Hardest decision, think might have to have healthy pony PTS :(

Don't know if this has been suggested or not, but what about contacting Kelly Marks? There's a section on her site where you can request that your horse be used in a demo. Or you could also try other NH sites for advice.

Here's a link: http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/content/view/60/138/

Putting a healthy animal with fixable behavioural issues down is something I would never even consider doing.
 
I have not read the whole thread but if it was my pony I would make sure he had a complete vet check by a equine vet have teeth back and saddle checked by experienced saddler, dentist etc.
maybe even try a animal comunicator. If he really is dangerous then the only answer may be pts but I could not do it with out trying everything first.
Its a big decision to take a life and i would not want to think I had not done everything in my power to help the pony.
 
I would have the pony PTS. I would not pass him on, as a companion or otherwise. Fact is the pony now has a seated behaviour and has scared more than one person. If you DID pass him on as a companion there is no guarantee that the new owners would not try and ride or sell him on to ride. To guarantee that no one is hurt and that the pony is not hurt, the only sensible option is PTS.
 
Does the pony bolt in any one particular scenario?,or does it just bolt per se .

Usually a bolter in my experience does so in either fright or pain, it differs from those that can run through the bridle in order to take the p?$$.

I certainly wouldn't want a child to get back on board , but feel for you having to contemplate putting him down.

Hopefully you can find the reason and sort.
 
People have said about brain tumours. Also, pony I used to ride started to buck etc me off. In the end, it turned out she had a tumour (or similar, cannot remember exactly) on her spine. She had to be PTS. :(
 
A very long shot, but there have been some satisfied customers from animal communicators recently. What was the cost, around £15? Might be worth that - I think you only have to send a photo.

You might find a companion home. I have a companion pony that we cannot ride, but he is perfect, good to catch, doesn't kick or bite, well mannered to handle, easy.
 
Hi

Firstly can I say that I'm so surprised at how many people have encountered horses with brain tumours!

My mare has a full array of issues (listed on another thread) and honestly had reached the end of the line. I lost count of how many people told me she probably has a brain tumour. Interestlingly my vet (who is brilliant and very high profile) told me whilst examining me mare that she has never in 15 years treated a horse with a brian tumour. Not saying that they don't occur just that they are very rare. Might be worth getting a vet's opinion on that subject.

With regards my mare today she was seenby Michael Peace. The man is a genius! So obvious when it is all broken down.
I told him the truth - we were at the end of the line. Then within hours I watched this "dangerous horse" chaneg just because things were being broken down and she could make an informed decision.

Not saying there is a cure for everything but I just felt i couldn't make the most final decision of her life without exploring both pain and behavioural route. Thank god I did.

Good luck x
 
Its amazing when people dont bother reading the whole post!!

You have said its no good on the ground.
You have said its back teeth ect is fine.
You have already said an adult has ridden it.

Honestly! (mini rant over ;))

that 10yr old who grabbed the bit ring sounds a mini eventer in the making anyway! Plus points to her!!

I agree with most - Sad, but its a PTS job really.
What have the owners said? - I mean even if you reach the decision, inform them in the nicest way and they say ' Oh but little pony poopies is such a sweety, cant you try something else?'
Are they they type to understand do you think - I know its a bit of a bombshell at the best of times.

Sorry to hear you have had such a dilemma about this one.
 
It can go as a companion, but who wants a companion that you cannot catch, that does not behave on the ground? How does the OP or the current owner ensure that the pony is only ever used as a companion. I went to a sale on Saturday and the place was full of horses and ponies, going for approximately meat money (not even that much for some of them). Any pony which is not suitable for a child to ride, is not going to find a market at the present time. Better that it is pts now, rather than later.
 
The reason it should not go as a companion has been highlighted so many times - the issue of horses going missing on loan or when sold for a nominal amount ending up being sold as suitable riding horses.

