Yet another sad/frustrating ad

asmp

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I know there have been loads of threads recently about ads that raise your blood pressure but just seen one on a local site ?. Started off sounding like a nice pony and went on to say lightly backed and ridden by a child. THEN it said will turn 3 in the spring.
 
Pony will have come to no harm. I started a couple of mine off at this age when we had a suitably small jockey. The ponies were no trouble to break, since they followed their field mates' lead and were totally relaxed.
Much better than lunging, loose-schooling, or racing as a start for a youngster.
 
I’ve seen another today which makes me sad. A 27 year old horse free to a good home. It’s due to owners i’ll health apparently, but it’s a nice horse and I can just imagine it up for sale as a 10 year old all rounder in a couple of weeks ?

Yesterday I saw a post of a 7 month old cob foal being lunged. The owner said he’ll be amazing when he gets shoes on in a few months ?
 
Back in 1975 I sold a nice PB welsh yearling to someone who was setting up a yard and buying youngsters to bring on. I was horrified to see him advertised at the National Pony Society sale the next summer described as having been professionally broken that winter and lightly brought on since. Putting a light child up on a 2yr old pony just to get it accustomed to a rider is one thing but this was beyond reasonable.
 
Selling/passing on old horses is, in my opinion, a very mixed bag for both horse and humans.
I'm old. My horse is old. Apart from light work (30/45 mins walk/trot 2-3 times a week, which keeps both of us going) we're doing pretty well.
However, he behaves and looks at least 10 years younger, and is very showy.
He would quickly break down if asked to do more than he is currently doing.
His arthritis, ulcers and random taking off whilst ridden would (probably) return and all the investigations, treatments, supplements etc would (probably) be of no benefit to him or his owner.
I believe that arranging for an old horse to be quietly pts when they are no longer comfortable in body and/or mind is the best gift that an owner can bring them.
 
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