How do I rehome an unsellable pony

[Travelling3]

Hi, im sure im going to get shouted at but wondered if anyone could offer any advice. I have a 12’2 gypsy cob pony who needs rehoming. He’s basically a childs size pony but he can’t be handled by a child. We got him 3 years ago unseen (i know!) for my 7 year old. He was sold as a mothers dream when in fact he was an absolute nightmare. No manners at all on
the ground, couldn’t close the stable door quick enough before he would barge out, pull people over, bolt off etc. Not what we were expecting and we should have sent him straight back. Anyway we didn’t and we tried to work with him but i do not have enough/much experience and i was totally out of my depth. Even though he was hard work I knew he would be the sort of pony who would get passed around and it was very obvious he’d had a bad start in life. He’s been on
loan to a family friend who is an equine Vet as a Companion for the last 12 months but he’s
now been bought back. We don’t have land ourselves but a kind friend has offered to have him temporarily. What do I do with him? I don’t want anything for him but have got no idea how to rehome him. Ive contacted the blue cross home from home and am sorting the paperwork this week but they said he’s not a priority but they will try and help. Does anyone have any helpful advice? Many Thanks

Tricky one. How old is he? Is he sound and an easy keeper or does he suffer with any ailments? How is he to handle now, does he lead well and will he be stabled for short periods without drama? Is he ok alone if for instance his field companion is taken away for a few hours to be ridden?

Probably your best bet is to look for another loan companion home for him, depending on the answers to the above you may well find somewhere (particularly if he's quiet enough to act as 'nanny' for young stock) but you might have to be patient and prepared to wait and fund grass livery for him until you find somewhere. Or if he's physically sound but you've just never had the expertise to get him going under saddle, it might be worth the investment to get a professional to properly restart him from scratch, if they can get him going and some miles on the clock you may well then be able to sell him on as a ridden pony to an experienced home, again these aren't two a penny but if you aren't on a clock or too worried about the ££ then there will be a home out there for him even if he's never the easiest on the ground. Otherwise if you're convinced he has no future as a ridden pony, retirement livery may be the best option, it's often cheaper than regular grass livery and they do take younger ponies as well as oldies...

Contact World Horse Welfare.. they will do their best to socialise and then rehome him.

How is he now he's been with someone experienced?

I second world horse welfare. They will do their best to help.

depending how bad he is in the ground, you could offer him up as a companion. If he doesn’t have laminitis and he’ll stay in a field whilst his buddy goes for a ride. Then he’ll do a job for someone. I guess if he has some health issues that need management or he’s a nuisance to even handle like that then even that might be an issue.

how old is he? The other option is that you spend some money (I know, I know) and get him schooled in basic ground manners and then offer him up?

Where abouts are you based?

Has he been thoroughly checked out by an equine vet? Teeth checked? Back checked etc?

Have you had anyone in to help teach you how to manage him?

I sympathise. I am experienced and still ended up in a similar situation after buying a lockdown pony.
I ended up selling him for under 25% of what I paid for it. Lost so much money.
BUT I did my research , found a person who was willing to put some time into him, whilst also accepting him for who he is. And he’s still with her and she loves him and sends me pics. So it’s was worth giving him a chance.

this will be an unpopular opinion. But honestly if he’s dangerous and you can’t find him a nice home and you run out of money. PTS is a kinder option than an auction or the wrong person ‘teaching him a lesson’ or worse. Or someone else’s child having an horrible accident….

I advertised mine on FB. There are lots if horsey fb pages as I’m sure you’re aware. A really honest advert. I vetted everyone who called. I had 2 viewings. One I didn’t like and the pony kicked her, so he decided for himself.

with the Second Lady he threw all his usual party tricks, but I had an experienced teenager ride him to demonstrate the shapes he threw, but that she could work through it. He liked the Second Lady and she ‘got him’ so that’s was that.

be prepared for loads of dealers calling and offering to send a lorry and buy him unseen.

and for people who will still ask if he’s suitable as a first pony.

honesty I saw an 18 month old gypsy cob for sale this week. And some ‘Nanny’ asking if he’s be suitable for her little granddaughter who was 3. And could he live alone in a field. And the vendor had replied saying ‘yes he’d be fine ‘ 😔 poor little pony. As you’ve found out. There are some right plonkers about

If you’re in the north west it might be worth speaking to HAPPA? They’ve been hugely helpful for a friend of mine who had a devastating change of circumstances.

