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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you accept an invite to a pony care party?

83 replies

Playingcatch · 13/10/2018 19:23

This has come off the paint a pony thread. We have an older pony. He adores people and is very gentle. Loves children. I am struggling to pay his stabling costs at the moment for various reasons and have been trying to think for a way to balance the books. I’ve had him for 20 years so don’t really want to rehome him. (Think it might actually break my heart tbh). Do you think there is a market for a few children to come along. Teach them how to care for a pony, groom him, much out, feed etc. Then show them how to put a saddle on etc then each get a little ride. Or does that sound a bit dull for a party? How would you feel if your dc got this kind of invite?

OP posts:

JockTamsonsBairns · 13/10/2018 20:38

What the hell is a "pony painting party"? It cannot possibly be literally painting a pony, as in applying brush strokes to the horse? I suppose it could be painting pictures of a pony, but that doesn't sound much like a fun party activity

MakeAHouseAHome · 13/10/2018 20:39

^yep it is as stupid as it sounds.

Shampoo0 · 13/10/2018 20:42

How about just a home party and show your pony to her friends instead of planning to do stuff to the pony? My daughter would enjoy that.

RandomMess · 13/10/2018 20:44

My DD did this as a birthday treat with either 1 or 3 guests- I can't remember now! I think just the one friend they loved it.

Shampoo0 · 13/10/2018 20:44

Sorry, half asleep, thought you meant non commercial party

FlotSHAMnJetson · 13/10/2018 20:44

If you can't afford livery costs you can't afford the insurance.

Look at retirement livery in a gentle herd environment.

Goldmandra · 13/10/2018 20:47

Loaning a pony who has earned his right to retirement

20 isn't that old! Assuming he is healthy, being a part-loaned to a child who would come and ride him round a field or hack him out a few times a week wouldn't be too taxing.

buscaution · 13/10/2018 20:51

20 isn't that old! Assuming he is healthy, being a part-loaned to a child who would come and ride him round a field or hack him out a few times a week wouldn't be too taxing.

The OP didn't say the point was 20. They said they had him for 20 years, so unless they had the pint from birth, I was guessing towards mid twenties at the very least.

Loaning to a beginner, as was suggested, is an awful thing to do to a pony who has done his job.

tempester28 · 13/10/2018 20:52

What breed is the pony? can he live out year round? if so how about advertising him as company for someone who only has one horse. I have been out of the horse world for some years now so dont know if it is still something that is done, but people who had one horse and their own field/small yard used to advertise for an old pony that would live out with their horse. You could look for an arrangement like this, put your own add out.

I think parties are a no no in my opinion - although I know children would enjoy them. Another group of children that would really benefit from grooming a pony ect. are those with special/emotional needs. You could approach a special needs school or disabled riding group and work with a few kids through them. I think though that the regulations and insurance requirements might make it not viable unless you can work with a school that can cover your insurance requirements.

Don't put the pony down.

wrenika · 13/10/2018 20:57

I think that the liability and insurance aspect would make this too expensive to be a feasible means of bringing in funds. Any chance you could loan him out as a field companion? May not get anyone needing a companion pony but you never know. If he's still fit enough for light riding he may be suitable for loaning to a kid but if he's getting on in years it may be unfair...it depends on the pony.
Honestly, I'd put down an old pony if I couldn't afford him anymore. I don't think it's moral to attempt to sell them at that age. He's given you his life for 20 years, so you need to do what's right by him.

Prinstress · 13/10/2018 21:03

I took my DD to something like this at a local stables and while she loved it the poor ponies were entirely miserable, I wouldn't go back.

perfectstorm · 13/10/2018 21:04

How old is he, OP?

Evergreentree · 17/10/2018 21:13

There’s an awful lot of pony ageism on this thread! One of mine is 25 and still in full time work. The vet says he’s so well because he does regular exercise. We have loads of ponies on our yard in full time work up to 30. And some of them attend pony club and come to life doing pony club games! Age is just a number, if they are fit and healthy and love what they do its marvellous to keep them happy and busy rarther than those poor sods who are just field ornaments!

And to those who say kill him as she’s struggling with the costs, never heard anything like it! We all go through lean times. The family that run our yard have let some people pause their bill if they loose their job or their husband leaves etc. Lots of people struggle from time to time!

buscaution · 17/10/2018 21:28

Keeping an older horse in work isn't the same as loaning one out to a beginner though.

Findingdotty · 17/10/2018 21:32

I don’t think it’s a party thing. I think it’s more of a half term/one day workshop type thing.

