Unsellable pony? What to do?

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callisto

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Just under a year ago I bought a 14.1 Welsh X pony mare from a dealer as a safe and sane pc/competition prospect. A year later, my now 12yo daughter has lost her confidence and despite lots and lots of lessons, schooling, rallies etc etc we are still pretty much at square one with the pony. She has had teeth, back, new saddle, various bit/noseband combos all done.

To handle on the ground the pony has the most fabulous temperament and manners but has clearly been beaten and ear twitched. Rough treatment is expected as her default. Under saddle she is sharp and twitchy. Great in traffic but gets her knickers in a twist when jumping (which is meant to be her job), and is very strong and forward hacking. When she is having a bad day she is unrideable, gets herself into a muck sweat just doing a bit of trot work in the school. Because she is so unpredictable my daughter no longer rides her.

So, the pony isn't suitable and my daughter isn't riding and I can't afford a pasture ornament as well as a pony that my daughter can ride. I can't sell her as a child's pony, the market seems to be very depressed and I don't want to ship her off to the first buyer. I'm very fond of the pony, despite how tricky and frustrating she can be. The last thing I want is for her to go to someone who will beat her or sell her for dog food and there are way to many unwanted ponies in the world so I won't be breeding from her.

So, I need options. I can possibly loan, I'm not scared of the PTS option, though she is only 9 so it would be an awful waste. Any ideas, thoughts, support etc would be fab.
 
Why on earth would you kill her simply for being too forward going for your daughter ? If she isn't suitable then find a home who want a pony like her, or loaner if you are so concerned about her future. Too many people in my opinion think they are the best or only option when reality is far from that
 
She sounds very similar to our 14.2 Ginger mare! Bought her for my daughter when she was 13. Pony was a nightmare but luckily daughter wasn't easily scared! We worked out that she was ulcer prone and also reacted badly to clover! With lots of patience, feeding feed without molasses and soya, feeding salt and Graze eezy supplement to combat clover, managing ulcers, we now have a completely different pony. Daughter is now 21 so moved away so I have ridden her for the last 4 years and love her to pieces!
 
bonny said:
Why on earth would you kill her simply for being too forward going for your daughter ? If she isn't suitable then find a home who want a pony like her, or loaner if you are so concerned about her future. Too many people in my opinion think they are the best or only option when reality is far from that
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Any practical suggestions to add to your judgemental criticism?

The OP is clearly asking for some ideas, and possibly experience, from others who may have found themselves in a similar situation. She is already considering loan or sale, but clearly wants to do this in a way that safeguards what sounds like a quirky pony. I am sure she has questioned herself many times, and doesn’t need you to do it for her too.

And having a horse or pony PTS is not ‘killing’ it. It is the last resort of conscientious horse owners when their options for keeping their horse comfortable or safe have been exhausted.
 
Sounds like just the summer project for a confident teenager!

To be honest, careful and considerate handling on your part ought to help with the ear twitching and ground issues and she doesn't sound all that bad under saddle - very 'welsh' maybe.

Can you find someone local to ride her a bit over the next couple of moths? Having her under saddle will make her much easier to sell - this is the worst time of year to try.
 
You only need one buyer. Have you tried to sell her yet? If not why not put an ad on somewhere like preloved and see if there is any interest?
 
smallish adult as a project, or else find a ballsy kid who wants to hunt. I've seen a ton of ponies like that go on to be great little hunters for little strong kids. Often the tough work makes them settle.
 
OP, a small adult does sound like a possible option. I would also be extremely honest about the pony’s quirks from the outset, and you may need to screen prospective buyers quite strictly. Do you know any instructors local to you with good reputations? They often know clients who may be looking, and can pass on your details.
 
Thank you Flicker.
I have tried to sell, on preloved, horsequest, right horse right home and horsemart. She was up for a month as a quirky small adult/confident teenagers pony and I didn't get a single person to see her. In all about 20 enquiries. Maybe I was too honest in the adverts. She is a fab pony, bright, smart, quick to learn, affectionate, but I think has had a pretty hideous past so trust is an issue. If I could keep her for me I would. I'm starting to do TREC with her as she is good at it and it builds that trust bond. But. I spend all.this money and my daughter can't ride, which is the main issue.
 
