My little pony syndrome

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angrybird1

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Sorry, this is going to be a bit of a rant!!

Someone I know is getting a rescue pony, Thats great, giving a pony a much needed new home right?

well yes BUT its a little native, used to living out with no rugs and no hard feed except hay. It cant be ridden so not a lot of exercise.

This person will be buying expensive rugs and feeding pony up on hard feed and giving it no excercise.
So why are they getting a pony? So they can play at ponies!
Very nervous rider so does not want to ride, just likes to be able to say to people they have a pony!
Was so angry when I heard about this.
Does anyone else know anyone with my little pony syndrome?
 
Oh I reckon it would apply to about 30% of the posters on here.

However I can't see what's getting your goat, hopefully the new owner will learn how to look after her pony properly and be supported by the rescue but really it's none of your business how any of us choose to look after our animals.
 
Me! I bought a pony as I’d lost all confidence after my ex-racer.

But I’m REALLY bad at it, she lives out in a rainsheet, gets fed a tiny handful of lo-cal balancer when she comes in and we go galloping, jumping and hooning several times a week.
 
Hmm, I have 3 horses, 2 are natives, 1 is a IDXTB who is retired. One of the natives is a 11.1hh Sec A, she is semi retired now. I spend a utter fortune on rugs/equipment for ALL 3, including the 2 retired ones. Its my money ( well Husbands money lol ). Don't see the issue myself apart from the hard feed if it doesn't need it. I quite like the time I spend grooming my expensive my little ponies.
 
Only 30%? I would say 90% suffer from MLPS do some degree just going by the number of rugs most horses have etc. Doesn't seem to make any difference if horse is unridden, used for hacking, riding club or higher level competition (unless pro). people like spoiling their horses and why not. As long as they aren't doing them any physical harm then why not.
 
I know someone who did this, always wanted a pony/horse, retired, got one from a charity. Not ridable so he is simply a pet. Now this situation is probably different as while my person is a complete novice, they have the pony on full livery and just do the pampering/fussing/taking it out for walks bit. Not saying that they don't sometimes have to be stopped from doing some really silly things, but there is the safety net in place.

Generally though I don't see the problem - plenty more unridable horses than there are spaces for companion horses so go for it, and indeed plenty of people who love horses but can't/don't want to ride. And, in all fairness, how many of our horses are purely 'workers' and not at least partially fore-filling a childhood dream of having a pony? I know mine is! I spent 30 years wanting a horse and now I have one - I still look at him and squeal like the 6 year old who was denied anything other than a real My Little Pony!
 
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Yes I have it!

I have two ponies as no more than pets, one has every rug going and is fussed over a lot but he isnt over rugged and he isnt over fed
I dont see the problem with 'my little pony' syndrome as long as welfare standards are met - clearly the person in your post will fall foul fo that but it doesnt make the rest of us bad :)
 
Depends if over rugging and feeding are doing any harm. If pony does not need it then it could be a problem with lammi etc.
nothing wrong with having a pony to fuss and love but if it effect health thats a differant matter.
 
I think I have it too .J known to the grooms as the child is completely ruined he has extensive wardrodes with saddle cloth colours matched to the seasons ( I joke not )
Its not harming him though , just a bit of harmless fun.
 
Elliesmemory1 said:
Depends if over rugging and feeding are doing any harm. If pony does not need it then it could be a problem with lammi etc.
nothing wrong with having a pony to fuss and love but if it effect health thats a differant matter.
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Yeah agree with this.

As I've not yet seen photos on this forum of a domestic horse in similar condition to a wild horse, then I'd say everyone on here is guilty of it to an extent. Rugs, a stable at night, feed...

So yes, maybe she's pandering it a bit too much, but as long as the pony is happy and healthy does it really matter? Given the recent posts about "what to do with useless equines" it's great that she is taking on a non-ridden pony, and if it's rescued, I presume it's from a charity who will be able to give advice.
 
I think the main thing is that pony has friends to play with, which means being out in a field most of the time, I think come summer the novelty will have worn off a bit, lets hope they make sure it does not get too fat and succumb to laminitis.
 
MrsD123 said:
I think the main thing is that pony has friends to play with, which means being out in a field most of the time, I think come summer the novelty will have worn off a bit, lets hope they make sure it does not get too fat and succumb to laminitis.
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This is my worry. The pony does not need hard feed or rugs, but will be fed and rugged up to the eyeballs! Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a pony to love and its great to take on a rescue, however some people need to look at their reasons for doing this.
The time and effort that goes in to looking after a non ridden pony can be as much as a ridden horse.
Do they really want a pony or do they just want to be able to say they have got one.
 
Surely you should trust the rescue to check out the commitment and the suitability of the home offered? the new owner could have gone to a sale and 'rescued' a twenty quid foal and not had a rescue having a say over its keep and future but they didnt so credit them with some brains

If you are close to them then maybe offer some gentle support and be practical rather than bit*hing about them on a forum
 
You will certainly find some brilliant examples of MLPS on this forum.

