Loads of questions

[sam72431]

Ok I have a 13.3 pony called minky and a 16.3 called Ramona, here are a few questions here goes, since i moved in october my horses who before where not really interested in each other as they were in a herd, i could literally bring one in and ride without the other looking up they would go in the stables on there own everything are inseperable! I think it has to do with the fact the horses are all in seperate sections mine are in a section together as there werent two sections available when i moved here and i think its best for horses to interact with each other, i know i should of tried before now but Ramona had a back injury and i didnt want to risk her running round or jumping which she likes to do when minky isnt near, i can hack ramona out and leave minky in the stable or school minky in the school as it is right in front of the stables or school ramona but i cant hack minky which is mainlu what i have her for as ramona goes mad. They have now been in for the last almost twelve days as minky kicked ramona got a vein (what a friend) and so ramona had to stay in so they both did so now they are more attached than ever. I cant move and even if i did all the yards round here are the same, so what have you done to separate your horses I dont need them seperate all the time but i'd like to bring one in to ride without the other, they are currently coming in at night going out during day once of box rest but i'm hoping in a few weeks they will be out all the time coming in during the day at about one. How should i start should i lead one in without the other or just bring one in and ride?
Next question, as i just said above i'm hoping to start leaving them out most of the time bringing in at about one in the afternoon then turning back out at about 7 after riding and after the heat of the day as there is no shelter but mainly because minky gets very fat and has to wear a muzzle and also because when there is loads of grass i cant catch her no matter what i do even if i take ramona in, i just end up with a stressed ramona and an angry me, is this long enough to have the muzzle off, shell come in and have some hay rest etc and ride?
Next, because of problems above with minky a few people have suggested i sell her put her out on loan, no way, he is seven and loves to jump, we do a variety of things hacking schooling lunging jumping and once the problems above are sorted i'd like to do in hand shows with her, my question is she seems happy i'd know if she wasnt people have said i'm holding her back from her full potential as she should be a kids pony and do pony club, she doesnt like kids and can be nervous and when you get on no matter how much you lunge her she always puts her back up bucks, there are no probs with tack teetch etc she has always done it so he would probably never be a kids pony unless you find a very good one which i've found a few of and shes got on fine but it never really lasts as each time i have we've had to move they've had to, so my question is do you think i'm holding her back does is matter as long as they are happy? Well done if you've got this far thanks for reading!

 

[Maisy]

wow.....that was a hard read!!

Firstly, my 2 girls are very attached, but I only ride my horse, and not the pony very often. Sometimes I do lead the little one, and sometimes my daughter is with me, but often I just have to leave her shouting in the field or her stable......she calls when she can see/hear us, but she will eat when we are gone, so she is fine really!

My pony wears her muzzle 24/7 at this time of year, although I will bring her in during the day when it is very hot to try to avoid her getting sores underneath.....

thirdly, Im sure you arent holding your pony back....if she is happy, she doesnt have to be out there performing does she??!!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hi Samps. Don't want you to think that no-one is gonna post any replies but TBH I found your huge amount of info and questions a bit hard to follow. It might help if you broke that one enormous post into 3 or 4 smaller ones. Also, if I'm posting a question, just before I press "continue", I read it through again trying to pretend I'm someone else who doesn't know my horses or me, just to see if it still makes sense! Sometimes a comma or full stop missing here or a spelling mistake there can totally alter the sense of a post. You and your neds sound lovely and bright and full of fun - can you break your questions down a bit so we can all try to help???? x

 

[sam72431]

Hi thanks for reading through that, sorry it is really long I'll break it down into a few posts, sorry i just get a bit carried away!

 

[badgerdog]

- I think your horses would become less attached to each other if they were allowed to live in a herd again. I once took two horses to a summer camp who had previously took no notice of each other. They were in a field together and when I took one away the other would go nuts, the older one was so anxious he jumped over a 3 foot fence when I left him alone. When they returned home and back to the herd they didn't take much notice of each other any more.
I don't know if it's possible but if you went to a differet livery yard where the horses can be in a herd I think they would be a lot calmer. Horses are herd animals and there's safety in numbers. They now only have each other so they're bound to be stressed when the other one is taken away.
- As far as the grazing muzzle goes I think your plan sounds fine.
- Selling/loaning your pony - we all think nobody will understand our horses like we do, but there are people out their who would be capable of looking after and riding your pony. They may be hard to find but I think it is possible. There are some gutsy, talented kids and there are also small adults. If you want to keep your pony though, I wouldn't take any notice of what anyone says, it's up to you!

 

[sam72431]

I know its just so unnatural it so that its easier to poo pick and so there are no injuries apparantly but i think horses need to be horses myself unfortunately moving isnt an option as the only other livery yard has the same policy so until i hopefully buy my own bit of land in a few years time and have some liveries theres not much i can do. Yeh i definately want to keep her as i enjoy riding her and looking after her its nice to hack out alone as my other mare wont i just feel guilty when people say i'm holding her back but as i see it if shes happy isnt that all that matters?