Can't sell Problem Pony

[childrensjewelleryco]

We recently bought our daughter a "Mothers dream" bombproof first pony with no vices.
To cut a long story short, it turns out she is the total opposite.

She is fine on the lead rein, but off the lead rein she will buck when asked to trot, and is super sensitive to leg aids. She spooks easily too.

We tracked down an old owner of hers using her passport, who says this is a very long standing behavioral problem with her (she's 13) and her back, teeth, saddle have been checked. They couldn't cope with her and put her out on loan many times.
We have also discovered she has sweet itch. We have been totally done over. The seller doesn't want to know and won't answer our calls or letters.
From doing a bit of digging around it seems we are her 5th home since November 2014!!
I have been trying to sell her as a lead rein only pony or a companion as my conscience won;t allow me to put another child at risk (she's only 12hh). But I have not even had one inquiry. I have contacted several different rescue shelters, and riding schools and nobody wants to know.
I'm really at a loss, to know what to do with her now. We can't afford to keep her as a pet or get her re-schooled.

Any ideas would be appreciated

Have you thought about trying some natural horsemanship? It worked wonders with someone I know... Where abouts in the world are you OP?

I can't second enough what benefit it may do for your pony to move to a yard. I know of several ponies including my own who don't take to the quiet home life. They get bored and unstimulated and play up.
A herd of others, plenty of coming and goings for stimulation and a good routine of coming in daily for grooming and handling can change ponies around.
You have had so much good advice here and it is such a shame to not be following it. It sounds like this pony has never had a chance, been passed around, probably never backed and schooled properly and this is the end result. I hope you get her sorted.

Did you buy from a private home or from a 'business' (e.g. dealers/riding school/trainer/etc), childrensjewellery?

As your solicitor was willing to sue, I'm wondering if it was the latter. If so, your pony must be 'fit for purpose' and (just as a washing machine must spin as advertised) a children's pony must indeed do what it was deemed to be suitable to do.

In which case, I would write a formal letter to the seller, advising that the pony is not as described, not fit for required purpose, and that you want a full refund.
If this doesn't get the require result, you can progress it under small claims.

If you bought from a private home, you don't have quite the same purchase rights. Nevertheless, in your position I would still send a formal letter to the seller advising that the pony is not as described, not fit for required purpose, and that you want a full refund. (I'd also be asking around to see if seller was a PC member, who knew them etc. Gathering information, so to speak.)

In both cases, I would advise that they had x number of days to conclude full refund, after which you would progress to small claims.

My sister had a very similar sounding pony as my nephew's first pony. Fine-ish on the lead rein but bucked when off it.

She loaned it to a riding school and whilst it is still difficult off the lead rein, it is a useful member of staff for them on and now more capable children can ride him off. Would this be an option?

Buying good, off lead rein first ponies is quite difficult. Go on personal recommendation if possible and one you've seen ridden many times. Pony club is a good place to find them but they are snapped up quickly and cost a lot of money. The market for this kind of pony is definitely a seller's. My sister has found some excellent ponies for my nephew but just as many dangerous sods. He's doing BE90 courses now at 16 on a huge tb and having the time of his life, so I hope your child gets the same experience. Good luck.

Hi OP
Obviously don't know where you are geographically, but there is a place in NW Leicestershire that may be able to help or advise:
www.ponyrescue.co.uk/#!pony-rescue/uzgs7
All best

Any update OP?

Hi OP,
I haven't read all previous responses but please don't give up on this pony! Yes, it's trying its luck by bucking but it sounds like no-one has had the patience/confidence to train it out of this. It needs to have a confident rider that will be patient whilst also not letting it get away with bucking. ie quick whip and carry on, if it is allowed to get away with bucking ie the rider giving up, it knows it can get out of doing work.
Try posting online/asking at local stables for a confident,patient rider that would like a challenge. Tell them they can ride for free.
Personally I like a horse who is sensitive to the leg, but it sounds like your pony is panicking in response to leg aids, again further training needed.

We have a girl on our yard who has worked with naughty/frisky horses after their owners were too spooked and it only takes a few weeks work.

Good luck

someone else already mentioned it, but does the pony suffer from stomach ulcers?
if she tenses up and wants to buck when someone puts their legs on then this is a possibility.

OP I am sorry you are in this situation.
Yes the pony could be ridden by a more experienced and confident rider and schooled to behave better, however I am not at all convinced that it would then be suitable for an inexperienced 6 year old who is already afraid of it.
Horses sense fear and behave more badly with riders who are afraid of them.
From what you have said it doesn't seem to me that this pony has massive problems which can't be overcome by the right rider. I am very doubtful though that it would ever be suitable for a novice rider as even with intensive schooling it probably doesn't have the right temperament.
If it was bigger this wouldn't be such a problem but most people buying 12hh ponies are looking for quiet ones.
You have a very difficult decision to make if you can't find anyone who wants the pony even as a long term loan.
Unfortunately, as others have said, there are many horses these days who can't find homes.

Could she be used as a companion pony? 'Free to good home' etc?

Does she live on her own? I used to have a loan pony who was a dream when I tried him at his owners house, then when we brought him home to live in a field by our house on his own he constantly napped when ridden (and reared a few times), tried to bite, charged at people who came to catch him, and also bolted. We had him for 4 months (he was ok for the first few weeks and then just got worse and worse) but we went to visit him back at his old home with two other horses and he was fine again. Sorry this was really long but just trying to emphasise how much some horses need a companion and what your pony is doing sounds very similar to mine, so if she's on her own it is likely to be the reason!

Years ago I inherited a pony just like this, great on the lead rein and I could lead him off anther horse but bucked like hell of the lead. He too was very sharp he had that look in his eye bucked off every competent small adults with ease and I'm 5'7" and 10 1/2 stone (my feet were nearly on the ground) and he was just 12 hh and he tried dam hard to buck me off. He'd been extensively checked over and there was nothing wrong with him I think he just did it for the hell of it he had a sense of humour his timing was always perfect. The only time he didn't do it was when he went hunting when he would stay at the front all day and attempt to jump nearly everything. He was a bright little chap.
He was an exceptionally well put together nice moving pony and very pretty he went to a adult driving home where he thrived on loads of exercise and variety of life . If Id been into driving I would have kept him. Could this be worth looking into?

I don't think the OP has been back to this thread since July, so suspect the problem has been sorted one way or another!