What on earth do i do with this pony?

S

southerncomfort

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 September 2013
Messages
6,328
Visit site
Very long, sorry.

18 mths ago we purchased a small cob for our 12 year old novice daughter from private sellers who couldn't say enough good things about him.

In those 18 mths we've all been bitten (daughters arms are black and blue), I've been kicked in the thigh and my daughter has been knocked to the ground. He bucked daughter off once too but I put it down to the fact that he'd spooked and she'd become unseated.

Tonight he bucked off my older daughter and then kicked her in head for good measure and he damn well meant it!

We've tried for 18 mths to get on top of all his undesirable behaviours but although he'll improve for a short time nothing seems to stick.

He is generally just really narky, constantly pins his ears back and pulls faces at us, tries to knock us flying.



We had already come to the conclusion that he is absolutely not for a novice child and planned to sell him and buy something more suitable.

His teeth are up to date, he has seen a physio and although stiff wasn't in any pain. But I will get him checked again. I've tried magnesium and I've tried a supplement for ulcers. His saddle had recently been checked, and although his wonky shoulders have caused some issues, following advice on here I'd managed to get it sitting much better and he was moving forward really well under saddle. I do regular groundwork with him but he is moody throughout and has no interest in working with me. I've even tried working him twice a day - short session in the school in the morning and hack in the afternoon. Nothing has made a jot of difference to his behaviour or attitude.

I've looked through his old owners FB posts and seen reference made to him being a 'bucking bronco' at a competition so apparently the bucking is not new but they never mentioned it.

I have no idea what to do with him. None of us want to ride him but I can't in all conscience pass him on to anyone else. Daughter is devastated as we cant afford to buy another pony.

In 20 years of horse ownership I have never known a pony like this.
 
I think you already know what to do. It sounds like you've done everything possible to make the pony happy. If you want to try more then maybe an IH trainer or someone like Horse Help UK (facebook) to help you confirm you really haven't missed anything.

Maybe it's worth considering a rehomed pony from a charity if buying a new horse is going to be a challenge.

Hope your daughters recover quickly from their injuries.
 
OrangeAndLemon said:
I think you already know what to do. It sounds like you've done everything possible to make the pony happy. If you want to try more then maybe an IH trainer or someone like Horse Help UK (facebook) to help you confirm you really haven't missed anything.

Maybe it's worth considering a rehomed pony from a charity if buying a new horse is going to be a challenge.

Hope your daughters recover quickly from their injuries.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I think because he also bites and kicks I couldn't even rehome him as a companion.

Maybe you're right. Try one more th
teddypops said:
Have you had the vet check him over? If not, then that’s what I would do. A physio (or similar) should not be working without vet permission especially on a pony with an issue.
Click to expand...

We did have vets permission. At the time it was because he was really stiff on one rein.

I will get him checked by the vet though so I know that I've covered all bases.
 
planete said:
Years ago I bought a shetland who turned out to hate children. I broke him to drive and sold him with a warning he was not a child's riding pony. He was fine with adults.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately he isn't reliable on the roads so not sure he'd be a good candidate. Think he hates children and adults equally to be honest!
 
SEL said:
Was he actually scoped for ulcers? I'd have a full vet exam before making any decisions.
Click to expand...

No, I stuck him on the supplement as an experiment, thinking that if it even made a small difference I'd get him scooped but there was no change at all.

I will get him scoped so I can at least tick it off the list.

I don't think any of will ever want to ride him again. I suppose if ulcers were found to be the cause and treatment at least made the biting and kicking stop at least he might have a future as a companion.
 
In all honesty if he’s as you say and you’d not be willing to keep and try riding again or whatever IF a vet found something and it was treated (which I think is perfectly fair enough as a mum your children are top priority and rightly so) I’d be inclined to pts. Do you really want to spend a fortune on a pony to then attempt to rehome as a companion and have the possibility of him still being passed on?
I’m saying this In the nicest possible way honestly. I totally understand him not being suitable for you guys and Im also sure I’ll be shot down for my opinion but too many problematic ponies out there and there are far worse places than dead for a pony.
Go get something that makes you all happy
 
TheMule said:
You either have to have a full work up with a decent vet, retire him out in a little herd or PTS.
Click to expand...

Will be calling vet first thing tomorrow. I wondered about kissing spines or something similar.

My girls definitely won't ride again even if a cause is found but if we can find and treat the cause I guess he might still have a useful future.
 
southerncomfort said:
No, I stuck him on the supplement as an experiment, thinking that if it even made a small difference I'd get him scooped but there was no change at all.

I will get him scoped so I can at least tick it off the list.

I don't think any of will ever want to ride him again. I suppose if ulcers were found to be the cause and treatment at least made the biting and kicking stop at least he might have a future as a companion.
Click to expand...

