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

No I'm not. I haven't stated what to do either way. My advice would be ask and expert in real life, or make the decision yourself, don't go on the back on what a load of strangers views might be on an internet forum.
If OP is as experienced as what others have stated on here, and I am sure she is, then she will know whether the pony is worth perservering with and much her own judgement.
 
charlie76 said:
No need to be rude just because some one has a different opinion on something. If the OP was 100% sure that it was the right thing to do then why come on an open forum and state the story rather than just cracking on and getting it done, she has some doubt in her mind and wants feedback and suggestions which is what is being offered from different points of view.
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Criticism and disapproval is not the same as advice. Perhaps she wanted sympathy for what can only be a horrible situation. What she's had is people question her judgement and accuse her of cruelty. IMO that's just as bad if not worse than rudeness. And I'm never rude, even when I really really think it's deserved.
 
But no one should have such a definate decision on an animal that they have never seen before
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I completely agree. However they can have a definate opinion on the situation, based on experience and common sense.
 
Sorry, couldn't resist, apologies for flippancy etc etc etc, in what is a very serious post, but............"and then re-brake him" - if it were that easy, there wouldn't be a problem, as it is the brakes that are faulty. ;)
 
charlie76 said:
But no one should have such a definate decision on an animal that they have never seen before, know no history and can go by what is said on a forum. I often have people come into my work and ask for advise on what bit to use on a horse, without seeing the horse in question there is no way I would advise, what happens if I advised the wrong thing?
Quite aware that some one could be injured or worse but it can't be for someone who has not seen the situation in real life to advise either way or infact, how to go about curing it should there be a cure.
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But it's perfectly OK for someone who has never seen the animal and knows none of its history to insist that it shouldn't be put to sleep?.... AND you acknowledge that someone could get injured. Does that not stike you as a double standard?
 
Groom42 said:
Sorry, couldn't resist, apologies for flippancy etc etc etc, in what is a very serious post, but............"and then re-brake him" - if it were that easy, there wouldn't be a problem, as it is the brakes that are faulty. ;)
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Naughty naughty, I've been sitting on my hands over that one wondering if anyone else had noticed!
 
If it is a childs pony and could cause a child serious damage through its behaviour better to have it PTS than end up being passed around. Why is it we put dangerous dogs to sleep because they do harm but people want to keep a pony alive that could cause as much damage. In both cases often it is training by people that has been lacking and the animal has to go but that is the way things are. Leaving it as a field ornament in this situation doesnt sound practical and there are no guarantees about what the future holds. There would be fewer people who end up hurt because of unsuitable horses if people would do the responsible thing and PTS.

I wish the OP well and commend her for even considering making a tough decision.
 
PapaFrita said:
But it's perfectly OK for someone who has never seen the animal and knows none of its history to insist that it shouldn't be put to sleep?.... AND you acknowledge that someone could get injured. Does that not stike you as a double standard?
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I said that- apparently that is not what she is saying :confused::confused::confused::confused:
 
SplashofSoy said:
If it is a childs pony and could cause a child serious damage through its behaviour better to have it PTS than end up being passed around. Why is it we put dangerous dogs to sleep because they do harm but people want to keep a pony alive that could cause as much damage. In both cases often it is training by people that has been lacking and the animal has to go but that is the way things are. Leaving it as a field ornament in this situation doesnt sound practical and there are no guarantees about what the future holds. There would be fewer people who end up hurt because of unsuitable horses if people would do the responsible thing and PTS.

I wish the OP well and commend her for even considering making a tough decision.
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I absolutely agree.
A dangerous pony will eventually cause harm and won't know it's end is nigh if PTS by an expert.

Too many horses are not euthanised (it means good death BTW) because people won't take a responsible decision or listen to people who don't understand the implications of keeping an equine that is likely to injure someone. If it is a known bolter, different to tanking off but the same for these purposes, insurance companies won't pay out.
Could any of the people offering it a home or saying keep it as a companion afford the costs & compensation if it bolted in front of a vehicle or into a crowd?

