***Daughter and Dolly....what would you do.....***

I don't think she is too big for Dolly, as her feet aren't (yet) knocking down the poles! As you say, they've just moved up a gear, so, I would put word about Dolly will be going on loan or sold next year, and you will be looking for something bigger. The horsey world is a small one, and sooner or later Someone will pop up with the perfect 14.2 dun with a Mohican, or, Someone will come along and say I hear Dolly is for loan/sale. If perfect New Pony pops up first t's probably worth overlapping the two for a bit, as Dolly will be comfortable and reliable whereas New Pony will be a complete new ball game with all the trials and tribulations of Dolly when you first got her to overcome. Sooner or later New Pony will become a competent team with daughter but it will take a few months and, at that point if Dolly is still there then you can up a gear on marketing her and move her on - spring is easier to sell / loan a pony than coming into winter.

Shame you're not closer, we've a bay with loads of mane (if you cut it it'd be a Mohican) who is a cool, careful and quick jumper with a bit of attitude and plenty of character, as after she's done all the winter stuff with him will be for loan or probably sale. Somehow we have ended up with New Horse a little sooner than planned! Daughter having got a bit leggy for her chunky 14.1h just at the point where finally he is turning into a push button pony, so they're doing rather well on all fronts. I'd not been looking but telling folk 'next year'.... and folk kept saying she was getting a bit big, were we looking, and one day I was told of a leggy gelding we ought to look at, well it turned out to be a mare, not done anything much, so rather raw and green *and* in budget, but daughter likes schooling them up so while she does we have a bit of overlap!
 
Honey08 said:
I think go and enjoy your show next week, then go off on your jollies, put it out of your mind for a few weeks. Then have a think about it when you get back.

Of course, the other option is to buy yourself that farm...!
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We could be NEIGHBOURS!!!! I could come play with the sheep!!! :-)

I agree except I'm thinking of forgetting about it til after Xmas!!!

; ) xxx
 
Ibblebibble said:
can you stretch to having 2 ponies for 6 months? if so i would start looking for new pony now, give yourself time to find the right one rather than rushing into anything, then you can start weaning Daughter off Dolly while letting her get used to new pony. I personally don't think Daughter looks too big at all right now but if you have it in your head that she soon will be then it's the right time to start looking and making plans. plus now is a good time to start looking as people ship out the old ponies before winter ;) and if all goes to plan you can start advertising Dolly at the end of spring when the nicer weather opens peoples purses :D
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This totally. I do think it would be a shame to have Dolly on working livery for anything but short term. She has come too far and proved too talented to spend her days nose to tail in a riding school. I would put the word out in Pony Club and she will be snapped up by someone who will also love to compete. I suspect she is also worth a fair bit now she has proved herself such a superstar so don't let her go for a song!

Horrid decision to have to make. Really think a 6 month overlap would be a great plan even if, for that 6 months, she is a working livery again so not such a strain on the finances.
 
Ibblebibble said:
can you stretch to having 2 ponies for 6 months? if so i would start looking for new pony now, give yourself time to find the right one rather than rushing into anything, then you can start weaning Daughter off Dolly while letting her get used to new pony. I personally don't think Daughter looks too big at all right now but if you have it in your head that she soon will be then it's the right time to start looking and making plans. plus now is a good time to start looking as people ship out the old ponies before winter ;) and if all goes to plan you can start advertising Dolly at the end of spring when the nicer weather opens peoples purses :D
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This is my kind of advice. I think a talk with OH is on the horizon!

Thank you xxx
 
Nobody needs 4 motorbikes but everyone needs two ponies! (Sorry not much help....)

Agree with Lolo - softly softly approach. Even if Dolly goes and you don't have a replacement, your daughter still has all the RS ponies to ride.
 
amage said:
I am not remotely maternal.....but you have no idea how much I wash I had a child so I could buy her I LOVE that pony. I think daughter will be ok on her another while....just depends on how much daughter grows over the winter
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Hahahaha she's our ginger ninja!!! Shes the best, big horse shoes to fill!!!

