Meat colts - the true cost of rescuing them (a diary)

Aw, Fides, I`m loving this thread - it`s got oodles of feel-good factor! So pleased you`re sharing it with us!
 
I am doing something similar with a Quantock hill pony which I bought nearly 2 years ago aged approx 5 months. I am an experienced horse owner, by the way. He is both a delight and a money pit! I am one of those people doing this (taking on a very young equine) for the first time - the youngest pony I had before him was an unbroken 4 year old welsh b, who I started and rode away until the perfect family came along and offered to buy her. My Titch only has a now 7year old to play with! Who is unfortunately shod! So Titch's annoying habit of tail chewing has resulted in a spiral fracture to a front leg (xrays and big vet bill). He got another boot when he had finished that box rest. Don't worry I have learned to put them in seperate fields now. Then 10 days ago, whilst in his stable out of the flies and luckily when the vet was already here jabbing another horse, Titch kept kicking his bucket for attention. The bucket was fixed to the wall as he often kicks it over! Only, this time he managed to end up wearing the bucket hook through his pastern like an earring. Cue more box rest and another vet bill. I heard people warning me that youngsters are accidents waiting to happen but didn't listen, didn't insure him as he only cost £42, but somehow, as you know, he is not about turning a profit as in pure farming terms. He is a heart project and will stay to see if he makes a riding horse and/or a companion. But I just felt I needed to fast forward to some of the additional unexpected monetary costs of getting a youngster to ridden horse. I have stopped counting as it was detracting from the joy of having him!!
 
Today he is having a day out but where he can touch the others over the fence. It was so cute seeing the baby teeth chomp thing :)

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The other two are VERY interested in him :)

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As far as 'stuff' - he's having a day off to just be a baby today :)

ETA - wow his bum is filling out!
 
Only just seen this thread.
I love him, what a sweetie.
Well done fides for giving him a chance :) Look forward to seeing more updates and pictures :)
 
Lovely (and lucky!) pony. Love the photo of the big horses looking over the gate at him. Looking forward to reading lots more about him.
 
I take it that he is the Oreo featured in the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday (Saturday)? (If not he has a double!!!!). I have a coloured 3year old (not a rescue, bought from a friend who breeds one or two by her very nice, HOYS qualifying Trad) He was 14.2 when I got him at 15mths, three months later he was 15.2 and he currently stand at 15.3 at withers and 16.1 at bum, so with good feeding and TLC Oreo may well make the height you want. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Might see you at local shows in the future!!
 
Just wanted to say "Good for you!" He's a very lucky chap and I think he's going to turn in to a lovely character. Love hearing all about him and how he's progressing......well done Fides!
 
Well done ! He's looking better already :) I got my girl at 15 months around 12.3 HH she's now 4 and is 15.3 HH he may surprise you and he looks like he will be fairly chunky so even if a midget will take up a lot of leg :)
 
Nessa4 said:
I take it that he is the Oreo featured in the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday (Saturday)?
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OMFG has it been published already? Eek I hope they didn't put the twee cuddle pic up! I hate having my photo taken... Off to see how horrific it actually is!

Then I will update what the little monster has just been up to!
 
There are no pics on the online one phew! It doesn't mention him be name either - Nessa4 is the one in the paper much different?
 
An update - Oreo decided he would rather be in the field with the big horses than in the garden so jumped the garden fence, then jumped the stile into the field! With the excitement of all this my two disgraced themselves and hounded him :( they didn't bully him they just tried to say hello in a really over enthusiastic manner which caused Oreo to duck under the electric fence and get stuck in the teeny space between the dry stone wall and electric. It is lucky really that the bottom strand is just for show. I then caught the big uns and dumped them unceremoniously in the skinny paddock much to their disgust.

I then lifted the fence and rescued little legs who squealed and legged it! No chance of catching him now...

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He looks so teeny!

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Whoops! Well, on the bright side you know he's got a good jump in him! Glad he didn't hurt himself and I'm sure you'll find a way to catch him... maybe. Good luck with that!
 
Fides said:
There are no pics on the online one phew! It doesn't mention him be name either - Nessa4 is the one in the paper much different?
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It just shows you standing by his head and scratching his mane - nothing too horrendous! It mentions both you(I assume!) and him by name whole thing including pics takes up about 2thirds of page seven.
 
Nessa4 said:
It just shows you standing by his head and scratching his mane - nothing too horrendous! It mentions both you(I assume!) and him by name whole thing including pics takes up about 2thirds of page seven.
Click to expand...

OMG! That's crazy! I'm going to email them and see if they can send me a copy so I can see :)
 
Friends of mine went to a Golden Retriever rescue and was told they weren't suitable as for 2 hours at the most the dog would be put out in a very spaceous kennel, they have a detached house in a quiet country lane, 5 acres and she only works 2 days a week and the dog would be left for the time stated. Even I leave my dogs in the afternoons to go and do my horses in peace and that's their nap time and once in awhile leave them when we go out in the evening and the Staffie X we've had for nearly 14 years came from a rescue center, they couldn't wait to get rid of her as she was sooo yappy, they let us pay, have her micro chipped and take her the same day and they have never bothered in all that time to see how she was getting on, also no home check
 
Just been out to put all the animals to bed and he was a little angel and let me catch him straight away :) Brought him over to the gate for a scratch and when I turned him back away he looked a little confused that he was being left out...

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Other than that kick (which still hurts) he hasn't put a foot wrong :)

Eta - the kick and jumping out of the garden ;)
 
Just read this start to finish. Loving Oreo. If he doesn't make the height what about driving him? He'd look smashing driving. I am very in love with him and would have done exactly the same as you (well I already did 6 years ago!) :)
 
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