Sell pony now or keep and search for new all rounder?

[Hghlandlooo]

Help me with my dd13 pony buying/ selling quandary. Dd has a 12.1hh. cob and a 14hh Welsh. Cob is just an amazing all rounder, lots of fun. Welsh is very sweet lovely to hack, RC activities, farm ride but just isn’t really a competitive at SJ or dressage, lovely mover but flings her head around a bit. Dd wants to sell the Welsh and get a complete all rounder. I don’t know whether to sell the Welsh and have the cob as an interim until we find an other (though not sure how easily she will sell and she’s pretty close to outgrowing the cob) or make her stick with the Welsh who will undoubtedly improve a bit but not be what she wants. Budget for a new one might be around 10k so I’m not hugely optimistic that we’ll get something that isn’t young and green anyway. Cob will go out on loan. I don’t want any of them to go and hate pony shopping but also feel like it’s a short window for dd to be having PC fun that I don’t want her to miss.

I think it's hard to say from what you've posted. What's stopping the Welsh from being the all rounder she wants, is it just the head tossing or something else? Head tossing would usually either be a physical issue or a schooling problem, either of which would certainly be worth putting some time/money into fixing before buying a whole new pony? But I assume you have already tried some things towards that?

Or is it more that she just doesn't click with the Welsh and needs more of a different personality type? What kind of level of SJ/dressage is she aiming at? On paper a 14hh Welsh should be capable of being a good all rounder for all PC activities and to do novice/ele dressage and 80/90 SJ which all what most PC kids want to do and enough for novice/teams, maybe not to sweep the board and get in the rosettes every time but that's all to the good as a learning experience. But if they really just don't gel as a partnership then that can be really tricky.

Or does she have more advanced competitive ambitions i.e. want to be doing the intermediate/advanced teams and need to be jumping 1m+? If so I get the limitations of the Welsh but I do doubt you'll find something able to take a 13year old round that kind of course plus do a good dressage and be a general fun all rounder for £10k without as you say some kind of significant compromise, either much older with some health issues or young and green or not a good hack etc. If she really is serious about competing and is prepared to work and make sacrifices accordingly it might be worth investigating options for the latter, but if this is the case and if she's only just stepped up from her 12h, I'd want her to put in a good summer's shift this year working on herself and also on the Welsh getting out and about and doing lower level competitions but building experience and confidence, I know they only have so many years on ponies but IMO it won't do her any harm to not rush her onto something more powerful, will only add value to the pony if you do want to eventually sell and it's a good life experience to not immediately get everything you want.

Thanks @maxelly for replying. She’s had the Welsh for nearly 2 years. She does PC and a couple of lessons a week. She hasn’t got huge aspirations. Prelim and 80/90 but she currently able to do less on the Welsh than she could on the cob. She’s a lovely mare and we’ve explored everything to try and sort the head tossing. She’s come on loads and we take her out and about several times a week but competitions just put her on edge and that’s when the head tossing occurs, she goes in the wrong bend and will be dramatic over the same jumps she’s done in an arena hire and takes a lot of riding to get round a course of 60. It’s tricky because she does everything you’d want from her in lessons and out hacking. Dd just wants go to local shows, arena eventing etc without all the focus being on the ponies behaviours. They have done wonders for each other really and I know that they could both keep improving but just not sure when to make the move.

Ah sounds difficult. I do think there comes a point where you need to cut your losses if you've given it an honest go and it's not working out rather than constantly scratching your head trying to work out why. If the pony is young, healthy and good with everything other than a competition environment then you will definitely find her a good home with someone who doesn't want to compete.

I guess it would just be a case of moderating expectations for your DD with regard to the new pony, it may take a while to find the right one and she's not going to be immediately flying round winning everything. Even if you are lucky enough to find a lovely schoolmaster type there will be a period of adjustment and settling in and there will be setbacks etc, she'll need to be prepared to work hard and be patient particularly if what you can afford is a less experienced pony - 13 isn't a bad age to take on something a little on the greener side (I'm not talking about an unbroken 3 year old but maybe something aged 6 or 7 that has good foundations and has done a little of everything at a low level and ready to go on), providing you go about it in the right way and pony and child are a good fit personality wise...

