Lexie81
Well-Known Member
Hello
I have beentossing and turning all night trying to come to a decision in my mind. The story goes like this. I got a New forest foal from the NF sales for my 10th Birthday-unhorsey parents, don't ask!! He was 6 months old and is now almost 18. I rode him as a happy hackier/bit of RC until i fell preganant with my daughter 6 years ago. He was my baby, so i managed to struggle on keeping him, having a newborn, but in the end I just could not manage a pony, young baby and full time work, so my close friend offered to buy him from me, for a token amount, on the promise that she would not sell him on and i could still see him. It was a great solution. After a year he developed various health niggles - mild COPD, recurring Laminitis, he became very sore in his back and the vet advised he could not be ridden anymore. My friend found a lovely loan home as a companion, just up the road so we were able to see him. He has been there for about 4 years, but yesterday, out of the blue, they asked my friend to come and pick him up as they had bought a riding pony and no longer wanted to keep him.
My friend has collected him and he is now at her yard. In the meantime, i have got back into horses and got myself Milly -my WB mare, and a little pony on loan for my daughter who is also horse mad. My old pony is not able to be ridden by either of us. My friend has her own small yard and does my horses on full livery for my in the week as i work during term time and daughter is at school. Friend has said she is going to advertise him as a for loan companion again, but if she cannot find a home for him, he will probably be put to sleep.
I totally understand her points and am not at all upset with her for saying this - she has limited grazing, only enough for the horses we have already, and she is already trying to sell two poines to make space. My old boy hates the cold and would hate to winter out -that is the only option for hims at her yard as theres not enough stables for him to have one. Neither my friend or I have time for another pony right now -it's a struggle for me with 2 and my friend has 9 to do each day as it is plus my 2 during the week. I am really at a loss. Part of me feels i should offer to buy him back, but would then have to sell or loan out my mare as there is no way i can afford or have time for 3. but then my lovely mare who i have spent months working with to reschool would be gone, and i would have no riding horse. Or should I, if we cannot find a home, allow him to be PTS, this may be the kinder option rather that to keep him going with no life, through a winter that would more than likely make him miserable. Would the blue cross or similar consider him? aggghhhh my mind is in overdrive, if anyone has actually managed to read all this then they deserve a medal!!!!!
I have beentossing and turning all night trying to come to a decision in my mind. The story goes like this. I got a New forest foal from the NF sales for my 10th Birthday-unhorsey parents, don't ask!! He was 6 months old and is now almost 18. I rode him as a happy hackier/bit of RC until i fell preganant with my daughter 6 years ago. He was my baby, so i managed to struggle on keeping him, having a newborn, but in the end I just could not manage a pony, young baby and full time work, so my close friend offered to buy him from me, for a token amount, on the promise that she would not sell him on and i could still see him. It was a great solution. After a year he developed various health niggles - mild COPD, recurring Laminitis, he became very sore in his back and the vet advised he could not be ridden anymore. My friend found a lovely loan home as a companion, just up the road so we were able to see him. He has been there for about 4 years, but yesterday, out of the blue, they asked my friend to come and pick him up as they had bought a riding pony and no longer wanted to keep him.
My friend has collected him and he is now at her yard. In the meantime, i have got back into horses and got myself Milly -my WB mare, and a little pony on loan for my daughter who is also horse mad. My old pony is not able to be ridden by either of us. My friend has her own small yard and does my horses on full livery for my in the week as i work during term time and daughter is at school. Friend has said she is going to advertise him as a for loan companion again, but if she cannot find a home for him, he will probably be put to sleep.
I totally understand her points and am not at all upset with her for saying this - she has limited grazing, only enough for the horses we have already, and she is already trying to sell two poines to make space. My old boy hates the cold and would hate to winter out -that is the only option for hims at her yard as theres not enough stables for him to have one. Neither my friend or I have time for another pony right now -it's a struggle for me with 2 and my friend has 9 to do each day as it is plus my 2 during the week. I am really at a loss. Part of me feels i should offer to buy him back, but would then have to sell or loan out my mare as there is no way i can afford or have time for 3. but then my lovely mare who i have spent months working with to reschool would be gone, and i would have no riding horse. Or should I, if we cannot find a home, allow him to be PTS, this may be the kinder option rather that to keep him going with no life, through a winter that would more than likely make him miserable. Would the blue cross or similar consider him? aggghhhh my mind is in overdrive, if anyone has actually managed to read all this then they deserve a medal!!!!!
