Unsellable pony? What to do?

Possibly. She's not particularly mareish but she is very sensitive. Tbh, I've been trying to work her out for a year and I've had enough. I just want a pony my daughter can ride and have fun with. But I need to find our current pony a home soon or I will take the decision that it's better to have her pts then for her to end up having the crap beaten out of her again and sent to France on the meat lorry.
 
Oh goodness, there is very rarely a post where I actually think seriously about taking on a horse even though it would lead to instant divorce. Signed, adult owner of 10 year old 14.1 Welsh X mare, who is most certainly not a child's pony, living not far from the Cotswolds. :(

Seriously though. plenty of people would take her on as a project.
 
Last edited:
callisto said:
Possibly. She's not particularly mareish but she is very sensitive. Tbh, I've been trying to work her out for a year and I've had enough. I just want a pony my daughter can ride and have fun with. But I need to find our current pony a home soon or I will take the decision that it's better to have her pts then for her to end up having the crap beaten out of her again and sent to France on the meat lorry.
Click to expand...

Have you actually had a full vet assessment done?
 
callisto said:
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.
Click to expand...

Who said anything about flapping tarps or bits of rope? If by that you mean NH trainers I'm afraid you have revealed your ignorance. Most are trained to read body language and have a good working knowledge of behaviour and its underlying causes. And many have properly rehabilitated horses and ponies with a history of fear generated by bullying, as the OP suspects is the case here.
I do think it could be worth suspecting ulcers caused by stress, if her life has been as stressful as you suspect, and/or travelling to shows on an empty stomach which some people still do. Check out this website which could give you some ideas https://equinenutritionnerd.com/201...tions-for-stomach-ulcer-treatment-prevention/ or perhaps discuss with your vet whether it might be worth investing in a course of Peptizole
 
No, no full vet assessment. And it's not something I'm going to do tbh.

And I am wary of people who want a project, and people selling a project. Generally speaking on the one hand it means no money and no idea, and on the other it means trouble.

Thank you though to everyone for your thoughts and ideas. I will be properly looking for a loan home for the pony.
 
you won't get her a full veterinary work up...

yet you are very fond of the pony?

wow

maybe she could get an upgrade somewhere else.
 
^ This.

And to whoever said PTS <> 'kill', erm, yes, it literally does mean that. I've had killed a few animals and am unashamed of saying it. There are plenty of things to explore with this one first.

Including a vet assessment before palming off on loaner (see recent threads about arthritis diagnosis in a loan horse and related vet fees).
 
I dont think anyone is going to loan this pony. A huge investment of time and money and she could just be taken away at the drop of a hat The people who could turn this pony round arent going to want to loan her.
 
I feel sorry for this pony. I know many small adult riders who would take on a pony like her.
Shame you aren't keen to get her checked over to find out if she has issues. Are you afraid it might find something that would put a buyer off?
 
nikicb said:
Oh goodness, there is very rarely a post where I actually think seriously about taking on a horse even though it would lead to instant divorce. Signed, adult owner of 10 year old 14.1 Welsh X mare, who is most certainly not a child's pony, living not far from the Cotswolds. :(
Click to expand...

Me too, esp as mine is off work at the minute, but its not worth the ear ache I'd get!
 
We have a 12.3 who was passed on about 5 times between one successful home and us. I bought him unseen for £100 because I knew a 15yr old BS pony was worth more than £100. Incidentally and quite by chance I had enquired about him the previous year when he was sold from a dealer who I wouldn’t deal with due to being dodgy, for 3800, so selling for more money does not a good home guarantee. The people we got him from paid 450 and just wanted him out of their hair.

Sounds to me like this pony is similar to him. He’s extremely talented and not a child’s pony, he’s a competition pony. If the kid is wobbly or frightened he’s no fun. He needs a balanced positive rider who rides from the seat not pulling him to try and stop him (the more you pull the faster he goes!).

