Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Can I just go on about dd's pony as he's the first one we've ever bought and people don't seem to be very complimentary about him.

41 replies

TackedOff · 02/04/2013 17:48

We've loaned for the past three years. I bought him from an old school friend of dds - she was a nervous rider and hadn't done much with him for the last couple of years, hunting and hacking and two pc senior camps (where he was very well behaved). When her parents asked us if we wanted to buy him we went to see hiim and really liked him - asking around afterwards people were definitely not particularly complimentary as he wasn't 'proven'.

Our ponies are at livery atm and the YO told us not to buy him that he 'wasn't good enough' for dd. DD is a good rider but hasn't really done much - never been to PC camp, only a few rallies as her old pony hated SJ and anything in the school really. We needed a pony that would live out, hack happily, hunt sensibly and be able to take part in PC rallies without disgracing himself.

First rally today and he was very good, dd enjoys riding him, he's very 'looky' but extremely cheerful and quite bouncy, but he listens to dd and did what he was told. He rushes his fences a bit but seems very willing and genuine. He's a welsh x - 14.2 - pretty head, big feet, needs to build up a bit of muscle but I think he is nice looking. He seems a nice chap.

Was very sad to see that the YO had trimmed his feet and - I was cross - chopped off his forelock which was very pretty. She (YO) really doesn't seem to like him and hadn't even told the yard assistant his name :-(

Dd and I seem to be the only ones who like him and I am wondering if I have missed something!

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 02/04/2013 17:58

Who cares as long as you and your daughter love him and he does what she wants him to do ( and is safe ) . We had a very ugly X Irish draft , he came to us in a complete state and when his winter coat fell out he had a huge scar down the middle of his face . He was fabulous , was ploddy for my sister , did hunter trials with me and my mum could deal with him , which was more than could be said for my horse at the time ,who was a very flashy ex racehorse . It didnt bother us that when we took him places people stared at him because we knew that he was way better than most of their horses. Don't worry what other people think , and tell the yard owner to stop cutting his hair !

HeathRobinson · 02/04/2013 18:02

Maybe the YO wanted to sell you a pony instead?

Original poster

TackedOff · 02/04/2013 18:34

Thanks. YO did keep saying that she'd find us something but that was 5 months ago and not a sniff!! I know it doesn't really matter what people think but I 'm not very confident and I want to get the best I could for Dd. Anyway she is back from the rally and all smiles and was so happy with him and he loaded and travelled perfectly so all good.

OP posts:

gailforce1 · 02/04/2013 18:49

Why is the YO doing things to YOUR pony without your permission? I would be furious in your situation.
It sounds as though you have a good pony for you Dd. I believe it takes a minimum of 6 months for a child and pony to gel and become a combination - neither are machines! I am sure they will have great fun together which is all that matters.

Pixel · 02/04/2013 19:02

For a start I'd be livid if someone chopped hair off my pony without asking me .
If you and your daughter are happy with him then everyone else can mind their own business, especially the YO as quite frankly you are paying her to look after him not criticise him. Sorry but this sort of thing annoys me, how dare she take the shine off your pleasure in getting your first 'own' pony? It certainly doesn't sound as if you've gone out and bought a disaster, he sounds rather lovely. Anyway, what do they mean by 'proven'? That he hasn't won loads of prizes I suppose. To me, if he's been hunting, hacking and to PC camps and behaved well then he's 'proven' in all the right places. It's not as if he's stood in a field all his life.
I hope you and your daughter have lots of fun with him .

skinnywitch · 02/04/2013 19:06

Absolutely what Pixel says! he sounds wonderful - enjoy him!

Mirage · 02/04/2013 20:05

He sounds great.Ignore those silly people.There are some people who always have something negative to say about other people's ponies-you could have a HOYS pony and they'd still find something to pick about.We have an instructor at PC who has a downer on dpony and always manages to make a comment about her,despite dpony not doing anything wrong.

They are probably jealous that you managed to buy such a good one.

mrslaughan · 02/04/2013 21:14

When I took on my share, I had. Number of negative comments.... And Dmare does have her faults, but what I came to realize was that I knew what those faults were (she can be a stroppy cow in the ground - but not dangerous) and that she was exactly what I needed for where I am at the moment , for where I want to get too.
I love her, she has taught me so much already - and this is only the beginning!

DolomitesDonkey · 02/04/2013 21:41

Trimmed his feet? Do you mean the feathers or the horn?

Original poster

TackedOff · 02/04/2013 21:53

Feathers.

I love what you said about 'proven' - wish I 'd said that - my dds friends mum said the same thing about him not being' proven' - yes they mean he hasn't won anything!

Luckily our paddock has dried out so we can bring the ponies home this weekend. We're doing a hunt ride and a xc rally next week so if he does those with no problems he will be 'proven' to me

OP posts:

Littlebigbum · 02/04/2013 23:19

Jealous ??, or hoping to make a profit out of you ???
But if did good at the rally with a new rider, in a new yard, whow. Think Dd can say she has proven an un proved pony herself!!!!
He sounds wonderful and I would be cross about the mane and feathers. I would ask Yard assistant to keep a special eye on him, just because. I would like mine to not treated un-liked, at least the same.

