What to do???????

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popeyesno1fan

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I'm stressed to the limit this evening. Got a fab little pony on trial last friday, pony is just fab. so quiet, really foot perfect. Pony is supposed to be 17, but all my more experienced horsey friends reckon he's more like 25. The asking price is €1000, but my friends say i'd be stark raving mad to pay anything near that much for the pony, as he could drop dead after a few months, and god love my daughter, i dont think she'd cope after losing her beloved popeye in july. he ticks all the boxes, i just dont know what to do. :(
 
Agree with the vet check.We bought a 21 year old last year and paid £950.Someone said to me that I was mad to pay that much as she'd be a walking vet's bill,but she was the best money I've ever spent,and worth every penny.If I could find another one like her for my youngest daughter I'd be happy.

She has been to Pony Club camp with my eldest this week and just keeps on going.I understand that it is a different proposition when your daughter has already had to deal with the loss of a beloved pony.
 
There may well be cheaper ponies around BUT if this pony is really safe and quiet and indeed perfect for your daughter it is cheap at the price even if you need to retire him/her after a year or two.
 
Any horse could drop dead no matter what age, a lady at our yard few years ago bought a 4yr old had it vetted & within 2wks was found dead in the field. Few months ago a 5yr old on our yard was found dead in the field, both natural courses. Why not get a vet to give the pony a check over for piece of mind.
 
Get teeth checked by a dentist, we bought a 12yr old which turned out to be 18yrs old, no matter to us, she is still fits our bill, but personally, I wouldn't pay any more than £500 for the pony with tack.
If the pony turns out to be 25 yrs old I would pass it up, purely for your daughters sake, I think I remember your post about how upset your daughter was, it had me in tears
 
All the bet to come and have a little look. But quite frankly if she's as fab as she sounds she's worth her weight in gold - aged or not.
 
Has she no passport , personally I would get the vet to check her over if she's in good health she's no more likely than one a bit younger to suffer bad health as for the price what price a safe happy child ?thats priceless if she suits the job
 
Sorry, but a passport proves nothing. If you like the pony and it is safe, get the vet to give it the once over and then perhaps make an offer. However, I usually find that the old safe ones are worth their weight in gold. You cannot put a price on your child's safety.

We had 2 ponies for sale...an ace jumping pony about 8 years and a very ancient pony that I had only ever seen canter once. Needless to say the oldie was the one that fetched the money and was most in demand.
 
Personally the age wouldnt put me off at all.

If the pony is perfect in every other way i would just get the vet to give a quick once over.

the best pony we every had was an old pony, was supposed to be 19, but looked more like 25. My daughter went from jumping 50cm cross poles, to 2ft 6 in a matter of weeks.

She learnt more from that pony than any other.

I do think the oldies are better for little uns.
 
Ask a vet or dentist to age the pony. Then unless its over 30, pay up. You could always use the vet's opinion to haggle a few euros off the price but a safe child's pony is worth its weight in gold. Ponies usually go on to a very good age but in actual fact any horse/pony can die at any age - buying a younger one is no guarantee of lasting good health, unfortunately.
 
Asha said:
Personally the age wouldnt put me off at all.

If the pony is perfect in every other way i would just get the vet to give a quick once over.

the best pony we every had was an old pony, was supposed to be 19, but looked more like 25. My daughter went from jumping 50cm cross poles, to 2ft 6 in a matter of weeks.

She learnt more from that pony than any other.

I do think the oldies are better for little uns.
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This^^. My daughters ride 17 yr old ponies (I know 17 is not that ancient) and I wouldn't swap either. Both are learning so much. I certainly wouldn't be put off if a pony was over 20.
 
I bought my pony from his breeder when he was 8 years old - I've known the breeders for years and the pony's showing record in hand as a yearling, 2 year old etc proves his age.

Anyway - vet was absolutely positive that the pony was two years older. So even IF the vet says the pony is not the age he is meant to be, it still is not proof.

And really - can you age a pony just by looking? Once they are between 8 and 20 it is really hard!

If you like the pony, then buy it.
 
Thank you guys, my gut is telling me to buy the pony. if he is really 17, then i'd snap him up, just a bit scared that he might be more. had dentist age him, and he says 17, but he also said no way pay €1000 for him. If i had money to burn, i'd just buy him straight out, but the fact that i dont, i'm a little scared of parting with the money. I used to own a 26 yr old mare, that was jumping out of her skin until she passed away. (not all the time, just sometimes). I'm just a little worried that something happens and then will spend six mths saving before i can replace. I completely understand that a 4 yr old can drop dead, but for the most part, you are nearly guaranted. xx
 
If dentist says 17 i'd be inclined to accept it. Teeth are what they do. If it helps my old mare was hacking out into her late 20's and pottering round the school until less than a year ago. She gave non horsey oh a few lessons 18 months ago! She's 32. She's also 15.1 though i'm sure she used to be full up 15.2 lol. Ponies tend to go longer. There's one at our place that's 33 and was still working and jumping till outgrown last winter. Now only retired coz they won't part with her.
 
popeyesno1fan said:
Thank you guys, my gut is telling me to buy the pony. if he is really 17, then i'd snap him up, just a bit scared that he might be more. had dentist age him, and he says 17, but he also said no way pay €1000 for him. If i had money to burn, i'd just buy him straight out, but the fact that i dont, i'm a little scared of parting with the money. I used to own a 26 yr old mare, that was jumping out of her skin until she passed away. (not all the time, just sometimes). I'm just a little worried that something happens and then will spend six mths saving before i can replace. I completely understand that a 4 yr old can drop dead, but for the most part, you are nearly guaranted. xx
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Pricing of horses is always contentious.

If you think the pony is right buy him.
 
My first pony as a child was a real old man and was amazing. He was apparently about 40!! A woman at my riding school had owned him her entire life and he had been retired in the field for years and years. I started grooming him and taking him for walks like a dog. Eventually she said would I like to ride him? (She had a vet check him over first) Took it very stead and had loads of quiet lessons and this brilliant little pony club pony emerged! I had about 2 years of riding out of him before I outgrew him. We had the best fun ever, felt 100% safe at all times and even got a first place rosette and trophy for Chase me Charlie Cans and clear round jumping at our local show :O). He easily lived another 5 or 6 years before he was eventually put to sleep due to colic I believe.

Oldies are fab! I agree you should buy the pony :)
 
My firsts horse was 21 when I bought her. Had loaned her for 2 years, knew she was sound & healthy, Lived to 29, stopped competing aged 27. Best money I ever spent (£400 about 20 years ago), she taught me so much & was forgiving of my mistakes. She used to give me this look of, 'c'mon you know that's not right, sort it out'. You could get as much heartbreak from a younger one who isn't as well suited to your daughter. Better a few quality years where pony can bring here on. If dentist says 17 I'd go with that, no age at all.
 
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