Nanny bought a pony!

A brave nanny to take on such a task! Not wanting to put a damper on anything please be warned that it's quite likely that after a short time the pony will be thinking that now he has his hooves under a haybale it's time to start testing you all! Be sure you are in charge at all times, that you handle him with kindness but firmness and do not allow him the chance to take advantage of any situation and above all make sure that none of the kids get blase and take any risks with him at all, undoubtedly any accidents will be your fault in the eyes of your employer! Good Luck, it's a lifetime learning curve.....
 
Glad to hear things are going well! I read your previous thread but didn't comment as I wasn't a member at the time. I'm sure you're probably already stocked up with reading material but as I learned most of my horsey knowledge from books (deprived of equine contact!) I have a few reccomendations that are good beginner books terminology-wise but have a lot of useful information in:

Horse & Pony Factfile (kingfisher edition) - Easy for children 9+ to read so this might be useful not only for you but for the children. It includes most of the essential information needed to care for a pony (including discriptions of ailments) but in a easy-to-understand format. This was my first horse care book.

Complete Horse Care Manual by Colin Vogel - Includes fantastic information on illnesses and worming (which is a mindfield in itself!).

The BHS Complete manual of horse and stable management - This is a great book to go to for reference, as it's very detailed in specific areas.

I think if I were you my to-do list (assuming you haven't done these things already of course:)) would be:

  • Sort out a worming schedual
  • Get a saddle fitter out to fit a saddle for him ( if he came with tack then I'd still have the saddle fitter out to check it to see it still fits)
  • Hire a riding instuctor for at least weekly lessons for the kids as it's important that they have lessons on their new pony even if they are still going to the riding school
  • Sort out what he's going to be fed on - this is very important so sort this out pronto (If you're not sure then ask on here as I'm sure you'll get loads of advice)
  • Get him into a steady daily routine - ponies thrive on routine!
Do you know how to do all the essentials (quick-release knot, tacking up, picking hooves out, putting rugs on etc.)? If not maybe ask around to see if you can find anyone willing to visit and help you until you get the full hang of it;)!

I agree that pictures are a must!

Good luck, and you can always message me if there's anything you're unsure about:)
 
DreamingIsBelieving said:
Glad to hear things are going well! I read your previous thread but didn't comment as I wasn't a member at the time. I'm sure you're probably already stocked up with reading material but as I learned most of my horsey knowledge from books (deprived of equine contact!) I have a few reccomendations that are good beginner books terminology-wise but have a lot of useful information in:

Horse & Pony Factfile (kingfisher edition) - Easy for children 9+ to read so this might be useful not only for you but for the children. It includes most of the essential information needed to care for a pony (including discriptions of ailments) but in a easy-to-understand format. This was my first horse care book.

Complete Horse Care Manual by Colin Vogel - Includes fantastic information on illnesses and worming (which is a mindfield in itself!).

The BHS Complete manual of horse and stable management - This is a great book to go to for reference, as it's very detailed in specific areas.

I think if I were you my to-do list (assuming you haven't done these things already of course:)) would be:

  • Sort out a worming schedual
  • Get a saddle fitter out to fit a saddle for him ( if he came with tack then I'd still have the saddle fitter out to check it to see it still fits)
  • Hire a riding instuctor for at least weekly lessons for the kids as it's important that they have lessons on their new pony even if they are still going to the riding school
  • Sort out what he's going to be fed on - this is very important so sort this out pronto (If you're not sure then ask on here as I'm sure you'll get loads of advice)
  • Get him into a steady daily routine - ponies thrive on routine!
Do you know how to do all the essentials (quick-release knot, tacking up, picking hooves out, putting rugs on etc.)? If not maybe ask around to see if you can find anyone willing to visit and help you until you get the full hang of it;)!

I agree that pictures are a must!

Good luck, and you can always message me if there's anything you're unsure about:)
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What a brilliant, lovely and helpful post :)

Not sure if the op is real or trolling, however if real, then you have received a lot of help and pm's offering real help and assistance should you need it. Good luck.
 
I would just like to reiterate my thoughts on the other thread.
Supernannybuyaponyexpialidocious,
even though the thought of it is pretty damn atrocious.
 
NannySarah said:
This post is for all the lovely people who sent me messages of support and advice and got me started off in the right direction, thank you all so much.

For those that sent me either 'advice' such as buy a 3 year old exracer, no need for a vetting, the more severe the bit the better. Or just plain rude messages of abuse and calling me a troll....well, I'll keep my thoughts on you lot to myself actually ;)

In case anyone doesn't remember, I am a nanny to 3 children and was given the task of getting them a pony!

So the riding school put us in touch with a family who were selling their pony as their daughter had outgrown him. I went to view him several times, along with a few other ponies too but he really stood out to me. The family were very understanding of our situation and they let me handle him lots and gave me plenty of advice. I also had somebody else view him and a full vetting. The overall decision was that he was ideal for us, the family were happy with our set up and the vet found no issues.
It was right before Christmas and we were all very busy so it was agreed we would buy him but not take him home until January. However, a few days ago the family called me to say that something had come up and could we possibly take him before new years. Cue me running about in a panic as it all got suddenly very real! :o

Anyway, he arrived on friday, settled in straight away and made friends with our little flock of sheep (over the fence, just in case!). He was a lot calmer then I was as the family drove away leaving just me and a horse :eek:. I let him have some nice quiet time in the paddock to relax.
The children's faces when they saw him were amazing! Just pure amazement. They didn't realize it was their very own pony at first, they thought we were just borrowing it for the day! So there was twice the excitement when they found out he was here to stay! It was such a brilliant moment that I'll never forget.

