Nanny bought a pony!

[NannySarah]

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!

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 . 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!? )

 

[D66]

totally normal to give pony cuddles - in fact compulsory. Get the keen one to join Pony club.

 

[Janah]

Absolutely normal.

 

[Elsiecat]

Plenty of us tried to help.. I sent you an inbox offering my help and didn't even receive a reply..

Either way, hope you/the children/the pony all make it through this without injury.

Good luck

And yes, pony cuddles are completely normal

 

[madeleine1]

i read all the comments on the post before and cant remember if i commented but i do think that even the negative comments where helpful to you as it mean you wernt going into this blind and realise how much of a deal this is.

congratulations on finding the best option and hope it continues to be a good thing for all xx

 

[Shysmum]

Welcome back ! Can we have piccies please ? Love ponies

 

[Jools1234]

fantastic news-pony club would be great idea for the kids as they will learn lots and get plenty of help. there will be people there to help you too if you need it

 

[attheponies]

Thanks for the update- hope all goes well, he sounds a lovely pony.

 

[HarlequinSeren]

I read the other thread but didn't comment on it, but I'm pleased its all turned out well so far

 

[Mariposa]

I didn't comment on the original thread, but lovely to hear you have found the perfect pony! Lucky children, what a lovely start to the new year!

 

[dollymix]

Pleased it worked out as I remember the previous post well! Let us know how it gets on and pics please

Second advice re pony club above

 

[Welsh]

Would love to see pics if possible!

 

[Honey08]

i read all the comments on the post before and cant remember if i commented but i do think that even the negative comments where helpful to you as it mean you wernt going into this blind and realise how much of a deal this is.

I didn't think the negative comments were remotely helpful!

Glad things have worked out well so far, and hope it continues, things can easily change, especially when a pony has no equine company. Glad you took a lot of good advice locally. A good instructor to teach the kids and help you/check all is ok with pony now and again would be a good way forward now.

 

[NeverSayNever]

So pleased for you! With the riding school presumably to still help you and understanding previous owners to offer advice im sure youl do fine. I take it the kids will have lessons on him? People can be very high and mighty and although caution is advised and this could have been a disaster, with the right support and the right pony there is no reason you cant all learn together. I bashed about on a highland at the age of 10 with no supervision or instruction bar my pony magazine! Me and the pony survived very well lol. Ditto advice to join the ponyclub. Actually i think your post reads like one of the old pullein thompson pony stories and makes me want your kob, it sounds fab!

 

[Clodagh]

Great news, well done. Pony Club us fab and as you will never dare ask for advice on here again (I wouldn't after the hounding you got last time!) there will be people around to help if you need it. And it is great fun for the kids. This time of year ours has unmounted rallies where you learn things, a great start for the children.

 

[NeverSayNever]

Stupid phone, that should read, job

 

[mandwhy]

Happy it has worked out so far, sounds like you dealt with it in the best way possible getting the advice of the riding school etc, to be honest some people make a really big deal out of how hard it is to look after a horse, but the day to day care can be learnt very quickly, and if you have a kind pony of sensible age that knows the ropes the handling shouldn't be too difficult, just don't let the children feed it treats all the time so it becomes rude and pushy! Hopefully you have learnt about signs of illness, when you're learning its probably best to call the vet if you're worried and they will advise or come out.

Do you think they might want to get him a pony friend if all goes well? That would be ideal!

If you have an instructor coming to give the kids lessons then they can help keep an eye on him and advise you on things that come up.

Pictures please!

 

[kiteman0]

well done,
we all have to start somewhere and i think not knowing much and being a complete novice is a good way.
when my dad brought me and my sister our first pony we didnt have a clue
but 25 yrs on i dont regret having our first pony with out loads of lessons, advice from internet(dont think it was about then)
we did it our way and learnt alot on the way.
good luck

 

[Ladydragon]

In the name of research I felt impelled to take a peek at the previous thread and much as you probably don't want to hear it Nanny - I have been thoroughly entertained...

I'm glad to hear he's settled in well... It sounds as if the rugrats have had an amazingly special Christmas present and it sounds as if you're on the right path with a local, supportive network of horse experienced people... We all get a 'first horse/pony' at some point, most, if not all, without having qualified as some specialised expert...

 

[Gingerwitch]

What you mean he is not lying in front of the fire watching the telly??? ! lol

only joking - yes its perfectly normal to keep checking and pinching yourself BUT please supervise the picking up of hooves.... nothing worse than 3 kids trying to pick up 3 different hooves of an obliging pony !

 

[alainax]

nothing worse than 3 kids trying to pick up 3 different hooves of an obliging pony !

 

[Flicker51]

hmm
still sounds bit strange....

 

[JustKickOn]

hmm
still sounds bit strange....

There's always one...

Congrats Sarah, best if luck with the pony and kids! Pony club would really help you all in the learning process. Have fun, and definitely give pony lots and lots of cuddles!!!

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Congratulations and good luck with him!
Sure both pony and children will have a great time together

 

[Fii]

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!

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 . 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!? )

I hope it all goes well for you all!
I also hope you will be getting a pay rise in the new year, being a nanny AND a groom!

 

[AprilBlossom]

Wow, it's like you are the family I know who bought horses on a whim, just ten years younger and without the Nanny interested in learning and taking care.

Ensure that those children learn properly how to do things and the basics. I've seen some things that would make the RSPCA go mental that this family have done. No, a horse won't learn to not kick its water over if you just don't refill it. No, watching your pony jump out of the sand school you've left it in with no food all day is not cute. NO, it is not acceptable to leave seven or eight sheep locked up in a field shelter for ten days because it makes it easier to load them on to a lorry when they are collected for slaughter. No, you don't just poo pick a stable and leave everything else as it was. No, a horse cannot drink when the water trough is covered with four inches of ice. No, newborn piglets will not survive in winter with a lamp from your lounge in a stable for 'warmth'...

I could go on...these are real examples of situations I've seen (I loan horde from the family as parent who he was bought for lost interest). Please keep up the good work encouraging these kids (and the parents if possible) to take responsibility, and learn basic animal and land management.

 

[guido16]

Wow, it's like you are the family I know who bought horses on a whim, just ten years younger and without the Nanny interested in learning and taking care.

Wow, what a sweeping statement to make, suggesting that the family she works for are capable of such cruelty.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Wonderful. So you are a total novice, the children are too and you have the pony at home, alone without equine company or an experienced mentor overseeing daily care.

If this was real, it would be very sad.

 

[Buds_mum]

Wow, hope it all goes well for you in the future. What is the little chaps name?

Will the children be doing pc or having a regular instructor then?

One tip re sheep they can be absolute ******s for chewing the ponies tails so maybe be best to keep an eye or if the do chew it slather it in something icky tasting or even tail bag it for the winter (obv not in summer when he needs it for swishing flies away )

 

[AprilBlossom]

Wow, what a sweeping statement to make, suggesting that the family she works for are capable of such cruelty.

From the sounds of how uninterested the parents are, cruelty through simple ignorance could well be a plausible outcome. I did not intend to make a 'sweeping statement', merely point out - with examples - of how easily it can go rather wrong, hence the importance of drilling into the kids the importance of being responsible for their animals.

Whilst I wouldn't change my arrangement, as I absolutely adore having G, it is a raw subject for me, as I have seen first hand and had to deal with the fallout from, such innocent ignorance.