ihatework
Well-Known Member
That makes a lot of sense
World Horse Welfare request
- Thread starter Burnerbee
- Start date
reynold
Well-Known Member
I'm another like bluehorse that has a WHW unridden companion pony who will have been with me for 6 years this coming january.
I applied through the online adoption process and had picked out one of the listed companion horses as I can no longer ride but still wanted to stay in 'horsey' circles. I also didn't want to own another horse as I didn't want to lumber my OH with that to deal with after my death. When anything happens to me WHW will take back my loan pony.
Following my application I got a followup phone call and during discussions I made it plain that I would not consider under any circumstances a coloured cob. The horse I had applied for had already been taken up but I said I liked Welshies and was told that there was one due to be listed that fitted my requirements (size, age, etc) but she was nervous and had come back into them after a previous failed loan.
I took her on without her ever having been listed - so as discussed above that does happen but I'd had no previous contact with WHW and certainly don't have £££s. I wouldn't say she was specifically 'one of the better ones'. However I first had to go to their centre to 'meet' her and have my horse-handling competence assessed (despite having BHS qualifications) before being allowed to have her.
Being retired I have time and am lucky OH pays for the basic livery for me as he saw how I deteriorated after retirement both physically and mentally. I also have a lot of experience teaching young foals I bred things like picking feet up, grooming, etc., and it turned out my WHW pony really was like having a 14 year old 'foal'.
In due course before covid she arrived with me - she's at part livery - and at 14 knew nothing very much. WHW had done a bit of prep work with her - getting her used to loading and she had a full vet checkup before arrival, was wormed and feet trimmed.
It turned out that yes, she knew about having feet picked out - but it was a struggle (plenty of welshie 'attitude'). Grooming was 'interesting' and touching parts of her, such as ears, made it plain that she'd been twitched there in the past. Introducing her to sprays, etc. also took time but after putting in the effort - as with all animals - I'm reaping the rewards.
I've now got a very affectionate and loving pony (she knew nothing about treats but does now!) who doesn't blink at any sprays, holds her feet up ready in the right order for picking out and is a joy to 'own'.
The 'nervous' description attached to her by WHW is very true though. Even after 6 years she'll still jump violently at things/people she doesn't know or feel comfortable with. That's partly welshie 'hotness' but also relates to stuff in her past and she's not going to change now. She has to be sedated for teeth to be done as an example and held for the farrier. She's never naughty or needle shy - just obviously wary/a bit scared.
She's 100% sound (she will lunge off a headcollar, loose school and goes on a walker happily at 'horse' speed as being a typical welsh she has a lot of forward energy and a good length of stride).
I can though quite understand that in these times people just don't have the time/money to take on mainly unridden horses, especially with the 'long working hours' culture of most employers these days. I do strongly believe though that too many of these 'coloured cobs' are being 'saved' by charities with the charity resources being increasingly scarce.
It is plain that there is not much appetite for such health compromised (and possibly previously abused) ponies to be taken on loan and with vet fees now astronomical for even the regular things such as worming and annual jabs perhaps it is time to say 'time' to some of the horses that are in charity care.
I applied through the online adoption process and had picked out one of the listed companion horses as I can no longer ride but still wanted to stay in 'horsey' circles. I also didn't want to own another horse as I didn't want to lumber my OH with that to deal with after my death. When anything happens to me WHW will take back my loan pony.
Following my application I got a followup phone call and during discussions I made it plain that I would not consider under any circumstances a coloured cob. The horse I had applied for had already been taken up but I said I liked Welshies and was told that there was one due to be listed that fitted my requirements (size, age, etc) but she was nervous and had come back into them after a previous failed loan.
I took her on without her ever having been listed - so as discussed above that does happen but I'd had no previous contact with WHW and certainly don't have £££s. I wouldn't say she was specifically 'one of the better ones'. However I first had to go to their centre to 'meet' her and have my horse-handling competence assessed (despite having BHS qualifications) before being allowed to have her.
Being retired I have time and am lucky OH pays for the basic livery for me as he saw how I deteriorated after retirement both physically and mentally. I also have a lot of experience teaching young foals I bred things like picking feet up, grooming, etc., and it turned out my WHW pony really was like having a 14 year old 'foal'.
In due course before covid she arrived with me - she's at part livery - and at 14 knew nothing very much. WHW had done a bit of prep work with her - getting her used to loading and she had a full vet checkup before arrival, was wormed and feet trimmed.