:-)
 
No selling them isn't easy, when I sold Sweetpea I said no to one family I didn't like the way the kid treated her, sound awfull I know, I also with both Sweetpea and hokey purposely picked family's with another a lot smaller child to grow into them, hokey went to a family with a 6 year old who they were buying for they also had a 3 year old just starting to ride and a 18month old. I did this with the hope that they would be In their next home for a very long time.
But you'll also know by the smile of the little person on top when it's the right person, you'll be sad but in another way happy knowing how much fun there going to have. Xx
 
Dubsie said:
I don't think she is too big for Dolly, as her feet aren't (yet) knocking down the poles! As you say, they've just moved up a gear, so, I would put word about Dolly will be going on loan or sold next year, and you will be looking for something bigger. The horsey world is a small one, and sooner or later Someone will pop up with the perfect 14.2 dun with a Mohican, or, Someone will come along and say I hear Dolly is for loan/sale. If perfect New Pony pops up first t's probably worth overlapping the two for a bit, as Dolly will be comfortable and reliable whereas New Pony will be a complete new ball game with all the trials and tribulations of Dolly when you first got her to overcome. Sooner or later New Pony will become a competent team with daughter but it will take a few months and, at that point if Dolly is still there then you can up a gear on marketing her and move her on - spring is easier to sell / loan a pony than coming into winter.

Shame you're not closer, we've a bay with loads of mane (if you cut it it'd be a Mohican) who is a cool, careful and quick jumper with a bit of attitude and plenty of character, as after she's done all the winter stuff with him will be for loan or probably sale. Somehow we have ended up with New Horse a little sooner than planned! Daughter having got a bit leggy for her chunky 14.1h just at the point where finally he is turning into a push button pony, so they're doing rather well on all fronts. I'd not been looking but telling folk 'next year'.... and folk kept saying she was getting a bit big, were we looking, and one day I was told of a leggy gelding we ought to look at, well it turned out to be a mare, not done anything much, so rather raw and green *and* in budget, but daughter likes schooling them up so while she does we have a bit of overlap!
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I suppose I am over thinking things a bit, no doubt what will be will be and yes, I should put the word out.

Thanks for your kind words and good advice xxx
 
Ladyinred said:
This totally. I do think it would be a shame to have Dolly on working livery for anything but short term. She has come too far and proved too talented to spend her days nose to tail in a riding school. I would put the word out in Pony Club and she will be snapped up by someone who will also love to compete. I suspect she is also worth a fair bit now she has proved herself such a superstar so don't let her go for a song!

Horrid decision to have to make. Really think a 6 month overlap would be a great plan even if, for that 6 months, she is a working livery again so not such a strain on the finances.
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I think that I need to suggest this to OH. Perhaps start looking now but putoff selling until maybe March?

Thanks for your advice xxx
 
Nicnac said:
Nobody needs 4 motorbikes but everyone needs two ponies! (Sorry not much help....)

Agree with Lolo - softly softly approach. Even if Dolly goes and you don't have a replacement, your daughter still has all the RS ponies to ride.
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Hahahaha he does love his bikes but only one is really road legal.

And he has offered to sell some for daughters next pony.

Problem is HE doesn't want to sell Dolly!!!! ; )
 
I just wanted to put in about 'the next one'...... As you said it will be hard to fill Dolly's hooves and you are looking for something that most want...... The competitive yet safe school master to go further and higher without knocking the growing confidence.

While putting out feelers for a new home for dolly, do the same for the next one...... It could take 6 months to find the perfect step up. Wanted ads and emails to dc's and eventing/show jumping area reps may be a good way to go, esp if your daughter want to go down this route.....an older school master will do her wonders!!!!

If you can hold onto dolly during the swap over it will make it much easier for your daughter as moving to a bigger. More powerful model is a really unsettling change!
 
Keep her for another year and use the year to let your daughter try/get rides on other bigger ponies so she can get a feel for what she wants while still having the confidence of dolly.
 
TandD said:
I just wanted to put in about 'the next one'...... As you said it will be hard to fill Dolly's hooves and you are looking for something that most want...... The competitive yet safe school master to go further and higher without knocking the growing confidence.

While putting out feelers for a new home for dolly, do the same for the next one...... It could take 6 months to find the perfect step up. Wanted ads and emails to dc's and eventing/show jumping area reps may be a good way to go, esp if your daughter want to go down this route.....an older school master will do her wonders!!!!

If you can hold onto dolly during the swap over it will make it much easier for your daughter as moving to a bigger. More powerful model is a really unsettling change!
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Thank you, this sounds like really sensible advice.

We're all happy to put the work in with the next one and don't expect a ready made one. But we are looking for another special and most likely quirky one again .

I'm quite daunted myself at the thought of a 'big one'!!!!

Thanks xxx
 
redmone said:
Thank you, this sounds like really sensible advice.

We're all happy to put the work in with the next one and don't expect a ready made one. But we are looking for another special and most likely quirky one again .

I'm quite daunted myself at the thought of a 'big one'!!!!

Thanks xxx
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Haha talking about this somebody was asking me what I'd get next that if probably want a straight forward jumping machine and I said no Louise will want something mad or quirky or green!!! Don't want it to easy!!! ;-)
 
People do need to understand that the riding school in question is like the Ritz of riding schools. So its not the worst option for Dolly, if it came down to it.

