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

nativeponies said:
Can I ask a serious question?

What is SO wrong about putting this pony to sleep?

Because i'm damned if I can see that anyone has actually pointed that out?

WHY does this situation need further investigation?
WHY should "experts" be involved?
WHY?

A short, and to the point reply will suffice.

Thank You.
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Nothing at all.
Because those seeking 'correction' haven't seen the devastation a dangerous pony can do, not only to the child but the families too. When they've experienced life a bit more they might realise why it's so precious and this is one situation when you don't mess about; you do the right thing.

nativeponies said:
And STILL not one person has answered my questions........
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See above! :)

Kaylum said:
Have you advertised as a free hunting pony.
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I think that one gets the prize for not reading the OP before getting brain in gear. Madness.
 
Nativeponies, you wrote


What is SO wrong about putting this pony to sleep?

Because i'm damned if I can see that anyone has actually pointed that out?

WHY does this situation need further investigation?
WHY should "experts" be involved?
WHY?


My answer is this.

I am bloody soft around horses which is probably why I ended up with this pony in the first place.

I was told by his owner that he could be spooky and flighty but NOT THAT HE BOLTED. It soon became apparent that he was a pain to catch - it took me an hour the first time, and he wasnt taking the p*ss, he literally saw me as a threat.

We overcame that - feeding twice daily, brushing, not riding him, building up trust. The pony is out 24/7 on sufficient grazing so the feeding was more for the relationship build up than the fact he needed it. We then started riding him...I rode him and it is clear the pony has been broken/started properly, it does lateral work, works properly etc. My capeable 11 year old goddaughter, who herself has a spooky pony and is used to riding sharp ones, then started riding him. After two days he spooked whilst she was getting on and bolted around the school in a blind panic dragging my goddaughter behind. We had saftey stirrups on and they didnt break, but her body protector came off, her t shirt was ripped clean off of her, and she was pretty battered and bruised. I gave the pony the benefit of the doubt becasue it had just come back into work but unfortunately I work full time and riding daily was not an option.

My friend then said she could take him, as she could work him more as she does her yard full time. I went up to watch him be ridden after two weeks and he was going briilliantly until she put a set of three trotting poles on the floor - which instead of pony trotting over, he jumped, spooked, and ran off, unseating rider and bolting. I got on it to walk him off as child landed on her head and he then did the EXACT same thing with me - shot forward, and literally went from underneath me.

Pony then was going fine, in consistent work, had had join up done with it/saddle etc all checked, teeth fine. Was on the heath with a sane, sensible hore, spooked, and ran off, full pelt accross the heath with poor child terrified but trying to stop. It ran through an elderly gentleman which blocked the path and she only pulled it up by grabbing its bit rings.

I am told he has done it once more since the heath with a small adult on him – same thing, spooking then bolting.

I know the difference between bolting and running off and this is bolting.

I now have the pony back at my yard, uninterested owners, no proper rider, can’t catch it, I work full time in London and cannot devote time to this pony as well as rehabbing an ex racer and riding my wb to keep him competing. I will not sell on a pony unless I can be 100% sure they can fix the problem. I am unsure of suggesting a nine year old pony be a companion because of the welfare implications (you cant catch it/money for all is tight/I am sure the pony would end up being ridden and don’t want the risk of that on my shoulders)

So – what would you do? I think PTS is the fairest, most sensible option...that or I keep a pony I can’t catch and will not put a child on my yard (I have the land) and just stomach the costs etc...I don’t see what my options are?

I came on here to ask what people thought – I think it is a bit of a dilemma to be honest and asking an opinion is fair, and so are the contrasting opinions given. However, just becasue I think the pony should be PTS does not make me cruel, heartless, or whatever.

Zebedee I will PM you – perhaps you have more time and we could work together, but I really don’t see what the solution is.

C
 
R2R said:
That they want him sold!
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Unbelievable and shocking that they don't realise the danger to any person, let alone a child and don't want the responsibility themselves but are prepared for your name to go through the mud as the one who sells it.
I'd be inclined to give them their pound and have him put down for my own conscience I'm afraid.
 
Far better to be safe than sorry, as I said in my original post, how would you feel if someone was injured or killed? Its to be hoped that this pony has been PTS by now before any damage is done to someone.
Some years ago now, I bought an infoal mare, the sellers stated she'd hunted in the past and could be brought back into work. This we did after the foal was weaned,she was fine for a few days then threw a wobbly and the person riding her ended up in intensive care with blood clots on the brain. THe surgeon stated her riding hat saved her life,but still,these several years on, she has vision problems from time to tme because of it. We are all very fortunate she wasnt killed,and that no one else was,including me whoe'd been riding the mare. I witnessed the incident, the mare ,in my experienced opinion knew what she was doing,she wanted the rider off, and from what I saw I concluded that the mare had done this before. I had the mare PTS, the people I bought her off should have done the same IMO instead of putting her in foal and selling her on,if this had happened my friends life-long injury would not have happened. Unbelievably I was castigated by a local "horse-lover" for "murdering" the mare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still, thats how some people are.
 
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R2R i respect you massively for putting time into this pony in the first place. IMO he's been given his chance. You've been very fair & i honestly don't think a bolter, a true bolter, can be sorted out to remain as a ridden animal.
It seems something in said ponies head just isn't ticking over correctly.

PTS.

