Thinking of giving up, but what should I do with my pony?!

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tina60

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Hi I am thinking of giving up riding, my problem is what to do with my pony. I really don't want to sell him as he can be a bit challenging and I think he will end up being passed around, ( I also love him to bits, even if he is a pain in the backside!) I'm also not keen on loaning him out either. What I am thinking is just putting him out to grass, but is this the right thing to do? He's 12 years old, 13'2 and can be strong so not a child's pony. I m sure that he really doesn't care about being ridden all he's interested in is food. So what do people think, is it fair to just retire him at this age? Thank you for reading.
 
tina60 said:
Hi I am thinking of giving up riding, my problem is what to do with my pony. I really don't want to sell him as he can be a bit challenging and I think he will end up being passed around, ( I also love him to bits, even if he is a pain in the backside!) I'm also not keen on loaning him out either. What I am thinking is just putting him out to grass, but is this the right thing to do? He's 12 years old, 13'2 and can be strong so not a child's pony. I m sure that he really doesn't care about being ridden all he's interested in is food. So what do people think, is it fair to just retire him at this age? Thank you for reading.
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I am sure he wont care and will in fact be rather happy about going out and just being a horse, what a life! You can always bring him back aswell if you change your mind :)
 
However challenging your pony is there will be someone out there that would click with him, love him and have great fun with him.
 
That's what I was thinking Farma ! I'm sure there's every chance I may go back to riding ! But at the moment I think I definitely need a break.
 
Rough him off and chuck him out :) at least then he is always there if you want him back in work. He won't mind one bit as long as he has good care and company.
 
equi said:
Rough him off and chuck him out :) at least then he is always there if you want him back in work. He won't mind one bit as long as he has good care and company.
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This^^. Providing you have somewhere suitable with company, shelter, not too much lush grass etc there's nothing wrong with giving yourself a year off, then you can see how you feel after you've had a break.

Just bear in mind that a year off won't harm him, but will probably harm his chances of a good home if he was already "a bit challenging" so make sure you have considered the worse case scenario (i.e. have a plan if something happens to you, such as willing to a charity).
 
OWLIE185 said:
However challenging your pony is there will be someone out there that would click with him, love him and have great fun with him.
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There are also people out there that might not click with him so he ends up being passed on again. and so the cycle begins, of him being passed on, and his behaviour gets worse.
 
I have horses I don't ride - one I've kept because I'm worried she'd end up in the wrong hands. I'm sure there are people out there who would click with her and give her a good life but as there are no guarantees and I can keep her as a big pet I have done. She's one happy horse, takes up very little time and is a good companion.
 
Either chuck him out for a year or sell. If you decided to chuck him out for a year though and then sell you will lose money as you will have to sell him unfit. so worth keeping that in mind
 
Would he be suitable as a companion? The right companion pony can be invaluable and they are doing a worthwhile job.

Gets on well with other horses, doesn't kick, easy to catch and no horrendous health problems and will stay happily in field or stable while the other one is exercised. Having a non riding companion is really good, as it takes the pressure off thinking that there is another one that needs work. I had a little Highland for years, he did an excellent job and I was so sad when he had to be PTS. He wasn't suitable to be ridden but he had a lovely life here.
 
go to facebook and look at The Non Ridden Equine page. lots of encouragement and ideas there and people who have horses but don't ride :-)
 
if it is simply you want a break from riding, and for horse care to ease off, then just let them be a pet! but if it is the whole thing- the time and cost of care involved, not just riding, and you think this is a long term thing, then selling is really the best option, however risky.
 
Chuck him out for winter, see how you feel come spring. Then go from there - whether that be keep it how it is, or find the right someone to ride and love him.
 
My friend did this recently. She sent her perfectly sound and heathy 14yo ISH to a retirement home. In my opinion it was a very responsible thing to do for a horse she loves but doesn’t want to be committed to anymore. Yes of course someone could have had fun with him but they could also give him back to her at the drop of a hat. And yes she could have sold him on but that wouldn’t guarantee his future. Her choice means he can live out in a herd,24/7 for the rest of his life. Can’t get much better than that for a horse! Plus she can always bring him back if she changes her mind! IMO u can’t do much better for a horse than securing their future
 
I have a pony that I dont ride. He is perfectly fine and healthy. He was the first pony I bought for myself after leaving uni. I got him for a confidence builder after a nasty experience with a mare I had on loan. I honestly believe if it wasn't for that pony, I would have given up riding completely. I've since bought my mare who is now my main riding horse. I could have sold my little gelding but I couldn't face letting him go to an unknown future. I owed him more than that.
Ive had so many people tell me how I'm "wasting him" and ask to buy him. The answer will always be no. He does not give a flying potato if he's ridden. Hes safe and happy and will always be well cared for.
There are plenty of other fabulous homes but there are just as many awful ones who would pass him from pillar to post. Not a risk I am prepared to take sorry.
 
tina60 said:
That's what I was thinking Farma ! I'm sure there's every chance I may go back to riding ! But at the moment I think I definitely need a break.
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He is your pony to do with as you please! If you please to turn him away with shelter and company in a stable herd, with someone checking him at least daily, that is fine. The pony will no doubt be delighted to live as horses were intended to live, with nothing to think about except eating.
I can see no reason at all why you should worry about whether someone else might enjoy him, any of us could say that, even if we ride them regularly. Equines couldn't care less about 'going out and having fun'.
 
We have a tendency to place human emotions on our animals and while some people feel that mooching around a field is a 'waste' of a horse, the horse, provided it has company,food and shelter would be thinking it's great. A horses job is to be a horse, that's it, not to carry us around a course of jumps or go out hacking.
People often say ''oh but my horse loves going to shows and would be so unhappy if I didn't take them out every week''.......Well there must have been some very depressed and suicidal horses running around before we domesticated them.
 
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