Where have all the true pc ponies gone?

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Colline

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I'm currently helping a friend look for a pc pony for her 8yr old daughter. Ideally a kick to go sort who could turn his (yes must be a gelding) hoof to anything. Full up 12.2 a must and a height cert preferable. Min age 7/8 max age 14. Search area is pretty much anywhere south of m4 but ideally Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon etc. Have tried pc website without much success. If anyone knows of anything suitable please let me know as we are fed up of making calls about ponies who look ideal in adverts only to find they aren't what it says on the tin so to speak!
 
Bugger....we're just about to advertise a little 12.3/13hh mare properly now but she's 5/6 and a mare I'm afraid! She's started drag hunting [stays at back, not strong or silly at all!], jumps, hacks, etc and is safe as houses. Happy to whizz up and jump 2ft9/3ft or equally happy to pootle round quietly with a novice! So if anyone knows of anyone wanting this sort.... I know of one! ;)
 
I think the reason they are hard to find is that if they are that good and honest and have done such a good job for a family espcially with 2 or 3 kids and brought them up they end up staying there as pets as it is too heartbreaking to let them go, and you kind of owe it to them to give them a good retirement for that!! Why must it be a gelding?? My first couple of gelding ( we loaned, could afford to buy) were absolute *****s!! But when we bought our mare (she was 14.2hh) she was the best most consistent clever winning machine that looked after us better than my own mother!! ( I like mares)
 
Best PC allrounder we've owned was a hugely too big 13.2hh ancient gelding. He was a superstar and gave my tiny little sister an amazing time- took her to senior camp, round every XC track going up to 3' and went hunting with immaculate manners. He was no looker, with an old-man belly and dippy back. But he had the kindest eyes and nicest outlook going.

Don't limit your search- even for showing, I reckon a few good years on an old faithful is far better than a flashy show pony!
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She then moved on to a 12.2hh WHP type, and looked about right on her! Red gave her the best start imaginable.

Ponies like that come through word of mouth though, as soon as news went out that Al was moving off him the phone didn't stop ringing with people desperate for him!
 
My friend wants the daughter to have as long as possible with the pony - they already have a 11.3/12 hand pony who is more
A l/r pony. A height cert would be ideal as you get asked for them over here.
 
Presumably if you want it to have a height certificate you are wanting more than an average kick-to-go Pony Club pony - do you want it to be good enough to show as well? Obviously that narrows the field and ups the price if so!
 
Having spoken to my friend it turns out she would consider a mare. It would only do "local" showing, pc/riding club and our local BSJA nursery classes (please don't think BS on a UK scale). They run to BS rules etc but do ask for height certs. We are not based on the mainland so a trip over will cost in the region of £400 for the 3 of us which as you will all appreciate adds considerably to the cost of a pony!
 
I also appreciate that the good ponies usually always go by word of mouth I was just hoping someone may know of something that isn't yet advertised etc.
 
Quite a few of these going about up here.. Check out scothorse or scottish and northern equestrian, i know its a long wayaway but might be worth it!
 
Usually good pony club ponies get passed around a pony club group/attendees . So it might be worth asking at a club to see if anyone has outgrown a pony?
I have known people ask at rallies ie after watching ponies perform and have approached owners directly etc
Good luck
 
I too would say that I like mares.

I would also look at up too 13 hh. The kids do not grow out of them as quick. Esp. if she/he is 8 at the moment. My daughter and sons have 13.2 hh ponies, and they are in their teens now, they were riding them from about 8-9yrs.
 
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