As for further tests. I have pain about 25% of the time. It is in one leg muscle from a nerve that may have been damaged during emergency lower abdominal surgery. It doesn't show up on any hospital test but shows as a minor temperature change using thermography only when the pain is active. It feels like multiple needles or stings.

Something like this could never be found on a pony.

I see two options, keep it as a companion at home or PTS - I would choose the latter.
 
I see two options, keep it as a companion at home or PTS - I would choose the latter.
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I have chosen the former for ours and he is now retired - but there is a clause in my will that says if I pre-decease him he must be pts as he is too much for my husband to manage, he must not be sold and my daughter is away at Uni and can't take responsibility for him.
 
I asked the question becasue in MY opinion it is the best thing to do however I now have to go to the ponies owners, sit them down and tell them what I believe with sensitivity and limited hysterical reaction.

THAT is why I asked for opinions, and I appreciate them. I dont really see how who I am has anything to do with it!
 
R2R said:
I asked the question becasue in MY opinion it is the best thing to do however I now have to go to the ponies owners, sit them down and tell them what I believe with sensitivity and limited hysterical reaction.

THAT is why I asked for opinions, and I appreciate them. I dont really see how who I am has anything to do with it!
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Would it help at all if they read what is the over riding opinion on here, if you could print this out? They might see, that bar the slightly stupid replies, that in the main, everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet in that better to be safe than sorry and have something awful on your conscience. I know it might go the other way too but at least they would have heard a variety of views, not just your own.

All the best, I don't envy you the discussion.
 
Good Luck R2R, not the nicest thing to have to do, but the best for the pony. Who knows, the owners might decide to retire him to a field at the thought of losing him, but better they make the decision and that he doesn't get into the wrong hands.

And yes, not quite sure why this has got on to who you are, but eh? this is a forum lol
 
Is this the same pony?

"I have a really nice 13.2hh gelding at my yard. Trouble is he is really quirky and unconfident – have tried all the desensitisation etc – what I really think he needs is a friend who will spend time with him and love him.
To ride he is great, but a bit random..for instance he will happily ride out down the same path one day, and spook the next. Same with jumping – he will jump about 4” easily, but has a dirty spooky stop. His one saving grace is he will hunt all day, jump anything, and keep up with the big boys.
He is also difficult to catch – I can catch him, because I feed him, but no one else can.
I have tried project horses but I am worried about him going into the wrong hands. He needs someone who will love him and be his mate and make friends with him whilst keeping him fit and ridden. He is not my pony, he was put on grass livery at the start of the summer and left and his owners have now asked me to sell him. Trouble is, how?"
 
Yes, I had had him a month there and he hadnt done it nor had I had much to do with him- however he has bolted 3 or four times since that hence I am in the situation I am in. All of the above is true, unfortunately so is the bolting.
 
my section A was a bolter, and after a few vet visits it was discovered he had a bad back which coupled with his already nervous disposition made him dangerous.

He was retired about 17 years ago and has been a companion for our weanlings in the past and now has a place in my herd of old decripids and he will stay there until he dies or has to be pts.

If I had to get rid of him I would have to say I will pts as he may not find a home who can support a pony who can't be ridden and I'd hate to see him passed from pillar to post.
 
ldlp111 said:
So has he been known to bolt before he came to you or is this something he's just started now?
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If he did, I wasnt told, however I suspect he did it at loan home which is how he ended up coming back and becoming my problem.
 
amymay said:
Possibly because they suggested things that could potentially kill someone.........

And actually some opinions do matter more than others and do have more value than others.

People with many years of experience in horses - who are practical, intelligent and above all realistic have opinions that far outweight those that don't.

Thankfully no one has suggested palming it off on a charity yet.

But I'm sure that suggestion will come too.
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Wow, this place is charming!