I think my definition of this syndrome is nearer to yours than some other posters on this thread. It drives me mad when owners/loaners treat their equines like dolls. If the animal needs a rug, I don't care what colour the owner chooses or what they match it to, when I object is when no rug is needed in the first place as in the case of the vast majority of natives. If owners want to spend their money on loads of unnecessary stuff that's between them and their bank manager.
The words 'spoiled' and 'ruined' have been used, incorrectly in my view, you might spoil a child by buying it loads of material stuff which it doesn't need, you will spoil a pony by making it unhealthy, depriving it of equine company and feeding it unsuitably.
I hope the pony in OP belongs to a recognised welfare charity, which will support a new 'owner' through what can be a steep learning process.
Some people truly would be better getting rocking-horse!
 
Yes I aggree with you pearlasinger it much easier to do MLPS on a 17.2 Tb whose clipped and working without causing harm .
Natives don't need rug and lots of hard food ( My tb Does not need much hard food
But my MLPS does nor run to feeding just clothes and grooming .
 
Goldenstar said:
Yes I aggree with you pearlasinger it much easier to do MLPS on a 17.2 Tb whose clipped and working without causing harm .
Natives don't need rug and lots of hard food ( My tb Does not need much hard food
But my MLPS does nor run to feeding just clothes and grooming .
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No, I would never have even suspected you of what I consider to be true MLPS, your own addiction to multiple rugs is a different affliction, in my book;)
 
yes. i have a my little pony,....she lives out - someone else checks her for me - i just pay the bill !


My friends even bought me a my little pony poster as they find me hillarious..... im 25.



as long as the horse is ok whats the issue??



p.s my horse is out as shes 3, broken at 4! so being a baby ;)
 
I have 3 natives and a pba. All appropriately rugged (as rugs come in many types and are used for various reasons) and all fed "hard feed" (as hard feed ranges from simple fibre to full fat rocket fuel!) According to their individual dietary needs. Two are pets, two are in light work. Each animal has its individual needs assessed and met by us. What other people think doesn't matter.
 
Ned is my My Little Pony!
Cookie may only be about 9hh, but he's not suitable for dress-up and silly games like Ned is!
My poor boy puts up with so much :P
He's got stars clipped into him, he is the proud owner of a unicorn horn (which attaches to the browband), he has far too much matchy matchy, a pretty western bridle with hearts on...I could go on and on and on...

But like Blackandwhite said above me, he may have all of this namby pamby stuff, but he's also a horse. He's never over rugged and he gets feed as and when he needs it. He's just coming back into work now, so once he's back up to the fitness he was before, the real work will begin again :D woo!
 
as long as the pony in question has company (pretty sure the charity would check that) and is not going to get obese from too much grass and food, surely it doesn't matter. if it starts overheating in rugs hopefully they will recognize, although i think natives in waterproof no-fills when wet is not cruel!
 
I do have a little pony so in a way he is My Little Pony. He likes people things so doesn't mind being dressed up for special events. Although for the 'pony most like owner' class I was the one who dressed up to look like him :). I do have a lot of fun with him as he is up for almost anything, but in mitigation he does spend most of his time out in the mud like a normal pony.
 
I didnt say it was from a rescue, I said rescue pony. There are lots of ways of getting a rescue other than from a centre!
Anyway. I thought over rugging and over feediing little fat ponies was a big no no these days. Worried that so many people do it to be honest.
Why this person wants a little pony is beyond me, They are the sort of person who has all the gear but no idea if you know what I mean. Just hope pony does not pay for it. That is all
 
jemima*askin said:
Oh I reckon it would apply to about 30% of the posters on here.

However I can't see what's getting your goat, hopefully the new owner will learn how to look after her pony properly and be supported by the rescue but really it's none of your business how any of us choose to look after our animals.
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I really struggle when people say things like this. If everybody went by that analogy, everybody would sit by and see horses neglected left, right and centre.

Sometimes it really is other peoples' business how someone is caring for their animals.
 
Moomin1 said:
I really struggle when people say things like this. If everybody went by that analogy, everybody would sit by and see horses neglected left, right and centre.

Sometimes it really is other peoples' business how someone is caring for their animals.
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It's not others peoples job to micromanage peoples management of their animals .
The person Op is referring too has not even got the pony yet .
Many people get horses and learn fast others may have had horses for decades and be apaulling owners .
 
You say that the person is "getting" the pony. So they don't have the pony. So you're worrying about a situation that doesn't exist. And why some of us choose to have or hold on to smaller ponies is our own concern. I'm sure we'd all support serious welfare concerns but is there really any point in worrying about situations that don't exist?

You're absolutely right that over feeding and over rugging are far too prevalent but that applies to all horses not just the little natives.
 
Goldenstar said:
It's not others peoples job to micromanage peoples management of their animals .
The person Op is referring too has not even got the pony yet .
Many people get horses and learn fast others may have had horses for decades and be apaulling owners .
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I didn't say it was, did I?

I said that by saying it's nobody else's business how other people care for their horses, then if we applied that in every circumstance, there would be a lot of neglected horses out there which get ignored.

Slightly different to micromanaging.
 
I love buying stuff for my ponies. Does that mean I have my little pony syndrome? If so, can't see the harm. My cob has lovely rugs, four bridles and 3 saddles -- (dressage, gp and show) and if I feel like buying him a gold plated brow band I will. I work hard for my money - it's up to me how I spend it... And I don't see what the negative is really....
 
Moomin1 said:
I didn't say it was, did I?

I said that by saying it's nobody else's business how other people care for their horses, then if we applied that in every circumstance, there would be a lot of neglected horses out there which get ignored.

Slightly different to micromanaging.
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What your describing is hardly neglect...
 
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