It turned out that yes, she knew about having feet picked out - but it was a struggle (plenty of welshie 'attitude'). Grooming was 'interesting' and touching parts of her, such as ears, made it plain that she'd been twitched there in the past. Introducing her to sprays, etc. also took time but after putting in the effort - as with all animals - I'm reaping the rewards.
I've now got a very affectionate and loving pony (she knew nothing about treats but does now!) who doesn't blink at any sprays, holds her feet up ready in the right order for picking out and is a joy to 'own'.
The 'nervous' description attached to her by WHW is very true though. Even after 6 years she'll still jump violently at things/people she doesn't know or feel comfortable with. That's partly welshie 'hotness' but also relates to stuff in her past and she's not going to change now. She has to be sedated for teeth to be done as an example and held for the farrier. She's never naughty or needle shy - just obviously wary/a bit scared.
She's 100% sound (she will lunge off a headcollar, loose school and goes on a walker happily at 'horse' speed as being a typical welsh she has a lot of forward energy and a good length of stride).
I can though quite understand that in these times people just don't have the time/money to take on mainly unridden horses, especially with the 'long working hours' culture of most employers these days. I do strongly believe though that too many of these 'coloured cobs' are being 'saved' by charities with the charity resources being increasingly scarce.
It is plain that there is not much appetite for such health compromised (and possibly previously abused) ponies to be taken on loan and with vet fees now astronomical for even the regular things such as worming and annual jabs perhaps it is time to say 'time' to some of the horses that are in charity care.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
I dont think its that. It says unridden several times including a line in capitals about how the horse must never be ridden. Although what you say makes perfect sense.
Mari
Well-Known Member
There’s a reason why they are rescues. I have a lovely rescue pony as do many of my friends.
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
It's only going to get worse with the cost of living, the cost of keep and the loss of many livery yards, perhaps nu.bers need to be thinned. What's so frustrating is that healthy horses are put down like the Peel horses whereas poor quality coloured cobs and those with physical and emotional problems seem to be favoured and "saved" 
Burnerbee
Well-Known Member
OP here. Whilst the little girl in me wants all these animals to live happily until the end of their natural days, the realist says that the climate crisis and accompanying shortages of resources means a) we all have to stop breeding pointless animals b) we have to choose between shooting the animals we don’t want to keep as pets / keep them on the very valid basis there’s more to them than things to ride. Dogs and cats are generally not that useful but we keep them.
cauda equina
Well-Known Member
It depends how you define useful
Dogs and cats are useful because they live with us in our houses and provide companionship
Horses have a different sort of usefulness and generally their care is much more expensive and involved
I would love it if my horses could live in a basket in my house
Dogs and cats are useful because they live with us in our houses and provide companionship
Horses have a different sort of usefulness and generally their care is much more expensive and involved
I would love it if my horses could live in a basket in my house
Crazy_cat_lady
Well-Known Member
sarcasm_queen
Well-Known Member
Dogs and cats cost a fraction of what it takes to keep a horse though. My “in house” pets cost me maybe a hundred or two a month. The horses cost a few thousand on a good month.
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
Perhaps a bit left field, and I know most horse charities won't let you own the horses you adopt, they're on permanent loan (partly why I didn't consider a rescue when I needed a companion), but is it such a bad thing if someone sells on a well brought on, useful, healthy horse they got from a charity. Obviously not all rescues would be suited for this, but if they can't afford the training, etc for ridden horses, is it such a bad thing if some wants to make money from doing it? I know there are a lot of pitfalls, but it's got to be worth considering if it gives the horses the kind of usefulness that get them homes. Perhaps they could be freeze branded with a charity specific symbol, so the charity could be contacted and interfere if they fell on hard times?
Just a thought, but perhaps everyone could gain from a collaboration between charities and good production yards: horses, charities and the yard.
As I said, I wanted to own my companion, so I didn't go via a charity. My Old Lady did need a home following her owner passing, but wasn't a rescue. When my Old Lady goes, the retiree place will be reserved for my ridden horses as they age, so no place for any more "freeloaders" unfortunately.
Just a thought, but perhaps everyone could gain from a collaboration between charities and good production yards: horses, charities and the yard.
