Taking on two ponies - haven't a clue!

[TwoPonyTony]

We went to see a house with quite a bit of land (for us) and the owners currently had horses in the paddocks. Amongst the horses were two small ponies that looked like unicorns without the horn. They were very friendly and came straight over to the kids. The owner then proceeded to tell me in front of said smitten children that I could have the two ponies with the house/land if I wanted them. Cue jumping up and down children. We have always had animals but never a horse. The owner said they keep the grass down. So tell me everything I don't know about keeping two small ponies. How much exactly is it going to cost me to keep these two little chaps as happy as possible? I do at least understand this means sorting them out every day. There currently is a Gardner/animal keeper? living in the annex but he's moving on. I would be up for finding another person willing to do the same work but need some sort of grasp on the whole thing myself first.

How bizarre. Hopefully you can find a horsey friend who can help you in RL and do take my advice of getting a vet and farrier to look at them.

How old are they?

Contact a local riding school and find out if they do horse care classes?
Have a read of this: www.britishhorse.com/products/bhs-complete-manual-of-horse-and-stable-management.html

The ponies are not your responsibility to rehome. The seller must do this. If your DC are going to have ponies they need to be chosen, not inherited. You don't know their temperament, or their state of health.

Try not to think of them as living creatures but as the owner's unwanted, possibly broken, furniture. You wouldn't accept that being left behind.

Op, missed the last page with your update. Hope all goes well. You sound very kind.

They are old ponies.

Likely to require and lot of time and money to no good end.

They will be given good care until it's their time but I won't bloody be standing there while someone shoots them!

Who will then?

OP Did your solicitor really have no advice other than 'talk to the gardener'?

Very bizarre situation.

Well if you are going ahead with it keeping the gardener who is familiar with the ponies is an excellent idea. It would be wise to get a vet out to see them as soon as you get possession, they will also probably need worming (vet can advise) and the farrier (if the current owners have not been paying their gardener, I doubt they have been looking after their animals properly). Be careful with children and ponies. Very few ponies are actually aggressive but all ponies are potentially dangerous because they are large, flighty animals that kick. Do not allow the children into the field with the ponies, and do not allow the children to handle the ponies unsupervised. My DC and I all wear riding hats when handling, you may want to consider doing the same.

Also, i assume you are talking to your solicitor about a work contract and tenancy agreement for the gardener?

As for your last comment on not wanting to stand there while someone shoots them, this is exactly what you are committing to when taking on a pet, especially an elderly one. A shot or an injection, either one will do, but very few ponies die peacefully of natural causes. I have had five horses PTS, it’s the responsible and kind thing to do as an owner when the animal is suffering.

You bloody well will be standing there when someone puts them to sleep!! If you don't, who will? That comment makes me feel very sorry for them and quite cross with you OP.

They are old ponies.

How old? Because I know a Welsh pony well into his 30's now, ponies often live that long but also equines rarely die of 'old age' too - something else normally gets them first.
Also it's been mentioned they're driving ponies, they are trained very differently to riding ponies. They may have been happy to be fussed and petted in the field on their terms, but when was the last time they were handed properly? Had a headcollar on? Were led anywhere? Groomed? Because they may not take kindly to these things happening all of a sudden if they've not happened for years, or ever. And you need knowledge and experience to reintroduce these basic things - you'll need them to do these things safely and willingly to avoid injury and incidents not only to you, but to the ponies and farrier/vet/dentist that will need to deal with them.
If you're determined to go ahead with this then get in touch with the British Horse Society for advice on the legal side of transferring ownership and ask them for a list of accredited professionals in your area, then employ one to look after the ponies and teach you at the same time - just because the gardener has known them since they were babies doesn't mean he knows what he's doing properly either - you have no frame of reference for knowing if he does or does not.
And finally, horses being PTS is always traumatic, because they are prey animals and will fight any medication that affects their ability to stand and be alert. Watch some you tube videos on horses being aneasthatised and you'll see how they fight - that's similar to many horses that are euthanised by injection. Shooting them sounds barbaric, but done by someone experienced and qualified is preferable to the horse fighting and panicking at the last stage, they are dead before they go down and know no more.

OP you can have them put down by injection. It's v v common. There are pros and cons to both procedures but in my area (and I'm not far from you!) that is the only option I've known vets to use.

Personally I think the worst bit is the lorry collecting them. Make sure you and no one is around for that bit!

Glad the gardener is willing to take responsibility for them.

God what horrible people? Willing to basically abandon two elderly ponies with someone who's been effectively blackmailed into taking them, for all they know you could be planning to starve them or have them PTS as soon as you move in (not that you are as clearly you're a nice person, but they don't know that?).

Brilliant that the gardener is staying on, hopefully he will also maintain the field for you? Before winter comes you'll need to sort out hay supply (he can probably tell you where current owners get their hay although they've probably got a big outstanding bill there too!)... as others have said you'll need to sort out vet, farrier, worming and insurance for the ponies asap.

Do get your solicitor on the case to making sure the 'gift' of the ponies to you is reflected in the sale paperwork and passports are handed over (normally when a horse is being gifted a notional sum of £1 is handed over and a receipt given to avoid confusion/shicanery later on). The last thing you want is old owners turning up and trying to take the horses back just as you've got attached! Also I would be VERY wary that now they know they have you over a barrel the owners might try and foist other 'stuff' or animals on you, you said they have other horses? Two elderly ponies is enough of a burden, you do not want a whole herd!