I would choose companion if i had the land available so the pony could live out his days just being a horse. But it is not your pony & harsh as it seems, you don't owe him anything.

I would greatly advise against loaning or selling as companion/field ornament because sooner or later, as has already been said, some smart arse will come along and will chuck some tack on it to prove a point. Then sell it as a ridden pony.

You have the benefit of knowing this pony is a bolter & that you've tried to put things right. The poor sod that gets sold it eventually at some point in its life, wont know this as they wont have been told. Some people have no conscience or remorse and WILL do this to line their pockets.

Can almost guarantee if it isn't PTS some unsuspecting child will be sold this pony as a genuine kids pony and wont be told of any issues...and it will end badly.
 
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lexiedhb said:
C- just out of interest, what do the owners say???
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Maesfen said:
Unbelievable and shocking that they don't realise the danger to any person, let alone a child and don't want the responsibility themselves but are prepared for your name to go through the mud as the one who sells it.
I'd be inclined to give them their pound and have him put down for my own conscience I'm afraid.
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Just tried that - I offered them £100 but they said he is worth £500 and thats what they want for him!
 
Then the best thing to do IMO is explain to the owners that if you are truthful about the extent of this pony's problem, no one will buy it, it has no value.

You could take it to an unwarranted sale which would not be the best thing for the pony but it might get them a small proportion of their money back from someone taking their chances buying in that way, however it could mean more people, most likely kids, getting hurt in the future so that is something for their conscience to weigh up.

If they want it sold privately for the most money they can get with the problem covered up, there are professionals who specialize in this service, tell them to ask around and find one because ethically you disagree with doing this and you have your reputation to think about.
 
R2R said:
Just tried that - I offered them £100 but they said he is worth £500 and thats what they want for him!
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And exactly WHAT do they base that valuation on?

I entirely agree that if they insist the pony is sold on, it is done away from your yard, your involvement and YOUR reputation.
 
Groom42 said:
And exactly WHAT do they base that valuation on?

I entirely agree that if they insist the pony is sold on, it is done away from your yard, your involvement and YOUR reputation.
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Agreed. Cut all ties with this. And if anyone asks you at any point what the pony is/was like, tell the truth.

Seflish, selfish people.
 
Ditto the Potters option. That's the most cash they will get for him. I can't believe how increadibly irresponsible some people can be!!!

R2R, kudos to you for the work you've put in, but again agree with everyone that if they insist on selling this pony ensure that your name/yard/reputation is completely disassociated from it!
 
nativeponies said:
Offer 200 with tack

take pony to potters..you'll get around 150/175 and sell tack..outlay recouped
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That's a similar deal to the one I struck when the sellers of my bolter rang me in a complete panic after one of the other people who'd been to see the pony before me had rung them up talking of liability after their child had come off and been injured during the viewing.

That pony had been bought reasonably expensively by naive unhorsey parents as their child's perfect pony.:( Bless her, the child stuck it out for nearly two years but she kept getting dumped and was hoping to be a professional dancer and just couldn't risk any permanent damage.
 
Obviously the best option would be to get to the bottom of it and find a solution. But life isn't always perfect and resources are limited. If the owners aren't going to pursue the problem, whose responsibility is it?

If they're going to sell it, divorce yourself ENTIRELY from the procedure. It may sound harsh but you simply cannot be involved. I might go so far as to send the owners an email outlining exactly WHY you don't want to be involved and that your professional opinion is that the pony is unsuitable for ridden work and then save your copy, just in case. It might be worth mentioning to them that if they do sell the pony and it hurts someone, they are opening themselves to liability. I know Trading Standards only covers professional sellers but I suspect this would potentially tip into negligence, like selling a car with bad brakes and intentionally not disclosing the fact.

Unfortunately, I've seen a few situations like this (and thinking about them still make me sad and angry, even years later) and, much as people want to believe in the "Black Beauty" myth that somehow it will all work out, it often ends in tears. It sounds like you've done your best but at the end of the day, they're going to do what they want to do with their pony. It's very hard, but what can you do?
 
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Jess1 said:
Thanks Blazingsaddles :) - I just hope it get's considered.

All the posts saying put him to sleep etc... really saddened me. Like I said, horses are flight animals - he is only acting on what he naturally knows to do when he is terrified.

Until you start looking deeper you'll never ever get a reason for why the poor pony is doing it! There are plenty of options for him and a bullet wouldn't even be on my list - he's only acting on what he naturally knows and I just feel he deserves to be broken-in again, started over and given a second chance to prove what a talented pony he really is. :(

I wish the owner all the best and I hope he lives to have a happy ending!!
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I agree. Pity somebody couldn't find the money to have a back xray. Sounds like a problem in that area. But hey ho, a bullet is the cheapest option!
 
R2R said:
Just tried that - I offered them £100 but they said he is worth £500 and thats what they want for him!
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Actually it is unsaleable - you are obliged by law (i think) to disclose dangerous vices (i.e. bolting). No one would buy that which leaves his value as meat money.

Even for meat, they are not fetching a lot at the moment.
 
TicTac said:
I agree. Pity somebody couldn't find the money to have a back xray. Sounds like a problem in that area. But hey ho, a bullet is the cheapest option!
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I dont think you could call to question my finances simply from reading a post on an internet forum.

Quite simply, he BOLTS WHEN HE SPOOKS...it is nothing to do with his back (which, by the way, I have had checked by my vet, at cost to me, as have his teeth)
 
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