Would you give away a naughty unbroken Welsh pony or charge?

[marmite123456]

Have another thread going. Just wondering ( not in UK) if you would give away for free a Welsh pony or ask a small amount for her. She is naughty, a beautiful cremello, about 11h 2. Two ice blue eyes. Halter trained but unbroken. Very smart. 9yo. Thanks

When I say smart I mean it took me about 5 minutes to bob her head for yes. Mind you, she nods for anything. "Are you a total pain?" for example.

Aww I'll take her. Wish I could but I have no home for her and it sounds like we're in different countries!

I'd never give an animal away, unless it was someone I knew and could guarantee would care for them.

Giving away means anyone could take her and sell on to make a profit.

Any reason why she can't be trained to saddle or to pull a cart? Work would probably relieve her boredom and thus her naughtiness as well as giving her a value. What's her living situation like? Is she out in a herd or spending too much time stabled or turned out solo? If you don't want to train her, she needs to live as natural a life as possible and that means out full time with friends and if you can't do that, I would advertise her for permanent loan or sale.

She's with 2 sheep. Used to be with a horse. For fun she'd nip his neck and steal his food as he looked languidly in the other direction. I don't have enough space or money for another equine.

She's a total menace. You can't help but love her and her antics but when we have to move she will just be worse. She has a massive brand 2017 on her. So def sure about her age,

Generally I think giving away horses is a bad idea because it can attract dodgy types looking to make a quick buck - unless you know the person personally or have a strong personal reference.

I think selling her to a home that will give her equine company and work would be a good idea, especially if you are planning to move and think it would be harder to meet her needs then.

If you could do the groundwork needed to get her to a point where they can crack on with backing (assuming you don't have a rider small enough otherwise this would have been done already) will increase her value and appeal. So lots of long reining, wearing tack, being leaned over, lined up next to a mounting block, etc.

Good luck :)

Why was she never broken, did you ever intend to or was she only ever meant to be a companion/pet? Sadly I'd say she's exactly the kind of pony at risk of falling into the wrong hands if sold for peanuts or given away - pretty, good to handle and young-ish without being a total baby will attract someone who will think they can spend 5 mins sticking a saddle and a brave child on for the sake of some pics (or in these days of AI editing they don't even need to do that) then sell her as a broken in quiet child's pony for £5k to a clueless novice family. Dodgy dealers are very good at masquerading as responsible owners, or even if you did give her to someone very genuine and responsible, who's to say they won't have a change of circumstances in a year or two just as you have and need to re home her again and get taken in themselves.

The only way to guarantee the pony's future is to either keep her yourself (at grass livery if need be if you will no longer have grazing for her at home), or loan her out as a companion/ pet, ideally to a known home but keep a close eye on her and ensure you're able financially to have her back again if loaners circumstances change. Or as a PP says, you could invest into getting her professionally broken in and trained, if you did then sell she stands a much better chance of getting a good responsible long term home - you would probably only just recoup your investment but it might well be the best thing for the pony? Do you have any good local riding schools as she's a nice size and type for a school pony, they likely won't be interested if unbroken but potentially might be if she's had the basics started well, they might also be able to recommend someone to do that work for you? At least that way she also wouldn't be at risk of being sold on again when outgrown by child rider and you could keep in touch?

Not sure what to do. Will post a pic tomorrow, thanks for all replies.

When we can catch her( takes 3 of us!) once the halter is on she is great at lunging, will walk following you no problems. Not great at being tied up, Either spins in a circle until her head is stuck on the ground or breaks the lead. No idea how . She is tiny. But she has also broken fences and water pipes . She's very funny.Do you think $500 would be too much to ask for her? That's about 300 pounds,

OK so she's 9, she's unbroken and apparently has no ground education/manners either. Who actually is going to want her? Presumably she's unpapered so breeding from her would be irresponsible (without even getting into the logistics of safely breeding an unhandled pony)

If you really don't want to put any work at all into getting her to something approaching a civilized equine, then I'd seriously consider what is best for her longterm future, and that would probably for me involve a vet. Her future is incredibly precarious in her current state and the world doesn't need more cute but feral horses.

Guessing from $ that you're in the US? That pony will endup in the slaughter pipeline if sold as she is now.

