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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

What can dd do about this? The answer is probably nothing, but I thought I'd ask, just in case I've missed anything.

15 replies

seeker · 31/07/2011 15:42

She is 15. She has a lovely pony she adores kept at working livery (we can't afford the time or money for anything else,a nd we are very happy with the arrangement). The problem is that she feels she has plateaued with her riding. Pony is 17, and had some problems when dd got her which she had worked to iron out for the past 2 years and she is now a super little thing - happily jumping a 2ft9 course at a show, doing well in dressage, happy to hack out - and dd is largely responsible for how she is (previous owner was a point and shoot speed merchant!) The problem is that she isn't a challenge any more - she's now a maintainance exercise and dd is missing the challenge. Does that make sense? She still adores her, but she is itching for challenge. We can't afford to get her another horse, and selling current pony is not an option. Is there anything I might have missed?

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Lucyinthepie · 31/07/2011 17:34

You could find a loaner for the pony and then your DD would be free to move on, maybe loan a horse herself. However, loans can and do go horribly wrong, so you need a proper loan agreement (downloadable from the BHS website) and you need to visit your pony regularly and be prepared to whip her back immediately if you start to be concerned.
If the place where she is on working livery really like her, maybe they would take her on full loan.

marialuisa · 31/07/2011 17:38

Does the riding schoolyou keep the pony at have much of a turnover of horses or take in horses for schooling? If so could she volunteer to help out with the schooling work to help her develop further whilst still enjoying her own pony?

seeker · 31/07/2011 19:29

She does ride for the owner of the school, but the horses coming in are usually pretty much schooled and ready for work. We're thinking about loaning pony out, but are reluctant really - she's an elderly lady and deserves some security after a troubled life. I think it,s an impossible situation to be honest. If we were rich we could buy her a youngster to bring on, but short of winning the lottery that's not an option!

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marialuisa · 31/07/2011 21:09

If pony is working livery is there a younge child/teen who might like to lone her subject to her being kept on the same yard to help with costs? Would be a safe way of testing the waters for parents thinking of making the leap and pony (and you) get the security. You could then get a project for DD but only have the cost of keep for one. A friend's DD has just taken on a Blue Cross pony as a project so avoided the cost of buying another one (bank of mum and dad closed!) .

Otherwise can DD put the word out that she's happy to ride for people? If she's petite there are always small youngsters that benefit from having someone else school them-like our dpony for example.

molliemol · 31/07/2011 21:35

I would say offering to ride for other people would be a good way forward. There must be plenty of people who have youngsters, who maybe don't have the time to school them properly. My old pony had ten years on loan at a lovely riding school, and we had him back for his retirement at about 22, till he was put to sleep at thirty. It worked really well for us, but I suppose you have to be quite lucky with who has your pony on loan. There are lots of younsters on th emarket at the moment, a lot of which are not reaching very high prices, if your daughter was able to get another one.

Mirage · 31/07/2011 21:51

I'd second what the other posters have said about putting her out on loan.There are a lot of people out there looking for a 'been there done that pony',and as long as you are careful who she goes to,it could be a good move.

Young and project horses seem to be going very cheaply at present,or maybe it might be worth putting an ad on preloved offering her services riding for other people.A friend of mine does that for a living and has people queuing up for her-she is small but tough,so is ideal for 'problem' ponies.

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 31/07/2011 22:33

17 is not old! She just reached middle age. Dpony could easily have another 10 good years in her. Put her out on loan, you could specify her staying at her current yard so you can keep an eye on her.

seeker · 01/08/2011 07:39

I wish I was rich!!!!!!!!

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seeker · 01/08/2011 07:40

Maybe the thing to do is to let her have a foal............

(don't worry, not being serious!)9

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frostyfingers · 01/08/2011 08:41

Riding for the Disabled are worth a try although I don't know their criteria - ask at your local pony club - ponies like yours are worth their weight in gold. You don't have to be rich, there are lots of youngsters around, but you do have to be careful. I've always rather fancied the idea of buying a young horse from a well known auction place local to us, but you do need to be confident and experienced and it may be too soon for your daughter.

I always think word of mouth is a great way of advertising - ask people at your yard if they've any ideas or suggestions and that you're "in the market" so to speak. The only thing I would say is don't rush into anything, the right horse and owner will be out there somewhere!

dappleton · 01/08/2011 11:37

I'd second what the other posters have said, a good loan home for your pony would free you up to afford a new horse for your daughter. If she could stay at the yard you're in at the moment that would be even better as you would still see her every day.
If your budget is limited to purchase a new horse and you want a 'project horse' for your daughter perhaps consider Moorcroft, you'll get a horse with all the basics in place but one that will be far form the finished product which will provide a good challenge for your daughter without plunging totally into the unknown.

galonthefarm · 02/08/2011 23:15

depending on how confident your dd is, it may be worthwhile looking at an ex-racehorse charity. I am on ex-racer no.2 after retired no.1 at 25, and I got him when I was 16 and got on really well with him, and they're both fabulous to look after. If she has support and facilities at the riding school it may be an option to think about.

seeker · 03/08/2011 08:07

Thank you everyone! Well, we just might have found a solution. There's a possibility someone at our yard might take a half share of Spirit - and simultaneously there's someone at a nearby yard that wants someone to take a half share in a 'bit of a handful"- bizarrely another grey Arab! Fingers crossed!

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Mirage · 03/08/2011 08:26

Great news-these things have a way of working themselves out.Keep us posted.

olderyetwider · 05/08/2011 08:50

Sounds perfect seeker! Good luck to dd, best of both worlds!

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