Torn between two ponies..

WelshD

WelshD

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 October 2009
Messages
8,040
Visit site
I've been looking for a pony of a certain type for a while

I went to see one that exactly fitted the bill this evening but to put a spanner in the works her full sister is for sale

Pony A - this is the one I went to see, three years old, looks-wise exactly what I want and fits the typical 'ideal' for the job. has never left her home so education from the start is needed however capable of going a long way in the right hands, not at all nervous but obviously very looky of strangers, very sweet but some trust to be built up - the slow burn option

Pony B - this is the full sister, lovely conformation and movement but colour not typical of the 'ideal' Lovely personality, super easygoing. five years old with lots of groundwork done (not yet backed) this one would almost certainly walk off the box and slot straight in - the easy option

Both beautiful and super ponies - if I could have them both I would but in my shoes which would you buy?
 
If i had alot of spare time then A.. more of a challenge and fulfilment.
Practically of corse B.. even if the colour is slightly different, it's just colour at the end of the day :)

Also depends what you're planning on doing.. if you're planning on keeping or training to sell on. If training to sell on then recommend B.

Hope it helps :)
 
If you're wanting to be sensible then I'd say the 5yo. Not so much because she'd be the easy option but because what you see now is pretty much what you're going to get (unless a late developing breed) while the 3yo may still change quite a bit. However the less sensible side of me says which one do you get the best feeling from & would you like to spend time with, that's what I'd personally go on.
 
It depends on the job you have in mind, to me pony A just sounds as if she needs a little extra work put in, not leaving the farm is usually no problem if they are generally confident types, one of my best horses came from his breeder having done nothing apart from being sent for 4 weeks backing then being pretty much left until I bought him, he was the most straightforward boy to get out and about as he had no bad experiences or winding up at shows to forget, he also slotted in here as if he had lived here all his life, his breeder had done a great job by doing next to nothing other than handling him daily.

If A is the right type then she is the one you want, B may seem an easier option but is not backed so there is still that to take into account.
 
Would also depend on the price difference between the two and why I was looking for this specific type eg show etc...

but if had something already that I was riding then A and if didn't have something else to ride B as I get grumpy if I don't get my riding fix! LOL
 
Am I the only one seeing the only logical solution here? Both!

In seriousness though - I think you should try a. It's the one you wanted in the first place.
 
A for the following reasons

- both are unbacked
- at 5 there is always the possibility that someone has tried and failed to get on B so they are selling it as unbacked
- B has had the groundwork done but it has been done to someone else's standards so you may need to start again anyway
- B is the wrong colour which isn't the be all and end all but if the right colour is available, get it.
- Expecting B to walk off the box and start straight away and be the easy option might not work out that way. If she has had the same routine for 5 years it could really upset her. If A has been minimally handled it should be easier to instil her into a new routine than B
- at 5 she won't be eligible for the youngster classes. I've found these are great for getting them out and about in a relaxed manner - she will be up against adult, and experienced horses. A can go out and do youngster classes and have a good chance of doing well. Then when 5 will have the experience to compete against the big boys.
- if you don't knit as a team and you need to sell it is easier to sell a low mileage 4 year old than a low mileage 6 year old.
- establishing groundwork builds trust so you may find the 3yo easier to back than the 5yo who has had that initial trust of work built with someone else.

From the heart though, I would buy the one whos personality I liked best. If I liked them equally I would get both (I have just done this so speaking from experience lol)
 
I'd choose A, you can make her more your "own" and she sounds more the type you want so once the work is done she will be your perfect pony?
 
EQUIDAE said:
A for the following reasons

- both are unbacked
- at 5 there is always the possibility that someone has tried and failed to get on B so they are selling it as unbacked
- B has had the groundwork done but it has been done to someone else's standards so you may need to start again anyway
- B is the wrong colour which isn't the be all and end all but if the right colour is available, get it.
- Expecting B to walk off the box and start straight away and be the easy option might not work out that way. If she has had the same routine for 5 years it could really upset her. If A has been minimally handled it should be easier to instil her into a new routine than B
- at 5 she won't be eligible for the youngster classes. I've found these are great for getting them out and about in a relaxed manner - she will be up against adult, and experienced horses. A can go out and do youngster classes and have a good chance of doing well. Then when 5 will have the experience to compete against the big boys.
- if you don't knit as a team and you need to sell it is easier to sell a low mileage 4 year old than a low mileage 6 year old.
- establishing groundwork builds trust so you may find the 3yo easier to back than the 5yo who has had that initial trust of work built with someone else.

From the heart though, I would buy the one whos personality I liked best. If I liked them equally I would get both (I have just done this so speaking from experience lol)
Click to expand...

This - saves me typing the same kind of thing :D
 
EQUIDAE said:
A for the following reasons

- both are unbacked
- at 5 there is always the possibility that someone has tried and failed to get on B so they are selling it as unbacked
- B has had the groundwork done but it has been done to someone else's standards so you may need to start again anyway
- B is the wrong colour which isn't the be all and end all but if the right colour is available, get it.
- Expecting B to walk off the box and start straight away and be the easy option might not work out that way. If she has had the same routine for 5 years it could really upset her. If A has been minimally handled it should be easier to instil her into a new routine than B
- at 5 she won't be eligible for the youngster classes. I've found these are great for getting them out and about in a relaxed manner - she will be up against adult, and experienced horses. A can go out and do youngster classes and have a good chance of doing well. Then when 5 will have the experience to compete against the big boys.
- if you don't knit as a team and you need to sell it is easier to sell a low mileage 4 year old than a low mileage 6 year old.
- establishing groundwork builds trust so you may find the 3yo easier to back than the 5yo who has had that initial trust of work built with someone else.

From the heart though, I would buy the one whos personality I liked best. If I liked them equally I would get both (I have just done this so speaking from experience lol)
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I was thinking. Great response
 
View B and see which you click with best. Personally I would lean towards A but I prefer to know their whole history and love a good project but it does depend on what the job you have in mind is
 
If you are buying to show I would steer clear of the unconventional coloured. My mum has just bred a stunning foal and is devastated because it is palamino, we are praying it stays 12hh as it's unlikely to get away with that colour in the 12.2 class!
 
Thank you a very much for your replies and special thanks to EQUIDAE for spelling it out so clearly and to Hilary'smum for delivering the fatal blow!

Pony A - a bay British Riding Pony (show pony type) will be joining our happy gang on Saturday! to say I am thrilled is an understatement :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top