What would you do with these horses..?

[FlyingCircus]

I'm exhausted trying to work out what to do next.

I've 3 ponies - 2 are mine and one is on full loan.

1) 16yrs old, arthritic in both hocks, worse in one. Probably arthritic elsewhere. Not really rideable but does go out for occasional plod as it keeps him happy (and stops him jumping out of the field...!).

2) 8yrs old, buggered her suspensories behind. In theory is in rehab, but from everything I've read there isn't a good prognosis here. She has had issues since a 4yr old. Always something wrong with her! From knocking herself, to sand colic inc surgery and also the suspensories.

3) 11yrs, easy but very lazy. Perfect kids pony - but I'm not a kid and feel like I'm trying to make him something he isn't. I've only had him a few months so I'm working on sharpening him up but feels abit square peg round hole.

I'm hoping to be moving to my own place later this year with 3 acres and further available to rent. If that makes any odds!

I don't know what to do. I'm desperate for a pony I can have fun with. I've had horses for the last 10 years and I think I can count on 2 hands the "fun" things I've managed to do with them. I'd love to be out at fun rides, clinics, maybe a bit of competing...and yet here I am with 2 field ornaments and one that is begrudgingly obliging with hacking but I don't think will ever be as sparky as I prefer.

I love them all in their own ways, but they also cost a lot of money and I'm still not able to do what I set out to do. Each additional pony is an attempt at the next one being able to be the fun pony...but it never seems to work that way

 

[SantaVera]

If you go to your own place it's better to have three than two if you are going to hack one out otherwise it means leaving one on its own. This is the reason I have three. If you are unhappy with the child's pony type re-home it or work on getting it to do what you want.

 

[FlyingCircus]

That's my view too, and what I'm trying to do with the 11 year old.

I guess the other thing also is I work full time - so I have a limit on time available. So assuming all their bare minimum needs are met (which they always would be, inc spending time grooming etc), how do I spend the rest of my limited time?

- Rehabbing the 8yr old who may never be sound and won't ever come back to the level I need/want.

- Schooling up the 11 year old. Who may get sparkier but realistically probably won't be as forward and keen as I prefer.

I don't have time to keep 2 in proper work, the only reason I have 3 is because the first 2 were basically retired.

I'm also not going to be able to afford something nice I can go out and have fun on straight away, because of the current horses and house purchase. I know it sounds like I want it all (who doesn't ), but struggling so much with idea I could afford it if not for my current horses or if they weren't broken they would have been perfect for my needs

 

[PurBee]

I’d give up the loan and find another loan that more suited to your aspirations.
The other 2 would be companions to each other and the ‘fun’ third, when you take him/her out.

 

[FlyingCircus]

I’d give up the loan and find another loan that more suited to your aspirations.
The other 2 would be companions to each other and the ‘fun’ third, when you take him/her out.

Are there horses for loan like that available though? Everything I've seen needs (a lot!) of work or just...isn't that nice

 

[Landcruiser]

I'd take the rideable one on fun rides, or try something different with him like Trec, you might find that the change of atmosphere and environment sharpens him up nicely. He sounds like an ideal trec pony.

 

[PurBee]

Are there horses for loan like that available though? Everything I've seen needs (a lot!) of work or just...isn't that nice

Im not in the loan market, but i can imagine the scenario of someone with an experienced horse needing a break for a while due to finances, new baby, new relocated job etc and would rather loan for a few years than sell. Someone needing to get out of horses for a while for whatever reason but hoping to get back into it in a couple of years. Its because its a quality horse, they’d loan rather than sell, when they need a break from the horse for a while.

Yet sure, the loan market definitely could be full of ‘needs work’ quirky types where the owners lack time/experience to bring the horse on.

You just have to be willing to accept horse may be requested back at any time, but hopefully with a good loan owner, the time-frame can be discussed in detail, and get a feel for how authentic they seem, so you can be sure you have the time with the horse to fulfil your needs, and everyones happy.

 

[PurBee]

Are there horses for loan like that available though? Everything I've seen needs (a lot!) of work or just...isn't that nice

Put a request out on here for the HHO gang to search for loan advert horses for you, maybe on the horse buying selling thread?

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Number 3 could easily find a lovely new home loaned or sold. I would then replace with what you really want. 3 works well and there would be no pressure to spend time on 1 and 2 on work days.

 

[Jenko109]

With both 1 and 2, I would question quality of life? Pain management? As they cannot be exercised properly, are they having to survive on little postage stamp parcels of land to keep the weight down, constantly hungry?

Broken horses are sadly not all suited to retirement.

 

[FlyingCircus]

With both 1 and 2, I would question quality of life? Pain management? As they cannot be exercised properly, are they having to survive on little postage stamp parcels of land to keep the weight down, constantly hungry?

Broken horses are sadly not all suited to retirement.

They're happy as Larry spending my money The 16yr old regularly hoons around and winds up the 11yr old. Not on any pain relief. I suspect he could be injected and kept going, but to what end?

The 8yr old has been at rehab livery, and will be back soon. Need to understand what turnout situation will be once she is back.

There is an option to stick them out on 3 acres of not great grazing at the new place. That relies on all going well and them not ballooning in weight though.

Both of them may be able to be rehabbed to being useful hacking horses...but do wander if there is much point if they're happy just being horses.

 

[marmalade76]

I'd sell the ridden one, there's loads of people crying out for just such a pony, why begrudge one of them what they want while you begrudge yourself what you really want?

 

[SEL]

Is it the 11yo on loan? In which case I'd probably plan to keep the other two as pets / quiet hacks and either take the 11yo out to a fun ride to see if that wakes him up or return and loan something different

 

[rextherobber]

I'd return the one you find boring ( he's on loan?) , and either see what the 16 year old is like on Danilon/pain relief, because he sounds bored in the field ( he's the same age as most of the horses that go round Badminton ), or loan something more suitable, and breed the ideal future horse from the sicknote mare ( provided she hasn't got any hereditary issues of course, just re read it, maybenot breed...Hmmm, companion home for her?) But the foal should be ready to start by the time the 16yo is really ready to retire. You could always mix it up with lessons? At any rate, I think you can find a better match for you than the one you currently have on loan, and he'd be worth his weight in gold to someone's child. Good luck with the move to your own place, sounds exciting!

 

[Widgeon]

I'd do similar to what others have suggested - try taking the ploddy one out on some exciting rides / events, and if that doesn't whizz him up a bit, find him a new home (it sounds like that should be easy - he'd be worth his weight in gold to the right person). If the 16 yr old might be more comfortable on Danilon I'd put him on that and up the pottering and do some more interesting hacking with him, so he's no longer bored.

 

[emilylou]

Send no.3 back, ride the arthritic one on some bute in the meantime, if he is happy going out then that should make him comfortable doing a bit more. Your rehab horse sounds like a companion only, if it ends up being able to do more that’s a bonus.
Then find a loan that gives you more enjoyment than your current horse.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Send no 3 back… work with what you have for now and see if anything else pops up

 

[twiggy2]

Get the arthritic one injected and see what he is up to work wise, he sounds bored anyway.
Let no 3 go to a home that suits him and his rider better.
Keep an eye for something else if the older one is not up for work.

 

[DressageCob]

There's a market for number 3, so sell that one and find something more suitable for you.

I would do the rehab with number 2. I wouldn't rely too much on what you read about other people's horses, since each horse is different, the injury is different etc. If it were me I would want to at least try. You can do that while you keep an eye out for a replacement for number 3.