Should we buy this horse??

[newme2014]

So we are looking for a pony for dd1 who is 13 (after having to sell 1st pony which was most definitely not a 1st pony!!!) Seen 2 perfect ponies which turned out not to be after seeing them ( 1st cribbed and had had ulcers and 2nd had had 2 sarcoids as a 4 year old)

We were advised by our vet to keep looking. So we saw a beautiful horse on Sunday which ticked every box and dd loved him so all good.
Except his tail is held to the left hand side. She said it's just a habit and she'd had his back checked and it was fine.
I want to believe her...but she wants a lot of £££ so do i get a chiro to check him? Just do the stage 5 vetting ( had planned to anyway) and trust that a vet will be able to see any problems with the horse or just walk away and keep looking?

The thought of starting to look yet again is so depressing especially as he's lovely to ride and look at apart from the tail thing. Oh and if she starts competing will his tail being to one side be an issue.

Sorry to sound so dim but i am not into horses at all and I don't know as much as you lovely lot so excuse my stupidity!!

[glovesonstrings]

Does the horse hold the tail to the side all the time, or only when she goes into trot?

[Dizzybacon]

I would def get a chiro to look at him. My TB was 2/10 lame for weeks, poulticing and box rest didn't help. Vet wanted to go down the X-ray route. My farrier suggested it wasn't in her feet, legs etc so I got the chiro out. Horse had a twisted wither that the vet didn't spot (didn't expect them to, to be fair) and after two sessions she was sound again.

So I'm guessing the point I'm making is, have the vetting but also get a chiro out. It's not expensive, I pay about £45 a session

[DressageMummy]

There are many reasons why a horse would carry their tail off to one side. Sometimes breed related such as Arabs. Tails to one side wouldn't be an issue in anything I'm aware of but I don't do the showing scene so you'd need to check there. It's always good to vet any horse or pony you're about to buy.

[newme2014]

Many thanks. Have arranged a vetting for this Friday and have spoken to a chiro re having him checked. He seemed to carry his tail to the left all the time?
Oh I thought a chiro would be way more expensive than that. Did her tail hang normally once she was sound again Dizzybacon?

[glovesonstrings]

If you point it out to the vet they will investigate when they do the vetting. Good luck!

[Butkin1]

Its definitely a buyers market. I've got a lovely Section B pony for sale (been to HOYS and RIHS and is gorgeous in every way) but despite having him on Horsequest for 2 months haven't had one enquiry. Other friends have found the same thing with their lovely ponies.

I'd say that if you're not completely happy walk away - there are loads of lovely animals out there.

What sort of pony are you buying for your 13yo DD? My DD is 14 and she's got two connemaras and we've just bought her a 14.2 Show Pony. I'm slightly worried about your use of the word horse but maybe you mean pony?

[newme2014]

I’ll see what comes from the vetting. He’s just shy of 15hh Butkin. DD is 5ft 2in already with legs up to her neck and is probably going to grow lots more judging by her brothers. We have tried out a few 14.2’s but she didn’t click with any of them and this one she did.
Her loan pony she had was 15hh too and she did really well with him.
Do you think it’s wrong to be buying something that big? I do find all the horse stuff a minefield.

[Butkin1]

No that sounds fine.. Generally on MN people seem to over horse their children but a tall 13yo should be able to grown into a 15 hander without a problem. Depends on breed of course..

Good luck in your search - keep your eyes on Horsequest as new ones going on the market all the time and many desperate to move on before organising Winter stabling.

[UrsulaPandress]

I personally wouldn't have thought that sarcoids at 4 would have ruled a horse out.

[newme2014]

Buutkin1 phew!! She’s a really good wee rider (so I’m told)

Ursula really? I so wanted him and so did my daughter but our vet was really negative about him. Wish I’d come on for advice before.

[Pinkponiesrock]

I'd have taken the one that cribs with ulcers over sarcoids, juvenile warts is fine but sarcoids can spread and be very aggressive. Treatment of them is no guarantee that they won't return.
Tail to the side I don't think would definitely indicate and issue but I must say it is one of those things that you do notice and it'll be someone's pet hate. I certainly wouldn't discount a pony due to it though.

