phoning up about a pony tomorrow....

[ThatVikRinA22]

friend put a link on my fb....palamino gelding, 14hh, 18 years, athritis in one hock so on daily bute but still very active, evening, jumping, dressage etc....live out during day, stabled at night in the cold.

he is clearly very much loved childs first pony - if i get him he would be with me for his ever....whenever that may be.
i am very much a learner. i want to learn more, i want to do more cantering and a bit of jumping if he is up for that, and really just joyful meanders out in the countryside. He is getting on a bit but still active so i figure he might like what i have planned....

ive found a livery close by - DIY £40 a week includes bedding and hay.

so.
what else do i need to think about money wise.
he is beautiful. looks in super condition, recent pics of him eventing and in the dressage ring...

now i couldnt take him to those places but im sure he would have a relaxed retirement with some fun thrown in with me.
i cant ride well but i blamme the instructor....wont let me off lunge and just wont take the tiniest risk so looking for new instructor and new yard anyway....

would a palamino of 14hh take a 10 1/2 stone woman?
whadya think?
meant to be arranging to go see him....

so £40 a week livery/hay/straw
presume hard feed on top but he lives out in summer...
shoes? how much££
vet....how much - bute? daily?
teeth....what can this cost?

worming and vacs - he is all up to date. hou much to keep him that way?

im doing the sums - i need to ensure i can affford him and can do right by him.

he is only £500 due to his age....

Hi Vicar - sounds as if going to a new riding school is the way forward. Schools often sell ponies too and they will be real schoolmasters and you will know them.

Owning your own is so different and it must be the right one. A good, forgiving cob is most novices go to safe bet.
Good luck and get on the phone. Not sure where you are but I wonder if any of us can reccommend a good school?

I wouldn't worry about the state of your riding, really I wouldn't. If you ride him regularly your riding will improve so don't worry about that!

Don't let other people judge you, they have no right to unless they're Ferdi Eilburg, which they won't be.

Think about insurance, don't go for E&L they're shit.

Buy the pony, spoil him, have fun with him and enjoy et voila! A confident you & a happy pony.

I'm sorry! I missed the bit about you not having come off the lunge, when you said you were a 'poor rider' I thought you meant you weren't very technical rather than a novice. (I really need to learn to read posts properly first!).

In that case I would by all means try the pony, but be honest with yourself. It's not just a commitment to you but to the horse and whilst you say he'd have a home for life, it's easy to say when you don't have one yet, having an unridden horse is just as hard work and I say this as someone who's had a youngster from 8 mo!

I'm sure there are many just as suitable ponies but please be honest about your abilities to yourself, no one is saying don't get a pony but don't get the wrong pony just because it's a pony iyswim

Good luck

Glad you have decided against taking on this horse OP. I wouldn't touch a horse on daily bute either. And I'd never trust a horse for sale ad either! Can you see if you can investigate loaning a horse for a couple of days a week?

Vicar I recently returned to riding after not riding for 15 years (used to ride as a kid). I now have a share i.e I loan a pony one day per week, costs me not much and has taught me so much.

I would strongly recommend you get a share / loan first before buying. In my opinion you lack the experience to buy and it may well all end in tears.

Sorry to be negative, I admire your enthusiasm, but personally I would get some more riding lessons followed by a loan or share.

Just a little note to add about this pony - think vet bills, because you're going to have lots. Bute will cost you about £2 a day (depending on how much he has) so that's £60 a month - then vet call outs, and from one arthritic hock, you will have problems fan out from there.
Also you'll find it very difficult to get insurance, which will also limit the yards you can keep him at.
If he breaks a leg & you're not insured can you afford to have him PTS there & then? You know you usually have to pay upfront, and if he's on bute you'll have to pay disposal costs too as the hunt won't take him.
Or Pay to have him treated at the vet hospital for colic?

How did you get on? xx