Redmone I would go off on holiday, then when you come back, if something wonderful comes up go and look, just keep an eye out. Also, Dolly probably won't sell that quickly, especially at this time of year, so its unlikely she would be gone in a flash even if she were up for sale. She has done very well with daughter this year, but is still not a schoolmaster, so will need an experienced home really.

It really is down to daughter. Does she want to go further and be more competitive... If she's happy doing what she is doing, that's fine.. She's not really been out among her peers locally, for example at pc type shows. Think about that dun pony that is for sale on the pc facebook page - that amazing 13.2 - the child moving off that is the same age as your daughter..
 
cheeryplatypus said:
Keep her for another year and use the year to let your daughter try/get rides on other bigger ponies so she can get a feel for what she wants while still having the confidence of dolly.
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We're very lucky as at our riding school she could have the opportunity to ride all types. I'd love to think she'd get another year out of dolly but I think 6 mths might be more realistic.

Xxx
 
Another who votes to keep her!
I think as daughter progresses riding wise, she and Dolly will be able to push the limits and achieve some really great things you might not have thought possible
My friend who is 5ft8 but weighs nothing shared a 12.2/12.3 chunky monkey at my yard for two years (in her defense we initially thought the pony was 13.2 and were shocked when we measured her!!)
Friend was a really competant rider, pony was a star and they ended up jumping 4ft +, going xc, sponsored rides, dressage ... you name it, they did it and size didnt get in their way
a few pics to prove your daughter could mange even a FEW more years on D
2j2hlrr.jpg

and
qn8n6u.png
 
Honey08 said:
People do need to understand that the riding school in question is like the Ritz of riding schools. So its not the worst option for Dolly, if it came down to it.

Redmone I would go off on holiday, then when you come back, if something wonderful comes up go and look, just keep an eye out. Also, Dolly probably won't sell that quickly, especially at this time of year, so its unlikely she would be gone in a flash even if she were up for sale. She has done very well with daughter this year, but is still not a schoolmaster, so will need an experienced home really.

It really is down to daughter. Does she want to go further and be more competitive... If she's happy doing what she is doing, that's fine.. She's not really been out among her peers locally, for example at pc type shows. Think about that dun pony that is for sale on the pc facebook page - that amazing 13.2 - the child moving off that is the same age as your daughter..
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.....and a hand bigger and it would be perfect!

You know we don't 'do' the PC thing, but she has competed successfully at riding club level this year against her peers - x3 riding clubs! Not to mention the odd champs and one off shows. I think they've had a brill year.

Yes, as you know, daughter is quite competitive, dont think it would matter so much if she wasn't. I'd love to keep dolly a little longer whilst we find a new pony for her. I'm going to try make that happen I think.

And you're right, where we are is the Ritz of riding schools. That's why moving dolly elsewhere worries me so much, and why the loaning option is so appealing!!!

Xxx
 
samlovesprilly said:
Another who votes to keep her!
I think as daughter progresses riding wise, she and Dolly will be able to push the limits and achieve some really great things you might not have thought possible
My friend who is 5ft8 but weighs nothing shared a 12.2/12.3 chunky monkey at my yard for two years (in her defense we initially thought the pony was 13.2 and were shocked when we measured her!!)
Friend was a really competant rider, pony was a star and they ended up jumping 4ft +, going xc, sponsored rides, dressage ... you name it, they did it and size didnt get in their way
a few pics to prove your daughter could mange even a FEW more years on D
2j2hlrr.jpg

and
qn8n6u.png
Click to expand...

Is your friend really 5 foot 8??? Wow!!!!

That's really thought provoking!

I keep thinking well dolly cant do xyz so time to move on, then I think well now daughter is so much more confident, maybe she can push her that bit more. Guess its a chicken or egg situation lol!!!

Food for thought though....thank you!!! Xxxx
 
I would look for a 13.2 pony, its a very under-rated and unpopular size these days and there are some decent ponies out there for good prices, so many people forget about the smaller New Forest and larger sec B and C ponies and these make good allrounders. having an M&M also opens up more show and WHP possibilities

The jump to a 14.2 is quite a big one

I would be definitely overlapping the two ponies as well!
 
