' horses costs already they could loan the horse and do that elsewhere. Or even sell the share horses at a very low price as they seem to be rideable (?) as you are effectively keeping these horses for someone else's benefit
I think you have to understand why this has got everyone's backs up, this has been a much loved and nurtured family pet for ten years but it seems that because it doesnt make you any money (like a livery would) save you money (like a sharer does) or is of any use to you to ride it seems that she is just a huge inconvenience to you and you want rid of her.
The pony has been fobbed off elsewhere, the two share horses have been passed to others to look after, dare I ask what was wrong with them..... ? but do consider what you will do with the current 'in' horse when something bigger and better comes along
DIESELSUPERSTAR
Well-Known Member
AmyMay
Situation normal
I think you're probably looking for people to say 'shoot it'.
So I'll say it for you.
'Shoot it'.
So I'll say it for you.
'Shoot it'.
Sugar_and_Spice
Well-Known Member
It wasn't a mistake to come on a forum looking for answers - you've been given answers.
People haven't said you're a lier, they've said they don't understand. I think people have struggled to understand because you've been loose with the truth. You've said things like you have no other options. I can think of one - sell your best pony, the confidence giver and keep the difficult companion. Fair enough if its an option you don't like.
You've said you have one pony each, plus the companion and two shares. It's not strictly true. You have two ponies - the one you ride and the one who has a sharer. Your sister also has two ponies - the one she rides and the companion pony, who was bought for her but turned out to be unsuitable (if I've understood things correctly).
However, neither your sister, your parents or the companion pony's purchaser (your dad's mate) are taking responsibility for the companion so she's effectively been dumped on you. You either hand responsibility back where it belongs and walk away from the situation or you deal with it in whatever way you see fit. If you want to PTS then go ahead. You don't need the permission of a bunch of strangers on a forum.
The fifth horse isn't yours, its a livery belonging to the sharers sister. Is this one paying rent? Because if she's not it seems you're basically giving her free livery just because her sister shares your pony and I don't think that's sensible if you're skint. Particularly if, to allow her to stay on your land, you have to lose hay storage facilities so her horse can have the hay shed as a stable.
Nobody has ganged up on you, its just people have pulled you up on apparent inconsistencies and most people would seem to have given answers you don't like. I think you wanted people to justify a decision to PTS and they haven't.
The easiest option I've seen is the poster who suggested sharing the stables, so two horses are in during the day and out at night. This would also mean the hay shed needn't be converted.
People haven't said you're a lier, they've said they don't understand. I think people have struggled to understand because you've been loose with the truth. You've said things like you have no other options. I can think of one - sell your best pony, the confidence giver and keep the difficult companion. Fair enough if its an option you don't like.
You've said you have one pony each, plus the companion and two shares. It's not strictly true. You have two ponies - the one you ride and the one who has a sharer. Your sister also has two ponies - the one she rides and the companion pony, who was bought for her but turned out to be unsuitable (if I've understood things correctly).
However, neither your sister, your parents or the companion pony's purchaser (your dad's mate) are taking responsibility for the companion so she's effectively been dumped on you. You either hand responsibility back where it belongs and walk away from the situation or you deal with it in whatever way you see fit. If you want to PTS then go ahead. You don't need the permission of a bunch of strangers on a forum.
The fifth horse isn't yours, its a livery belonging to the sharers sister. Is this one paying rent? Because if she's not it seems you're basically giving her free livery just because her sister shares your pony and I don't think that's sensible if you're skint. Particularly if, to allow her to stay on your land, you have to lose hay storage facilities so her horse can have the hay shed as a stable.
Nobody has ganged up on you, its just people have pulled you up on apparent inconsistencies and most people would seem to have given answers you don't like. I think you wanted people to justify a decision to PTS and they haven't.
The easiest option I've seen is the poster who suggested sharing the stables, so two horses are in during the day and out at night. This would also mean the hay shed needn't be converted.
Suechoccy
Well-Known Member
Give your 2nd horse (which you've now got a sharer for) to the riding school as you'd originally planned to do.
Give your sharer (or her sister, I've lost track) notice to quit as your livery
Then you have 4 stables and 3 horses - one each for you and your sister plus this little companion mare, which will be fine all year round on the acreage you've got.
Give your sharer (or her sister, I've lost track) notice to quit as your livery
Then you have 4 stables and 3 horses - one each for you and your sister plus this little companion mare, which will be fine all year round on the acreage you've got.
