Help! New (first) pony arrives on Monday and I'm sure I've forgotten something

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Caznay

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So we have:
Paddock with secure fencing
Basic but sound and dry field shelter
trough with water valve
hay
dodson and horrell pasture mix (not sure if he'll even need this, he lives on grass and a tiny bit of hay according to old owner)
carrots :D
galvanised metal dustbin to store food in
saddle rack and bridle rack to put up
headcollar
grooming stuff

he comes with 2 rugs and tack (which will need replacing eventually as not very good)

What have I forgotten???!
 
basic first aid stuff for him ie vet wrap, poulticing stuff

lunge rope (incase you want to lunge before getting on for the first time!)
 
A bucket or two, always useful,
Pooh picking equipment, wheelbarrow, if needed.
A basic first aid kit, hopefully not required but a good idea, a few human things like plasters, often needed.:D
Register with vet and farrier if you have not already, farriers are not always easy to get so dont wait until you need one,
get on a list.
Have fun with your new pony.
 
Basic first aid kit:

Roll of cotton wool for bathing
some purple spray/antiseptic spray type stuff.
Wound cream/powder
Gamgee and bandages.
Vetwrap.
Salt (for bathing)
Clean plastic bowl or small bucket

If he has pink nose or pink skin some sun cream for summer.

Buckets - extra for feeding, waters, bathing etc.

Reflective kit for hacking out?

Beware the pasture mix, maybe a handful as a treat, but it sent a couple of mine a bit loopy!
 
Thanks so much, very useful and has reminded me to sort out the farrier. I've just done the insurance too which I had forgotten to put on the list.

I am not planning to feed him much pasture mix, just as treats as he is a lovely hardy New Forest and I don't want to spoil him. I cannot imagine him ever being loopy as he is a very sensible boy (he is only 6 but like an old man :-))
 
Caznay said:
I am not planning to feed him much pasture mix, just as treats as he is a lovely hardy New Forest and I don't want to spoil him. I cannot imagine him ever being loopy as he is a very sensible boy (he is only 6 but like an old man :-))
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You may want to re-think the mix, and perhaps think about a Hi Firbre cube instead....

Just a suggestion:)
 
Amymay seems to have gone so I will give my answer , a native pony is usually a good doer and at constant risk of laminitis, they will be getting more sugar from grass than is ideal most of the time. To then give a highly molassed and cereal based feed, even in small quantities could push them over the edge.
If his current owners have not been feeding him, they are correct he does not need anything, it is not worth the risk to give him it.
I would look at a high fibre cube if you feel the need to give him anything, it will also last longer if kept dry, or just a bag of herbal treats that you can give a few at a time as a reward. A carrot will do the job but again high in sugar so not too many.
 
be positive said:
Amymay seems to have gone so I will give my answer , a native pony is usually a good doer and at constant risk of laminitis, they will be getting more sugar from grass than is ideal most of the time. To then give a highly molassed and cereal based feed, even in small quantities could push them over the edge.
If his current owners have not been feeding him, they are correct he does not need anything, it is not worth the risk to give him it.
I would look at a high fibre cube if you feel the need to give him anything, it will also last longer if kept dry, or just a bag of herbal treats that you can give a few at a time as a reward. A carrot will do the job but again high in sugar so not too many.
Click to expand...

This, or a balancer or AntiLam/equivalent.
 
Tack cleaning stuff and a variety of sponges/clothes/old towels which always come in handy. Additionally baby wipes are handy things to have around

Good luck and enjoy your new pony
 
As this is your first pony and the owner has not been feeding him, then neither should you! A recipe for disaster. Give yourself at least a couple of months before introducing any hard food so you can both really get to know each other. Pasture mix is not the best feed for a native anyway - too much sugar. As others have said, a good quality pony nut should be plenty.
 
Caznay said:
So we have:
Paddock with secure fencing
Basic but sound and dry field shelter
trough with water valve
hay
dodson and horrell pasture mix (not sure if he'll even need this, he lives on grass and a tiny bit of hay according to old owner)
carrots :D
galvanised metal dustbin to store food in
saddle rack and bridle rack to put up
headcollar
grooming stuff

he comes with 2 rugs and tack (which will need replacing eventually as not very good)

What have I forgotten???!
Click to expand...

PICTURES!!!!!!!??? :-)
 
^^LIKE^^ :) good luck with him. I echo what the others have said about feed though. Feeding is certainly not my specialist area but I also would either not feed if your grazing and hay is of similar quality or feed something like Badminton High Fibre complete which are nuggets. Thats what I feed to my true good doer and they are listed in the native breeds section of their products on website.
 
Caznay said:
So we have:
Paddock with secure fencing
Basic but sound and dry field shelter
trough with water valve
hay
dodson and horrell pasture mix (not sure if he'll even need this, he lives on grass and a tiny bit of hay according to old owner)
carrots :D
galvanised metal dustbin to store food in
saddle rack and bridle rack to put up
headcollar
grooming stuff

he comes with 2 rugs and tack (which will need replacing eventually as not very good

What have I forgotten???!
Click to expand...

Copious amounts of alcohol and this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understandi...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321472335&sr=1-2

Joking!!!! ( but a bit of truth;)) Good luck with your new addition:)
 
Agree with the feed, either high fibre nuts or a low cal balancer. Definitely be aware of laminitis!
First aid kits a must!!
You must be so excited!!
 
so excited yes! If I can ever get to the bottom of the insurance minefield...several people have suggested Happy Hooves as a good food for a native good doer. The woman who owns the paddock next door has said that as a New Forest he won't like the soil here :-/ now that is something I hadn't considered...
 
Caznay said:
so excited yes! If I can ever get to the bottom of the insurance minefield...several people have suggested Happy Hooves as a good food for a native good doer. The woman who owns the paddock next door has said that as a New Forest he won't like the soil here :-/ now that is something I hadn't considered...
Click to expand...

My two are on Happy Hoof. Brilliant stuff and the neds absolutely love it!! It's low calorie and has all the vits and mins you need. I would defo reccommend!!

Good luck and have fun!! ... We want updates and photos of course!!! :D
 
For your self a lined pair of yard boots (IMHO wellies just make your feet cold), a decent waterproof jacket, wooly hat and waterproof gloves. Have a sepaate set for the yard because they will quickly stink!

Also a spare headcollar rope is useful for cross tying, emergency gate\fencing repairs or for when he decides to break the other one.

Oh, and are you going to worm him before turning out?

Longer term:

If the fencing has any wire\sheep net, a good pair of bolt cutters are handy to have around.

Otherwise a saw\hammer\nails\screws for making emergency repairs can be usefull.
 
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