What would you offer for this pony?

[maya2008]

- Welsh A, prime adult age, not perfect conformation.
- fast, sharp, will jump but not wildly natural at it
- traffic shy with anything bigger than a van.
- Has quite severe sweet-itch.
- Can be pushy on the ground if she feels insecure.
- Has difficulty integrating into herds - gets bullied massively.
- Has proven uncatchable without emptying field at 2 yards.
- Will go on LR but dislikes it if that’s her only job (and really isn’t a little kids’ pony).

Son wants to take her on and do his thing. I clearly feel sorry for pony because it is currently wearing an upgraded sweet-itch rug courtesy of my bank account! Original ad put up was £800.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

Nothing, sorry…. There are lots of ponies out there that your son could have fun with, especially if this one isn’t particularly talented and has all that baggage.

 

[blitznbobs]

Anything is too much… hot section as are so common without this one’s issues and they are not that useful as there aren’t that many kids good enough to ride them these days

 

[SEL]

Your son will probably turn this one around given his history! £450?

 

[IrishMilo]

Nothing, she sounds like a pain in the arse! I'm struggling to see what merit the current owners think she has that make her worth 800.

 

[Patterdale]

They’d have to pay me. And more than £800

Lovely thing to do for the pony though. Would you be planning to resell?

 

[Roxylola]

Without the sweet itch I'd have said 600. Anything like that concerns me though - I've seen horses rub absolutely raw and then some with it. I'm not sure I'd take one on at any price knowingly, but I'd certainly knock some more off my original offer

 

[HopOnTrot]

Barge pole, sorry

 

[nagblagger]

However much you can afford to throw away.
But what experience your son could have to 'turn her around' - priceless.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Aside from all the other things, you couldn't pay me to take the blasted thing if it's un catchable

Spending hours being given the runaround by my old Welsh D, it's one of the biggest bug bears of mine!

 

[Red-1]

I would pay whatever you think is right.

When I bought Rigsby many people said he was worthless (just finishing box rest for lami, ems, asthma, mallenders, start of CPL, not good in heavy traffic, bargey etc etc... oh, and his passport said he was a rig too).

I paid money for him, but not more than I could afford to lose. In my eyes, he was worth it.

He has been priceless. 4 years on, is fit and healthy. He is a star.

 

[Dave's Mam]

The Sweet Itch is a huge barge pole for me. It's such a huge issue to manage. Also catching. I'm canny at catching, but it's a pain.

 

[ycbm]

However much you can afford to throw away.
But what experience your son could have to 'turn her around' - priceless.

I agree with this, even if the lesson he learns is "they aren't all fixable".
.

 

[maya2008]

Thanks all. I don’t think she’s worth anything really. I mean, I have a sweet little 3 year old with perfect temperament, good health, athletic ability, brilliant in traffic etc and I am well aware she is only worth £1k at a push. So this one… nope.

BUT

Every pony deserves a chance. I don’t think the traffic issues are fixable much beyond where they are now, but the rest is. We can school her and give her competitive value (I think mounted games would probably be the way to go for her) and she catches fine for my son. She’s from the same stud one of our others came from - who is also sensitive, gets bullied in the field and had a tricky start, yet is now the most perfect pony ever.

So yes I want to offer £200 (because it’s likely we’d only ever loan her out not sell) but doubt that would be accepted. £400?

 

[Sandstone1]

Not a lot with sweetitch....

 

[tda]

I have seen that people will take on a kids pony with SI if everything else is perfect for their child, so could be doable but will never be decent money

 

[wills_91]

They should be biting your hand off at the offer of a good long term home. If not whatever you see fit and it's nobody's business. Let us know when she's home and how she turns out....

 

[Roxylola]

Yeah I think 400 is reasonable - people spend that on game consoles etc for their kids

 

[stormox]

Sweet itch would make it a no no. Very hard to manage successfully

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I suggest starting low and continuing upwards as far as you feel comfortable until they accept, if you want to give the pony a chance.

