BBP
Well-Known Member
Firstly, hi!!! I've been sneaking around reading in the background and keeping in touch, sharing your joys and sorrows quietly on my own. BBP is as happy as he has ever been, he has had a great summer, looks fantastic, is full of beans and thanks to a Ben Atkinson clinic is turning into a really exceptional (in my eyes) liberty horse.
I have a little dilemma though and thought maybe the HHO massive might have some thoughts. Sadly it looks like I will be saying goodbye to my little companion pony very soon, we just can't get his respiratory issues under control and I think his quality of life is no longer what it should be. That isn't my dilemma, we are on a last ditch effort of oral steroids and if no miracle the decision will be made.
The dilemma is what to do without him. He is a little rock in our herd of 4, even though with his COPD he has to be managed separately much of the time as he can't be anywhere near hay or grass with spores on it. We have a connie x that has EMS and is managed only on hay, hard standing/arena and a grass free track, and BBP and his best connie x buddy who are out on a grass track in summer and on the hard standing/arena as a little herd in winter. But little pony is always there to keep BBP company if the other two go out riding or to camp. I don't think BBP would cope at all being left alone, but with the pony in the paddock next door he is very good.
So we have a few options:
1. Don't replace the pony and either only one horse at a time can go out (both the working ones are my sisters, in winter she takes them out ride and lead to make the most of the available daylight), or BBP goes out ride and lead as well.
2. Get another little companion pony (but that can hopefully eat hay and live with the EMS pony), still costs of teeth/vet/feet/hay etc, but may be able to get one for a low purchase price or adopt from a charity. I can add it to my BBP liberty team!
3. Get a livery, preferably something with EMS/laminitis prone to be a companion for our older connie on his grass free area. But sister and I are quite set in how we manage our land and our horses and I worry that it would be hard for someone else to fit in.
4. Get something I can ride, given BBP is now retired from ridden work. We have a brilliant arena, fantastic hacking and a fabulous instructor, and I have no horse of my own to ride. But I don't have a nice big healthy budget for purchase, and I do find I struggle to manage my time around horses, dog and work (but I do waste many hours of the day faffing around, that I could gain if I learned to be efficient!). I still keep thinking about that gorgeous little arab from last winter and wish I had bought him (they have some lovely ones still up for sale). So what would I get? Older, solid, dependable that doesn't need to be worked every day and could tolerate leading out BBP? A youngster that doesn't need to do much yet, but may be an unknown - I was told BBP would be really easy and look what happened there!
Anyone want to find me that nice arab and bring him to me??? Do I need a 'find me a horse' thread?? I'm so fussy though, they can sound fantastic, but if they don't have 'the look' or give me the feeling in my gut then I have no interest.
I have a little dilemma though and thought maybe the HHO massive might have some thoughts. Sadly it looks like I will be saying goodbye to my little companion pony very soon, we just can't get his respiratory issues under control and I think his quality of life is no longer what it should be. That isn't my dilemma, we are on a last ditch effort of oral steroids and if no miracle the decision will be made.
The dilemma is what to do without him. He is a little rock in our herd of 4, even though with his COPD he has to be managed separately much of the time as he can't be anywhere near hay or grass with spores on it. We have a connie x that has EMS and is managed only on hay, hard standing/arena and a grass free track, and BBP and his best connie x buddy who are out on a grass track in summer and on the hard standing/arena as a little herd in winter. But little pony is always there to keep BBP company if the other two go out riding or to camp. I don't think BBP would cope at all being left alone, but with the pony in the paddock next door he is very good.
So we have a few options:
1. Don't replace the pony and either only one horse at a time can go out (both the working ones are my sisters, in winter she takes them out ride and lead to make the most of the available daylight), or BBP goes out ride and lead as well.
2. Get another little companion pony (but that can hopefully eat hay and live with the EMS pony), still costs of teeth/vet/feet/hay etc, but may be able to get one for a low purchase price or adopt from a charity. I can add it to my BBP liberty team!
3. Get a livery, preferably something with EMS/laminitis prone to be a companion for our older connie on his grass free area. But sister and I are quite set in how we manage our land and our horses and I worry that it would be hard for someone else to fit in.
4. Get something I can ride, given BBP is now retired from ridden work. We have a brilliant arena, fantastic hacking and a fabulous instructor, and I have no horse of my own to ride. But I don't have a nice big healthy budget for purchase, and I do find I struggle to manage my time around horses, dog and work (but I do waste many hours of the day faffing around, that I could gain if I learned to be efficient!). I still keep thinking about that gorgeous little arab from last winter and wish I had bought him (they have some lovely ones still up for sale). So what would I get? Older, solid, dependable that doesn't need to be worked every day and could tolerate leading out BBP? A youngster that doesn't need to do much yet, but may be an unknown - I was told BBP would be really easy and look what happened there!
Anyone want to find me that nice arab and bring him to me??? Do I need a 'find me a horse' thread?? I'm so fussy though, they can sound fantastic, but if they don't have 'the look' or give me the feeling in my gut then I have no interest.
