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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

What’s next for pony? :(

29 replies

Dolliebobs · 26/02/2025 20:10

Need some advice.

Pony is currently at Rossdales and after extensive testing and scans/X-rays we’ve found out that she has a compression in her spine causing her to trip (which is the reason she went in for testing). She also has some issues with her neck and they are doing more testing for her leg lameness.

She’s 14 and a the most kind, loving and softest mare ever.

The vet said she wouldn’t allow her child to ride a pony that has these issues incase she tripped and fell on them.

So what’s next? It feels like such a shame to PTS a pony who seems happy in herself, never shown pain etc but I can’t justify full livery for a pony my daughters can’t ride. We love her so so so much and want to do what’s right for her.

OP posts:

ThatLemonPanda · 27/02/2025 00:14

Such a hard situation she’s part of your family and so sounds the best thing for her is to be a companion - would she do ok on grass livery or do you have trusted friends who might need a companion on full loan? I’ve borrowed friends ponies when I need company for my horse and it worked reslly well but obviously you hear the stories if you don’t loan to the right person

50Balesofgrey · 27/02/2025 00:16

Retire her and just love her. You can presumably still afford her livery. Get another for riding if you can afford it, don't if you can't.

Wallywobbles · 27/02/2025 00:25

I have an older boy (26 this year). He's always tripped a bit. Mostly at a walk. We've had a brilliant 11 years with him and he still loves going out. He's 15hh.

Is there way this would work for you?

Astronautstar · 27/02/2025 00:29

I would not allow her to be stood as a companion pony because the likelihood is she would be sold on.

lastqueenofscotlandagain · 27/02/2025 08:30

Grass livery? I wouldn't pass her on as companion

redphonecase · 27/02/2025 08:31

If you genuinely love her then pay what it costs to keep her alive if she isn't in distress.if she was just a tool for your kids to ride then PTS.

richardosmanstrousers · 27/02/2025 08:33

You either have to keep her or have her PTS, which while it sounds awful, is kinder than selling her on where she could end up in the wrong hands. I had a similar situation a few years ago where DDs pony turned out to be a field ornament, we were very fortunate back then as we were able to afford to get her another pony to ride and we kept both ponies until it was time for them to be PTS.

bugalugs45 · 27/02/2025 08:35

redphonecase · 27/02/2025 08:31

If you genuinely love her then pay what it costs to keep her alive if she isn't in distress.if she was just a tool for your kids to ride then PTS.

This!
It's harsh but 100 % true

TheAlertCrow · 27/02/2025 09:51

Would you consider rehoming her through the Blue Cross? They do a home direct scheme where she would stay with you until they find a home for her, then ownership transfers to the Blue Cross and they loan her to the new home and keep an eye on her. I’m really sorry, such a heartbreaking situation x

Original poster

Dolliebobs · 27/02/2025 10:39

she obviously is a huge part of our lives and if I could afford her to be on full livery and buy my daughter (she’s 17) something she could do xc/pc/sj on I 1000% would. But the livery is £700pm and I can’t afford 2 unfortunately.

we are bringing her home tomorrow. She’s having more tests today and then a sugar test tomorrow to make sure she isn’t prone to being lame before they put steroids in her neck.

hoping to do as much medication as possible so she’s comfortable. She’s mild atm so we want to enjoy and love her for as long as possible. Iv arranged a photo shoot.

she is still able to be ridden so we are going to do a lot of flat work, in hand work etc.

OP posts:

CurlewKate · 27/02/2025 10:53

@redphonecase "If you genuinely love her then pay what it costs to keep her alive if she isn't in distress.if she was just a tool for your kids to ride then PTS"

Wow. Such a harsh and unkind thing to say.

redphonecase · 27/02/2025 11:01

CurlewKate · 27/02/2025 10:53

@redphonecase "If you genuinely love her then pay what it costs to keep her alive if she isn't in distress.if she was just a tool for your kids to ride then PTS"

Wow. Such a harsh and unkind thing to say.

But true? Horses will usually outlive their riding days so you need to plan for this.

britnay · 27/02/2025 11:03

As I see it, you have 3 options:

Would your daughter be happy doing non-ridden work with her? Showing? Agility? Perhaps teaching her to drive? At 17, she'll probably be thinking about going to University or starting work soon, so probably wouldn't have much longer before taking a break from horses anyway.
Are you able to put her on grass livery or send her to retirement livery?
PTS. There are a lot worth things than euthanasia. Unfortunately there are a lot of dodgy people who offer lovely companion homes, only to bute them up and sell them on to some unsuspecting person.