DIESELSUPERSTAR
Well-Known Member
I understand, no one is more upset than myself to have to go through this. I dont fob my ponies off, its just the way things have worked out. I have tried to sell Poppy my mare who i lost all confidence with, and now she is being shared and i wouldnt want her going anywhere on loan as the girl is inexperienced and needs guidance with her. maybe next summer this may be something to consider when i know she is the perfect sharer for poppy. with sharers remember that if they mess up your horse, you still have it to sell. The girls sister has an easy horse and it will be stabled most of the winter with little turn out other than on its days off, thats the way they choose to keep it, not mine. and patrick and diesel are mine and my sisters responsibility. even if we only had one horse, i still cant afford to keep the one in question in bedding and feed. I have only ever in my life had two ponies of my own, i dont swap and change as and when i feel like it.
justabob
Well-Known Member
I have never read a post with so many reasons why you can not keep the poor pony. Why on earth did you ask for advice?
Costypop
Well-Known Member
Loan her away from the farm on a permanent basics, I know a fair few people that have "wild" ponies that keep out with other horses and aren't too bothered about the handling side I things. We've got 4 in our family alone, all have a job to do as to keep another another horse company while one goes off the yard, or even just to "mow the lawn"
Sell her for a pound-you will never any issues with her again, but don't know where she will end up. I know people that have brought for a £1 and not one of them have turned out to be welfare cases.
Stick her though the sales
I take it that as you live on a farm that tractors etc are about, get hold of some free hardcore and make a hard standing for her, ideally out the side the stable front so she can see the others when they are stabled or in the field. That way all the horses would use it, hay on this area, then the field would be saved a bit more. Leave one horse out with her at night and swap them in the day. All your horses would benefit from this. And it wouldn't cost anything apart from fuel and time
Half your hay field, or just use it now before it gets too wet, then swap back in a few months, it will have lots of time to rest ready for hay next year and your main will have a good rest too while the autum flush is coming though.
There are lots of things you could do, just seems like you don't want to do any of them!
Sell her for a pound-you will never any issues with her again, but don't know where she will end up. I know people that have brought for a £1 and not one of them have turned out to be welfare cases.
Stick her though the sales
I take it that as you live on a farm that tractors etc are about, get hold of some free hardcore and make a hard standing for her, ideally out the side the stable front so she can see the others when they are stabled or in the field. That way all the horses would use it, hay on this area, then the field would be saved a bit more. Leave one horse out with her at night and swap them in the day. All your horses would benefit from this. And it wouldn't cost anything apart from fuel and time
Half your hay field, or just use it now before it gets too wet, then swap back in a few months, it will have lots of time to rest ready for hay next year and your main will have a good rest too while the autum flush is coming though.
There are lots of things you could do, just seems like you don't want to do any of them!
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Costypop
Well-Known Member
Is a good job she isn't able to be bred from, what would you of done with the foals?
*hic*
village idiot :D
Or really rather amusing, depending on which side of the fence you're standing.
DIESELSUPERSTAR
Well-Known Member
sugar and spice - i am in a predicament which i should have seen coming. The riding school no longer has space for poppy as that is something i looked into, the sharer pays all of poppys bills and the livery pays a small amount to us which generally goes back into the horses. So basically i only have financial strain of my own horse, of which i can afford, or else i wouldnt have bought him.
I wonder how this post would have gone had i not mentioned the PTS bit - It seems to be the only focus of the post as i agree it is the worst case scenario and no horse should meet that fate unnecessarily.
However, all of the ideas given, have been tried and the ones that havent are certainly worth a try, particularly swapping horses around. I just worry i wont be able to keep up with bedding costs with basically having horses in 24/7 which would almost double the costs for me.
What I was really hoping for was someone to say that there are people out there who have the land and capabilities of taking in ponies for a donation or a small up keep or something. something affordable and somewhere she could be in a herd and be settled. Im sure I have heard of places like these before but perhaps in the current climate, these things just don't exist. - has no one been in this situation before!?!
I wonder how this post would have gone had i not mentioned the PTS bit - It seems to be the only focus of the post as i agree it is the worst case scenario and no horse should meet that fate unnecessarily.
However, all of the ideas given, have been tried and the ones that havent are certainly worth a try, particularly swapping horses around. I just worry i wont be able to keep up with bedding costs with basically having horses in 24/7 which would almost double the costs for me.
What I was really hoping for was someone to say that there are people out there who have the land and capabilities of taking in ponies for a donation or a small up keep or something. something affordable and somewhere she could be in a herd and be settled. Im sure I have heard of places like these before but perhaps in the current climate, these things just don't exist. - has no one been in this situation before!?!
AmyMay
Situation normal
Not the case at all. You've had some excellent advice and some great solutions offered to your situation. None of which is any good to you.
So - as I said earlier. Shoot it.
DIESELSUPERSTAR
Well-Known Member
At the time she was bred from we only has her and another tiny pony, no cows at the time and i wasnt into horses so we had space to bring the foal up and break her in for my sister to ride. You wouldnt believe the amount of times my dad says 'stick her in foal so she has a use' and i have had to make sure he understand why its such a silly thing to do.