Get a competitive brave almost too big for her child on this pony and she will almost certainly be fine. If she has a competition record before you got her then it’s you, not her, said in the nicest possible way.

At 14.1 *plenty* of people will want her who can also handle her, however having read the rest of the thread now it seems you wanted people to say shoot her so you can move on.
 
Last edited:
What price have you advertised at? She really does not sound that hard to sell on and I don;t think there is much reason to think she'll end up beaten up or shipped to France if you can find the right owner. Plenty of quirky ponies find a home with confident kids. I've had a couple sold on as projects who were bought from the field/rescued and then sold on once they were back in work and I knew them well enough to find a good match and sell on honestly & responsibly. (Both ponies). They were sold at a price point (around 1k) that reflected their lack of straightforwardness. Both were sold 1-2 years ago and are thriving in their new homes as they both had new owners who knew there were going to be challenges along the way and accepted that. (I always stay in touch with my old horses and ponies if I can). If you are seriously considering PTS then the price should not matter much to you and I have always found a buyer at the as long as I have been realistic about price.
 
I honestly believe that any horse/ pony with behaviour problems has issues with pain, management or feed! No horse is naughty/ unrideable for no reason! Makes me cross when people give up on ponies without working out what the problem is!
 
I personally know a whole bunch of adults that actively look for whizzy/nutty/problem ponies 13.2 upp to ace the unaffiliated 2'6 showjumping scene..
 
I've just had a read of your other posts. You were told a year ago nearly that this pony needed checking physically and that most of the problems were your daughter not being a suitable rider for her, ie legs swinging about, not being able to stop, no independent seat.

As I said about 20 posts back once the physical and management issues are resolved these ponies turn around easily. However, its very irresponsible of you to sell or loan this pony without having a vet do a work up. If you are going to wash your hands of her then advertise her for meat money and vet the buyers, if you get any. Its a very bad time of year to be selling projects. Theres always buyers for a nice pony if the price is right though. I bought mine not quite sound and in January because I liked what i saw and was confident I could get him right. I did. He has a home for life with me now. So the moral of this story is you just need to find an idiot like me who wants to take a chance and enjoys a project. But the money will be a token gesture.
 
ester said:
I personally know a whole bunch of adults that actively look for whizzy/nutty/problem ponies 13.2 upp to ace the unaffiliated 2'6 showjumping scene..
Click to expand...

Haha I believe you! I have just sold a quirky but talented 13.2 Section C. I was at pains to explain his 'Welshness' to buyers and one decided against him because he was not nutty enough! She wanted a point and pray pony and he was too well behaved and sensible for her...
 
callisto said:
And I am wary of people who want a project, and people selling a project. Generally speaking on the one hand it means no money and no idea, and on the other it means trouble.
Click to expand...

I don't really see why? I love projects. I enjoy training and there is nothing so satisfying as addressing a problem and seeing it resolve. Maybe for some it is just a way of getting a cheap horse but by no means all. And why assume that people who buy cheap horses to bring on and sell on have 'no idea'. If someone sees the potential in your pony and has the skills to realise it for profit then good luck to them, surely.
 
Full vet check needed, then saddle, teeth and back check.
Check diet, stick to fibre only with a decent balancer over winter. Make sure she has a routine, one with lots of turnout.

You will have no problem selling a quirky horse, there are many riders who like a challenge. A small adult who is a competent and quiet rider would get on fine.

However, before selling or loaning you must get a full vet check. It may cost money, but you'll have a good shot at getting to the bottom of any underlying issues. Without that then I would say it's pretty irresponsible to label this horse as a problem pony; it could be as simple as needing an older better rider or a tweak of a few muscles.
 
My very humble take on this situation is that there is a real possibility that there is something physically wrong with this pony. Surely it makes sense and the horse owners responsibility to have the pony checked out to rule out ulcers etc..Say the OP deciced to pts, then vet would have to be paid to carry out the deed and all the other services that entails. In that scenario the op would have nothing. Surely selling the pony to someone who may indeed bring the best out in the pony would be preferable even though the profit margin may be low. Maybe the op is not the ''right '' person to manage this pony ( no offence intended)

This is my thoughts on the situation from a novice point of view.

