What to do with two youngsters?

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Pingu42

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I have been helping my neighbour (farmer) out with his two three 1/2 year old youngsters. They are both coloured welsh mares and one is around 14hh and the other is chunkier at around 14.3hh. The farmer has had them since they were 5 months old but done nothing with them. It took me 3 days to get head collars on them but they now happily lead in hand. They have been trimmed by my farrier and were fairly good. I was going to try and lightly back them and help him to find nice homes for them. However, I'm finding it hard on my own as all I have at present is a still, fairly wet field and they are both joined at the hip so can't separate them. I'm wondering whether I should just advertise them unbacked and whether someone might be interested in the pair of them! Or do I try and get them somewhere on DIY for a couple of weeks with facilities and other horses so I can do more with them. They both have gorgeous temperaments! My retired mare was babysitting them for the last few months but she was sadly PTS. Any advice would be welcome? Thanks guys!
 
Does he want to sell? I would think being lightly backed would increase their value, but not sure how to do this unless you do move them. Just be careful you don't end up with two lots of livery!
 
I'd get them separated, preferably several miles out of earshot of each other, with suitable companions, or on yards - then crack on with them. Chances of finding decent homes for unbacked ponies with no breeding are slim, unless they are proven to be capable of doing a job, or on the right road to be doing that job.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Does he want to sell? I would think being lightly backed would increase their value, but not sure how to do this unless you do move them. Just be careful you don't end up with two lots of livery!
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Yep, he wants to sell them. They both got very upset when my retired mare was taken away from them to be PTS and needed to be sedated. I just want to get them both lovely homes as they are such lovely girls! I already have two others - one on full livery and my daughter's outgrown pony is on loan but potentially due to be returned. Otherwise I would be tempted to have the smaller one as I have a real soft spot for her. They aren't insured either so I'm loathe to take them out for walks in hand!
 
What insurance concerns you? If it is public liability then join British Horse Society and your public liability from that covers you for your own horses and other peoples horses when you are handling or riding them. When it is drier you can do long reining in the field or lunging or bomb proofing exercises. Fix a tie ring to a stout fence or gate post and teach them to tie up, be handled all over, groomed and to wear tack. You could hire a freelancer to help with the backing and first few rides. For their sakes I would try to get them separated while they still have you as a constant in their lives. To go to a new home and owner without their friend, not used to being handled or ridden will be a huge shock for them. Ordinary riding horses get stressed enough moving to a new yard to do the same work with the same owner so the more you can do with these youngsters the less stressful it will be for them when they are sold. It is a very kind thing to take them on when you already have plenty of your own to do.
 
I would sell them unbroken separately .
Without the facilities and help you will struggle to back horses that can't be separated at home .
 
You are probably already insured if you have a house insurance policy. Third party cover is included in most of them.
 
Goldenstar said:
I would sell them unbroken separately .
Without the facilities and help you will struggle to back horses that can't be separated at home .
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This, you'd be taking on a heck of a lot if you offer to do this and it's really not sensible for you to try in that situation. If the owner is willing to put them both on livery on separate yards with some facilities, and you have the time and experience, then that would be different, but I can't imagine he'll want to spend that sort of money.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions :-) Yep, I think that I just keep handling on a daily basis - leading, grooming, picking up feet, bombproofing them with scary stuff and see if I can find them lovely homes unbroken. Breaking in one would be fine but two is too much especially without facilities!
 
What a pity the farmer didn't consider all of this BEFORE he bought them as 5month olds. Sounds like a cash crop to me while trying to avoid any work or financial input on his part. A recipe for disaster. Well done to the OP for trying to help.
 
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