He has been here a couple of days now and has just been perfect. He loves all the attention he is getting and put up with all 3 children grooming him yesterday, the eldest is very keen to learn all she can about looking after him so we will be learning together and the youngest was very pleased that I let her hold onto his leadrope with me to walk him in from the field. Even their brother who hasn't shown an interest in horses before, is besotted with him and wants to help out as much as the girls do.

So it's early days still but so far so good, a new challenge every day but nothing that I haven't been able to overcome. Tomorrows challenge is putting the sheep in the same field, wish me luck!

(p.s. I can't stop sneaking down to the paddocks to give him a cuddle, is this normal behaviour!? ;))
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So you look after 3 children, a pony and a flock of sheep????
 
Does anyone know where NannySarah is based? Perhaps some kind soul on here (bound to be someone local??) would pop by and make sure things are going smoothly?! Personally, I would be surprised if this sort of thing happens. (The whole story doesn't really make sense to me) BUT, I'd be the first in line to offer hands on help if this indeed checked out and if she was near me.
 
Thanks for all the positive comments. I'm not sure who asked about having another horsey friend for him, at his old home he was the only horse on a smallholding of various animals so he seems pretty happy with just my sheep for company. I will try and post some photos for you all, he is very pretty but I might be biased!

Regards pony club, if the members are anything like the people on here I would rather stay far far away, but I will look into it.

Weebarney, 3 children, a pony and a flock of sheep is nothing. I know people who do all that and then have a full time job on top of it.
 
Depends which Pony Club but the local one to me, the only one I know, the people are lovely.
Good luck for the future, and have fun!
 
NannySarah said:
Thanks for all the positive comments. I'm not sure who asked about having another horsey friend for him, at his old home he was the only horse on a smallholding of various animals so he seems pretty happy with just my sheep for company. I will try and post some photos for you all, he is very pretty but I might be biased!

Regards pony club, if the members are anything like the people on here I would rather stay far far away, but I will look into it.

Weebarney, 3 children, a pony and a flock of sheep is nothing. I know people who do all that and then have a full time job on top of it.
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I thought you knew nothing about horses and had no one to turn to but this forum for help? Why did you not ask one of your never sleeping full time nanny, equestrian, shepherding friends?
 
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weebarney said:
I thought you knew nothing about horses and had no one to turn to but this forum for help? Why did you not ask one of your never sleeping full time nanny, equestrian, shepherding friends?
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in all fairness i know of people who have horses sheep and their own children. and why cant she look after a pony, sheep and 3 children that relatively standard in some parts of the world.
also she said that she knows people not that they would be willing to help her.
 
You will be hooked!

The sellers must have been happy with you and the set up to let you have him.

Read lots of books and listen to experienced people.
Be careful to ignore the idiots who think they know it all but dont!

How about some stable management lessons?

have fun!
 
Hey well done..nanny!
I m sure you will cope fine... you came on here and asked a few inneocent questions and got hung drawn and quartered for it. I hope you continue to prove all the know it alls wrong!
 
Festive Memories said:
Does anyone know where NannySarah is based? Perhaps some kind soul on here (bound to be someone local??) would pop by and make sure things are going smoothly?! Personally, I would be surprised if this sort of thing happens. (The whole story doesn't really make sense to me) BUT, I'd be the first in line to offer hands on help if this indeed checked out and if she was near me.
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I would too!

I am actually not surprised, there are a plenty of aupair/groom jobs around the world, so to actually have to buy a pony as well doesn't seem to stretch the imagination too far, every pony owning family has to buy a pony at some point and if you have a willing nanny I suppose by their logic it might as well be them (especially if the parents are clueless about ponies)!

Having worked as a PA I guess its pretty similar. The more you're paid, the more you'll be expected to live someone's life for them! I know I'd rather shop for ponies than file expenses...
 
Guys, I hate to be a killjoy, but if NannySarah isn't a troll, which is clearly what some of you have been assuming, how do you think your reaction towards her is going to help?
I'd hate jumping in with my eye's shut, because you never know what you're going to land in..
Offer advice, by all means, just make it the RIGHT advice, after all, there's a living breathing horse involved, and she has only come here for help, and isn't that what this forum is about?
 
Shadeyoak said:
Guys, I hate to be a killjoy, but if NannySarah isn't a troll, which is clearly what some of you have been assuming, how do you think your reaction towards her is going to help?
I'd hate jumping in with my eye's shut, because you never know what you're going to land in..
Offer advice, by all means, just make it the RIGHT advice, after all, there's a living breathing horse involved, and she has only come here for help, and isn't that what this forum is about?
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Bloody well LIKE!!
 
I find it really hard to believe any non horsey parent would go and tell a nanny to get a pony - even harder for a family to let their much loved family friend go into that sort of an environment.
If I am naive then apologies to nanny sarah and I agree - we would all love to help:)
 
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