katastrophykat
Well-Known Member
Can I please ask for advise about what to do/WWYD in this situation.
Current count-
Number 1 pony- at diy livery near home, 12hh, 8 yo. done a lot competitively both ridden and driven, but no rider and no groom for him to be driven out at home means that he’s totally wasted and bored. Bored means that on the odd occasion that I do have a small to get on, he’s being cheeky and just generally seeing what he can get away with… has returned from previous loaner a year ago after a season showing ridden/WHP, scoped with a small low grade ulcer, treated well on one round of omeprazole and scoped clear- managed with ad lib-ish hay when in, no lami or ems.
Number 2 pony is out on loan, 12hh, 9yo, for another year- loaner would buy but both she and I agree that he can be cheeky/chuck in a buck if not kept ticking with a small adult once a week or so, and she would sell on at some point as her youngest outgrows… mild ems kept well in check by work and the right grazing, no meds.
Number 3 pony, 12hh, 20 yo was meant to be out on permanent loan, being returned in two weeks after three years. Is retired, definitely has ems, history of lami on good grass even when turned away in winter, copes fine on fell side/old grazing when limited in summer (which I do not have at my ex dairy farm livery) also has had ulcers, probably cushings from the sound of the return messages and I’ll know more when I can blood test him when he gets home. When last here, he bonded to his pair when turned out so strongly that he wouldn’t be seperated without severe anxiety, ended up sharing a stable with now-sold then 3 yo daft pony (4)
I’m facing facts that financially, I could do with a break from horses and realistically, with no regular groom, I have no way to exercise pony 1, who I’ve had since he was a foal at foot. Pony 2 is his full brother, bought as a yearling and they do make a nice driving pair together- not a national pair, but absolutely club/local level/showing etc, which is why I had them (when I also had a groom regularly)
I can’t justify not doing anything with them and equally, I’m genuinely terrified of selling them and finding them a few years down the line being ragged about by morons/hammered around/neglected.
I’ve had pony 1 advertised for loan for months now, and had two half hearted viewings that both loved him then had a change of circumstances that meant that they had no room/had to move yards, etc etc. I’ve now had to remove him from the market as pony 3 is returning and going into a pretty big & bolshy herd at my livery yard, so I’ve arranged to pen him off with pony 1 for company so he doesn’t get run about by the big young geldings in the herd. Time will tell if he’ll agree to his own stable after he bonds- I’m really hoping so.
Anyway… the plan was to extend the loan on pony 2 to next year (which I did) and loan out pony 1 until 2 was due to come back, then decide if I was going back to it after a break, or quitting and hopefully selling them as a pair rather than as two ridden ponies, to hopefully a more certain future with a pleasure driver. Pony 3 coming home has put a spanner in the works, and will need quite a lot of management, if he’s to stay here (again, I’ll be running bloods etc to make a decision on meds etc when he’s home).
To clarify, right now, moving to another yard is not an option- many reasons, but it isn’t- I’ve checked everywhere local.
Has anyone had anything similar? How do you cope with that fear? And what would you do?
Any advise happily received.
Current count-
Number 1 pony- at diy livery near home, 12hh, 8 yo. done a lot competitively both ridden and driven, but no rider and no groom for him to be driven out at home means that he’s totally wasted and bored. Bored means that on the odd occasion that I do have a small to get on, he’s being cheeky and just generally seeing what he can get away with… has returned from previous loaner a year ago after a season showing ridden/WHP, scoped with a small low grade ulcer, treated well on one round of omeprazole and scoped clear- managed with ad lib-ish hay when in, no lami or ems.
Number 2 pony is out on loan, 12hh, 9yo, for another year- loaner would buy but both she and I agree that he can be cheeky/chuck in a buck if not kept ticking with a small adult once a week or so, and she would sell on at some point as her youngest outgrows… mild ems kept well in check by work and the right grazing, no meds.
Number 3 pony, 12hh, 20 yo was meant to be out on permanent loan, being returned in two weeks after three years. Is retired, definitely has ems, history of lami on good grass even when turned away in winter, copes fine on fell side/old grazing when limited in summer (which I do not have at my ex dairy farm livery) also has had ulcers, probably cushings from the sound of the return messages and I’ll know more when I can blood test him when he gets home. When last here, he bonded to his pair when turned out so strongly that he wouldn’t be seperated without severe anxiety, ended up sharing a stable with now-sold then 3 yo daft pony (4)
I’m facing facts that financially, I could do with a break from horses and realistically, with no regular groom, I have no way to exercise pony 1, who I’ve had since he was a foal at foot. Pony 2 is his full brother, bought as a yearling and they do make a nice driving pair together- not a national pair, but absolutely club/local level/showing etc, which is why I had them (when I also had a groom regularly)
I can’t justify not doing anything with them and equally, I’m genuinely terrified of selling them and finding them a few years down the line being ragged about by morons/hammered around/neglected.
I’ve had pony 1 advertised for loan for months now, and had two half hearted viewings that both loved him then had a change of circumstances that meant that they had no room/had to move yards, etc etc. I’ve now had to remove him from the market as pony 3 is returning and going into a pretty big & bolshy herd at my livery yard, so I’ve arranged to pen him off with pony 1 for company so he doesn’t get run about by the big young geldings in the herd. Time will tell if he’ll agree to his own stable after he bonds- I’m really hoping so.
Anyway… the plan was to extend the loan on pony 2 to next year (which I did) and loan out pony 1 until 2 was due to come back, then decide if I was going back to it after a break, or quitting and hopefully selling them as a pair rather than as two ridden ponies, to hopefully a more certain future with a pleasure driver. Pony 3 coming home has put a spanner in the works, and will need quite a lot of management, if he’s to stay here (again, I’ll be running bloods etc to make a decision on meds etc when he’s home).
To clarify, right now, moving to another yard is not an option- many reasons, but it isn’t- I’ve checked everywhere local.
Has anyone had anything similar? How do you cope with that fear? And what would you do?
Any advise happily received.