I’m a complete non-expert, so you can take this with a pinch of salt, but you mentioned she goes well in the school - are there other people and ponies, or is she unfamiliar with the busier show environment? If the head-tossing is only at shows, is it possible your DD is tensing up and taking a tighter grip on the reins in anticipation?

You say you have tried everything so forgive me but, have you tried;

Antihistamines/immunotherapy/ventapulmin
Different bedding
Nose net
Dentist
Physio
Chiropractor
Ergonomic bridle/ LANTRA bridle fitter
Bit fitting expert
Master saddler
Orthopaedic vet.

Discomfort can come out in areas we don’t expect. Also did the pony head shake in previous homes?

It sounds as if the pony is just stressy in a show environment and possibly the additional pressure to compete.
Before giving up I think I'd try taking the pony out as much as possible, as you already are, but go to some events that she can just spectate and soak up the atmosphere, box up to go on different hacks and relaxed outings. Taking the pressure off and making it more enjoyable might just be all she needs. A calming supplement beforehand for a bit might help too.
It's a valuable lesson that sometimes you've got to work at getting the pony that you want, and well worth giving it a go before throwing the towel in. A new pony isn't guaranteed to come without issues, if she can remedy the issues she's facing now it will help her confidence and abilities with one that could be even trickier!

Thank you all. Pony has definitely come on a lot since we’ve had her. @Stickytreacle yes she shook her head previously. Done most of your list apart from the antihistamine route. She never has any nasal discharge however strangely a couple of weeks ago she snorted and out came quite a sizeable amount of thick white mucous. It had no smell, and I took her temperature which was normal, no glands up and no discharge or coughing. I initially worried but she’s been fine since but now I’m wondering if it’s linked. She does shake her head a little when not at shows.

Have you perhaps considered not treating horses as machines but sentient beings who suffer distress when they are moved on because they are not up to a specific job and maybe just keep them both safe? Because they are in your care and would suffer a huge degree of stress to be sold on: perhaps to make it easier to understand, move your daughter from school to school to school and allow her to have to find her way in the pecking order and establish her position in the herd. People like you are dreadful vomit inducing primates. Grim.

@Lesina i can see why you think that. It doesn’t sit well with me to talk as if I’m moving a horse on just because it doesn’t do well at shows. It’s the horse not thriving which is a huge concern for me. Spend all my money on vets, physio, feed…and all my spare time hanging out with my little herd. Never sold a pony before this but as painful as it is ours might not be the best place for her. She won’t be going anywhere without making sure it’s the best for her. She’ll be very happy going to a purely hacking home and always on the pretext that she can come back to us if it doesn’t work out.

Or just retire her and let her be a pet?

If you want to ensure that she has a good future then you need to just find her a loan home .

@Lesina could be criticised for anthropomorphising but she very much loves her hacking

I’ve 2 out on loan already. New home would be thoroughly vetted and I’d have her back if it didn’t work out

Once you’ve sold them you have no control or say at all , they could be passed on again within days however carefully you think you’ve vetted a home , I’ve seen it happen .

I was strongly in the never sell camp, until I started buying ponies for my dc. To progress and enjoy riding they ideally need a new mount roughly every 18 months. I did my best with loaning in and out of my yard but sometimes the best option is to sell.
I was very fussy about where the two I sold went and they are still in those homes many years down the line.
If allergens are the only route you haven’t explored do have a think about that. There may be a crop growing locally that irritates.

That statement tells me everything I need to know about you.

Have you ever ridden?

@Lesina i think everyone knows your opinion now.

How do you feel starting your day off being so unpleasant?

Yes :) and I have never sold a horse on. You?

Blimey, the OP is only asking for advice, not to be criticised because she might find a super home for a much loved pony! In the real world horses and ponies are bought and sold all the time.

I don’t know how you’ve managed to attract someone who clearly knows nothing about the horse world but you sound like a good and caring owner OP. Sadly you sometimes need to sell ponies to be able to afford the next one. The pony deserves to enjoy her life and not be asked to compete if she finds it that stressful. Sometimes the partnership just isn’t the right one!

How many horses do you currently own? How many children do you have and how many ponies have they had in the past?

No I haven’t. But I’m ever so grateful to those that have sold to me

Two horses & one retired elderly pony. One now adult child who is terrified of horses, hence the retirement for the now elderly pony :-) How about you?