New horse/pony hunters support thread - anyone interested?

[bumbleymummy]

I'm currently horse hunting and after seeing quite a few unsuitable ones (sarcoids/lame/crazy/too young/too old/too much of a project) I have finally found one that I really like. 6yo sport horse 16.2 has done wh/xc/sj up to 1m this summer, home bred and has been brought on slowly. She's lovely to ride and I took plenty of videos and I have nods of approval from the people I trust. :) They are coming with me to try her again next weekend and the owner has agreed to a trial period at a local livery yard so I can get her vetted there if all goes well....I'm biting my nails until next weekend! Anyone else out there in the same position? Or can anyone distract me with good/bad tales of their horse/pony hunting experiences?

Thanks frostyfingers.I haven't collected the trailer yet,am waiting for my dad to come with me with his defender.I might be really cheeky and ask if I can borrow the defender as it is only used once a week.That would mean not having to change my car.I nearly bought a Forester years ago,I really like them,but realistically,when we find dd2 her elusive pony,it'll need to tow 2 ponies.Bloomin' ponies!

I've had a response to my ad already,but the pony is in Newmarket,2 hours away.

Hi all - can I join in? I have today just had the OK on the vetting of a 15.3 gypsy cob so all being well she should be with me on Thursday. Very nervous - not had my own horse for 20 years but can't wait and my 13 year old daughter is beside herself.

She is called Francil Alice and is far too good for me but it was love at first sight and I think we will be well suited. She has a beautiful nature and my instructor was impressed so decided it was now or never!

Have to say though, wish I had found her in the summer! Not the best time of year, and seems grim now we have put the clocks back. Our stables aren't finished so hubby has reluctantly converted a bay of the barn - and a very nice job he has done too! I have taken a few days off work to get her settled and start to establish a reationship - I'll keep you posted.

Well our new chap arrived today, he has one seedy toe and is terribly thin, but he has potential! I love a freebie, and a challenge is great too. His lovely owner wanted a nice home for him, she just had him back from a loan home and he's too big for her kids and her pony paddocks.
He seems like he may be just right for our yard, nice and safe, suitable for everyone to have lessons on, knows what he's doing and useful for a spare hack. If I can lose a couple of stone, I'll be able to ride him myself.
He is incredibly sweet as well, he keeps coming over and giving me kisses!

Welcome bellybulger.She sounds just lovely.Let us know how it goes.
Haggy,he sounds a very sweet boy,and it I bet you are looking forward to getting him fattened and fittened up.

We are off to see a loan pony tomorrow,only about 4 miles away thank goodness.Sadly,after seeing unsuitable pony after unsuitable pony and our latest rodeo boy,I've lost all enthusiasm and my confidence in being able to pick a good one.This one has only been with it's current owner for 6 months as the child lost interest and owner has other horses and ponies and needs to cut down on the workload. I'm not optomistic.

Better to me pessimistic I suppose, things can then only get better! the right horse is out there. I often find that you just need to stop looking and wait. The right horse will find you!

Mirage-sorry to hear it's not worked out. There's a 12hh lead rein/first pony for loan on meynell branch site at the moment. I've seen it out and about, never noticed any random bad behaviour?

Well our new boy had a quiet night. Apart from removing everything from the shelf oh his stable and dumping it on the floor and in the water bucket. He had a lovely pail of poo picking glove soup!
Dd is off school today for doctors stuff and is just about to pop on and give him a quiet walk round. He may be thin, but he has to start building muscle not just fat, so he's going to start slow and gentle.

I have just realised though, he is a gelding, an owing to the crustiness of his undercarriage, I'm going to be having my first experience of sheath cleaning!

Urghh! Haggy.I can still remember the feeling of horror when I realised I'd have to do that if we had a gelding.I had no idea at all,especially that you could by products to 'soften' crusty bits.Oh yuck yuck yuck!

see if he will let you nibble the bigger flakes off?

definitely shopping for that mythical beast - the 14.2 any age breed sex colour that can carry adult or child, jump and HUNT and be nice to farriers and knows how to do standing still and hacks with and without company, good doer but not prone to laminitis, loves loading onto lorries or trailers, lives out, lets me snog them

Tenderly did you really just say that??
eeewww!

what, snogging them? It annoys me they squirm away. Why have such kissable faces then?

marialuisa-that pony has been for sale for a while now,hasn't it? I really want to loan this time,but thank you,she looks and sounds lovely,just what we want otherwise.

No, it we the nibbling off the larger flakes that made me reach!

haha

it's grim isn't it, feel sick now myself

I'm starting to worry about you!

Ere, there isn't anyone over your way who might want my lead rein/driving Shetland on loan is there? She just came back because her loaners other horse is being a twat, and I'm going to advertise her!

you KNOW my daughter is obsessed with having a Shetland to pull things!

does she live out? the only thing is how could we ever Shetland-proof a field at new place? Is it Tiny? I loved her!

It is tiny, she will live out, and you just need 3 or 4 strands of well electrified tape. She on Starvation rations when she gets home, she is like a hippo!

I will ask today about possibility of screening off a bit for her, would she be ok on own but with others nearby, adjoining?

I sort of need recent events to die down a bit too though, horse was mad yesterday and destroyed stable so I might not be top of their list of favourite liveries at moment

Mirage-there's another one on thre now for loan.

She has arrived - I am excited but terrified. She seems quite settlled in the stable but lots to look at! Going to keep her in today then let her out in the field tomorror and if my instructor can get here - take her for a short hack!

She seems much bigger than when I tried her but I think we have just got to get to know each other. I am sure we will be fine - just didn't expect to feel so overwhelmed!!! Still exciting though!

I have always had geldings and never, never picked bits off. I really don't think you have to unless the vet advises it. After all - who does it for them in the wild....?

Maybe it gets more use in the wild as they don't get gelded?

Dhorse always has a horrible sheath, the vet says he has the wrong bacteria in there. We can make a 'soup' from the sheath contents of a healthy horse and put that up there or put live yoghurt up there. One small problem he kicks out every time we get near (cleaning requires enough sedative to fell an elephant and we all stand at a safe distance holding our noses while the vet does the business), so how on earth are we supposed to get near him with a pot of yoghurt.

Thankyou marialuisa,I can only see Miss Molly though,am I looking in the wrong place?

Pixel,oh my word,I wish I'd not read your post after eating fish and chips.Soup! Yogurt! That has to be one of the worst things I've ever read,I'll remind myself next time dpony is being mareish,that things could be worse.

We didn't get to see the loan pony today,the owner had a prior appointment that she'd forgotten about,so we are going tomorrow instead.I'm taking my eagle eyed mother with me and my horsey neighbour might come as well,as his hunter is on loan at the same yard.

Frosty you've obviously never had to remove maggots from a Sheath! We have had it a couple of times, and its vom!