I am not the bad one here, i have made mistakes with the horses and am trying to sort out things for her, if you saw how upset the poor little pony gets over being moved and being left you would see why i cant except many of the ideas given, they have been tried and she is not happy - does any one know of any sites on the internet where companion ponies are advertised for, that is another option i can go down, but with the risk of her ending up in a bad place, but also with the possibility that she could find the best home ever
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Alternatively you loan her out properly as a companion - carefully, with a proper contract and regular checks.
Patterdale
Well-Known Member
Agree with this I'm afraid.
This is a great idea OP!
Sanctuaries are for actual welfare cases, not people who just don't fancy looking after the horse any more.
And you're 21, you're not too young to cope with your own ponies.
Agree again!
OP, seems like you don't want this pony any more and wanted everyone on here to support your idea of killing it. You talk about her being difficult to ride etc, but if you don't have the room why does that matter? Would you magically have space if she was useful?
Personally, I would sell one of the useful ones if I couldn't afford to keep them all, as I couldn't stomach killing a perfectly healthy pony just for convenience, which is what it is, really.
You may not like people saying that, but you are not 'being ganged up on,' it's just that people seem to fairly unanimously share the same view that it would be unfair to kill the pony for the reasons you've given.
I feel for you but it's animals life, and if you own them the I'm afraid you have to take responsibility for them.
lula
Well-Known Member
i hate to tell you this, but if you're as broke as you say you are, which i can quite understand, having the pony pts and the carcass removed (by the hunt which is the cheapest option i believe) - is liable to cost you somewhere in the region of £500 in total anyway.
Queenbee
Well-Known Member
She isn't a rescue case, there is little to no space at the centres as it is and they are reserved for cases of real need, your pony doesn't come close to the criteria, she is just unwanted, that's not what these places are for.
honetpot
Well-Known Member
One year I had three ponies, a goat and two stables and my land floods and when I say flood up to 2 feet and when it goes down its a mud bath. I also had two very young children and I worked.
As long as the pony has company and a place to dry off they will survive. On the driest part of your land in the most convenient place make a straw islands using a heston of straw, I use two one for them to nibble on. If you can not get hestons about 10-12 small bales and add at least half a bale daily. This can be shut off from the rest of the field or they can all use it as a dry patch, then using crates made out of old pallets you put any hay in there and then it stops them or the pony trashing the rest of the field whilst being dry so their legs and feet dry out. Also when you turn the a stabled one out you could bring her in a couple of times a week for a feed, fuss and through dry.
I do not know how old you are but you are spending too much time thinking about what can't be done instead of trying solutions, you may not get the right solution the first time but you will find a solution. I also find if I sit down and write things down sometimes it makes things clearer, so write the reasons out and think of a solution for each horse. My first thought is just get the hairy one clipped and rug it up well, does it need to be in so much?
If you want to put electric fence on gravel, buy some cheap plastic buckets from somewhere like Wilko or a pound shop, fill with post mix concrete and stick the posts in that as the concrete sets.
My step father is a farmer and I know how protective they are of their grass so I understand you have only a small area but with planning it can be done. When my roof blew off my stable at the same time it flooded I had to put them all in livery but only for a week, try wading out your animals in waist deep water in a howling gale, whilst trying to find someone to keep an eye on the children.
As long as the pony has company and a place to dry off they will survive. On the driest part of your land in the most convenient place make a straw islands using a heston of straw, I use two one for them to nibble on. If you can not get hestons about 10-12 small bales and add at least half a bale daily. This can be shut off from the rest of the field or they can all use it as a dry patch, then using crates made out of old pallets you put any hay in there and then it stops them or the pony trashing the rest of the field whilst being dry so their legs and feet dry out. Also when you turn the a stabled one out you could bring her in a couple of times a week for a feed, fuss and through dry.
I do not know how old you are but you are spending too much time thinking about what can't be done instead of trying solutions, you may not get the right solution the first time but you will find a solution. I also find if I sit down and write things down sometimes it makes things clearer, so write the reasons out and think of a solution for each horse. My first thought is just get the hairy one clipped and rug it up well, does it need to be in so much?
If you want to put electric fence on gravel, buy some cheap plastic buckets from somewhere like Wilko or a pound shop, fill with post mix concrete and stick the posts in that as the concrete sets.
My step father is a farmer and I know how protective they are of their grass so I understand you have only a small area but with planning it can be done. When my roof blew off my stable at the same time it flooded I had to put them all in livery but only for a week, try wading out your animals in waist deep water in a howling gale, whilst trying to find someone to keep an eye on the children.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
There are- they are generally called retirement liveries, but I imagine if you think you are going to struggle so much to keep her (to the point that you could barely afford fuel to see them last winter) then you won't be able to afford that either as she would be cheaper to keep at yours.
If loaner cannot take poppy away, can you not try and sell poppy again before winter sets in?
