Is there such a thing as a free pony...?

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Have been offered a 14hh coloured mare, really nice quality and has shown successfully. Shes 8 years old and 2 months ago injured her suspensory ligament (I don't know how badly). Anyway, she had 6 weeks box rest and is now back in work and is lame on a circle so her owner has offered her to me for nothing.
Is it worth the gamble? I'm thinking yes, but can't accumulate too many.
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In short, there is no such thing as a free pony, and probably not worth the gamble unless you actually want one at the moment. In long, a lot depends on what you would want to do with her. Many horses are lame on a circle but fine for hacking. I suppose buying or acquiring any horse is a gamble anyway!
 
Yes, my older horse was free, and has nothing wrong with him other than being a bit long in the tooth (but still perfectly healthy and in work).

I would be a bit worried in this case as it sounds to me like she hasn't had long enough off. Suspensory injuries take a long time to heal, she certainly shouldn't be back in work after only two months! She needs a proper rest plan and then gradual restrengthening of the ligament, which means months of walking before you even think about trotting and circles etc.

If you are really interested in the pony I would speak to a vet and get them to advise you on how bad the injury is, how long it will take to heal etc, get them to scan the leg if needed, then go from there. She may well be worth the gamble if you're prepared to put the time and effort in, but I would want to know exactly what was wrong first.
 
If you would like to have her, i would find out more about the injury and talk to you vet about the long term prognosis. 6 weeks is not very long box rest for a ligament injury so maybe its not too serious? But then i don't understand why the horse is back in work if still lame on a circle. There is a chance if the injury is currently being incorrectly managed that if you took the horse you could get it back to 100% sound. although this might involve further box rest, lots of walking exercise etc, if you are prepared to take this on you could end up with a very nice pony.
 
Well she probably wouldn't be free! Depending on the extent of the damage you would probably have to pay 12 months keep with the horse turned away to recover before you could consider riding her.
 
Thank you all for your thoughts.
I was remembering a lady who used to live near here who everyone gave their wrecks to, from navicular to kissing spines she took them all on. She chucked them out in a field for two years (or whatever) and quite often ended up with a very nice horse that she hunted for years. She probably ended up with lots going to the hunt kennels, too, though!
I think I will speak to her vet and find out how bad it was and I really don't need a 14hh, too big for one boy and too small for the other. I'm just one of those people who can never resist a plinth end offer!
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It is a gamble....
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I have a very nice 13.3hh pony who was given to me a while back with raging laminitis. He was booked in to be pts the very next day. I am a well known soft touch among my friends and they did a good job on me and I gave in and took him on.
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He could have cost me a fortune but actually he has cost me nothing but the regular upkeep ie shoes, trims, hay etc and I have now got a lovely little riding pony.
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On the flip side, he's really too small for me and my daughter although we do ride him, he's extra work and worry and I could have done without him tbh as I have 5 others, but he's here and he'll stay and we love him really
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there is such a thing as a free pony... We actually had 3!!

2 were 30+ when they came to us (and the second one stayed with us until he went upstairs at 48!!)

the 3rd one was barely broken and terrified of everything and men in particular. BUT once we got him turned round he would jump 1m40 without thinking twice and he was only 15hh.

take a risk if you think she'll come sound.
 
I was given Star by my mum (Star had bullied mum and stupidly lost herself a really easy life - fool
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apart form standard upkeep money - she hasn't cost me much at all. However, The best thing I ever did was take out insurance though, because for a 'free' pony, she's had her fair share of injuries and illnesses.
 
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