Also you'll need to prepare the children that these ponies are old and not for riding, they may be disappointed so perhaps look up local riding schools and see if they can give the children some lessons and perhaps a stable management/horse care course for you? Who knows, perhaps you could be tempted into a ride yourself?

Also are previous owners going to leave you any 'kit' for the ponies, if not you'll need to purchase? They will need headcollars, lead ropes, grooming kit, water tank if not part of the field and water buckets for refilling (if not plumbed in) and a wheelbarrow or skip for muck clearance. They may also need rugs in winter, and fly spray in summer? Ideally you'd put them up a field shelter too although if it's well shaded then this can probably wait. Would recommend getting a basic first aid kit too. Maybe ask your gardener for a list?!

Well i have to say i am very shocked about these sellers! Ive never heard of anyone leaving pnies as a condition of sale.

However, it is what it is and you will have to make the best of it. I’m glad you are willing to go on a horse care / management course.

As for when the times comes for them to be PTS, my vote is for the bullet over the injection. It’s instant and the horse is gone before it even drops to the ground. I had to had a young horse PTS and stood with him until just before it was done. He went with his nose in a bucket of apple slices.

Anyway, that is something for future consideration and at the moment you need to gather all the knowledge you can.

I wish you luck, you have taken on quite a task!

I do appreciate everyone's comments. I can assure you I will do everything in my power to ensure they are well looked after. I can't see them as furniture. They're alive, feeling beings who deserve not to be discarded by some wretched woman. One of the horses in the field belongs to the gardener and that horse will be staying as well. As far as the gardener can remember they are both in their 20's. Surely somewhere is some form of paperwork or maybe the vet knows.

The kids will be under no illusions about the ponies. These are essentially going to be very expensive peacocks with hooves. The ponies are "free range" throughout the whole property but will need to be confined to the paddocks because I'm not stupid enough to leave children and even very small horses unattended.

I'll get the vet and farrier out as soon as we actually own them.

To be perfectly honest I'm now far more worried about having inherited the gardener....who appears to have no contract and no where else to go really. He seems quite kind and the grounds are immaculate at least. But how has he not had an employment contact?! Or even a rental agreement...or anything really! The owner of the ponies died last year. The house is being sold by her daughter who clearly doesn't give a stuff about the ponies or the gardener.

Just say no and explain to the kids why.

These are essentially going to be very expensive peacocks with hooves

That's the spirit, that's exactly what they are. Keep us posted OP

To be perfectly honest I'm now far more worried about having inherited the gardener...

You should be. This is the most bizarre situation and there is no way I would ever contemplate accepting horses or gardeners.

Again, did the solicitor give any advice other than 'talk to the gardener'?

Yeah I'd be fine with the ponies (am experienced) but totally not with the gardener

Sounds like a complete mess.

Why not let the owner go to the next bid? Not many people will take on a house with three horses and a tenant with potentially problematic tenancy rights. I think if the owner moves onto the next bid she’ll only find that they are not interested either under these conditions and you can negotiate a lower price at some point in the future.

That was my thought - that the next bid would laugh in her face. But who knows. It sounds like money isn’t a concern, which makes things easier.

It sounds like you need a gardener, OP, so on the bright side you haven’t needed to hire one. It’s actually very common for people to be employed without a written contract. They still have the usual employment rights.

If there weren’t any covenants about his housing being ‘tied’, or only for agriculture labourers etc then it shouldn’t affect what you can do with it when he does one day depart. I have no idea what tenancy rights he will already have acquired, but another solicitor will be able to advise on that.

The gall of the woman!

I'd call her bluff, and say that the horses must both be vetted (preferably at vendor's expense). Depending on the outcome, I would be negotiating a reduction in price to cover up and coming vets, farrier, dentist bills, not to mention the equipment (head collars, lead ropes, wheelbarrow, hay, water buckets, rugs etc, etc,) that you will need to potentially purchase in order to look after the ponies properly.

It is disgusting what she is doing - blackmailing you into caring for her mother's ponies like that, with no regard for their welfare at all.

Well, the vendor is a stone cold bitch! Is there any chance you could get in touch with their old owner's friends, I am sure they would help you get on your feet in terms of looking after them, for her sake? We bought a lovely pony last year whose owner had died from cancer. Her friend took the mare on to sell and has been only a phone call away if we had any questions. She wants the mare to be happy because her friend loved her so much.

My first pony lived til 35: our hunters tend to make 25+

I'm also concerned that they haven't paid the gardener since the house went on the market. WTAF?! Total scumbag, your vendor

On a positive note, perhaps you'll find their vehicles in a barn somewhere, if these were driving ponies - even exercise vehicles will fetch a bob or two now that driving has become so expensive... Hopefully there will only be nice surprises from now on, OP!

OP the very fact you were blissfully unaware that one day it may come it that you need to have your horse shot sums it all up for me.

I don't think you are ready/in a position for horse ownership. you do seem a very caring and animal orientated person and that you have the ponies best interests at heart but I don't think you are the right person to take them on. xx

Oh just read the other updates. Can't lie about losing a bit of respect for the "I won't be bloody standing next to them" comment as unfortunately thats part of the commitment IMO. i hope someone who the horse knows will be willing to do that in your absence when the time comes.

Good luck