Rescued a pony on Saturday...help!!!

[R2R]

I was looking for a pony for the toddlers (between 6 years and 8 months!!) on my yard to have a play with and be led up and down the lane on, and found what I thought sounded like the perfect pony – 12hh, slightly older, safe to handle etc.

I drove for 2 hours on Saturday to go and collect said pony – it was free via someone I knew, though I didn’t know who I got her from.

I arrived to find VERY thin – I don’t really get how you could ever see a navives ribs - slightly aged pony, a good 13.2hh and a good 18 years old. Her feet are very long and she was covered in mites. I was told she had stood in a field for a good 18 months. I knew before she didnt have a passport and had spoken to farmkey via someone on here.

I couldn’t leave her there so I put her on the lorry, said thank you very much, and left.

She is now back on my yard, had a bath (mites literally jumping off of her) been de loused (when dry) having her feed ‘done’ today, been wormed, and is on ad lib hay. I don’t really want to give her any hard feed as I doubt she has had any for a while.

What on earth am I supposed to do with said pony? She is very sweet natured and kind...but far to small for me and a bit big for l/r and little kiddies to groom (though am sure she would be fine)

I am happy to keep her for a month or two over the summer to ‘put some pudding’ back on but what then?

 

[AmyMay]

I am happy to keep her for a month or two over the summer to ‘put some pudding’ back on but what then?

Sounds like you committed to her when you picked her up.

Poor little mite (no pun intended).

 

[R2R]

LOL AmyMay....I know I committed to her when I picked her up. I am to soft for my own good sometimes?!

I have the room for her so maybe I find her a little loaner? Hmmmm.

How do you go about seeing if a 13.2hh pony is actually rideable? Do you stick a kid on and hope for the best?!

 

[happyhack]

aaaw bless her.

Don't write her off just yet. Give her lots of love and let the kiddies get involved, you never know, she could end up being the perfect pony.

 

[JaneyP]

You will need to get her chipped if she hasnt got a passport already, new rule that came out last year.

Good Luck with her xx

 

[happyhack]

How do you go about seeing if a 13.2hh pony is actually rideable? Do you stick a kid on and hope for the best?!

find a sensible teenager, they will love it as a summer project if she's not ready to be ridden by the little-uns yet!

 

[Lippyx]

Offer her out as a companion?
I can understand why you took her, but I'm not too sure I would have done the same? I know I will get shot down, but why take on a pony that is not going to be any good for what you want?
I know I would feel bad walking away, and I see you are only doing what is best, but now, after you have spent money on this pony, you now have something you don't need/want? Would it have not been better to walk away, and call RSPCA/Rescue Centre?

(I don't mean to offend ANYONE!!)

 

[Little_Miss_1]

Oh, I think I would have done the same (bit them I am a bit of a soft touch too!). Just get her fed up nicely and give her lots of fuss, then when she is looking better pop her on a lunge line with a roller. If she is fine with that then pop a saddle on her and see what happens! If she takes that in her stride then get a light adult / teenagerto lie across her and see if she is backed. Then you could put her out on loan or whatever to someone suitable. If she is safe then there are lots of loving families looking for an older pony on loan.

And my mother always told me 'you dont get something for nothing'... just proved her wrong!!

 

[R2R]

Oh I knew I should have walked away Lippyx, I really really did! I dont think I would have slept though and I am in a really fortunate position where I have my own yard so she is only going to cost me the price of a chip/passport, trimming etc.

 

[Lippyx]

Oh I knew I should have walked away Lippyx, I really really did! I dont think I would have slept though and I am in a really fortunate position where I have my own yard so she is only going to cost me the price of a chip/passport, trimming etc.

Thats fair enough then! I guess if you didn't have your own yard, then it would be a different story!
I would feed her up, and treat her like a youngster. See how she copes with a roller, saddle then an older rider across her back. You could put her out on loan, or see if there are any children you know that would loan her from you? Good luck!!

 

[galaxy]

I'd suggest once you've fed up her a bit and started lunging her, just getting a vet out for a quick MOT. You never know she may have something wrong with her that would be the reason she was just chucked in a field.

Good on you though. I nearly bought a Warmblood mare that was in an awful state last year, but I don't have my own yard, and she was huge and horrifically mannered too and I knew that it wouldnt have been the right thing to do.

 

[Bens_Mum]

I've got two ponies like this! I'm affraid they are only ever going to be pets but it costs next to nothing to keep them and they have such cute personalities!!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

you rescued her cos you are a human being. you did the right thing, its not as tho you gave them ££ which might encourage a repeat.

give her a chance and get her scrubbed up, she might just have been outgrown or child lost interest etc. Take it gradually and see how you go. At the end of the day, if theyre well cared for but it doesnt work out and eventually you pts or loan or sell they are better off than they were where you found them....