To move or to get another pony???

[Baldybear]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone could give some advice?

Have a gelding pony, 23 years old, pretty laid back. He is kept on full grass livery and his fieldmate has just left, he was very attached, real strong pair bond. His fieldmate had to go to another yard as would otherwise would have to put him to sleep as he is a lot older and its his last chance, if that makes any sense.

So now pony left on his own. There is 3 other horses in field next door, so put my pony in with them today, they were all in same field for years and were fine (only been kept separate for about a year). Big mistake putting him in there, there is gelding and mare, and the gelding went for him, ears back, head down, charging and cornering him, so had to get him out of there quick, not happy thought he was going to get really injured as one point was cornered next to barbed wire fence, omg never been so scared

So have taken the third pony, a wee little shetland and put him in with my pony, as he will be fine with him and cant leave mine on his own. But this will only be a very temporary measure as not my shetland and owner doesnt want him left with him as thinks he will get fat, whereas mine needs as much food as possible

So have 2 options, I need to either find a livery yard to move him too so he can have some friends, assuming there is enough horses there on a permanent basis and would be more work and more costly, both of these will have to factor in, or whether to get another horse?? I cant ride existing pony as too big for him now and he had hepatitis last year so only suitable for small children to ride, very light work and very light children so could get another horse to ride, but also reaching that stage of thinking of having children so a big committment to take on another horse, also major cost involved in upkeep too.

Am veering towards moving him as probably better, also thinking possible working livery???? As would be ideal for small children starting to learn to ride (he is ex riding school from years back) but just not sure, but whatever I do need to make a decision in next few days!

So very hard!

Also if anyone knows of any good livery yards and/or riding schools for poss working livery in byfleet, woking, cobham, esher, claygate ish area would be appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance and sorry for the essay!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Did he like being a RS pony? If he loved it and there is a good RS near you, then that would be a good option.

If he hated it, then getting a companion (possibly something that you could ride) would be the better option.

 

[maggie123]

Try this place http://www.surreygrazing.co.uk/ - they do everything and he'd have lots of company and grass

 

[Honey08]

I'd be wanting him to be slowing down gradually at that age rather than putting him in a RS.

Does he need another companion? Can he see/touch the horses in the next field? If not I would get another older companion to live with.

 

[mulledwhine]

Riding school could still be an option, where my daughter goes the older ones sometimes only get ridden once a month, even if they are needed more often, it is a max of 1 hour per week, they are only really used for the little children, and only walk and trot.

So I would not dismiss it

 

[rascal]

Could it be cheaper to rent a field as we do? We pay £160 a month for about 10 acres. You could then buy a bigger pony to ride and find a little rider for your old one.

 

[MrsHutt]

RS sounds a good option - I would investigate locally. Here, we have 2 old girls who are used for little children's first lessons, probably a total of an hour a week (I noticed one who is 29, being lead up to the woods and back yesterday with a little girl of about 3 - looked soooo cute!) Although this old lady does like a bit of a run around, given half a chance!

 

[noodle_]

i wouldnt be putting my 23 year old back on harder work tbh



if you can afford it - companion!