BehindLockNumberNine · 02/04/2013 23:22

He sounds fantastic, exactly the type of pony I want for dd. She does not enjoy rallys and competitions, just wants a happy hacker, a pony with which she could turn up at the stable-run camp, one that she can love and enjoy.

I would not be worried about one that was not 'proven' as in had not won anything. Who cares? He sounds fab!

Pictures please, I want to awwww properly

DolomitesDonkey · 03/04/2013 06:32

People have always got an opinion. Some people don't like hairy cobs, lots of people do. I've been told before to sell my horse and buy a cob because I was "wasting" my horse. I told her it was my prerogative to buy a Ferrari and never take it out of third. Do what you like, or rather do what your daughter likes!

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 03/04/2013 14:20

Why was she trimming his feet? As a welsh x he should keep all of his hair. Tell her to mind his own business.
If you like the pont, then what other people think is of absolutely no consequence. He sounds like a sweetie. Ignore the nay sayers and enjoy your pony.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 03/04/2013 14:24

I once met a girl at a show, her horse was roman nosed, ewe necked, sway backed, knock kneed and cow hocked. It looked exactly like a camel. Bus she absolutely adored it, and it did everything she asked of it.
This is my main hobby horse. Just because a pony doesnt look like black beauty and hasnt won at HOYS doesnt mean it isnt worthy.

CalamityKate · 03/04/2013 14:24

He sounds lovely!!

willyoulistentome · 03/04/2013 14:33

OMG I nearly swore when I read your yard owner had trimmed his feet - assuming you meant his FEET feet...then someone mentioned the feathers. Thank God for that.

Actually I would blow a gasket if the YO had done any trimming without my permission. What a bloody cheek.

A friend of mine moved a pony because of this - the yard pulled her ARAB's mane. Idiots!

He sounds great and a real confidence giver.

carabos · 03/04/2013 22:56

There's always someone who will have something less than complimentary to say about your horse. Usually because you didn't bother to ask for their opinion before you bred it/bought it.

You need to have words with the YO about random hairdos and pedicures and ignore the rest.

Plomino · 03/04/2013 23:17

He sounds great to me , just like my first pony !

FWIW , my first pony had very few fans at first , being ' too young ' , 'too dainty' 'too flighty ' 'too flashy ' oh yes and 'unproven'

We then spent the next 30 years 'proving' people wrong . She was my partner in crime and we had an absolute ball . My kids learned to ride on her , and I miss her to this day. If you like him, and your DD loves him, and he keeps her safe and does what you need him to , that's all you need to know . Opinions are great , but that's all they are . Doesn't mean they're right .

And I'd be having a conversation with your YO involving words and gestures too !

Mirage · 04/04/2013 09:42

We were told by someone that dpony should be off loaded at the first opportunity,she wasn't pure bred,wasn't forward going enough [they'd never seen her hunting or cross country],was too grumpy,wouldn't jump high enough,not competative enough,wouldn't stable so couldn't be kept spotless.It just went on and on.

She is a hairy,opinionated Welsh cross and safe as houses,once you know how to ride her,she'll do anything for you.Strangely enough,after a year,the above person said to me how lucky we were to own her and he'd always said what a good pony she was.

I hope you have a lot of fun and prove all those doubters wrong.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 04/04/2013 11:19

Hows the new pony Mirage?

Mirage · 04/04/2013 13:06

He's doing well,thankyou Saggy.We took him to the PC Bunny Hunt at the weekend,and he behaved perfectly [pics on profile].Afterwards his owners told me it was the first time he'd been out for nearly 2 years. I'm glad I didn't know that before we went.

We had a bit of an eventful hack on Tuesday,when he took fright at a tractor coming up behind him,and took off down the road at a gallop,dragging me along after him.I had to let go in the end and ended up with skinned knees and hands.He didn't go far though,and mercifully DD2 stayed on,despite being terrified.Luckily,they were both fine and we carried on with our hack as I didn't want him to get the idea he could go home.DD2 recovered her composure pretty fast,but we are going to have to do some serious traffic proofing.I'm thinking of building a pen next to the road and leaving him there for a week or so until he gets used to big vehicles.What do you think? It has got to be sorted as he can't go on like that,once he knows something won't hurt him,he is fine,he isn't a spooky sort in general.

We have his first PC rally tomorrow,it is also the first time he'll have been in an indoor school,fingers crossed it goes well.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 04/04/2013 13:10

Sounds like a good idea. Do you have a friendly farmer who could lodge him for a few days? He sounds great and Im glad you finally found the one for you. x

Original poster

TackedOff · 04/04/2013 13:57

Dd1 is at the yard today - YO gave her a mini lesson (she shows at HOYS so is pretty knowledgeable I guess) and said he worked on a fab outline and would do a lovely dressage test airpunch

OP posts:

Callisto · 04/04/2013 14:31

OMG, I haven't read beyond your stupid YO chopping his forelock off. I would have gone ballistic if someone had taken it on themselves to do that to any horse of mine. Unbelievable.

I agree that it sounds as if your YO had an agenda, or perhaps she likes to think she is the only expert around? Anyway, he sounds lovely. Ignore anyone who is critical. If he suits your DD that is all that matters.

Mirage - DD's lead rein sheltie lived in a paddock next to a yard where huge farm machinery came and went all day. He is absolutely bombproof in traffic now.

Flip

1 2