- Joined
- Nov 16, 2001
- Messages
- 379
- Reaction score
- 0
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- Age
- 42
- Location
- MA
- Website
- www.iainholmes.com
good friend of mine lets me ride her rather nice Appaloosa - she is one of the best rider I know and shares many of the same practicalities of horse ownership that I do.
Our barn closed down, so we are now located at a private barn. The property owner, wants to make the barn into a side business, and wants this girl to help get it up and running. She already has a list of a few of her old students who will move over to take lessons, so they went looking for a horse.
They found a rather cheap 13.1 pony who was for sale as the riding school who owned her was going out of business. The pony is probably an accident between a horse, and a pony - she has a huge head, long long body, short legs, but incredibly long pastern (they are so long the back ones almost are horizontal), she is over the knee, her off side knee has a couple hard lumps that do not cause any pain.
My friend asked me a few questions before picking it up, admittedly there was some concerns about soundness, but it had the right mindset for a school pony, and was the right price so it was decided that we would get it, bring it and see how it goes -
The pony came in yesterday, and today the girl seemed very despondent about it. I think it is a case of going to the junk yard, seeing a beauty, only to get it home and realize it was a beauty beside all the piles of rust next to it. The pony is admittedly in poor condition, underweight, some battle scares from the turn out, dull coat, etc.
I had a look at the pony, and I think it is GREAT AND ALREADY LOVE IT DEARLY!!!!! It reminded me of pony club back in the UK, where these ugly little ponies would parade their young cargo and care for them as if they were more important then the President of the United States of America. I jumped on her for a quick ride around (I think I spurred her in the knee) , and I think she did great considering she has a slightly sore back, and we are located by a very busy noisy road!!!
I am not sure what to do with my friend - today when we were chatting she was just very negative about the whole situation. The horse does have a rocky history, it is approximately 20, and was rescued from the slaughter house a year ago. I understand if this pony does not stay sound, it is not getting x-rays, or arthroscopy procedures, if daily bute does not solve it, it will be put down - but I want to give it the best chance possible!!!
To me she is just one of those ponies that the kids will learn to ride on, have a fabulous time, will love dearly and never forget! I have owned a horse with the best conformation that I struggled to keep sound, and have seen ones with the worst conformation who never take a lame step - so I have hope for her!
I really want my friend to get enthused, and just be as optimistic and behind this little one!!! The girl is going out of town the later part of this week, so I have decided the pony is having a spa day - good brush, bath, pull mane, trim tail, powder socks - we are going to be the prettiest EVER!!! Hopefully that will help!!
In the mean time FINGERS CROSSED!!
Our barn closed down, so we are now located at a private barn. The property owner, wants to make the barn into a side business, and wants this girl to help get it up and running. She already has a list of a few of her old students who will move over to take lessons, so they went looking for a horse.
They found a rather cheap 13.1 pony who was for sale as the riding school who owned her was going out of business. The pony is probably an accident between a horse, and a pony - she has a huge head, long long body, short legs, but incredibly long pastern (they are so long the back ones almost are horizontal), she is over the knee, her off side knee has a couple hard lumps that do not cause any pain.
My friend asked me a few questions before picking it up, admittedly there was some concerns about soundness, but it had the right mindset for a school pony, and was the right price so it was decided that we would get it, bring it and see how it goes -
The pony came in yesterday, and today the girl seemed very despondent about it. I think it is a case of going to the junk yard, seeing a beauty, only to get it home and realize it was a beauty beside all the piles of rust next to it. The pony is admittedly in poor condition, underweight, some battle scares from the turn out, dull coat, etc.
I had a look at the pony, and I think it is GREAT AND ALREADY LOVE IT DEARLY!!!!! It reminded me of pony club back in the UK, where these ugly little ponies would parade their young cargo and care for them as if they were more important then the President of the United States of America. I jumped on her for a quick ride around (I think I spurred her in the knee) , and I think she did great considering she has a slightly sore back, and we are located by a very busy noisy road!!!
I am not sure what to do with my friend - today when we were chatting she was just very negative about the whole situation. The horse does have a rocky history, it is approximately 20, and was rescued from the slaughter house a year ago. I understand if this pony does not stay sound, it is not getting x-rays, or arthroscopy procedures, if daily bute does not solve it, it will be put down - but I want to give it the best chance possible!!!
To me she is just one of those ponies that the kids will learn to ride on, have a fabulous time, will love dearly and never forget! I have owned a horse with the best conformation that I struggled to keep sound, and have seen ones with the worst conformation who never take a lame step - so I have hope for her!
I really want my friend to get enthused, and just be as optimistic and behind this little one!!! The girl is going out of town the later part of this week, so I have decided the pony is having a spa day - good brush, bath, pull mane, trim tail, powder socks - we are going to be the prettiest EVER!!! Hopefully that will help!!
In the mean time FINGERS CROSSED!!
