What to do?

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Florrie

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I still own my first pony, a 12.2 Welsh B.
He's been out of proper work for around 2 years (we go on the odd hack every now and again) and is now 16 and I'm quite stumped what to do with him.

He's kept on a small quiet yard with another horse who he shares the cost of haylage and straw with so he is quite cheap to keep on that yard as rent is £20 p/w and haylage and straw lasts him a month but the cost is split with the other horse so it is £20 p/m for haylage and straw. Plus girl with other horse changes their rugs and puts them out in the morning free of charge.
However the yard has no facilities whatsoever. There is a "riding paddock" that is basically a turned up bog field and it isn't safe to ride in.

I keep Tag (my TB) 200 yards down the moss on a working livery yard with excellent facilities. It is £23 p/w for a stable but he'd have to have his own haylage per month which would be £35 then be on part livery for turn out in the mornings. But on the other hand I'd have more quality time with him (I see him once every 2 weeks if I'm lucky) and I wouldn't have my mother carting from one yard to the other etc as they'd be on the same yard.

I'm so stumped as what to do :confused:
I feel like he is wasted at the other yard and mother wants to get rid. He is a very talented jumping pony and still has lots left in the tank but it'd be so much more expensive to keep him on the other yard.

Is there any other options? I'm not keen on loan as he is one of those "naughty child ponies" and his old loan home abused him so is he very head shy plus he would need bringing back into work slowly.


So I have 3 options -

1. Leave and keep on current yard.

2. Move to other yard with better faculties but be extremely out of pocket despite the fact we need to be as frugal as possible.

3. Some sort of retirement livery? (If that even exists)

Or I could sell, which is the very last thing I want to do.
 
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I would (long term) get the pony back into work and sell him (sorry) at 16 he should have years left and there are some very competent youngsters out there. Short term, can the pony go out on grass keep?
If you are relying on your mum to fund the pony then I think you have to put your feelings on the back burner and do what she wants. You have your horse and the pony is an unnecessary extra luxury.
 
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Could you not find a sharer who you could keep an eye on, and who could contribute to the cost of the extra livery at the other yar? Then he's at least being useful.

If not, I'm in the "sell" camp, too. Sixteen is no age these days - people are beginning to realise that. He could have years ahead of him being useful to someone.
 
Bring him back to work, & then put him out on full loan close enough to home you can keep an eye on him. And get good references etc. If he's a second pony type then potential jockeys will be thinner on the ground than if he were a plod, but they do exist.
 
I would also bring to current yard and loan from there. Or find a sharer for him

The pony club is a good start or local riding clubs. These ponies are usually snapped up by word of mouth though so get word out and you stand the chance of finding someone vouched for by a friend especially if the pony has a good local reputation as a jumper

I also think 16 is too young just to keep him as a field ornament. If he really was a good competition pony chances are that he loved it and will take back to that life easily
 
I would get him going and put him back out on loan again. My 22 year old is out on loan, and very happy being pampered and doing loads with his latest child. You do need to pick the home with care, but there are some great homes out there. I would say that he is far to young to be retired without any real reason, and you are unlikelyto get cheaper retirement livery than the costs you are already paying.
 
I'd take him to the same yard as your horse and part loan or full loan him from there. That way you get help with the costs or get the costs covered but you can keep an eye one him :)
 
How old are you?

If you are likely to leave home, or go to uni in the next few years, then I would say sell him now while you can. He is a young pony, he could find another home where he is loved and used. He may be a difficult pony, but there would be someone right for him somewhere!

I kept my first pony, loaned him out several times, then when I was living miles away, and nearly 30, he got ill and needed to come back. In fact he had to be put down fairly rapidly, and it was a nightmare to sort everything out.

It might sound wonderful to keep him now, but it won't in the future, unless you have horsey parents who will take over.
 
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