Lead rein ponies like gold dust???

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sparky1981

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I've have been trying for a while to find an older lead rein pony for my 4 year old. Not to show or anything like that just plod about and I cannot find anything. Any ideas where to look?
 
The classified page of your local Pony Club branch is always a good start. But many of these ponies go by word of mouth, so make sure your farrier, instructor, local DC, saddler, feed merchant and horsey friends all know what you are looking for!
 
The sad thing is that I have several of these doing very little in a field. I'd love to give them more work, but you try finding loaners who are capable of identifying the right pony, catching and tacking up without assistance.

I second the word of mouth thing, as mine are not advertised, and I suspect it's quite common for owners to have given up actively seeking sharers, especially for the older smalls.
 
I found this! Unfortunately being on a timescale (I needed company for my horse) didn't help. Also I was new to the area and I think (as TGM said) they tend to be moved around by word of mouth.

I ended up "giving up" and getting a rescue pony, who has been pretty good to be fair but is greener than I would ideally like (and more scared of strange men). He is older, sensible, very gentle and keen to please though, and totally without separation anxiety tendencies which was a high priority for me. I never would have considered a rescue, but they rang me in response to my wanted ad. They had started him and taken him to a local show with a small child on board, so not quite as nuts as it sounds. They were also by far the best of the people that responded to my ad (most had unbroken 3 year olds with no passport!). I do wish I'd been able to find something more experienced though, I was hoping to ride and lead and that's just not possible with him unless I manage to find a lot more time to spend on training him.
 
Thankyou so much for the replies. I have looked through every south west pony cub classified section and nothing really. There's lots that are very expensive as I guess your paying for safety. Ideally we were looking for loan but that seems even harder to find!it would mainly be a companion and have a weekly plod around so would suit something semi retired really. Very experienced home too but just nothing. I wondered where all the attractions that do pony rides get theirs from?
 
Ask at local riding school as one of theirs might be ready for semi retirement and an easier life..

My friend who has an rs over here would be glad of a knowledgeable home for one of hers she was telling me recently.

Fiona
 
We have 2 on loan and found then through NFED. You have to just be ready to pounce when you see one!
 
Ditto Dubsie - you need to speak to the DC. The good ones will never get as far as the classifieds. The DC will know who is currently looking to move on which is when you need to pounce.

Loan might be difficult - I have a lead rein / first ridden which would be perfect but I never loan him. Riders have to come to me. But I've not advertised him in years. I pick up his riders through word of mouth. And in fairness I also reject far more than I accept - and I require a level of horse experience from the parent. Despite all that he always has a waiting list.
 
We would buy for the right pony as will want it longterm for my son to hopefully move onto eventually. I had no idea it would be soo hard to find an older pony that wants a quiet life :(
 
Have you looked at anything that maybe doesn't fit the brief exactly ? I ended up with a pony living with us who on paper is all wrong - 13.2 , 12 but done nothing at all since 6 - I didn't plan on him being a children's pony at all but he turned out to be a total saint LR pony ! Amazing with kids, looks after them with his life on the ground and ridden. He can be a lazy nappy little sod when his children aren't involved ! He is way over height for showing but most fun local shows don't mind and he wears all sorts of outfits for fancy dress. No good if you wanted to do.proper LR shows and not a great first ridden as plants and won't trot but as a safe bumbling round at home LR a star.
 
I agree with looking outside the brief

I have a seven year old pony being schooled at present, he is absolutely dog quiet - bred to be a kids pony and absolutely will be a fabulous one regardless of age
 
There are several Facebook pages, have a look through for them, that is where I found mine.

Look for Welsh Section A's for sale and Shetland's they both have pages and there are at least 3 Lead Rein and First Ridden pages. Also try free ads and Preloved.
 
I have just such a pony and dread the day I have to sell her 'cause I imagined that everyone wants more from little ponies than just being safe for their child to be around and plod out on the lead rein. Perhaps I'm wrong (certainly hope so!)
 
So right about outside the brief. We have just used a 13.2hh 5yo stallion as a lead rein at the local fete... he is bombproof, steady and looking for nothing more from life than kisses and cuddles!

If he ever leaves us he'll have to be gelded, but it will feel like a betrayal. Temperament trumps sex, age and breeding every time.
 
marmalade76 said:
I have just such a pony and dread the day I have to sell her 'cause I imagined that everyone wants more from little ponies than just being safe for their child to be around and plod out on the lead rein. Perhaps I'm wrong (certainly hope so!)
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Nope - that is EXACTLY what I want from a first LR pony. All that matters to me is safe.
 
OP my friend has a lead rein pony for loan on horses4homes site he is in East Sussex so quite along way for you but a lovely pony on lead rein but cheeky off rein
 
Ester that would be fab if you could keep an eye on your local pages and Irish draft Thankyou will have a look not sure they'd want him to come as far as Devon though :(
 
Your local horse Facebook pages? I found mine by sticking a few wanted ads on them and actually ended up with a 5yo pony so not exactly what I expected to buy for my son (turning 4) but actually the pony has been fantastic and an absolute dream under saddle etc. So dont necessarily ignore the younger ponies ;)
 
Well I had a supersafe older pony for sale and couldn't get anyone to view.......he is out on loan to a friend who can't believe her luck-guess it depends whereabouts you are
 
You need to do a wanted advert as others have suggested. Quite a few people have elderly ponies dotted around the place and are not actively seeking a home for them but would let them go if asked/pushed.

I have a very sweet 22 yr old who I felt had done us proud and deserved not to move home any more. But a friend advertised her pony and a woman rang too late, so the friend said I know of another pony and gave her my details (she did ask me first!).

Short story is I did loan him out, and pony is very happy in his new home, but it took a prod for me to let him go as I wasn't actively looking.
 
I have put up a few wanted adverts but with not much success or more of a showing type and that would be wasted with us. Something in their 20s would be ideal that would enjoy the odd plod :)
 
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