Floralnomad · 27/02/2025 11:16

The choice does come down to retire and retain or euthanise . You can definitely get retirement livery cheaper than £700 per month . Also if your daughter is 17 what are her plans for the next few years - if she’s going to uni buying another may not be worth it anyway in the short term and in a couple of years things may have moved on with the pony .FWIW I don’t feel that @redphonecase was unreasonable in her assessment of the case , at one point my sister and I had 3 retired horses on full livery and nothing of our own to ride but if a horse/ pony has been a treasured part of your family they deserve a nice retirement .

FluffMagnet · 27/02/2025 11:39

I'd agree that a lot depends on your DD's future education plans. If she is off to uni, I would be tempted to do what you can with flatwork for the next year, with lessons at a school for jumping/XC, then move pony to more of a grass livery type place (with you hacking her out lightly (with knee boots!)), and see how she goes. If DD is staying put and desperately wants to compete, I'd again see if I could find a more basic livery where I could afford two or consider PTS. Also for consideration - how does your mare feel about being a field ornament? Some horses just do not take to retirement and get quite depressed or upset when they see others being ridden. If that is the case, I think PTS for welfare reasons.

CurlewKate · 27/02/2025 12:56

@redphonecase "But true? Horses will usually outlive their riding days so you need to plan for this"
Of course. It was"just a tool for your kids to ride" that I objected to.

redphonecase · 27/02/2025 13:01

CurlewKate · 27/02/2025 12:56

@redphonecase "But true? Horses will usually outlive their riding days so you need to plan for this"
Of course. It was"just a tool for your kids to ride" that I objected to.

If not prepared to support the pony financially once past her useful days then that is how she was seen......no better tha how racing greyhounds are treated

Pleasedontdothat · 27/02/2025 15:24

We were paying £130/month for dd’s horse to be at grass livery for a while when he needed to be turned away to recover from an injury - this was in an expensive part of the south east so you really don’t need to be paying £700 to have a retired pony on full livery. Also although there are always horror stories of horses going on loan as companions only to be buted up and sold on, that’s by no means always the case. We’ve borrowed two companions since we’ve been here and one of horses is going up the road to be a temporary companion while our neighbour takes her other horse to a stay away show. If you’re part of the pony club/riding club local network there could well be 100% trustworthy homes out there for her. If the vet is telling you she shouldn’t be ridden at all then that should mean no flat work, no hacking not just no jumping.

Pleasedontdothat · 27/02/2025 15:26

And if you really love her ‘so so much’ you wouldn’t be contemplating PTS before you know how she’ll take to retirement.

LostInAMist · 27/02/2025 15:37

I think you had lots of similar answers on HHO where I also saw this but didn't comment. Those really are your three options. If DD really wants to compete, but could be heading away to uni in the next couple of years, is loaning/sharing a capable horse something she would consider? I'd move your girl to retirement livery too, she could be happy in a herd environment living out her horsey best life, and it would be cheaper than what you are paying now. I have one who I bought because he couldn't be ridden and I hated to see him cast aside after he outlived his "usefulness". He's a companion to my other wonky (youngster who had a field accident). A companion home isn't a bad idea for her, if you loan rather than selling so you are still the legal owner with contract in place etc if you find a suitable set up. Otherwise your only option is to PTS, but like another said, there are fates worse than death for horses

bugalugs45 · 27/02/2025 15:55

As others have said you don't put an otherwise healthy horse to sleep just to make way for another 1 now that the original isn't as useful to you . That's not love , not in the slightest .
Thems the breaks , the phrase a ' dog is for life not just for Christmas springs to mind'
Should have thought about this beforehand .
Very selfish , If you can't afford 2 you stick with the 1 you committed to in the first instance.

Original poster

Dolliebobs · 27/02/2025 17:09

We’ve only owned pony for a few years unfortunately.

shes not being PTS. I just don’t know how you go about retiring a pony. Is there specialist retirement liveries?
plus I’m not sending her away to someone else, as she will need regular steroids and special shoes. Until she starts falling down and unable to get up she’s not being PTS.

OP posts:

LostInAMist · 27/02/2025 17:53

Yes there are special retirement liveries. There are some near me that vary, some are herd turnout and free access to shelter etc, some keep them in a similar routine to how the would be in other liveries (bring in/turnout etc). I'm in the back end of nowhere, so there's bound to be a few near you! Or, if you like doing things yourself and are happy to have an in hand playmate, try finding a cheaper DIY livery if you want things like a school to play about in

Floralnomad · 27/02/2025 19:12

@Dolliebobs some of the specialist retirement livery places will do medication it is probably worth having a good look to see what is on offer . What are your daughters plans post 18 as it is important to what you do moving forward , the last thing you want to do is end up with 2 field ornaments . Good luck with it .

CarobyBlobs · 27/02/2025 19:21

I have absolutely no idea what it costs but I follow these on TikTok and it looks fantastic retirement livery

www.shadowmere.co.uk/why-choose-us

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