This happened to a friend who put her field sound pony on loan as a companion who disappeared and was later found sold within days of going on loan as a riding pony. This pony was featured in H&H a couple of years back in an article about companion horses being passed on as riding horses. And before you ask - yes she did all the checks you would expect - these people are very clever. This pony fortunately landed on her feet as the home she ended up in are keeping her as a companion to their new pony and keep in touch with my friend. This pony was unsound and buted to sell - what is to say the op's pony would not be doped to sell and end up going on seriously injuring (or worse) a child. My friend wishes she had her pony pts - until she found out that she was ok she spent many anxous months worrying what had become of her.
 
The problem may be fixable but who is to say that at some point in the future the horse doesn't have a 'slipup' and bolts again. Once a 'behaviour' has become established there is always the chance it could reoccur - not something I would want on my conscience. I think you have made the right decision with PTS :(
 
Pony has to be PTS end of. It can't go as a companion, because sooner or later someones expert friend will want to try & sort it out.
It bolts. Therefore it's unsafe for small adults as well as children.
I am guessing that many of the respondents have limited experience with bolting horses as opposed to horses that are simply hard to stop. I have ridden two true bolters in my life, & had to throw myself off ( not as easy as it sounds at full tilt) because the headcase I was on was heading for a quarry. The other one fell over so we hit the ground together. I have been carted out hunting & on the gallops. There is no comparison between being carted, & being bolted with.
Tough call C, but I think you're doing the right thing.
 
R2R, Why are you having to make this decision?

I would be giving the owners your opinion and then telling them to make a decision.

For what it is worth, I agree with PTS
 
Firstly <<<<Hugs>>>> This is such a tough decision for you to make. Would the owners of the pony be wiling to pay for a brain scan to see whether the pony has a tumour? As then you can take the right action from then.

Would it be worth trying to turn the pony away for a month or two and just letting the pony be a pony? And then in this time off you could go out daily and try and gain the pony's trust buy playing games and just having one to one time with the pony.

x
 
Have you tried getting a natural horsemanship person out to look at the pony and work with it? There must be some reason it's doing it and it seems quite harsh to put it down before trying every possible option.
 
I don't envy you your decision :(

The only thing I will post, is that I had (and still have) a horse that would sometimes jump a 3foot 3" spread, and the next second deck you at a 1foot crosspole. I had his back, teeth etc checked, to no avail. I then tried an equine Mctimmoney chiropractor, who finally sorted him out! I now ride him in a comfort bridle (Elevator) and pro-lite pad under his saddle and he's flying and completely happy. He never bolted, so was not dangerous in this way, however I did nearly give up on him once. I've now had him 6 years.

Good luck with your pony. x
 
MagicMelon said:
Why on earth cant the pony go to someone as a companion? A 128 is ideal for that!
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Because, as already stated several times on here, there is no guarentee the pony will not be sold on ridden, causing some other poor child an injury.
It is a dangerous animal, it is a danger to people, it should be PTS.
 
Poor little mite.

I'm afraid I agree with the majority and would have him PTS. But after all the nessesary checks.

However, even if something IS found, how long would you need to keep him and have a 'bolting free' period before deciding he's 'safe'? 6months? A year? 5 years? Because he can now never be trusted to behave himselve with a child even if the root cause is found.

He would be ideal as a companion and it would be something I would look into - not everyone are unscrupulous. But it would have to be a loan, and somewhere close by. And I'd have him freeze branded with the word 'BOLTER' (and recorded on his passport) too........
 
spidge said:
Could the pony possibly be suitable for carriage driving, more so if used in tandem?
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i personally would never put a known bolter into shafts, if it bolts then the risk to not only its driver but also anyone with them & anyone who gets too close (being wiped out by a trap on its side is not funny) let alone the injuries it could cause to itself.
 
I am looking for a hardy small companion pony, pref something unwanted like this poor little fella...pm me if I can be of any use!
 
spidge said:
Could the pony possibly be suitable for carriage driving, more so if used in tandem?
Click to expand...