Thank you all so much for the replies. He’s approx 8/9, good in a herd with geldings, mares dislike him (a lot). The lovely lady who has had him is v knowledgeable and took him to her place of work to sedate and sort teeth. He was good for me for dentist but she wanted to sedate to take a closer look. He’s had his back etc checked but he’s good Under saddle as long as you know what you’re doing. His manners have improved a lot and he’s very cute.its just on the ground that he’s really hard work (for me). You would have to watch his weight but he’s happiest out. Just off to see him now

You may well find he is improved after a year of competent handling and may be suitable for a second pony for a very confident child if he is ok under saddle. I had a pony who was similar - too much for my daughter (welsh sec C but a small one) and could be a git to handle. I sent him to a sales yard I trusted and who were fab, and they were able to produce him to sell to the right home. He went to a family with 2 very capable boys and is a cracking pony for them. I'd consider sales livery - they also sold mine for about 2k more than I would've put him up for! If you are anywhere near Lincolnshire I can pass on details.

He's young then, if he's good under saddle and manageable on the ground for someone experienced he has a value and isn't really a rescue case, you would probably be best off finding a ridden home for him so he can do a job - echo the thought of a good sales livery, it won't come super cheap but you should recoup the costs in sales price?

Many Tears in Llanelli, Wales also take in ponies / donkeys / horses as well as cats and dogs. they have a no destruction policy.
manytearsrescue.org

So he’s bargy and strong willed but rideable and good temperament (or did I read it wrong?)

I think you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t find headstrong a problem- I’ve a few friends who sorted bargy cobs. If he goes to a private home do divulge everything and find the middle ground between sounding like ‘we just can’t cope with him, he’s out of control’ and ‘tee hee, he’s such a joker’ if you know what I mean. People need to know he’s hard work but worth it. Bless him!!!

I'd also try to find him a ridden home if he is decent enough under saddle but be honest.
If money isn't a huge issue then maybe consider schooling/sales livery where the pony can be schooled and handled by an experienced person prior to selling.
From what you have said he doesn't sound unsellable but obviously I haven't seen the pony. Good luck!

Hi, thank you all so much for the advice. I went to see him today and I’d forgotten how cute he is the little git! I think the reason why I’m being so cautious about trying to sell him is the last night before he went on loan he took off on a country road with my 9 year old on him and it was all pretty terrifying. He dumped her after a few minutes at the top of the drive then proceeded to run back home.I just don’t want anyone to get hurt. All you see is people looking for bomb proof ponies (which don’t really exist) and because he’s nippy, bargy etc he not an easy fit. Like I said I’ve only got a few year experience and my eldest daughters mare (who I look after myself) is an absolute angel. He’s a real busy brain and absolutely needs a job and an experienced no nonsense home. Give him an inch and he’ll have you lying face down in the dirt! I think sales livery is definitely a good idea so I’m going to look into that. Thank you all

Might he be okay as a lead rein? I know one similar a sec A, fine as a lead rein or second pony. Rides okay for the mum (who is tiny) but just takes the piss out of the daughter off the lead rein naps bucks runs off. Poor girl doesn't have the strength to guide him properly

You'd also be surprised how a horse can change with daily consistent handling. Id send to a good quality sales livery

I would loan again with full disclosure- basically he is fine for a small competent rider but not for an inexperienced child. If you take your time, you will find someone suitable, and as it's a loan, if it doesn't work out you can assure his future?

You could also go down the loan with view to buy route- if they are a good fit and interested, but that does mean you ultimately lose control of his future.

There are definitely experienced homes out there who will happily loan a pony of this size, particularly if their children are still growing. Could your friend who had him on loan before help you vet people?

Do you know why he took off? If he was alone and now hacks well in company, you could e.g. make it a condition of the loan that he is not hacked alone.

He really doesn't sound like a lost cause, but just needing some competent and consistent work over a sustained period. This is going to sound a bit bonkers but it's worth throwing out there - we used to livery at a riding school and they were forever taking on troubled and challenging types for next to no ££ and having the really good lightweight teens ride them and teach them their job and honestly they almost all eventually ended up as great riding school ponies. I know that sounds on paper like a dreadful idea - a challenging pony in a riding school with beginners and children, but it was for some of them a long time learning the job before anybody else got near them so it was never unsafe in that respect. A bit of hard work, really consistent routine, no nonsense approach, experienced handling, herd hierarchy - it can work really well for many ponies that are keen on pushing their luck.

I know riding schools often get a bad reputation but there are some things that some of them can be awfully good at, and this I have seen happen many times. He sounds like a useful size and type if somebody has the time and space to put the work in (and doesn't have a child desperate to be out gadding around with friends immediately).

If not then defo sales livery will shape him up I would think.

A real honest advert is what's needed. Vet everyone who calls and don't let them get on him unless they demonstrate handling him with skill and confidence on the ground first.

This pony would have very much been the type i had in on sales livery, he doesn't sound unusual at all so I think burdening a charity with what is just an untrained (misunderstood?) pony doesn't seem the best route to take.

Sounds like your typical bolshy little cob who's been given an inch and taken a mile tbh. You'll sell him no problem if the price is realistic, just be honest and as pp has said vet the buyer and ensure they are competent. I'd not rule out a reputable dealer either. They will have a massive amount of experience with strong little cobs. Again just do your homework. There is a page called dodgy dealers on Facebook where you can find out who to avoid