How on Earth will I advertise this pony when the time comes?

[maya2008]

I have a youngster who will be sold once she is backed and ready - so not now, so hoping this post is ok.

Future jumping pony with all the related fence hopping fun. Jumped out of her paddock, clean over the fence, at 3 months old, and has had that habit ever since. If she doesn’t want to be somewhere, she simply leaves - over or through the fence. Electric current no issue. Height not much of an issue. Jumps out of stables too if not interested in staying indoors. Never leaves the yard thankfully, too social for that. I am currently confining her with extra high fences to the very top of the fence posts, and down low enough she cannot limbo underneath either. Even the gate is extra high! She is only 11.1hh I suppose I should thank my lucky stars she isn’t bigger!

I’m going to lunge her over some fences when she is ready to show potential, but I have no idea how I will write an advert to find someone to manage the fence hopping, which in my experience of jumping ponies continues until they start jumping a decent height under saddle and their almost pathological need to JUMP is met. Which is years away. And she’s so small! I have already thought I will be looking for someone on a private yard with a competitive, keen child.

Reassure me we’ll be able to find her a home? She’s too small for my kids - we can get her backed but then she really needs to find a smaller rider!

 

[SilverLinings]

I had one like that, although he didn't jump out of the stable (was 15hh so more of a squeeze) but that could be prevented with a grill. The only way I could keep him in the field I wanted him in was to have two separate fence lines; the inside one was the tallest stirrup electric posts and the outer one was shorter electric posts. The gap between the two fence lines was key, It had to be too wide to clear both as a spread fence, but not so wide that he could bounce them*. As he also jumped well competitively I had no shortage of offers for him so I doubt you will struggle if the pony is a nice ride and generally easy to handle. She sounds great fun!

I have come across several fence jumpers over the years and as long as they are nice people and useful they don't seem to struggle to find a home. I would disclose this to potential buyers though to prevent them having the pony get into danger if they don't realise and she escapes.

*the bu&&er then worked out he could use a rug to insulate him from the fence and would push through it, and eventually would go bum first using the tail flap so his neck didn't touch the top strand of the fence Thank god he didn't devote his cunning to world domination

 

[maya2008]

I had one like that, although he didn't jump out of the stable (was 15hh so more of a squeeze) but that could be prevented with a grill. The only way I could keep him in the field I wanted him in was to have two separate fence lines; the inside one was the tallest stirrup electric posts and the outer one was shorter electric posts. The gap between the two fence lines was key, It had to be too wide to clear both as a spread fence, but not so wide that he could bounce them*. As he also jumped well competitively I had no shortage of offers for him so I doubt you will struggle if the pony is a nice ride and generally easy to handle. She sounds great fun!

I have come across several fence jumpers over the years and as long as they are nice people and useful they don't seem to struggle to find a home. I would disclose this to potential buyers though to prevent them having the pony get into danger if they don't realise and she escapes.

*the bu&&er then worked out he could use a rug to insulate him from the fence and would push through it, and eventually would go bum first using the tail flap so his neck didn't touch the top strand of the fence Thank god he didn't devote his cunning to world domination

So if I can show enough potential at 3yo, some nice person might put up with the quirks? I fully intend to disclose the fence hopping!

 

[SilverLinings]

So if I can show enough potential at 3yo, some nice person might put up with the quirks? I fully intend to disclose the fence hopping!

I've known a lot of small ponies with quirks in PC in particular, and as long as they are suitable for a child (even if they are whizzy) they find new homes with no problem when they are outgrown. Jumping out can be annoying, but it isn't comparable with something like crib biting or kicking, which can deter quite a few buyers, particularly when looking at children's ponies. And jumping out can be prevented if you are willing to build a fence high enough!

 

[I'm Dun]

My highland walked through crap fencing, I declared it when I sold him, he's out on decent acreage with other horses and post and rail and has never done it since. He sold easily, but was exceptional which will have helped.

 

[maya2008]

I've known a lot of small ponies with quirks in PC in particular, and as long as they are suitable for a child (even if they are whizzy) they find new homes with no problem when they are outgrown. Jumping out can be annoying, but it isn't comparable with something like crib biting or kicking, which can deter quite a few buyers, particularly when looking at children's ponies. And jumping out can be prevented if you are willing to build a fence high enough!

Thank you - she’s been handled by my children since she was born, so I have absolutely no worries about that side of things. Easy, reliable, loads, travels, has learned everything I have ever taught her like a sponge and is always up for doing something new.

Just won’t stay put (post prompted by the fact that she’s sunburned her nose despite sun cream (which I think she washed off playing in the water) and needs to stay in during the day until it heals. I’d forgotten she had grown and hadn’t quite pony proofed the stable enough, leading to her jumping clean out, into the next paddock, and into the one with a friend she fancied talking to). Just… .