One of the most irresponsible suggestions I have read, a driving pony needs to be all together mentally and physically.

This pony is dangerous to ride and will certainly be dangerous to drive.

As for putting in a tandem :eek: if anything when a horse is put with another it is always as a pair first not straight to tandem.
 
OP, I am so sorry to hear you're in this difficult situation. I think it might be best to return to the pony to its owner with your honest assessment of what happened. PTS or possible retraining should be the owner's responsibility.

How long have you had the pony? Has it always been this way?

My pony used to bolt with me. It's possible, from reading the other posts, that she was a naughty horse taking advantage rather than a "true bolter." I nearly had to rehome her, but instead I kept her and worked through our issues and now she trusts me and we have a fantastic bond. I hack her out alone and in company and we have done long distance rides and she's done everything I've asked. We've been in truly scary situations--ie on a bridlepath with a herd of young bullocks chasing us--and her companion horse bolted but she stood her ground and stared down the bovines so they backed off, lol. So she's really trustworthy little horse now. But I'm an adult riding her, making my own choices.

Some "problem" ponies can be good as gold with the proper retraining. However, your pony might indeed be truly dangerous. It's hard to know whether retraining could work for him. But in any case, it would seem to be the actual owner's responsibility to make the call whether to put the animal to sleep or not.

I hope your child finds a good pony to ride and have fun with.
 
Wow am suprised at how many replys on nh etc. It is a childs pony it's to small to be a adults pony. How on earth could this pony be trusted with a child on it. I got my first pony 12.2 could jump the moon but was a bolter. My mum was conned into buying him by a very bad dealer we had no knowledge of horses what so ever. When it bolted there was no stopping him if anything or anyone was in the way tough he would run right through. He was a danger. It came to a head when I was out hacking and he bolted through a gap in the hedges into the road right in front of a bus luckliy it stopped in time and ran straight onto a housing estate. My mum spoke to yard owner who bought him off her looking back I wish we would have pts. Adults who choose to get on a known bolter know the risks and consequences children don't. I would give it back to owners and strongly advise pts
 
I have just 2 questions

1) How old is the pony 2) Where do you live.

I bought a pony that bolted he was 13.2 and went on to be Reserve National Endurance Champion, local Champion as well as too many prizes in show jumping and x country to mention. He was was 10 when I bought him.

There are ways and means of sorting out a bolting pony / horse.

I too would say contact one of Monty Roberts people.
 
First off, I am very sorry to read of your problem :(

BUT - and I am not posting this to cause an argument and yes he's dangerous if he bolts - however, I just cannot believe that a "flight animal" should be PTS because it acts upon it's own and only known instinct. Horses aren't out to hurt people or their riders, but they are there to protect themselves and at the moment he obviously doesn't trust his rider enough to take confidence in them.

Perhaps there isn't anything obviously wrong, but have you looked in to the possibility of a trapped nerve - I read of a horse that would event absolutely fine but all of a sudden he turned in to a complete rodeo psycho horse and would dislodge his rider every single time - that was because of a trapped nerve!! Difficult to diagnose I suspect, but not an impossibility... and horses react differently to things so just because that horse bucked doesn't mean this one wouldn't bolt to get away from it. Just a thought.

Have you thought of re-braking him and completely starting again, getting his full trust on the ground through join-up? I know it's a lot of hard work, but it might help him.

If all else fails a companion would surely be the best option.

Before anyone says - I can't have ever been bolted with so I don't know what I’m on about - I have, it’s terrifying and I fully appreciate the dangers!

I just feel SO strongly, like I said above, for a horse to be put down because he reacts on his ONLY known instinct is not right. He perhaps just doesn't know any better at the moment!

You will undoubtedly do the right thing in your circumstances and I wish you the best of luck with him... I hope it's a happy ending!
 
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