Berniethefastestmilkwoman · 17/10/2018 21:37

Haven't read the thread but my DCs would love the party you describe. One of them would consider this the best possible party. You would have to ensure the pony wasn't swamped with kids but could easily bring them over to groom him in pairs whilst the others played party games.

Ploppymoodypants · 17/10/2018 21:39

How big is he? If under 12.2hh I would advertise for a part loan. To an experienced parent with a novice young child who wants to come and groom him after school and ride at weekends and maybe potter about at a pony club rally.
None of that is taxing for a small elderly pony. He will barely notice a small 4 or 5 year old on board and it will give him some attention and an interest. You could probably charge £20 a week and ask that they have their own public liability insurance and insist he stays at your yard. You would also get help with yard duties then.
If he is a bigger then obviously it will be tricker to find someone who is happy to just bob around the lanes for 20 minutes and he might find an over enthusiastic teenager a bit much.
Mind you when I was 10 I had a 27 year old 12.2hh and he was good to go for years.

Santaclarita · 17/10/2018 22:17

Don't loan him. Can't see the problem with the party idea though as long as you have insurance and keep the parties small.

I knew someone who had two horses and brought them along to a fun day at a community hall. One horse was doing carriage rides and one was doing pony rides. It was great, both horses were very well behaved and neither were small horses, although the one doing rides was a smaller con. That was a busy day too, they did lots of rides and enjoyed it.

My horse could never manage it as he thinks once you get off, that's it, no more work and he gets fed, so he gets grumpy if another person gets on. Doesn't behave bad, but it's outside of his routine so I get glared at.

Gaspodethetalkingdog · 17/10/2018 22:32

Do not hand him over to people you do not know - horrible things happen to horses, there are thousands of horses out there needing homes he is old and does not deserve this. If you cannot afford him it is better to be put down. You don’t want to find him starving in a field in 6 months time. Hard but true

Goldmandra · 17/10/2018 23:43

Keeping an older horse in work isn't the same as loaning one out to a beginner though.

If he's still healthy, a part loan, keeping him on his home yard to a family with a small child just starting out would be fine. He wouldn't need to do much more than be groomed and walk round a field a couple of times a week.

I wouldn't suggest a more advanced or older rider, a full loan or moving yards.

IzzyGrey · 18/10/2018 02:35

Yes I would.

hooveringhamabeads · 18/10/2018 02:59

I don’t think the idea of a pony party is really a goer with just one pony, it wouldn’t be fair on the pony or the children. Dd2 went to a pony party where the ratio was one pony to 2 or 3 children, and they groomed and then had a gymkhana in the indoor school, followed by birthday tea in the club room. I think a party with just one pony would be a bit crap, tbh. And yes, insurance would be very expensive and would probably outweigh any profit you’d make.

Loaning him out would be the best option, as long as it was to the right home. We have had an amazing pony on loan for 3 years, she is an absolute angel and has taught dd2 so much. She was 25 when we got her, but sadly now at 28 she is too old to ride, so the owners are having her back.

I know you’d like to keep him, but if you haven’t got the money it would be kindest to find him a good loan home.

Santaclarita · 18/10/2018 06:22

I wouldn't suggest a more advanced or older rider, a full loan or moving yards.

You don't know for certain though that they won't try to do more advanced stuff with the pony, assuming he will be OK. Owners often loan their horses to who they believe are well meaning people only to find their horse abused. I wouldn't take the risk on an old pony especially. He's done his job, he gets an easy life now.

KC225 · 18/10/2018 06:38

My children has their first ride at the Shetlandponyclub.co.uk it was a pony experience for their third birthday. They got a little talk, they had to brush the pony choose a saddle (fleece type with stirrups) choose a helmet and then they got a short walk across a field. When they got back they had to get the pony a drink and a snack. Take everything off and put it away and give the pony another brush. They loved it. It was very supervised and the owner was tellung us the Shetland ponies are meticulously selected as in general they can be on the grumpy/nippy side of nature.

You know your pony. I think a birthday party with lots of children may be a lot but maybe offering an experience for a couple of children interested in horses could be an idea. Maybe those sponsoring/adoption things they do in zoos. Certificate, photo opprotuntiy to come and have a ride, give the pony a snack. That could be a lovely gift for a child for Christmas and a way of generating a few pounds.

Beaverhausen · 18/10/2018 06:49

Have you considered having pony care classes every saturday and Sunday for example and not a party? You would be able to make the money from them as they are in great demand and far and between.

Here by us it is £10 per child and they learn everything they need too about the care of ponies or horses. Plus you get help in cleaning out the stable etc :).

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