Update on my 'Buying a 5yo from the field' thread...

[muckypony]

So today I went to see him....

I want to bring him home now! He was such a poppet and so well put together. Had two little children handing him and was so well behaved. I popped on (owner didn't seem over the moon but I really wanted to see how he was even to just sit on) hopped on and walked round the field (in a head collar!) and he didn't put a foot wrong.

Only downside is he has rubbed his mane and tail quite bad, I really dont think its sweet itch though just flies and possibly boredom.

So, I have put down a deposit and will be getting him vetted next week (hopefully sooner rather than later!) Fingers crossed he passes - it will probably be just a 2 stage but he looks sound as a pound and has nothing obvious.

Hopefully this time next week I'll have a new edition to the pony clan!

Any tips on how to not be overly excited until the vetting would be much appreciated

 

[mandwhy]

Yay! Hope it all works out ok!

 

[ChestnutTinker]

Yay!! first of all - CONGRATULATIONS!! And secondly, No advice but i'm in the same boat!! We can be excited together xxx

 

[_GG_]

Fab news....don't bother curbing your excitement..enjoy it :smile3:

 

[muckypony]

Thanks

As hes not mine (yet!) I'll have to make you wait for photos of Mr. Handsome

 

[AdorableAlice]

Fabulous, so pleased you got on him. Fingers crossed he does not have sweet itch and passes the vet. Best of luck.

 

[Tobiano]

how lovely. Sorry, have never been very good at curbing excitement myself.... go with the flow! x

 

[muckypony]

Fabulous, so pleased you got on him. Fingers crossed he does not have sweet itch and passes the vet. Best of luck.

Yes me too, would be worried if I hadn't got on! Would it come up on the vetting if he has sweet itch?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would imagine that if the vet sees a rubbed mane and tail he will diagnose sweetitch. Sometimes SW can be 'cured' by a change of area. Was the pony living near water/under trees? It is possible to manage SW if you really like the pony in all other respects.
Exciting times!

 

[FfionWinnie]

I would be thinking sweetitch I'm afraid, but the owner has to disclose that don't they? I have one with SI and its not a big deal as I moved him from the west to the east where there aren't very many midges, and bought him a proper SI rug.

 

[Echo Bravo]

I agree Sweet itch, so invest in several good rugs and I mean really good rugs, having had a mare with SI for 11 years, the only thing that her and me sane was the rugs as I couldn't put any lotions or potions on her. The National Sweet Itch web site is very good and very helpful.

 

[Darcydoo]

No help what so ever as I never had mine vetted but CONGRATULATIONS xxxx

 

[Spring Feather]

So pleased for you

 

[muckypony]

Thanks everyone

I really don't think it is SI - owner has said its the first time its happened and I believe that as I have seen such a wide variety of photos and he has a lovely full mane and tail in all of them. He was moved somewhere new 2 months ago so perhaps that has something to do with it. Nothing is rubbed raw or anywhere near raw either - I wouldn't be surprised if it was being done out of boredom to be honest!

 

[dollymix]

I wouldn't be put off by something with sweet itch. It can be managed very effectively these days!

Plus like you say, a change in environment can make all the difference to an itchy horse

 

[FfionWinnie]

I don't believe a field kept horse would rub its mane from boredom, sorry! If it did, I'd be very worried about its mental state. I'd assume SI or lice etc and if not, that's fine.



This is what the mane and tail of my SI sufferer looks like. Its completely controlled. This horse may have been controlled before and is not now. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

 

[Megibo]

Sweet itch wouldn't put me off at all.

So pleased you like him, fingers crossed he passes the vet and you can bring him home!

 

[kellybee]

For what it's worth, SI can come on at any time like any new allergy. Mine didn't suffer with it until he was 5. I have tried the expensive brands of SI rugs, but found that the shires one does the job just fine as long as he's wearing it BEFORE the itch starts. I'd give him a good bath, slather him in D-itch or something similar and if no improvement, invest in a SI rug. The shires ones cost me about £50 each (I bought two) but he only ever wore the one.

 

[muckypony]

I had a look on the national sweet itch website and I'm confident that even if it is SI it can be managed well. He really does need a good bath and I reckon I may have to hog him so that it grows back one length (might keep whats there though to hold on to!!)
I know he hasn't had fly spray on as the owner hasn't been able to go up and put it on so perhaps hes been really irritated by the flies.

Only time will tell!

 

[muckypony]

I don't believe a field kept horse would rub its mane from boredom, sorry! If it did, I'd be very worried about its mental state. I'd assume SI or lice etc and if not, that's fine.



This is what the mane and tail of my SI sufferer looks like. Its completely controlled. This horse may have been controlled before and is not now. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

FW - how easy is it to manage your pony? If you hadn't said so, I would never have known he had SI!