Shirl
 
shirl62 said:
My very humble take on this situation is that there is a real possibility that there is something physically wrong with this pony. Surely it makes sense and the horse owners responsibility to have the pony checked out to rule out ulcers etc..Say the OP deciced to pts, then vet would have to be paid to carry out the deed and all the other services that entails. In that scenario the op would have nothing. Surely selling the pony to someone who may indeed bring the best out in the pony would be preferable even though the profit margin may be low. Maybe the op is not the ''right '' person to manage this pony ( no offence intended)

This is my thoughts on the situation from a novice point of view.

Shirl
Click to expand...

Also my novice opinion Shirl62.
 
You can PM me her ad if you want an unbiased opinion on it? You've probably just listed everything that you see as her faults (in an attempt to be honest), without directing her clearly at where she'd do best. She sounds like an ideal hunt/endurance prospect.

Also, you need to get the idea out of your head that anyone who would look at a project is a kook - a lot of people just really enjoy getting the best out of a horse that has lost its way a little.

She sounds like my idea of heaven as a 13yo.....sadly these days I'm too tall and creaky jointed to crease myself up onto a 14.1 - more's the pity
 
Ali27 said:
I honestly believe that any horse/ pony with behaviour problems has issues with pain, management or feed! No horse is naughty/ unrideable for no reason! Makes me cross when people give up on ponies without working out what the problem is!
Click to expand...

A sharp welsh x and a nervous novicey child rider. Doesn’t need to have health problems for it to be an disaster waiting to happen. I’ve had numerous welshies with all sorts of “behavioural” problems that I’ve sorted out in days or weeks and never had a reoccurance. Not because I’m a magician just because Welshies need a certain sort of firm but fair consistent and calm handler to get the best out of them.
 
FfionWinnie said:
A sharp welsh x and a nervous novicey child rider. Doesn’t need to have health problems for it to be an disaster waiting to happen. I’ve had numerous welshies with all sorts of “behavioural” problems that I’ve sorted out in days or weeks and never had a reoccurance. Not because I’m a magician just because Welshies need a certain sort of firm but fair consistent and calm handler to get the best out of them.
Click to expand...
Our mare was bought seven years ago as a quirky, unpredictable, very whizzy, Ginger mare! Her main issues were being ulcer prone, sensitive to feed and clover and once carefully managed, along with a confident rider, she is now the most perfect pony!
 
Leo Walker said:
If you are going to wash your hands of her then advertise her for meat money and vet the buyers, if you get any. Its a very bad time of year to be selling projects. Theres always buyers for a nice pony if the price is right though. I bought mine not quite sound and in January because I liked what i saw and was confident I could get him right. I did. He has a home for life with me now. So the moral of this story is you just need to find an idiot like me who wants to take a chance and enjoys a project. But the money will be a token gesture.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Like others have said, people looking for projects aren't all con merchants. My last project has a home for life. I was gifted her... wouldn't have paid much more than £100 tbh but she has a secure future. I'm looking for another but my budget will be hundreds, not thousands. But I'm not a flake, whatever I buy will either be for keeps or set up to succeed in a new home. I agree that if you don't want to invest £££s then you have to be prepared to take a token patent from the best home you can find .
 
callisto said:
No, no full vet assessment. And it's not something I'm going to do tbh.

And I am wary of people who want a project, and people selling a project. Generally speaking on the one hand it means no money and no idea, and on the other it means trouble.

Thank you though to everyone for your thoughts and ideas. I will be properly looking for a loan home for the pony.
Click to expand...

I think it's quite sad that you won't even consider a vet assessment if the pony is insured and they find something you are covered, I just don't understand why you wouldn't even try I think going on the information you have given about her she really could be experiencing some sort of pain when ridden it could be easily treated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top