 

[MereChristmas]

My friend had a 16.2 that did this. She jumped out of anywhere including her stable from a foal.
Her owner ‘ cured ‘ it by leaving her stable ready and the door open all the time and the field gate open too!
The mare was turned out and brought in at regular times for her whole working life which was as a hunter but she never changed. She took herself out and in as the fancy took her, never wandered away, never jumped in with others and never had field company although there were always horses in neighbouring fields and stables. Fortunately she lived in a very quiet area and everyone knew she might be loose.
When she was retired she had the run of her own field and an open barn.
Some you just can’t change?
Your pony will surely be a great friend for a lucky child.

 

[SilverLinings]

Thank you - she’s been handled by my children since she was born, so I have absolutely no worries about that side of things. Easy, reliable, loads, travels, has learned everything I have ever taught her like a sponge and is always up for doing something new.

Just won’t stay put (post prompted by the fact that she’s sunburned her nose despite sun cream (which I think she washed off playing in the water) and needs to stay in during the day until it heals. I’d forgotten she had grown and hadn’t quite pony proofed the stable enough, leading to her jumping clean out, into the next paddock, and into the one with a friend she fancied talking to). Just… .

Is she the reincarnation of my old gelding?! He used to sunburn his nose too, and generally by wiping cream off playing with something I gave up eventually and used fly masks with nose pieces which fortunately he deigned to keep on!

She sounds like a great pony so I don't think you will struggle to find her a new home. I like easy horses but that issue wouldn't put me off one who ticked all my boxes. In fact I seem to attract them as I have one at the moment who is permanently banned from wearing neck covers as he uses it as insulation to push the electric fence over (native so needs restricted grazing), and has started investigating ways to use his rug to do the same (tall posts so I think I'm ok unless he also works out the backwards trick). At least this one doesn't jump tall posts, but can open pretty much any door or gate

Neither of the previous owners told me of their tricks which made life disruptive for me initially (especially as I was at a livery yard to begin with with the second one), so I think people will welcome you disclosing it rather than being put off!

 

[SilverLinings]

My friend had a 16.2 that did this. She jumped out of anywhere including her stable from a foal.
Her owner ‘ cured ‘ it by leaving her stable ready and the door open all the time and the field gate open too!
The mare was turned out and brought in at regular times for her whole working life which was as a hunter but she never changed. She took herself out and in as the fancy took her, never wandered away, never jumped in with others and never had field company although there were always horses in neighbouring fields and stables. Fortunately she lived in a very quiet area and everyone knew she might be loose.
When she was retired she had the run of her own field and an open barn.
Some you just can’t change?
Your pony will surely be a great friend for a lucky child.

Funnily enough, none of the ones who I've known to regularly escape cause any trouble when out. They seem to do it in a clam fashion, and just wander about or start grazing. I have been very grateful that although I don't want mine escaping I know that they aren't self harmers, won't panic and won't pick fights with other horses.

 

[Oneday]

I had a fence jumper, didn't know when I bought her, but in trying to find out how she had got in foal as 3yr old it was by jumping in with a colt. Luckily the only time she went fence hopping was if she thought there was a stallion near by, although a colty gelding would surfice.

 

[Splinters]

I seem to remember that Milton was a fence hopper; he did okay!

 

[Ratface]

Old Horse is a regular fence-hopper. He has inspired the YO to get larger batteries and higher tape fences. No change in his behaviour. He was a very successful Grade B showjumper in his day, winning at HOYS on a number of occasions.
I think he does it to wind up the staff and to amuse himself. He does have a spectacular pop, though. His favourite trick is to do it from a standstill. Just when someone is walking down to get him in. He loves an audience.

 

[Kaylum]

We had a mare at the yard who did this once and slipped landed on the post and rail which collapsed and cut her sides. Had to be pts.

 

[tatty_v]

My 24 year old is a fence hopper. He thinks nothing of clearing a 5 bar gate from a standstill should the mood take him. It can be frustrating, but we’ve put up with it for nearly 10 years because he’s a legend in so many ways would have been nice to know when we bought him though as I was convinced I’d lost him the first morning I came down and he wasn’t where I’d left him yet all the fencing was intact!

 

[Flyermc]

is this the foal from one of your mares?

 

[maya2008]

is this the foal from one of your mares?

Yes, my Bogof. I can see how the surprise pregnancy must have occurred, given the fence hopping traits must have come from the sire!

 

[Flyermc]

Yes, my Bogof. I can see how the surprise pregnancy must have occurred, given the fence hopping traits must have come from the sire!

Or thats great, i remember the post! How is she doing (apart from from field hopping)

 

[starbucker]

My 3 yo was escaping (via barging not hopping) but once in work they really settled down so there is hope!