[Backinthebox]

"Its definitely a buyers market. I've got a lovely Section B pony for sale (been to HOYS and RIHS and is gorgeous in every way) but despite having him on Horsequest for 2 months haven't had one enquiry. Other friends have found the same thing with their lovely ponies."

Really? I advertised mine last week on Facebook and Pony Club site and he sold in less than a week to the first people who enquirer about him, but I got a dozen enquiries in that week and am still getting emails and texts about him now even though the advert says Sold. I put him on at a price my friend (who is a dealer) suggested. I thought it quite a lot of money, but she asssured me he would get the price and he did. He's advertised as a hunting pony, at the start of the hunting season. It might not be such a good time to sell a show pony.

OP I am a big fan of keeping children on ponies, but have just bought a 14hh for my 10 year old, and looking at her I cannot imagine how she is going to stay on him for more than a couple of years (little brother can have him then!) She already does not look out of place sizewise on my 15.1hh cob, although she doesn't have the strength yet to really ride him. How on earth did we stay on ponies till we were 16?

[Pinkponiesrock]

I'm well over 16 and still on a 14hh pony
At pony club and in to my early twenties I did ride big horses, 16.2/16.3 but after having children I went back to ponies. It's always been M&Ms I've ridden and it's mainly adults that ride the large breeds(majority are still under 14.2 though) so it feels totally normal to me.

[glovesonstrings]

I regularly ride ponies of14-2 down to 13hh. I’m a massive pony fan. I ca t understand the need to buy bigger and bigger horses

[krustykittens]

I'm 44, 5' 6", leggy and ride a 14.2 highland! He is a full up type and his barrel takes up my leg. My 13 year old daughter has a 13.2 cob who would jump the moon for her and I don't think I will be able to get her off her as long as the mare is happy to carry her. Big barreled ponies with a bit of bone can hoover up a lot of leg! My kids get a lot of stick for riding ponies but they don't care!

[krustykittens]

And in answer to your original question, we have a mare that carries her tail to one side every time she does something faster than walk. I think it is one of quirks, like me poking my tongue out when I am concentrating.

[newme2014]

We have seen lots of ponies between 14 and 14.2 who were ok and a couple that were not but this just happened to be the one that she really loved and she rode him really well. I’d happily see her on a pony or a horse.
That’s good to hear krustykitttens. Fingers crossed the vetting goes how we want it to tomorrow or we will cry!!!

[glovesonstrings]

How did the vetting go?

[newme2014]

He passed a stage 5 with flying colours. Vet said he was a lovely genuine horse and she said she was tempted to fail him and go back to buy him for herself so feeling reassured today. She said there are no issues with hind legs or his back ( that she can see) and he moved well and showed no signs of pain or discomfort when ridden or when she was touching him.

So we are now the proud owners of a new lovely boy!! Dd’s Are absolutely over the moon so will be celebrating tonight! Thanks ladies. Advice was very much appreciated. Will be off to look for manly rugs etc at the weekend.

[krustykittens]

That is fantastic news! I hope your DDs have lots of fun with him!

[glovesonstrings]

Wonderful news!

[newme2014]

It is very exciting stuff but I need to look into rigging etc. Our only other pony was a Fjord who only has a tiny amount of chaff in the evening and wasn’t ever rugged so it’s all new.

Probably best to just ask the owner for a list of what she does and of what she gives him. Our transport is looking at Thursday or Friday next week unless he can squeeze him in earlier. Can’t wait!!!

[glovesonstrings]

My pony advice would be - keep his food simple. Hay and turnout and molasses free chaff if he really needs it. Under rug rather than over rug, better a bit chilly than too hot.

[newme2014]

Thank you glovesonstrings for the advice. Much appreciated.

[Scabbersley]

Definitely under rather than over feed in the first few months. Good luck with him!

I wouldn't touch a horse with sacrcoids as I've seen some absolutely shocking cases.