New Pony 25 yrs old

[Pearlsasinger]

What a lovely thread, with super photos.

We feed our oldies on soaked grassnuts with dried grass chaff, which suit their digestive systems very well and the amounts can be varied to suit.

 

[Marmi452]

I thought I would up date you on Misty our 25 yr old.. well what can I say, she is fantastic and bombproof and my daughter loves her dearly, the downside of purchasing a oldie is you never know what you will get in the way of illnesses.... Fast forward 4 months from purchase and I could see a change in her, quiet, no go, depressed so called out the vet and she has cushings and ems.. and has for what he thinks is a long time.. so we are now on meds and diet (yes she had a pot belly ) and on Friday we are having a re test to check her levels to see we are on the right dosage but on wards and up wards as they say.. in prep for her retirement we have now purchased another pony who is younger but needs to be schooled and broken in but we are in no hurry as Misty is still able to be ridden. What I have realised is the need for a good yard with people and as where i am it is very isolated and no one bothers with their ponies I have made the decision to move yards ( big decision for me as I am a novice owner as such ) but needed a yard where people were about and YO is on site 247, also arena facilities to exercise them both. Where I am at the minute I am lucky even on a weekend if I see anyone and I am at the yard hours ( where does the time go! ) ... So i do not regret my decision to buy Misty Moo at all, I just want to make sure she has the best care possible in her twilight years and give her the best xx

 

[acorn92x]

OP, I am so sorry to hear that Misty has been diagnosed with Cushings providing she is medicated correctly, there is absolutely no reason why she won't be able to carry on being ridden for a fair amount of time yet - I know a pony with Cushings who is 28 and still gets hacked 2-3 times a week for 1-2 hours at a time and he looks incredibly well. You sound very, very sensible moving to a different yard too, having support if you are a novice owner is imperative and it is what so many people scrimp on so very well done for taking this step! Your daughter, Misty and the new pony are all very lucky to have you!

 

[Marmi452]

Thanks Acorn, I just feel that where I am it has had a change of ownership as such and the YO is never on site ... With Misty needing meds even though I was on part livery I didn't have the faith she would get looked after with regards to daily medication and just her general well being so am up every night and morning doing DIY!, in fact when I mentioned the vet was coming and my OH would be there, the YO was 'I never call the vet she will be alright '... OH is not horsey as such but is a great mucker outer! and he will do things in the day when I am at work, Since Misty has been ill he has proper stepped up and he suggested looking elsewhere for her as he was worried ... so a new adventure for the 4 of us ( Me, Poppy, Misty and Tink the youngster!) xx

 

[Cgd]

Pony at our yard also has cushings and she is used for lessons regularly so I am sure plenty of life left in Misty yet ! Will new yard be able to offer help with your youngster as I notice you are a novice? ESP if it is intended for your young novice daughter ?

 

[Marmi452]

Hi CGD, Yes the new yard is a much better set up, Tink has had some work done but I am going to get her professionally broken and schooled in March time, I kind of rescued her tbh, fell in love with her by accident really I wasn't looking for another one.. she is in a poor condition at the moment but ,nothing a little TLC cant cure..had vet to check her over and the lady who is going to school her and they think she will be just right for us she has such a clam nature and just wants to be loved that I think with the time and effort she will be fab. The new yard has an arena and plenty of experienced owners who are all fab and willing to help..Tho a novice owner I had been around horses for years so nothing fazes me but I am a great believer in fate and Tink just appeared and I will make sure she is broken right and only transition to her once i am happy she is sound for little one... As Misty is still ride-able for the foreseeable future I am in no hurry to spoil Tinks education .. if that makes sense! xx

 

[Cgd]

That soooo lovely to hear ! Two b lucky ponies I think to have found an amazing family !

 

[mirage]

Cushings doesn't mean the end of a pony's ridden life.Our 24 year old loan pony was diagnosed with it 3 years ago,before we took her on.Since treatment she hasn't had the laminitis she used to suffer from,and is ridden regularly by my youngest.She went around the cross country last week like a rocket,and my daughter described her as 'fast but fun'.Her nickname at PC is 'the bomber' due to her speed over jumps.Best of luck with both of your ponies,they are lucky to have you

 

[mirage]

I forgot to say,but we also had a pony with EMS.Regular work,soaked hay,strip grazing and no sugary stuff meant he never had any issues while we had him.

 

[Gloi]

My 25yo pony has been on Cushings medication for just over a year and he is fit and happy and hopefully will stay that way for a while yet. A large proportion of ponies of this age will have Cushings and/or EMS and if you manage her with appropriate meds, blood tests and feed then you could well have years more fun with her. I would consider it to be part of aging rather than an illness and just part of the management of an older pony.