What to do with him next ?

[The_snoopster]

I bought a small weedy 11hh 2yr old 18 months ago (dont ask why) something about him just said "FOR GODS SAKE BUY ME PLEASE". His breeding I know as I have known him all his life, he is 15hh welshxtrotter X 11hh dartmoor , bit of a sad back ground if I am honest. He was wormy, licey, bad feet all the things which made me feel sorry for the chap but he was not thin in anyway at the time of me buying him, anyway he came home to me and these issues were soon sorted out.
I turned him out with my yearling filly and her half brother who belongs to my friend, he was badly bullied in his previous home by a shettie and only had one friend in the field of about 8. He mixes in well with our youngsters and I felt all he needed was some time to get over his past experiences (Poor lad had been ridden at 18 months old), vet checked him over when I had him vacinated and said he was not a bad shape of a pony and he liked him and understood why he needed to come home with me.
He has grown so much and filled out lovely and he is around 12.2hh and although can be cheeky to catch he is always the one following me like a dog around the field, good for the vet and farrier and has never offered to bite, kick or push anyone around.
My problem is now I dont have the heart to sell him on now he is ready to break in and I am not the type to show or drive him as I am way to heavy and big to ride him myself, if I knew of a loan home I would go down this road but after a bad experience loaning another youngster a few years ago even this is a worry.
So I am in a real quandry (sp), would it be a waste to just keep him as a companion to my others ? I think he would make a lovely kiddies pony in the future and in my eyes is a real looker and has lovely markings and could do well in the show ring if he was cleaned up a bit lol
Sorry for the epic post but I thought his background needed to be explained, here he is the day he arrived

And here he his at the end of last summer, unfortunately with a gob full of carrots

 

[Nosey]

Could you ask round locally if someone wanted to loan him from your place so you cld ensure all is well? Are there any good little pony club kids who may be interested? Or a petite adult. I paid a little event rider to school on my sec a & she didn't look silly on him. Just he looks quite a perky person & am sure wld love to get out & have some fun..plus it may give you more options in the future.

 

[AMW]

Agree with the above, ponies stand a much better chance in life if they are properly broken to ride.
You have done a great job with him & this is the next stage in his life

 

[The_snoopster]

I am considering having him proffessionally broken and schooled next year, then try and find a good little rider to bring him on. He is good in traffic, as he broke into a neighbours garden (my fault the fence was just not pony proof at the time) I had to lead him out of the garden via the front and walk him back to field in the dark on a busy road even this did not faze him.
Small good riders in my area are hard to find, even pony breakers are like gold dust. Worried that if I find a good trainer and get him broken in, I will not be able to find a decent little rider to loan him from my field. But unless I try I will never know I suppose, this may be the road to go down ?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Agree with the above, ponies stand a much better chance in life if they are properly broken to ride.
You have done a great job with him & this is the next stage in his life

Totally agree with this.

You can do all the ground work then you just need someone to sit on him. With my daughters wee pony I will do everything on two long reins (circle and on a straight line), once you get proficient at it, which you will quite easily, you can do anything you would on their back, from the ground. Then sling the rider on, job done

 

[Gloi]

Buy yourself some harness and an exercise cart
Oh, just saw you said you weren't the type to drive him, never mind.

 

[Nosey]

My sec a went to a showing yard for breaking then schooled on at home by event rider as earlier. Plenty of small jockeys in showing! As earlier posts tho you can keep costs to a minimum by doing as much of the ground work yourself. Long reining great prep for ridden work...bet he will love it!

 

[The_snoopster]

Thankyou for the replies, I have decided to bring him home in the spring to my other field where I keep my mare who is as bomproof as they come so he can go out on some confidence building walks. And start the next bit of his education at home, I suppose I just needed other people to point out the obvious. My mares field has more facilities like a fenced off flat area and the stable to start the mouthing and tacking up bit, its been a while since I have started a baby and was light enough if I can get the basic groundwork done (which I have done before) I can then find a good small enough jockey to start his ridden work. Thanks, I dont have many horsey friends to throw ideas around with, sometimes just a different point of view helps me make the right choices for myself and my horses.