Everyone's entitled to an opinion. It does not matter how old you are, how many years you have had horses or anything else for that matter!!!! ...I had ideas that I had not seen offered in the other posts which simply and bluntly said SHOOT HIM!

No one should be shouted down for their own opinion or laughed at because there was a spelling mistake - it's pathetic and frankly rude when someone has simply asked for some advice, kind words, opinions or general ideas.

R2R, like I said in my other posts I really do hope there is a happy ending, but you will undoubtedly do what is right for yours the pony's and owner's circumstances. I wish you all the best!
 
Have you tried him on a big dose of magnesium? There was an article about magnesium defiiciency which was a reference from a DG, I just don't think it was the Horse and Hound DG, I can't remember where it was. I have searched my History and still cannot find it, but I read it and thought how much it sounded like a very spooky pony I know.

This pony had bolted and he was nearly always in a high anxiety state. He had been on magnesium and there was a definite improvement, but not enormous, but reading the article he hadn't been fed sufficient quantitiy for long enough.

The article mentioned bolting and the more work you give the horse, the worse it becomes, rather than calmer, also very, very spooky. Also very tense in the back. Magnesium has an effect on the muscles, hence the tenseness. Also, according to the article, excess is excreted by the horse, so overdosing is not too much of a problem. Maybe someone else can refer to this article. In the meantime I willcontinue to trawl round and see if I can find it.
 
amymay said:
,
Thankfully no one has suggested palming it off on a charity yet.

But I'm sure that suggestion will come too.
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some one has about four pages back...all the usual replies have been made and now everyone has resorted to scrapping over small details.

At the end of the day it is the owners decision. As long as they are prepared to keep it with them, a companion job is not a problem but if they try selling or loaning PTS has to be the only option unless one of these nice people on here can give him a forever home. Believe me if I could I would as none of mine have been sold on and I have a bolter and four of my lot are what other people would have had pts three are now ridden and competed, the bolter however is a companion/fixed herd member. There are people like me out there as well as the morons who sell on dangerous ponies....shame no one like me can help out.....
 
If you read my post, I have not said that the pony should not be PTS if it is dangerous the same as I have not said it should be. What I have said is that is the decision of the owner and the OP to make and they are the ones having to deal with it.
However, it is also not fair to take the mickey out of the people that, in their opinion, is what they might try in same such situation. Might not be what we would all choose to do but one persons opinion is as valuable as the next.
 
http://www.performanceequineusa.com/magnesium-themineralsuperhero.aspx

This was the article. It reminded me of a pony I know, and have ridden, and always seemed ready to run off at the slightest thing.

However, ref the pony in your thread. I agree with the majority that it would be better PTS rather than risk the life of a child or anyone else for that matter. And it obviously has a real problem if it has run off with you as well.
 
Just incase I was read as taking the mickey, I wasn't and appologise if it came across that way. But after reading every reply all I get is sarcasm and back biting from many replies. Thankfully the OP seems a sensible enough person and just wanted to know how to handle the situation rather than be told what we would all do.

I restate my words that the OP and owner can only make this decision but if it is that dangerous and there is a chance a person may unwittingly sell the boy on and he re-offends then it could be disasterous. I think it would be fab if someone could take him on as a companion with a clear understanding that if proffesions can't help him he may never be ridden safely again. These people are few and far between however and like me usually have more companions than ridable ponies.

Sadly if the OP and owner can't bring in the likes of Richard Maxwell/Monty/Kelly Marks or find someone who can be trusted not to just sell a problem on, then what other option is there....Its just sad that there isn't someone out there who is prepared to give him a chance and if it doesn't work give him a home for life as a companion.
 
Tell you what C, ask the owners to sell him to me for £1, then I'll make the decision if you'll deal with the practicalities your end. That way people can have a go at me not you, & you can just get on with what needs to be done instead of having to defend yourself on here.
 
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