Think I am going to struggle to ride - what to do with the horses?

[MrsElle]

I have realised that some of my health issues are getting worse and mean that I am going to be less able to ride. I have only had Fat Lad for 3 months, and have only been well enough to ride 3 times in that period. Skinny Minnie is his companion, who I have had for a few short weeks.

Fat Lad is a lazy git and probably more than happy to do chuff all for the rest of his life in the field, Skinny Minnie is skinny, and unbroken, but would one day make a lovely ridden pony.

My question is, is it ok to keep a fit and healthy (if a little fat!) Highland pony as a field ornament? Ditto his girlfriend who, as I say, will be a smashing pony when filled out and broken.

I was considering breaking them to drive, but there is nowhere to drive to around here. We have a long, long, coast road where the villages are just houses along this main road. Side roads lead to the beach or the mountains, mainly dirt tracks and not accessible by cart.

Any thoughts?

 

[Honey08]

Just rough them off for a while and see how you feel in summer/later..

It won't do them any harm at all to be field ornaments - its a horse's dream probably!! It won't matter if they don't get broken/used. There are loads of horses crying out for homes while your two to be safe and looked after.

 

[tazzle]

If driving really is not on the agenda but you still want to play you might consider horse agility .... great fun if you like the challenge, keeps neddies mentally and phyically switched on



anything from slow and sedate

pedestal , weave poles, flags, flappy stuff, jumping calmly and stopping, going through tunnels etc etc etc

you can go up gears to trot / canter the obstacles

we are doing reversing round some of the obstacles now as we got bored going the right way


I like these guys.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqVLY8YfbEo



.........they got us interested years ago

 

[KVH]

Tazzle, what lovely photos!!

 

[sophiebailey]

Or if you're unable to ride but would like to keep them going is there someone dependable who'd like to ride them for you? Lots of teenagers would probably love to do jobs for rides if you're happy with that!xx

 

[jinglejoys]

Depends on the cart

And as said Horse Agility can be fun or hacking out online

 

[tazzle]

you beat me to it JJ ... but I was going to do a pic of the saddlechariot, better imo

 

[ISHmad]

My question is, is it ok to keep a fit and healthy (if a little fat!) Highland pony as a field ornament? Ditto his girlfriend who, as I say, will be a smashing pony when filled out and broken.

Perfectly okay to keep them as field ornaments if that is what you want to do MrsElle, why not?

Have to say though a Saddle Chariot or Horse Agility looks and sounds like great fun.

Could you have someone come and ride the Highland for you, on a share arrangement maybe? Then maybe the two of you could take both the Highland and companion out to Horse Agility and stuff like that.

 

[MrsElle]

Ooooo, I'm liking the look of the 'off roading' Might have to look into that.

Unfortunately there are no youngsters wanting rides round here, we are quite rural and it seems everyone who wants to ride has their own horses.

Thanks for the suggestions. x