Laminitic pony

[newbeginnings22]

Seemed to have found the perfect pony.... however has had one previous episode of laminitis ( resolved after 5 weeks) this was following a lengthy period of being turned away.
Current owner gives daily muzzled turnout.
Happy for me to speak to their Vet etc...
although I have horse owning experience, I have none directly of laminitics/ems/cushings
Wwyd? Avoid like the plague or take the risk on an otherwise amazing little pony
Further info. Pony would be initially kept at livery until our home stables built. Good "horsey" friend network for advice. Most saying go for it

Speak to their vet but the 'long period turned away' is also a red flag for me

@LostRider first pony (as such) not first equine as previously owned a horse who also had a hoof issue ( keratoma-that's a whole other story) but I do feel ponies can be a bit harder to manage, in this respect.

The problem is it is proving very difficult to find a first pony that doesn't have one issue or another.... or too young/old...without an eye watering price tag

They say they bought pony from a friend who had turned it away. As daughter had outgrown.
New owner now also outgrown

I may have to admit defeat and up the budget, which is already healthy imo

@Ooooh finally a positive story... but the general consensus seems to be avoid

@Wrapunzel the disproportionate amount of worry is what I worry about 🤦‍♀️

Very positive from me OP. I bought an unbroken 12 year old from a really well regarded breeder. She had simply ‘existed’ as part of their herd, had a foal at some point and been kept for sentimental reasons as she was the first pony their son had bred. I bought because I could see she was kind and solid.

I got her weight down, long reined her all over the place, then rode my old mare, leading the little pony everywhere. Then I sat my two year old on her. They did all sorts later on, camps, did really well at flat work. She was an incredible pony, kind, gentle and brave.

Anything can get laminitis, you just need to be sensible.

My daughter's pony had laminitis about 4yrs ago. He was out in a big field in January & went a bit feral, we couldn't catch him for about 4wks.
Since then we've just kept him in smaller paddocks with limited grass, in at night winter and during the day in summer. Only gets low quality hay. We weigh tape him regularly and keep a close eye on his feet.
He hasn't had another episode.
He's an amazing pony and now we have his management sorted I don't worry constantly about him. He is a bit more labour intensive that the horses than can stay out 24/7 but he likes being the spoilt one that gets his own stable!

He's worth it, that pony has my heart forever 🤍 if I didn't work full time with two young kids I'd register him as a therapy pony! But it's a bit like having kids I guess, I couldn't imagine life without him but I have him now and can't send him back even if I wanted to