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

It's so unfortunate for you that it actually works!
It doesn't always work. In The Man Who Listens To Horses he describes a horse, a stallion, that no one, not even he was able to help. The horse was 'managed' needing 2 handlers on the end of poles but eventually had to be put down.
Sooo, to return to my question that you didn't answer; if you had this pony and your methods did NOT work what would you do? Admit defeat and have him put down or pass him on to an uncertain future?
 
Gee, where is Papa Frita when you need her.
NP, you horse not lover, you!

It seems to me that whenever somebody shows some emotionally detached logic, they are called cruel animal abuser.
Seriously, surely it is better to get a few quid back whilst securing the pony's future than to keep shunting it from one magician to another whilst throwing good money after bad...:rolleyes:

ETS: PF, you are like the Ginny:D
 
No offense intended here!! But isnt it fair to give the pony a chance, just because a rider has guts doesnt mean that they are a good rider, or effective why not look around for a light weight successful rider (competing wise) or even a successful instructor that has experience with difficult ponies. I used to ride a pony that learn to bolt because his owner was a bit of a no common sense rider, gentle hands and a double bridle - solved. A lot of ponies bolt, i can not see this as a justifyabe reson to have it PTS :/ Also has the pony been checked for health problems?
 
Seems to me if you want some advice on a difficult subject, the last thing you should do is ask a public forum! Might be simpler to canvas a few opinions from people who know the pony and your situation rather than letting several, well meaning I'm sure, people let vent to their very opposed opinons.

I haven't read all the posts, but I think most of them now are beyond helpful - often you know what needs to be done, you just need to go with your gut feeling and live with the consequences what ever you choose to do - there is no right or wrong here just a sad situation.
 
Someone get me a number and I swear to God I will take the pony.


Are these demo's free of charge or is that an incredibly silly question? OP whatever you do just make sure you don't spend any of your money sorting out what is essentially not your problem as you do not own the pony. The owners sound greedy and selfish so by all means, have it seen by a NH person but please don't do it at your expense, why the hell should you?
 
and your problem is what?
:confused:

Almost every answer you seem to give is to 'take it to potters' this might be ok for you but it isn't ok for most horse lovers. If this is what you do then that's up to you but as this is a sensitive subject maybe a little more tact could be used?

So the pony has a bolting problem? I'm sure he didn't start his life that way. How he is today is either caused by something physical or how he has been treated in his life. He doesn't deserve to end his days in the slaughter house.

If PTS is the only thing for this little chap then do it with some dignity and PTS at home.
 
I just wanted to point out there is no dignity in death.

What difference does it make to the pony? Do you think it worries endlessly that it's going to end up as Pedigree Chum as opposed to an urn of ashes on a mantelpiece?
 
Now I know you're bonkers

oh and i wouldn't pay for a bullet..i would want paying for his carcass..hence taking him to potters.

everyone wants paying..even the NH peddlers

I didn't want to bother responding to this, but felt the need to say that this post seems to pretty much sums you up! Who are you to judge me and my opinions on Intelligent/Natural Horsemanship, oh yeh, NO ONE
 
I just wanted to point out there is no dignity in death.

What difference does it make to the pony? Do you think it worries endlessly that it's going to end up as Pedigree Chum as opposed to an urn of ashes on a mantelpiece?

I've been to a slaughterhouse.

I don't think for a minute that those animals don't sense the death around them.

But that is just my opion.

If you think that those of us who dislike the idea of our horses being PTS in this way are 'fluffy' then so be it.

I would rather be 'fluffy' than make an extra couple of quid out of my horses carcass.

There is no dignity in death, but there can be in the moments leading up to it.
 
I have been following this post with interest.
R2R whatever you decide good luck. I can almost feel your frustration. What an awful situation to be in when he's not even your pony I do however understand your dilemma and why it may be necessary to PTS especially as he is a danger not only to people but also to himself. In an ideal world all horses/ponies with problems would be sent to be rehabilitated/reschooled etc etc and the time taken to find out the root cause of their problems.
However, we don't live in an ideal world but a ********** cruel world where animals and humans suffer.
If I had the land and the money I would take him off your hands as a companion for my lot as would a lot of other people who have expressed opinions on here. He could just be a pony without the pressure to perform as we expect them too.
Whatever you decide, at the end of the day, it is your decision and while we all can offer varying opinions we are not the ones with the problem.
Good luck!
 
I've tried sitting on my hands....