My daughter hunted her 11.2 until she was twelve, she rode her 13.2 until she was 16 and I relented and bought her a horse which long term was a mistake. She is not too big for the pony and I would keep looking casually until you hear of the right one. In a year or so's time your lovely daughter will turn into a hellish teenage madam, (they all do, it will pass) and any pony that does not measure up, go like clock work or generally not be perfect will be your fault and if you have spent a small fortune and much anguish on finding the perfect partner and it is thrown in your face you feel so disappointed. Having been on a livery yard with 6-8 teenage girls in various stages of the 'transition' enjoy the uncomplicated pleasure of having a nice pony and a nice child for as long as you can.
 
redmone said:
Is your friend really 5 foot 8??? Wow!!!!

That's really thought provoking!

I keep thinking well dolly cant do xyz so time to move on, then I think well now daughter is so much more confident, maybe she can push her that bit more. Guess its a chicken or egg situation lol!!!

Food for thought though....thank you!!! Xxxx
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The other side to that question is, is it fair to ask Dolly to do more? She seems very happy storming round what she's doing, would she be happier continuing doing that with someone else rather than being pushed for more and more. If miniRM is coming up to 13, she's going to start making friends with more and more PC people even if she's not a member and start wanting to be more at the same level as her peers.

FWIW, I still think you're mental for not doing the PC thing ;) My family is mad as they come, completely non-horsey and my sister and I grew up on freebie ponies we begged and borrowed for rallies and things. A lot of the kids in our PC do the same and everyone gets on well. It has a really bad rep for being stuffy but you can rock up to rallies in your dark jumper and clean jods and you're away. They don't like bling, but the rest pretty much is a go aside from at area stuff.
 
redmone said:
Is your friend really 5 foot 8??? Wow!!!!

That's really thought provoking!

I keep thinking well dolly cant do xyz so time to move on, then I think well now daughter is so much more confident, maybe she can push her that bit more. Guess its a chicken or egg situation lol!!!

Food for thought though....thank you!!! Xxxx
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Yep, really! Her stirrups had been hoiked up to super short xc length in these pics - normally her feel were past ponys belly but they never did any pole bashing lol!

I agree with Lolo in that you know Dollys limits and know if she will be happy pushed a little more as your daughter grows older, or will be happier doing something similar as she if now, just with someone else.
Eta the little pony I talked about wasnt flashy at all but loved being ridden and tried her hear out which is why they were able to do so much. Im not saying they jumped crazy big heights every day, but the pony could do everything we did on bigger horses, yet my friend could hack her out the day after jumping 4ft on the buckle, whilst the rest of us had highly strung horses and couldnt!!
Tough one, I dont envy your decicion making!!
 
Keep the partnership going. They are having loads of fun together there, Daughter does not look too big for Dolly and there is no reason why they can't work on their dressage over the winter and go out eventing next spring.

Changing ponies (and even worse moving from ponies to horses) is really tough and a lot of children give up because the new pony was too much of a challenge. If it ain't broke don't fix it!
 
Sorry I should clarify my first answer.... definitely keep her another year..... but I should have added -sell or loan her but only if I can be first in queue. I reckon my 8 yr old will be Dolly-ready by then :-)
(though I guess we would have to move house a bit!).
 
another one to keep for another year but with a twist, keep a look out in the market. As you say you have the option of loaning to the riding school or working livery, with this in mind you can have a leisurely look around what starts to be advertised in the spring, you might even find a loan of an older school master. you will not have the pressure of finding the next one in a short time, the school master would bridge the learning gap.
 
Keep her!!! I am in the same situation as my daughter who finally gained control of her pony, is now looking a little tall. But she is very lightweight and until she is too heavy she will keep riding him. Plus she has a little sister waiting for him in the sidelines so its easier for us I suppose. Definitely keep her for another year, why not, they look fab together xx
 
Loved reading the replies and oh how very different it is over here.
Most 13 yo's over here move straight up to horses. Very very few stay with ponies. My daughter's 1st pony over here (she was 9 yo) was a chunky 14.2 Fjord. We made that decision because we didn't want to go through what you are going through now and he is chunky enough that I can ride him as well. She was just a dot on him, but he was (and still is) the perfect pony to learn on. They had great fun together and did everything, jumping up to 1m 10 but dressage was their thing and they got to affiliated medium advanced before he did his rear ddft in. He's now semi-retired, still with us and ridden by a girl who is 5ft 10 and has no interest in competing. But then I'm a big softie and can't bear to part with him. We are fotunately in the position where we can keep him. The others would have to go before him. He's more than earned his place with us.
I don't envy you your decision! If your daughter is serious about competing and you can't keep or loan Dolly out then you have your answer. I am in agreement with starting to look now with a view to buying in the spring. So much can change in 6 months, you may be in a situation to keep her or you may find a lovely family to buy her and a fantastic new pony for your daughter. Good luck whatever you decide.
 
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