As I said, I wanted to own my companion, so I didn't go via a charity. My Old Lady did need a home following her owner passing, but wasn't a rescue. When my Old Lady goes, the retiree place will be reserved for my ridden horses as they age, so no place for any more "freeloaders" unfortunately.
moosea
Well-Known Member
To be fair, more people today suit coloured cobs than suit the welshie type you prefer.
tristars
Well-Known Member
Training even a cob to be a sane, rideable confident mannerly citizen of the horse world takes lots of time and a huge effort, but may make it more likely to find a permanent home if done well
It could be interesting as titchy pony says to farm them out, perhaps even get people to sponsor the training to some extent and give purpose to the funds used, many training yards have already jumps, onsite hacking and are geared up to have potential loaners come and ride, and some have competitions onsite
It's liketwo different things, rescuing and converting the saved horse into something giving it a bigger chance of a normal future and so time consuming, a huge effort
I think any cob who can achieve rideable status would find a home, I know they can be a bit strong to handle but many have wonderful kind natures if started well, they do after all have it in their genes to work with people
You just don't know what they will turn into if only they could get a chance to show what's in them
And a lot of folk overhorse themselves when a motivated cob would be so much more fun for them, generally hardier etc
I have a rescue trotter x cob everyone wanted him done away with, don't bother with him, he's not worth it, talk about kicking the poor little sod when he was down, well now he's bloody wonderful, I've just come in from riding him, he was great
It could be interesting as titchy pony says to farm them out, perhaps even get people to sponsor the training to some extent and give purpose to the funds used, many training yards have already jumps, onsite hacking and are geared up to have potential loaners come and ride, and some have competitions onsite
It's liketwo different things, rescuing and converting the saved horse into something giving it a bigger chance of a normal future and so time consuming, a huge effort
I think any cob who can achieve rideable status would find a home, I know they can be a bit strong to handle but many have wonderful kind natures if started well, they do after all have it in their genes to work with people
You just don't know what they will turn into if only they could get a chance to show what's in them
And a lot of folk overhorse themselves when a motivated cob would be so much more fun for them, generally hardier etc
I have a rescue trotter x cob everyone wanted him done away with, don't bother with him, he's not worth it, talk about kicking the poor little sod when he was down, well now he's bloody wonderful, I've just come in from riding him, he was great
smolmaus
Well-Known Member
I think this might work in an ideal world, again where people could be trusted. In reality rather than getting a horse back from a good, vetted permanent loan home when they can't have them anymore, they will get a horse back after its been through several homes, god knows the quality, god knows how the horse has been treated. If the free horse market could be trusted to treat a horse fairly and kindly throughout its life, rescues would not be so necessary. The ones that make it to a rescue are the lucky ones who get to come off the carousel of home after home, never having the certainty of being treated well. They always have someone looking out for them no matter their monetary value. Even if in practise, no rescue is perfect either.
I don't mind Sadie not being mine on paper. The security of knowing she always has a home waiting is worth a lot to me.
HopOnTrot
Well-Known Member
We had a Blue Cross pony, on loan as a companion but we lightly backed her so my daughter could sit on her (mini Shetland and 2 year old). They wanted to sign her over but I declined as I wanted something a bit bigger.
I’ve had a little look for a ridden horse to re home but couldn’t find a single one (over 13hh!)
I’ve had a little look for a ridden horse to re home but couldn’t find a single one (over 13hh!)
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
Some might say there are way too many dogs about too
But dogs & cats take up a lot less space and don't require their own personal accommodation and I can't remember a time when dog or cat food was hard to come by.Frano
Well-Known Member
I had a fantastic mare on loan from WHW. I would say from experience that a lot don’t appear on the site as they have a waiting list of people looking for horses.
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
But are they getting any decent sized cobs that could potentially make good riding horses for adults? I doubt it, my bet is they're mostly tiny mini cobs.
Any in my (admittedly limited) experience of cobs is that Welshies are a safer bet!
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
Unless they get vet bills. From what I’ve seen dog vet bills can be even more eye watering than horse ones!!
spotty_pony2
Well-Known Member
But are they getting any decent sized cobs that could potentially make good riding horses for adults? I doubt it, my bet is they're mostly tiny mini cobs.
Any in my (admittedly limited) experience of cobs is that Welshies are a safer bet!
I think the problem is with a lot of them if they were rescued as young horses which were still growing and they had been neglected or malnourished it is thought there growth is disrupted and they may never be physically strong enough to carry a rider.