 

[eahotson]

Thanks all. I don’t think she’s worth anything really. I mean, I have a sweet little 3 year old with perfect temperament, good health, athletic ability, brilliant in traffic etc and I am well aware she is only worth £1k at a push. So this one… nope.

BUT

Every pony deserves a chance. I don’t think the traffic issues are fixable much beyond where they are now, but the rest is. We can school her and give her competitive value (I think mounted games would probably be the way to go for her) and she catches fine for my son. She’s from the same stud one of our others came from - who is also sensitive, gets bullied in the field and had a tricky start, yet is now the most perfect pony ever.

So yes I want to offer £200 (because it’s likely we’d only ever loan her out not sell) but doubt that would be accepted. £400?

I think £200 is very fair.I would bite your hand off for that.

 

[I'm Dun]

Without the sweet itch I'd have said 600. Anything like that concerns me though - I've seen horses rub absolutely raw and then some with it. I'm not sure I'd take one on at any price knowingly, but I'd certainly knock some more off my original offer

I'd never have one again its so stressful managing them and seeing how uncomfortable they can get

 

[Nonjumper]

Honestly, I wouldn't pay anything to take on a pony like that. A Section A that "isn't a kids pony" is pretty much useless outside of an ornament, and ornaments with ranging sweet itch ... that's a solid pass from me.

 

[maya2008]

I'd never have one again its so stressful managing them and seeing how uncomfortable they can get

I’ve had one pony or another with sweet itch for 20 odd years. Doesn’t bother me much - decent rug (all year round if necessary), spray when ridden, access to shelter or kind friends to swat away the midges, electric fencing so any itching is on a friend/the ground and doesn’t break the skin. My main complaint is the horrid scurfy coat it gives. Does reduce value though and needs an appropriate setup.

Honestly, I wouldn't pay anything to take on a pony like that. A Section A that "isn't a kids pony" is pretty much useless outside of an ornament, and ornaments with ranging sweet itch ... that's a solid pass from me.

Hence wanting to get her good at a job of some kind so she can find a good loan home when outgrown here.

To give context, our other pony from same stud arrived here having failed at backing with a giant ejector seat button. Took a year to fully remove that instinct. Two years on, she’s gently and kindly teaching my nervous daughter to jump courses, babying her as needed so her confidence grows and she wants to jump bigger and bigger. She’ll take a tiny child on lead or carefully off, and a baby could crawl under her feet she’s so gentle in hand. A thousand times worth the work we put in, and worth her weight in gold!

 

[nagblagger]

I go against the grain here, but I would buy her,(£200) but look at the calibre of my equines so my opinion doesn't mean much

 

[JenJ]

Thanks all. I don’t think she’s worth anything really. I mean, I have a sweet little 3 year old with perfect temperament, good health, athletic ability, brilliant in traffic etc and I am well aware she is only worth £1k at a push. So this one… nope.

BUT

Every pony deserves a chance. I don’t think the traffic issues are fixable much beyond where they are now, but the rest is. We can school her and give her competitive value (I think mounted games would probably be the way to go for her) and she catches fine for my son. She’s from the same stud one of our others came from - who is also sensitive, gets bullied in the field and had a tricky start, yet is now the most perfect pony ever.

So yes I want to offer £200 (because it’s likely we’d only ever loan her out not sell) but doubt that would be accepted. £400?

Given what you've said in later posts, £200 seems like a fair gamble. Good luck with her, can't wait to see you post an update in a year's time

 

[paddy555]

I would pay as little as you can get away with but as much as you have to.
I would see it as a training experience for your lad. If that turns out either good or bad it could be invaluable.
£400 doesn't buy much for a child nowadays.

 

[twiggy2]

I would offer £200 and leave the offer open if thats qhat you happy to pay.

 

[nagblagger]

I would offer, but don't allow your son to do any more work on her. You said he can catch her so at the moment he is improving her manners, and you buying the rug will make her look better for other buyers putting up her value

 

[Melody Grey]

£200 is fair. I doubt would fetch more than that as a gamble at the sales and at least you know what you’re letting yourselves in for.