indiat
Well-Known Member
We had quite a surprising development a little while ago. My four year old was being allowed to ride a little shettie up at the yard but the little thing is popular and works quite hard at the weekends. There was another little shettie living out with my mare who has a touch of arthritis. The YO was not able to use for hired hacks anymore as she was going lame. Her choices were either a companion home or PTS if none could be found as the yard cannot justify keeping her if she does not work. She's a lovely little thing, called Sunshine, and I got very fond of her (she loved me making a fuss of her in the field). I suggested to the YO if my littlest one could ride her if we paid her expenses (we can't afford to pay another livery) and to my surprise she not only said yes, but also "Do you want Brie as well?"
Brie is around 12.2 (I think - I'm rubbish at guessing heights), jet black, native pony very good looking. She's also rather old and rather grumpy. She has slight sweet itch, laminitc and broken winded. She's quite agressive if you are not firm and consistent with her, hence the reason why the YO gave up using her for lessons as she couldn't take the risk she would bite a novice child and the yard would get sued. You might wonder why on earth we took her on? Well, ridden, she's fantastic - never does anything nasty, leads like an angel on hacks and has a turn of speed and jump like you wouldn't believe in the arena. No one knows how old she is, late 20s, ealry 30s is the guess but she whizzes around like a four year old once she's warmed up. Too be honest, she's a bit too much in company as she gets very competitive, hence the reason why I put her on a leading rein on a hack. Her COPD also effects her if she hacks over hilly terrain to fast, so she's not allowed to go fast outside. She is certianly making a rider out of my daughter, who is so happy with her, you would think we had given her Desert Orchid! The funny thing is, she never, ever kicks off in hand with my daughter and lets her lead her about like a lamb. YO is convinced she's a one person pony and that is why she hated being in the riding school so much.
So, for £20 a week and all their costs my daughters now have their very own ponies! YOu hasn't had to put them to sleep if no suitable home came forward and the accountants are happy she's not paying for animals that don't earn their keep! A happy result all round.
Anyone following these threads may also remember that my daughter asked me to get her a horse because ponies scared her? Well, Brie charges around the place like some one set her tail on fire and I'm not hearing any complaints! Which goes to show, you should never, ever pay any attention to what your children say!
Sunshine is responding well to joint supplements and with the little my smallest daughter does on her, seems to be happy and comfortable. She's beautiful too, a chunky, old fashioned shetland with a chestnut coat and a Tina Tuner-esque blond mane and tail. She's so friendly and affectionate and to be honest, she's Mummy's little pet more than she's my daughter's but hey ho I'm paying the bills.
I kept quiet about our news because our YOU said to wait and see if the girls got on with the ponies before we made any decisions. But everyone seems happy so now I can say big thank you to you all for your help, advice and patience!
It's shame that we don't have a smiley that blows kisses!
Brie is around 12.2 (I think - I'm rubbish at guessing heights), jet black, native pony very good looking. She's also rather old and rather grumpy. She has slight sweet itch, laminitc and broken winded. She's quite agressive if you are not firm and consistent with her, hence the reason why the YO gave up using her for lessons as she couldn't take the risk she would bite a novice child and the yard would get sued. You might wonder why on earth we took her on? Well, ridden, she's fantastic - never does anything nasty, leads like an angel on hacks and has a turn of speed and jump like you wouldn't believe in the arena. No one knows how old she is, late 20s, ealry 30s is the guess but she whizzes around like a four year old once she's warmed up. Too be honest, she's a bit too much in company as she gets very competitive, hence the reason why I put her on a leading rein on a hack. Her COPD also effects her if she hacks over hilly terrain to fast, so she's not allowed to go fast outside. She is certianly making a rider out of my daughter, who is so happy with her, you would think we had given her Desert Orchid! The funny thing is, she never, ever kicks off in hand with my daughter and lets her lead her about like a lamb. YO is convinced she's a one person pony and that is why she hated being in the riding school so much.
So, for £20 a week and all their costs my daughters now have their very own ponies! YOu hasn't had to put them to sleep if no suitable home came forward and the accountants are happy she's not paying for animals that don't earn their keep! A happy result all round.
Anyone following these threads may also remember that my daughter asked me to get her a horse because ponies scared her? Well, Brie charges around the place like some one set her tail on fire and I'm not hearing any complaints! Which goes to show, you should never, ever pay any attention to what your children say!
Sunshine is responding well to joint supplements and with the little my smallest daughter does on her, seems to be happy and comfortable. She's beautiful too, a chunky, old fashioned shetland with a chestnut coat and a Tina Tuner-esque blond mane and tail. She's so friendly and affectionate and to be honest, she's Mummy's little pet more than she's my daughter's but hey ho I'm paying the bills.
I kept quiet about our news because our YOU said to wait and see if the girls got on with the ponies before we made any decisions. But everyone seems happy so now I can say big thank you to you all for your help, advice and patience!
It's shame that we don't have a smiley that blows kisses!
