Loan Pony Dilemma

[Blankscreen]

We've got a 13.2h gelding on loan for my 10 year old daughter. We've had him 3 months and he is lovely. He is 25/26 and a real confidence giver.

When we got him he was very thin and the owner said that it was because the previous loaners hadn't had his teeth checked and he was quidding his hay.

Anyway, 1 week after he arrived I arranged for the dentist to come and see him the dentist said he was more like 28-30 and his teeth are totally worn and he has no grinding surface left.

The upshot is he can't eat hay and i've managed to put weight on him by feeding him hay replacer mash,/Alfa a oil/linseed and competition nuts all summer. I reckon the feed costs over the summer are probably £50 a month.

I'm concerned that going into winter we are going to struggle to keep the weight on him but I have bought him some new rugs and will keep feeding him literally buckets of food.

Riding wise he is very steady and given my DD a lot of confidence but he does seem to be tripping on one of his front legs fairly regularly. He's done it out hacking and in the school. Its almost like his leg gives way (it's difficult to explain). He's not lame but I think there is something with his leg. I've dismissed to DD but he probably does it 2 or 3 times every ride.

My dilemma is that there is another pony 14.2 at the yard which is coming up for loan. Dd had a lesson on said pony last week as our loan pony was lame (unrelated to front leg) and she loved it.

The owner has said that she would be happy for us to have her. The instructor thinks she would be great step up for DD and current loan pony isn't going to be able to do everything my DD wants to do.

My dilemma though is that I really love our current loan pony (he is such a lovely sweet soul) but I don't want to miss out on a lovely next pony for DD. The owner is thinking Christmas time if we were interested in the other pony. I feel like Christmas is a bit too soon as I don't want to give up our current pony, I am really worried he will just lose weight again but equally concerned that if we say no then 3 months later I might be looking for another pony anyway.

We can't pay livery for both so that isn't an option.

Do we say no to new pony, keep current pony and cross that bridge when it comes to it or go for new pony even though I would be heartbroken at saying goodbye to existing pony.

Dd loves existing pony but I think she would probably love any pony in time.

What do we do? Feel very stressed

Your loan pony sounds like a real sweetheart! Sad to say but at 28-30 and with his health problems it does sound as though he's reaching the end of his working life and you and DD may well have to come to terms with that relatively soon anyway regardless of what you decide about this other pony. Certainly it doesn't sound like he's ready to step up for faster work or jumping or PC which your DD would probably like to do?

What is the situation if you send him back to his owners at Christmas, will they be able to give him an honourable retirement or will he be sent out to another loan home? TBH and I'm sorry if this sounds doom and gloom I'd be thinking that it would be easier both on pony and you if you hand him back to his owners in 3 -4 months time in good health and with a plan for your next pony than have to struggle with his weight and watch him go downhill (possibly rapidly, it can happen at this age) or, god forbid, after some kind of serious accident with the tripping. So I think I'd say yes to the other pony, give his owners notice soon so they can plan and start gently prepping your DD that the pony is getting old and deserves a rest soon, I'm sure she'll understand and having the new pony to look forward to will ease the transition...

Absolutely agree with @maxelly

Thank you.

Now I've written it out I think I know what is right.

I think they will try and loan him out again as I don't think the owner wants the cost of looking after him which will be £££ over the winter especially.

I'm just reading up about tripping/stumbling and it isn't happy reading for an aged pony. 😢

I think loan the new pony. Your current pony sounds lovely but ready for retirement and yes, it will be harder and harder to keep the weight on him in the winter months if he can't eat hay.

One at the school I ride at is 26 and they always have to double up on his feed throughout winter as it's impossible to keep the weight on him. Apparently it's just an age thing. He's a happy wee soul and in good health. Very fit. But he drops 10lbs just looking at a cross pole. I'm so jealous.

He has 3 meals a day through summer plus being out grazing pretty much all the time he isn't being ridden. He works 90 minutes a day and 2 days off a week so he is grazing pretty much all that time. In winter the feeds double in size and he has hay 24/7 along with a ridiculous amount of carrots and apples from his many child riders. He maintains weight.

I think without hay, you're going to have trouble getting enough calories into him to keep him in work. As nicely as possible, he isn't your pony. Lovely though he is, this is going to become a source of stress for you and an ongoing expense.

At rising 30 years old this lovely old boy deserves a happy retirement. Maybe you could contribute towards his feed? I can't imagine anyone else taking him on loan unfortunately.

Gosh that's quite sad that you think the owners will try and loan him out again, surely at his age he's done enough to earn at least a few months of nice retirement? But that's on them not you OP. I really would grab the opportunity of the new pony while you can, the more I think about it the more the chance of a safe, fun 14.2 suitable for a 10/11yo on full loan seems way too good to pass up, they don't come along every day.

Thank you everyone.

I've been doubting my thought process. I have a feeling the owner knew about his eating issues but has just passed him on to us.

This is so sad to read , it’s absolutely not your responsibility or your problem @Blankscreen but it is very sad to read about such an elderly pony being passed from pillar to post . His owners need to step up and do the right thing for him .

Do you think the tripping issue is enough to justify suggesting retirement.

My sister (who is horsey) has made me feel bad

Take the loan on the new pony. Sounds sad for your current loan, but to me it sounds like the typical, “I’ll loan my pony out for someone else to fund it’s old age/illness”