I owned a bolter many moons ago.
He too was very unpredictable.
He was 13.2-so small adult or childs pony.
He would only be caught if every other horse in the field had been brought in.
He was a biter, a kicker and quite frankly a nasty piece of work. I don't believe for one second this tosh that horse's aren't born evil. This animal had everything he wanted or needed from the day he was born. He was treated like a star. (I bought him from the breeder and knew them well)
He was never abused, or beaten.

I paid thousands and I mean thousands in having him looked at by everyone, vets, EDT's.....even NH! He was xrayed, he had new saddles-plural!

In the end I had to accept that there was nothing I could do to stop him bolting. He was just a nasty pony.
I had him shot at 7 years old.
I could not have te death of a child/small adult on my conscience-and yes I do believe that this animal would have killed someone.
And you know what?
I don't regret it and I would do it again if I was ever in the same situation.
I love horses, always have and always will but I'm not so soft as to ever think that the life of an animal should come before that of a human.
 
I didn't want to bother responding to this, but felt the need to say that this post seems to pretty much sums you up! Who are you to judge me and my opinions on Intelligent/Natural Horsemanship, oh yeh, NO ONE

and as you haven't said anything constructive, you aren't too hot yourself.
 
I've tried sitting on my hands....

I owned a bolter many moons ago.
He too was very unpredictable.
He was 13.2-so small adult or childs pony.
He would only be caught if every other horse in the field had been brought in.
He was a biter, a kicker and quite frankly a nasty piece of work. I don't believe for one second this tosh that horse's aren't born evil. This animal had everything he wanted or needed from the day he was born. He was treated like a star. (I bought him from the breeder and knew them well)
He was never abused, or beaten.

I paid thousands and I mean thousands in having him looked at by everyone, vets, EDT's.....even NH! He was xrayed, he had new saddles-plural!

In the end I had to accept that there was nothing I could do to stop him bolting. He was just a nasty pony.
I had him shot at 7 years old.
I could not have te death of a child/small adult on my conscience-and yes I do believe that this animal would have killed someone.
And you know what?
I don't regret it and I would do it again if I was ever in the same situation.
I love horses, always have and always will but I'm not so soft as to ever think that the life of an animal should come before that of a human.

Am so glad you posted your story :) I too believe that some horses are just nasty pieces of work, same as dogs, cattle, cats, humans....not every creature in the world is born with a serene manner, it just doesn't happen.
 
Firstly <<<<Hugs>>>> This is such a tough decision for you to make with no help from the owners.

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 and then go back to basics when it comes to riding the pony again after his time off!.
 
I hope you get a resolution soon - it must be so stressful to have it hanging over your conscience :(

OP ignore the people with wild claims saying that you aren't good enough (9 yo who came in the top 10 at the olymipcs - a quick google will show that to be false - unless they trained Totilas and I really don't think that's true lol)
 
I've tried sitting on my hands....

I owned a bolter many moons ago.
He too was very unpredictable.
He was 13.2-so small adult or childs pony.
He would only be caught if every other horse in the field had been brought in.
He was a biter, a kicker and quite frankly a nasty piece of work. I don't believe for one second this tosh that horse's aren't born evil. This animal had everything he wanted or needed from the day he was born. He was treated like a star. (I bought him from the breeder and knew them well)
He was never abused, or beaten.

I paid thousands and I mean thousands in having him looked at by everyone, vets, EDT's.....even NH! He was xrayed, he had new saddles-plural!

In the end I had to accept that there was nothing I could do to stop him bolting. He was just a nasty pony.
I had him shot at 7 years old.
I could not have te death of a child/small adult on my conscience-and yes I do believe that this animal would have killed someone.
And you know what?
I don't regret it and I would do it again if I was ever in the same situation.
I love horses, always have and always will but I'm not so soft as to ever think that the life of an animal should come before that of a human.


I agree with you, they are few and far between , but they are out there, i can think of one horse a PRE mare that i knew from a foal and from day one she was evil, she savaged many people and grew to be huge 17hh od, and then to top it all off the owner declared that as the mare carried the pearl gene she might keep her to breed from as she was to hard to work with :eek::eek::eek: madness. luckaly ( though i'm not sure for who ) she sold the horse in the end. but i would have shot it in a heart beat , you cant have a horse like that on your concience.
 
I don't think many horses are evil, but plenty are dangerous and cannot be cured of extreme behavior.

There's no question, its a sad situation, but leaving sentiment out it, you have to put human safety before the horse's right to a cushy life.
 
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