Chambon
Well-Known Member
This is a bit of a (long) self indulgent whingey post (which is unusual for me!).
I am at the end of my tether with regard's to our daughter's pony. Two years ago she would ride him every day and we would take her to show's every weekend and she loved it, but for the last 18 months I can count on my fingers how many times she has sat on that pony.
The Ginga is an adorable Section A pony and is the family pet and we all love him to bits, however.....
The only person that pays him any attention (apart from our PT groom) is me. Daughter has just completely lost interest, but she says she loves him and doesn't want us to sell him and every time I try to talk to her about selling him she is moved to tears. Daddy says that we would "never sell Ginger, he's part of the family" however all I see is a lonely and miserable pony who takes up a stable in the winter, has his own little 'starvation' paddocks and generally is a pain in the proverbial because he can't run out with the 'herd'.
Which ever field the others go out in, Ginger has a little bit sectioned off for him but when they move onto the next field, Ginger's bit has to be de-dunged, rolled, harrowed and re-seeded every time as he has totally trashed it. Incidentally, its is me who does all this work.
I did break him to harness last summer and we had some great fun (he really loved it) however as I had no family volunteers to accompany me I ended up having to pay for someone to come with me! As soon as the winter came I stopped driving him and took his shoes off. This spring, I had him shod last time the farrier came but have done nothing since. With nobody here prepared to help me I just can't be bothered to be honest.
Poor Ginge doesn't have much of a life, he is either in his stable or out in his little starvation paddock. I make of point of giving him fuss and lovin every day along with a biscuit or something, but I personally feel it is not enough for him. He is a cheeky character and he just loves attention.
We have had some heated discussions at home about what to do with him and I am out-voted 3 to 1, but I don't feel it is right.
I have tried everything to get dauther interested in him - including bribery, but nothing works, she comes up with any excuse under the sun not to get on him.
Don't get me wrong, I love this little man to bits and it would break my heart to part with him but sometimes he looks so sad compared to when I remember back to two years ago when he was out and about all the time.
Am I being silly? Or should I put my foot down and insist that we find him a home with a young jockey who actually wants to ride him?
I am at the end of my tether with regard's to our daughter's pony. Two years ago she would ride him every day and we would take her to show's every weekend and she loved it, but for the last 18 months I can count on my fingers how many times she has sat on that pony.
The Ginga is an adorable Section A pony and is the family pet and we all love him to bits, however.....
The only person that pays him any attention (apart from our PT groom) is me. Daughter has just completely lost interest, but she says she loves him and doesn't want us to sell him and every time I try to talk to her about selling him she is moved to tears. Daddy says that we would "never sell Ginger, he's part of the family" however all I see is a lonely and miserable pony who takes up a stable in the winter, has his own little 'starvation' paddocks and generally is a pain in the proverbial because he can't run out with the 'herd'.
Which ever field the others go out in, Ginger has a little bit sectioned off for him but when they move onto the next field, Ginger's bit has to be de-dunged, rolled, harrowed and re-seeded every time as he has totally trashed it. Incidentally, its is me who does all this work.
I did break him to harness last summer and we had some great fun (he really loved it) however as I had no family volunteers to accompany me I ended up having to pay for someone to come with me! As soon as the winter came I stopped driving him and took his shoes off. This spring, I had him shod last time the farrier came but have done nothing since. With nobody here prepared to help me I just can't be bothered to be honest.
Poor Ginge doesn't have much of a life, he is either in his stable or out in his little starvation paddock. I make of point of giving him fuss and lovin every day along with a biscuit or something, but I personally feel it is not enough for him. He is a cheeky character and he just loves attention.
We have had some heated discussions at home about what to do with him and I am out-voted 3 to 1, but I don't feel it is right.
I have tried everything to get dauther interested in him - including bribery, but nothing works, she comes up with any excuse under the sun not to get on him.
Don't get me wrong, I love this little man to bits and it would break my heart to part with him but sometimes he looks so sad compared to when I remember back to two years ago when he was out and about all the time.
Am I being silly? Or should I put my foot down and insist that we find him a home with a young jockey who actually wants to ride him?