Adopting from the Blue Cross.

[Mirage]

We are still looking for a little pony for dd2 and have been looking for 4 months now.I registered with the Blue Cross back in Sept,but never heard anything from them.I've just looked on their website and there is a little mare who might be suitable.BUT,dd2 is desperate to hunt.If I mention this or ask if it has hunted,will they blacklist me? Thanks.

Someone had a go at me a while ago about hunting and I pointed out that we no longer hunted foxes but a trail and did they have a problem with that? If they do mention it, then say something along those lines. It is a legal activity so they shouldn't have a view on it at all.

DD's friend with the Blue Cross pony take her out hunting. No idea if they've told the Blue Cross about it though or just use " all pc activities".

Move closer to me Mirage, I have a lovely Shetland!

Thankyou,I know that legally they can't object,but wondered if my paperwork might get put to the bottom of the pile by a disapproving person.
Thinking about it sensibly,the pony is 11hh and DD2 would have outgrown it in a year,so will keep looking.

Saggy,I'd move closer,but would lose my free hunting.

I'm off to see about changing my car today,so I can at least tow the pony we do have.DH showed no interest when I first broached the subject,but when I said I was going to the dealership today,he got quite enthusiastic.I suspect it is because I am doing all the research ect and he hasn't got to do anything,[except pay for it]

If you do go to look at one of their ponies, I just wouldn't mention it - PC activities (politically correct, or pony club - you choose!) should cover it. Generally if it can handle a rally or similar then it should be ok.

Towing wise, what sort of car are you looking at? I've towed with a Subaru Forester which was fine with pony and light trailer but as soon as dhorse arrived it had to go. Otherwise we've used a Discovery which was fine and are currently using a Landcruiser which is fab. We have it for various reasons - seats 8, dodging the floods which were over the headlights last week, and towing. It is automatic with lots of ratios and is absolutely fantastic, I hope that if this one goes we will replace with another - I wouldn't have a Disco again but that wasn't for towing reasons!

I haven't ever adopted a pony, but the consensus among friends who have, is that they make you jump through hoops. One friend (I don't know who she adopted from) has to keep a detailed log of everything. Worming routine, vaccinations, it HAS to be shod every six weeks. If she wanted to do anything different, it was quite difficult. Aren't there any loan ponies out there that fit the bill?

Have decided to go to the dealers tomorrow with my dad with me-he is used to towing and knows the questions to ask, and as a farmer,never pays full price for anything.

Thanks Frosty,I've spent a very dull and frustrating hour trying to work out what the weights of everything added together are.My trailer is a HB505,and I'm planning to use it for 2 ponies,but it will have to be my main car too.I'm considering a KIA sorento as they get very good reviews and can tow a max of 2500kg.It will have to be a used one too,I can't afford new!

Thanks for that info Saggy,it is very useful.I think I'll steer clear at present.I think,because we are looking for a 1st ridden,we are struggling.There seem to be a lot of lead rein and 2nd ponies about,but nothing in between.We were meant to be trying one out at a PC rally this weekend,but the people who own him cancelled because the pony they wanted to replace him with is no longer available.Hopefully they will find something else,because he sounds ideal for us-he has done PC,hunted,good on the road,in open spaces ect.I just need to be more patient I suppose.

Good luck with your search Mirage. We've still got Sec A (outgrown for everything except hacking and long distance rides) and Sec B (FR M&M and just starting to get him ready to do WHP but he will be Nursery Stakes rather than Cradle unfortunately as he is 12.1). We're off to look at FR SHP this weekend and DD is still craving a FR SP although she'll be out of class at end of year as she is 8.

We tow our Ifor Williams trailer (with Sec B and Connemara) easily with a Hyundai Santa Fe. It has great torque (much better than our previous Freelander) so is really easy to tow with and it is a very comfortable car inside. We bought it 2nd hand and, because it has a 5 year warranty, it still has nearly 2 years left on warranty.

First riddens are like gold dust around here too. It is all word of mouth and you have to be in the PC otherwise no chance at all. I'm hoping DD's shitland X will come good but the way he is going I'm going to have to get her something more suitable. So sad as he was a perfect lead rein pony.

Lead reins often don't make good first riddens unfortunately! There seem to be quite a lot that have never done anything off lead, so have no idea, and terrify their small children!
We have decided we can't part with our first ridden angel, Ducky, (large trad Shetland, 5' -5'3 rug!!) she is having a winter holiday, and then dd is going to have her back, and school her into her dressage pony! This may sound daft, but she has a very good extended trot, and leg yields like a pro! She also looks fantastic, plaited and trimmed! If I could clone her, you could all have one!

Ahhh,your Ducky sounds like a treasure,Saggy.I don't blame you one bit for keeping her.

How old is your DD Callisto?

Thanks Butkin,I think the Santa Fe an Sorento are basically the same car,so that is good to know.We think we've found a good one,[my dad was very impressed and said it was far too good for me].I put a deposit on it and then rang DH to tell him what I'd done.He wasn't surprised as he reckons I've bought a house,a horse,a kitchen,a trailer and now a car without his input.Good job he is easy going really.We will have to go through all our savings accounts and tot them up and have explained to the dds that there will be no holiday this year because of buying the car.

No news on the new pony front though,and dpony seemed to have a very stiff hind leg today.I'm hoping she has just lain funny and it is nothing worse,and she's back to normal tomorrow.

When we were young we never had holidays (I had my first when I was 17) because of horses. It was a sacrifice worth making as far as we were concerned! Sorry to hear Dpony is stiff - I know the feeling after 3 hours gardening. I used a joint supplement for my previous horse + cod liver oil, although I couldn't swear they made a difference, at least I felt I was doing something for him.

DD is 6 - and also desperate to hunt!

Callisto.Dh is a convert to hunting,because of me and the dds.He wanted to know why there are more women than men out with our local hunt,and why he only ever sees small girls going,no small boys.I told him that females are naturally braver.

frosty,we had one weeks holiday a year when growing up,because of the farm,and that had to be in the UK,after lambing but before haymaking and harvest.You really do appreciate your holidays after growing up like that I suppose.Anyway,the dds aren't bothered,they just want to get out and about,to PC and some Saturday hunting.
Thanks for the cod liver oil suggestion,I'll give it a try,she already has a scoop of Devil's Claw a day,but might need a little extra in the cold weather.