If it is ulcers or something else causing pain then you might have a completely different horse after treatment.
 
poiuytrewq said:
In all honesty if he’s as you say and you’d not be willing to keep and try riding again or whatever IF a vet found something and it was treated (which I think is perfectly fair enough as a mum your children are top priority and rightly so) I’d be inclined to pts. Do you really want to spend a fortune on a pony to then attempt to rehome as a companion and have the possibility of him still being passed on?
I’m saying this In the nicest possible way honestly. I totally understand him not being suitable for you guys and Im also sure I’ll be shot down for my opinion but too many problematic ponies out there and there are far worse places than dead for a pony.
Go get something that makes you all happy
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I completely get what you are saying. And I'm worried that a small cob who gets fat on fresh air won't be a very useful companion.

It's a real dilemma that's for sure!
 
I am of th opinion that if hey bite and kick then they are not suitable for anything much you might find someone to take him on but in all conscience how would you feel if he hurt someone. I have one in gods waiting room while he behaves he can stay around if he is bad or sick he will be PTS but then I can afford to keep him and still have the ridden ponies in your case I would be inclined to PTS and try and find a loan
 
windand rain said:
I am of th opinion that if hey bite and kick then they are not suitable for anything much you might find someone to ake him on but in all conscience how would you feel if he hurt someone. I have one in gods waiting room while he behaves he can stay around if he is bad or sick he will be PTS but then I can afford to keep him and still have the ridden ponies in your case I would be inclined to PTS and try and find a loan
Click to expand...

Thank you.

What you say makes a lot of sense.

I think I'll get the vet checks done and if nothing of significance is found I might have to make the decision.
 
But scoping won’t see hind gut ulcers. I think I would pts, sorry, he sounds properly dangerous.

Rather than buying another if you can’t afford to, look for a long term loan of a reliable, proven nice natured pony. I’m sorry you’ve all been through this, it sounds pretty horrific.
 
could be any number of things of course but the little cob I knew like this had SI and hock problems when they got round to having a work up done-he was then PTS. He doesn't sound like a happy pony, wouldn't be safe to pass on and could cost you a whole heap of money and resources to find that neither him or you are better off. I wouldn't judge you for the hard decision.
 
As folk have said on here before, putting a pony to sleep is not a welfare issue. Not putting that pony to sleep could be.

If you can't afford to buy another pony, could you make enquiries at your local pony club to see if anyone has a pony to loan? Our local pony club is full of tried and tested kids ponies, and it would definitely be my first port of call when we come to buy/loan our next one.

Good luck, hope your story ends well!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DD
PTS seems the kindest option. I’m all for giving difficult horses a chance, several of mine were nightmares to begin with but I couldn’t and didn’t keep a horse I’d lost trust in.

Even if investigations improved his behaviour, there’s always the possibility of something going wrong again, and both you and the pony would be better off not having that worry if you don’t feel you could trust him again. Better to ensure he has a kind end and keep yourself and your daughters safe.

Check rescues if you’re looking for a loan - there were a lot of very nice ponies available when I was looking and it guarantees them a home to go back to when/if they’re outgrown.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DD
SEL said:
Was he actually scoped for ulcers? I'd have a full vet exam before making any decisions.
Click to expand...


How on earth can the physio tell that he is stiff but not in pain? If I am stiff, something hurts!
This pony sounds very unhappy and I would get a vet's opinion before labelling it as unrideable. PTS is not a welfare issue but tbh, I wouldn't be willing to loan a' tried and tested' pony to a family that couldn't be relied on to get a vet when there is an obvious problem.

I bought a horse whom I was told was a biter, she was always tied up short and the bridle put on first when tacking up. When I got her home, with her tack, I found that her browband was much too short and the saddle was too tight. I found her tack that fitted and, lo! and behold! she stopped biting (after a while).

Equines that behave like this are screaming that there is a problem but no one is listening.
 
maya2008 said:
He sounds desperately unhappy, probably in a fair amount of pain. Horses are not nasty, either we make them that way or they are hurting.
Click to expand...
Some are born nasty its just their nature there is nothing anyone can do to change that just manage them as best you can, Some are made nasty by bad treatment or lack of boundaries and some can be taught not to be if they have a good temperament but I assure you some are hopeless cases at birth
 
windand rain said:
Some are born nasty its just their nature there is nothing anyone can do to change that just manage them as best you can, Some are made nasty by bad treatment or lack of boundaries and some can be taught not to be if they have a good temperament but I assure you some are hopeless cases at birth
Click to expand...

Would it be right to say that those have a neurological issue?
 
Dave's Mam said:
Would it be right to say that those have a neurological issue?
Click to expand...
Not always it is sometimes just genes but one would hope that the breeding of aggrassive stock would stop once it was realised what was happening but like most things that aggression might be ininterpreted as talent
 
Seems a very hard situation. Horse help uk is brill, ive had him out to help with my horse before. Again as others have said, Id get the vets out and see what they say. Kindest thing may be to pts :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top