Help finding quiet/old pony??

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PennywithHenry

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Any ideas where I could look?

My mother's looking for a pony for my five year old little sister (she had another 2 children after we all left home lol glutton for punishment!)

All she's looking for is something that my sister can groom/handle. Riding isn't really an issue as she's not interested in the riding side of things. She had a loan pony since last Autumn and showed just how incredibly dedicated she is, however his owners now have him back to show this summer.

The pony would live at my mums, with her own mare, and be totally adored by a little girl with a heart of gold and a lot of love and attention to give, only it's proving quite difficult to find a pony.

I thought I'd have no trouble whatsoever finding a pony. Looks, sex, age etc aren't an issue in the slightest, just as long as it's quiet, I actually thought there'd be quite a few oldies about looking for a retirement home, but I can't find one at all.

I enquired and went to view a 'quiet first pony' who was described as '100% in every way' and should have turned around and gone home as soon as we arrived and they were trying to catch it. 40 minutes later it was finally caught, cow kicking everything in sight and tied up tight as it was just as qauick with its teeth as it was its feet....

Needless to say we politely declined.

So...if anyone has any ideas, either knows of a pony or can suggest where to look I'd be very grateful. 13.2hh or under, as long as it's quiet to handle its sex/age/looks/breeding and riding is all irrelevant....either sale or loan, a fantastic home offered for life and the family are more than willing to invite people to their home to see where the pony would be living.
 
Ask at your local feed merchants! We often have people telling us that they want to loan out an 'old friend', but they don't want to advertise it as it has to have exactly the right home. Therefore my brain gets stuffed with 'Mrs X needs a 12.2, I wonder if Mr Y's would do?' etc etc.

Have you contacted your local pony club? Pony Club instructors (or any instructor, actually) will know of various ponies needed or for sale/loan.
 
That's a good idea, thanks. I was thinking about advertising as 'wanted' however I've heard so many stories about people advertising wanting old companions then selling them on I decided against it, as thought there'd be few, if any, replies.
 
how far are you based i could have one we recently got although we dont know that much about him yet he been with us less than a week but he wouldnt cost that much as he is a windsucker so he has that against him tbh will prob find it hard to sell him due to that but he was a pity buy as the owners did not have a clue what they were doing.
 
Hi again, thanks so much for all of your replies.

She's based in North Lincolnshire and would be willing to travel for the right pony.

james, I phoned her and she said vices such as wind sucking aren't an issue, as long as he's quiet enough to handle. I'd love to hear more about him please.
 
The answer is to NOT look! The right one will come to you.
My son had a nasty fall and as such we were after the same as you. I advertised a wanted, I went to see numerous ponies... and almost gave up hope. By chance we were offered a very experienced and well known show pony who was retiring. We travelled 130 miles to see it and were told when we got there that it had already been sold that morning. On the way home I picked up a magazine (i think it was freeads) and spotted a "ten hand shetland, good with kids" so phoned about it (because I was bored in the car). It was on our way home so we popped in to see it, and it was in fact excellent with kids. My son rode it and we left a deposit there and then.

second time we wanted another like the first. I didnt even bother advertising a wanted or anything. Just let local people know that i wanted a small safe pony "that my kids can drag around the yard and clamber over". My YO's farrier came up trumps with a pony which sounded ideal. Phoned about him, had my reservations as he was being described as "quirky" by his owner, but went to see him. He hadnt been advertised as they wanted him sold by word of mouth.
Saw him and knew he was the one. He's perfect. My kids don't drag him round (it's my way of expressing how safe I want a pony to be) but my three year old handles him and rides him, his temperament is perfect too. And as he came via word of mouth he didnt cost us very much either!!
 
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