How much would you pay for this pony?

[WildFlowerBees]

13hh Welsh x Exmoor, 11yrs old has sweetitch and has previously had a suspensory ligament injury, after being rehabbed is unable to ride for long due to going lame. Unpredictable nature, some days great other days very spooky/flighty. However, is sweet natured easy to catch groom etc.

Id be interested to know if you were buying as a non ridden companion pony what you'd be happy to pay.

I’d not pay a penny. Can’t be ridden, walking vet bill?! Hard no from me.

I also wouldn’t take on a pony with sweet itch.

@Polkadotties

I also wouldn’t take on a pony with sweet itch.

I already have her and she's well managed and doing really well.

I'd avoid sweet itch too. If the owner asks for a lot of money I'd show them this thread or maybe a similar FB post to prove your point. She's a lucky pony to have you. Good luck!

OP the people that are saying they wouldn't want a horse with sweet itch are not trying to do down your pony who sounds absolutely lovely, and of course sweet itch while sometimes unsightly is pretty easy to manage with the right treatment and rugs etc (I've had ponies with it myself and happily would again if it was otherwise the right horse at the time), it's just that if her owners try and ask more than a token amount for her (personally I think even £500 is chancing it) then they are taking the piss and tugging on your heartstrings. There is no way she would be worth that on the open market if sold honestly as a non ridden companion/field ornament/pet - any pony that can't be ridden and doesn't have any breeding value is going to be worth pennies even if totally straight forward and no complications whatsoever. I know personally if I was in the market for a companion/non ridden pony I could easily find several small cobby or native types, well handled, no history of lami or injuries or sweet itch or anything remotely difficult to manage and needing no more than the odd trim from the farrier and dose of wormer to keep. In fact I might even be offered to be paid to take someone's older or injured horse off their hands, (expensive) retirement livery is a thing now. On the Blue Cross website there are several ponies right now that fit that bill (some are even ready to be backed so could actually increase in value with an experienced home prepared to put a bit of work in) and they definitely won't charge more than a few hundred 'rehoming fee' for and that's more a donation to cover the charity's costs than a representation of the market value of the animal which sadly and sorry to be graphic, would basically be meat money even for a pony that could potentially still have a useful ridden career ahead of it with the right training, never mind an older horse or one with problems.

Again I say this not to criticise your pony who is obviously priceless to you but to give you some resolve in negotiations with her owner, even if they are dishonest people out to make maximum profit, getting a few hundred £s for her without having to put any effort in is a really good deal for them and if they are responsible, caring owners they'd bite your hand off to give a loving home to a lame retired horse, so don't let them convince you otherwise!

Yep totally echo @maxelly
No one is trying to trash talk your pony! Just highlighting that the market value of said pony is minimal, if anything. Even in this crazy market

Thank you, really helpful responses I'm glad I asked! I know sweetitch is really awful and so hard to manage at times. Owner was upfront about it and it didn't bother me enough to not have her, I'm glad I did when I took off her si rug, she had some pretty big open sores her face was scarred she looked a bit of a sight. But here we are, she now has the most beautiful coat the scars on her face are barely visible and she is so special to me. She needed the tlc.

Your replies have given me the confidence to speak to the owner armed with much needed information.

Thank you @maxelly lovely post and I get it, sweetitch is a pain in the hoop and I completely understand why a lot of people would rather steer clear.

Let us know how it goes!!