Can you definitely rule out feed or forage causing an issue? Could it be something like magnesium deficiency, or maybe a something like a moody mare supplement needed? Would there be any chance she is just trying it on wit you and your child? Might be interesting to hire a small pro adult to ride her and see how she goes and what their view is?
 
plenty of adults want a 14.1!!?!

You say jumping is supposed to be her job.. at what level? I think this is important because if she can be a good BS pony lots of people wouldn't worry about the rest of it! Just because she isn't a good fit for your daughter shouldn't mean that she isn't a better fit with someone else.. and that could well be a jumping teen.

I'm confused by your comment on the market being depressed, do you just mean stuff not selling, or not selling for much money because this sounds like a 'home more important' situation anyway?
 
callisto said:
Thank you Flicker.
but I think has had a pretty hideous past so trust is an issue.
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i get rescues in, some of which had horrific pasts, but the worst thing to do is treat them differently because of that. Your comment about 'trust' issues is one that comes up with rehomers all the time. If you think a pony has a trust issue, it's because you havent proven yourself strong enough to be respected and it doesn't trust you to be in charge. Thats where the trust issue is from. That's why the trec is working is because on some level you are in better control there.

I see rescues being rehomed all the times, and the ones that are most successful often go to the strictest homes where they don't treat them any differently to a normal horse. With poines especially, sometimes you almost have to be harder and stricter with them to make them feel safer with clearly understood boundaries.

I have one in at the moment who was a trotter and had a terrible start, but i have to be harder on her than any of the other because she is happier knowing someone else is in charge. Sometimes, especially with ponies, you need to forget they are rescues and discipline them more at times.
 
Would sound like just what I'd be looking for in a few years time! Sounds like a fantastic small adult prospect as others have said :)
 
It does sound as if something else is going on could she have ulcers it is so common these days and as you say she is worse under saddle could she be suffering pain somewhere when ridden if you say she sweats badly and gets very worked up it could be a possibility, maybe do a bute trial and speak to your vet about a possible pain investigation.
 
I've tried magnesium with no effect. She is on a bit of thunderbrook chaff and a handful of linseed atm.

She was bought to jump, my daughter was unaffiliated SJ with the pony before up to 90cm and doing really well. Unfortunately it's just not happened with this one. They have done lots of rallies and camp but the unpredictably is something my daughter can't cope with. And which means I can't sell the pony as a pc/comp pony in good conscience.

I don't want to sell the pony for £200 or give her away for obvious reasons.
 
Pony doesn't have trust issues with me as we have a good relationship, but my less confident daughter can't give the pony the confidence they both need when jumping etc.

Ulcers may be a possibility, but the behaviour issues are not consistent. We can have two or three weeks of fab jumping, schooling etc and then a day where pony just can't be reasoned with.

We are Cotswolds.
 
I'm sure there is someone out there for her, its just finding them. There are far too many charlatans who will dope her up and sell her on. She may well be a totally different pony with someone else anyway. Usually these sort of ponies just need the physical issues sorting, consistent handling and work and they can be turned around.

Is she a pretty pony? Its always easier to find a home for something thats got a nice head and pricked ears!

I wonder if she might make a driving pony for someone. It would need doing carefully, but sometimes a change in job makes a huge difference as well
 
With a pony like that you do need to be careful she doesn't get back into the downward spiral of the people who think they can beat them into behaving, she gets a bad reputation and ends up going through sales, and ends up at an abbatoir.
How about someone like a GOOD natural horsemanship trainer, such as Micky Gavin in Notts for example, or working with one of Kelly Marks' RAs who will be able to assess what she needs and how to get her back down to what she could be. It will mean an investment but for the pony's sake, if you can afford it that would be my recommendation
 
No, no bs record.

And re:. sweating up - she isn't a hot pony. I can school for 30mins and she won't even be warm. But then another day she is freaking out as soon as we get into the school.
 
callisto said:
No, no bs record.

And re:. sweating up - she isn't a hot pony. I can school for 30mins and she won't even be warm. But then another day she is freaking out as soon as we get into the school.
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Is there any pattern to it? Could it be season/hormone linked?
 
I honestly don't think that flapping a tarp or bit of rope around her quarters is going to do her any good. I know some really good pc instructors as well as other experienced horse people. She has been on schooling livery for two weeks with an extremely well respected and gentle trainer which made no difference.
 
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