Either put consistent time and effort into getting her backed/ready to be backed, or send her to someone to do it for you. Or ifyou think she's no prospect as a ridden/driven pony, do the decent thing and give her a dignified ending.

There is no market for kids sized ponies that can't be easily handled.

Oh heck, poor pony :( She doesn't sound funny, she sounds stressed and unhappy.

I agree with the other two posters having seen your latest update - you can't sell a pony you can't catch and haven't taught basic handling skills. You either need to invest a LOT of time into getting her on track and able to be sold or have her put to sleep peacefully at home before you move.

Please don't give her away. As others have said this is potentially a terrible future waiting to happen. Even selling her cheaply is great risk unless it's someone you know willing to take her as a companion or put in hours and hours of proper training.
I suspect that selling her cheaply will invite horse know all types or chancers wanting a cheap first pint, convinced that they can definitely turn the house around quickly. When it doesn't happen there is potential for cruelty l, beatings when she has no idea why and/or sold on to goodness knows who for goodness knows what.
I wish I had and alternative perspective or idea to offer you op but sadly; just don't. I would be looking for a home as a companion with people I know but I realize that's easier said than done 💐

Pony .. not pint. Horse not house 😄

I don't think this sounds funny at all. She's no good for a child to ride, no manners, impossible to catch and you're thinking of giving her away because why would anyone buy her? It's unlikely to end well. I agree with having her PTS unfortunately.

I don't know where in the world you are and what the market for ponies is, but in the UK/europe that sort of money is literally meat/carcass value I'm afraid so exactly the wrong amount to try and charge. Afaik in the US ponies are if anything worth more but of course perhaps you're in Canada or Australia where maybe it's different again.

However again based off my experience, a responsible/loving pet home would/should not be prepared to pay a token price for a pony as you describe. In the UK they can be picked up for near-enough free from rescues or in the case of feral welsh ponies straight off the hills when they're rounded up twice a year, and elsewhere in the world there are livestock auctions or sanctuaries again basically giving unrideable horses away for free or meat money (which is sadly where many end up once they've hit rock bottom of the market). And of course a proper ridden/driven/show quality or broodmare prospect would be worth 10 times the amount you're thinking of. To be honest however cute she is she has effectively no value right now so there's no point pretending she does - if you can find someone who finds her as sweet and funny as you do and will offer a good home then I'd practically pay them to take her off your hands tbh. Or as I say, put the work/investment in to make her be able to do a useful job and then she'll be worth something. But right now if you advertise her for peanuts she really risks ending up in a bad place and surely you owe her more than that?

I bought her as a pet when we moved here. I didn't expect the artritis in my knee and tendon problems in my foot. So I can't walk down to her, which I used to. She is fine just naughty. Came in the house once, pokes her head in the shed door when you are getting her feed, runs off when you try and catch her, but will stand for ages to be washed and brushed and petted once you can get her halter on. Great for the farrier.

We have a riding school 10 minutes drive away but don't own a float. I may ring and ask if they would know someone who is interested or if they are. My neighbour trains horses but hates me so sadly not an option.

Despite your health issues, you have a responsibility to this pony. And part of that responsibility means giving her the training and tools to be a useful citizen.

invest the money in someone coming to sort out her ground manners and break her in, so that you can find a good home for her. You may not make any money on the deal, if anything it may cost you a bit, but it would be the right thing to do.

Or, as others have said, have her quietly PTS at home where you can at least guarantee she’s not going to end up in bad hands.

i wonder if there is a horse trust or horse protection league or something the equivalent of what dogs and cats have. maybe the rspca would know.

i wonder if your local horsey place would break her and get her going. perhaps with a view to sharing the sale price or something.

i worry that a free useless but nice pony wont get a happy life. meat man. or some people with large fighting dogs for a bet or something awful. she deserves better. you cannot tell what will happen even if the people “seem nice” type thing so i’d try and get her trained up.

Can you gift her to your horse trainer neighbour even if he hates you? Usually mean horsey people hate humans but are nice to equines.

I don't see anyone else wanting an unbroken 9-year-old with terrible ground manners

I’d suggest not advertising her free to good home or for a small amount, due to the risk of her being acquired for the meat market. Can you afford to send her away for training, then advertise her as green-backed? With the looks you describe, she might find a good home.

Is there a horse charity where you are? They are the best to ask