I also think that at 21 you are not really 'young' and need to take responsibility for your ponies and your finances.
Lexi_
Well-Known Member
Charge the livery the going rate?
Or look into selling Poppy? Ok, it's not the ideal time to sell with winter coming up and all but it would presumably free up two stables as I assume the sharer's sister won't stay...
Queenbee
Well-Known Member
Bedding costs would be the same or even less, when the horses are in at day they are far less messy I'm getting at least twice the amount of muck from my boy now he is in at night. Put a minimal bed down during the day for the two, full beds down at night for the three.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
There are plenty of options available to you if you choose to take them.
Do 3 in by night and out by day, with 2 in during day and out at night.
Get an evening pub job and pay for grass livery, £100pcm should see her sorted.
What you really want is for someone to give you a way out and say 'yeah sure, I'll take this horse and keep it for nought'. Well times are tough and no one should take on your responsibility.
If you wish to PTS I certainly wouldn't judge you for that, I know only too well circumstances and priorities change. But don't kid yourself that you are doing it because you have no other options, just be honest!
Only you know if you are prepared to go the extra mile to keep the pony going, and if you are not then I would agree and with no negative judgement, shoot it.
Do 3 in by night and out by day, with 2 in during day and out at night.
Get an evening pub job and pay for grass livery, £100pcm should see her sorted.
What you really want is for someone to give you a way out and say 'yeah sure, I'll take this horse and keep it for nought'. Well times are tough and no one should take on your responsibility.
If you wish to PTS I certainly wouldn't judge you for that, I know only too well circumstances and priorities change. But don't kid yourself that you are doing it because you have no other options, just be honest!
Only you know if you are prepared to go the extra mile to keep the pony going, and if you are not then I would agree and with no negative judgement, shoot it.
Pilib
Well-Known Member
This!
Sugar_and_Spice
Well-Known Member
(quote Dieselsuperstar)
What I was really hoping for was someone to say that there are people out there who have the land and capabilities of taking in ponies for a donation or a small up keep or something. something affordable and somewhere she could be in a herd and be settled. Im sure I have heard of places like these before but perhaps in the current climate, these things just don't exist. - has no one been in this situation before!?![/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but that is living in fantasy land these days. Charities used to take horses people could no longer afford to keep but now they don't have the resources. Any places that would allow you to dump the pony on them for a nominal donation would be the unreputable sort who are not proper charities and would likely sell her on or ler her starve.
I suggest you phone up local livery yards to find the going rate for DIY/part/full livery (depending on what type of livery your sharers sister gets at your place) and then charge that as your livery fee.
Having two horses in during the day is less hours (cheaper on hay and bedding) than having those two in over night. It helps save the land meaning more grass and also keeps them warm and dry for part of each 24hr period, so less hard feed bills than if they lived out.
Look for (and charge a livery fee to) a second sharer for Poppy. Or consider working livery at a riding school with Poppys current sharer paying the working livery charge (a nominal charge for full livery) and shoes. She can ride when Poppy isn't in lessons and staff can help her with handling or care queries.
What I was really hoping for was someone to say that there are people out there who have the land and capabilities of taking in ponies for a donation or a small up keep or something. something affordable and somewhere she could be in a herd and be settled. Im sure I have heard of places like these before but perhaps in the current climate, these things just don't exist. - has no one been in this situation before!?![/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but that is living in fantasy land these days. Charities used to take horses people could no longer afford to keep but now they don't have the resources. Any places that would allow you to dump the pony on them for a nominal donation would be the unreputable sort who are not proper charities and would likely sell her on or ler her starve.
I suggest you phone up local livery yards to find the going rate for DIY/part/full livery (depending on what type of livery your sharers sister gets at your place) and then charge that as your livery fee.
Having two horses in during the day is less hours (cheaper on hay and bedding) than having those two in over night. It helps save the land meaning more grass and also keeps them warm and dry for part of each 24hr period, so less hard feed bills than if they lived out.
Look for (and charge a livery fee to) a second sharer for Poppy. Or consider working livery at a riding school with Poppys current sharer paying the working livery charge (a nominal charge for full livery) and shoes. She can ride when Poppy isn't in lessons and staff can help her with handling or care queries.
Micky
Well-Known Member
Why cant you sell her? You will know gut instinct if the person is kind and compassionate...do not put her through the sales..she will be PTS but in a horrid way....Horses were designed to live out, hairy, cold whatever, if one is cold, you rug it up!! The land recovers remarkably well every spring from mudland.....As was said before, trying to look at this from a different angle, not the poor horse poor me angle..get practical and doors will open
*hic*
village idiot :D
How many people do you know who would want to buy a stressy unbroken (unbreakable) aging 13.2 pony that can't really be used as a companion for a ridden animal because it can't be left by itself and in any case is apparently not happy moving yards.
I can't think of many takers - except the meat man.