How much (out of interest, not mine/not an advert)

[zoeshiloh]

There is a pony at our yard, the owners are selling, but we are all trying to get them to realise the pony is overpriced - it would be good if I give you an accurate description if you could tell me your views, then I could show them this.

They bought the pony about a year ago for their daughter, who is a very novice rider (had a few weeks of lessons). Pony was used as a leadrein at a riding school, and before that had had a foal. Before that she had been used as a hunter. Pony is 12.2hh, very plain looking bay, heinz 57, and only about 8 years old. She is a sweetheart to handle on the ground, any kid could catch her, do feet, rugs etc - never kicks or bites. However, she is a complete madam to ride. In the school she will walk round, if you want to go faster she plants herself, refuses, rears and bucks until you are on the floor. One girl at the yard (who also rides racers) has managed to get her going, but she has a superglue seat, and is very good. Out on a hack (with others), she is great - completely bombproof in traffic, walks, trots, canters on stubble, great to pull up etc. Current owner is very novice/nervous so hasn't done any hunting since she has owned her, but previously was hunted by a hunt-staff's son/daughter and was amazing (apparently). She hacks out alone, but can be a bit nappy, but again, this might be more to the nervousness of the rider, as another person hacked her out and found her ok.

The trouble is the girl is too nervous to ride her, she has done nothing for about six months, and been sat on a few times by friends etc. There is no one to 'show' her to people coming to view, and if they try and ride her in the school they wont get her out of walk without some very big bucks. She could be a good pony for the right person, but they want £1800 for her, and that just seems far too much to me - what do others think?

 

[Ottinmeg]

was that pony there when i was ?? i think it is overpriced if so.is she just bored of the school or being a little git? Meg is up for sale for 2000 with her tack and rugs and she does everything without fighting about it.

 

[zoeshiloh]

I can't remember - I think she might have been - small brown pony. I don't think she is bored of the school, I think she is just an argumentitive pony. No matter who gets on her, she tests them out. She tests them every time they ride her, so it is always a battle. She has had everything checked (back, teeth etc etc, saddle fitted specially for her so nothing wrong, and she was vetted when she was bought).

Meg is bigger than 12.2hh though isn't she? And she is a good little pony, as you say will do everything. Is Taylor gettng something else now then? I thought her legs were nearly touching the ground last year, lol.

 

[Angelbones]

The good points seem to be that it has a proven hunting record - and to find a pony of that size who is safe as houses on the hunting field is really tough. Also that it hacks out well in company, and let's face it not many people let their young kids hack out alone, so it may not be a problem to a buyer in that case. It does seem young to have done everything describe - it must have been hunting from a young age? It can be very important to parents that their kid's pony is easy to handle on the ground - sounds like this one is, which is another good point.

Sadly little kids often do need riding lessons in the school so I think that will be a stumbling block, unless they can find a good little jockey looking for a real hunting pony and then it could be a perfect match.

It would help if a small rider could be found to get it through the summer and then when fit get it out hunting and sell it as a hunting pony, rather than a pc pony (going round is circles reqd at pc!)

I know of plenty of hunting ponies of that size who have sold for more money than that - its fab as a parent to take your kid hunting on a cracking safe pony and not having to worry about them all day, but many of them do pc stuff in the summer. How is the pony in groups in the school - are its problems based on being alone in the school? It does sound a bit nappy?

Would the owners send it away on sales livery somewhere, where it could be trained up? It could be a good investment in the end. Or how about putting it out on loan for the summer to experienced home?

Nothing really helpful there, sorry, just rambling ideas really. Even if some of the hiccups were sorted, I would say it is still overpriced, but not necessarily by that much to the right home.

 

[CalllyH]

do you have any pictures of the pony - she sounds interesting and like she needs regular work but may have friend thats interested if price was right

 

[zoeshiloh]

Sorry I don't have any pictures. I couldn't honestly say whether she has done everything her history claims, I am only repeating what I have been told. I think she came from a dealer, so it could all be lies, and she definately has not hunted since being with this person, so I don't know whether they could sell her as a proven hunter unless they acually tracked down where she had hunted. She is very nappy, she has been schooled by a rider at our yard, but her attitude does not change. The owners want her gone ASAP, and sending her away would not be an option I don't think. They have never owned a horse before, and certainly never sold one, so I don't think they realise what is involved - I think they think someone will just turn up and take her away without trying her etc.