SEL
Well-Known Member
I never had a 2nd thought taking on my old Ardennes as a pet but I had an attachment to him already (he'd been adopted by my Appy) so I think that made a difference. The Appy is herself a pet now but if her arthritis gets too much i still want something with the potential to be ridden as #3 - horses break too easily as it is
tristars
Well-Known Member
My experience of welsh, I've had fair few, is too spooky
Theres a lot of cobs around 13 14 hh mine is 15hh but then they are stronger weight carriers so maybe dont need to be huge but suitable for average adult
and seeing them when first rescued and how they could end up might be very different, mine was a midget a tiny ball of fur with two huge eyes, when i first saw him
Theres a lot of cobs around 13 14 hh mine is 15hh but then they are stronger weight carriers so maybe dont need to be huge but suitable for average adult
and seeing them when first rescued and how they could end up might be very different, mine was a midget a tiny ball of fur with two huge eyes, when i first saw him
But are they getting any decent sized cobs that could potentially make good riding horses for adults? I doubt it, my bet is they're mostly tiny mini cobs.
Any in my (admittedly limited) experience of cobs is that Welshies are a safer bet!
smolmaus
Well-Known Member
This is the bit of the "too many coloured cobs" thing I do agree with. So many are only big enough for children and it makes them so vulnerable to just being passed about or dumped. But I feel the same about minis and shetlands being bred for pets and ??????But are they getting any decent sized cobs that could potentially make good riding horses for adults? I doubt it, my bet is they're mostly tiny mini cobs.
Any in my (admittedly limited) experience of cobs is that Welshies are a safer bet!
There actually weren't any little cobs at the rescue Sadie came from. A few larger ones that were proper big cob crosses but not the typical coloured cob either. The smaller equine rescue here has more toty wee ones but again, not as many as you'd think. The majority of ponies in both places are shetlands or very small 10hh dolly mixture ferals scraped off the side of a mountain (ancestors having been dumped up there). The larger horses are mostly sports horse mixes, draft crosses and TBs. That is just locally tho, I know My Lovely Horse in the south of Ireland has more of a "stereotypical" intake with smaller cobs and sulky racing trotters.
bluehorse
Well-Known Member
I think because I feel that some of the comments were very critical of WHW for not rehoming more horses as ridden prospects. None of us know their stories or their current state of health. They are bin ends, that’s why they’ve ended up there. If you want a riding horse you probably have to buy one. I want a riding horse but my own horse isn’t quite finished yet, and he can never be left alone so he needs a full time companion. I have just taken on a sole use yard so he can live out his life without livery yard restrictions. I don’t have any more thousands than anyone else, quite a lot less actually I would think, I’m a single person so every single penny I spend comes from my own pocket, no one else’s. I’ve just prioritised my own horse’s long term future above my own want to ride at any particular level. If my circumstance change in the future I can get that riding horse and own 3, but that’s not where I am now.
Peglo
Well-Known Member
It’s also how short backed these wee coloured cobs are.
I saw a picture of a very petite girl riding one and she was nowhere near too heavy but there was no room for her. That pony could only really be used for very young children. There seems to be so many ads for these ponies and they are all between 1-5 years old, around 12hh but who’s going to back them or make them useful ponies?
As for shetlands things have improved massively here. There used to be several people trying to get rid of ones for free every week. Everyone must’ve been breeding them but you’re lucky to see several for sale in a year now.
I saw a picture of a very petite girl riding one and she was nowhere near too heavy but there was no room for her. That pony could only really be used for very young children. There seems to be so many ads for these ponies and they are all between 1-5 years old, around 12hh but who’s going to back them or make them useful ponies?
As for shetlands things have improved massively here. There used to be several people trying to get rid of ones for free every week. Everyone must’ve been breeding them but you’re lucky to see several for sale in a year now.
khalswitz
Well-Known Member
for an arthritic light hack?
I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I am just under 100kg, and ride a slightly arthritic 18 year old, so I do exactly what they’re permitting here. But she’s 16.3hh and over 600kg healthy weight (she’s a mostly-ID ISH) with a lot of bone, her arthritis/bone spavin is well under control with joint injections and a joint supplement, and she is in regular but light hacking work (ie 3 mornings a week of around an hour, mainly walking with a few bursts of trotting and maybe a canter if a particular field has no sheep in it, then one longer one of 1.5ish hours at the weekend). So I obviously don’t feel this is a welfare issue. But if that horse is much smaller then I can see the issue.
Similar to Gamebird, with experience at another charity it is likely a combination of this, and of increasingly people treating ridden rescues as ‘not as advertised’ and getting pretty shirty about it if they end up with quirks the charity didn’t identify. Homing as unridden is less liability all round.
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
Yes, people want easy to do companions that will fit in - that's why ex polo ponies are so good!
