Horsey money saving hints? (merged)

UnluckyT

thanks katie, its really good advice, not thought about trianing but itd be a good idea

lostinrates

Can I revist the share/loan theme?

I have a few ponies/horses on loan. I didn't want them sold for various reasons, including those who are ''difficult'' and would risk ending up in homes where they became bullied not encouraged when they challenged.

Someone has asked to return a pony to me this winter, which is why I loaned him, so that he didn't end up somewhere else. But, .having just bought a house the actual day to day costs are going to be a bit of a a worry. I have plenty of space and facility to keep him, and he's only a little chap, but far too young to retire, and I have no child to ride him.

Would there be much demand for a loan/share arrangement where he remains at home with us and I provide day to day care, but some one's child has full use of him for riding etc in return, for say, his feet and half his feed? They could ride at weekends or everyday, I could lunge through the week if need be. I know no one ATM who I would loan him out to who has a child the right age: its important to me this little chap has a good life, hence wanting to be there, and we're moving area, so I'll know very few people close anyway. I think it would be more in demand if he were bigger, he's only 12h2, and quite the competition pony, so really a second/third pony.

orlao

lostinrates wrote: »

Can I revist the share/loan theme?

Would there be much demand for a loan/share arrangement where he remains at home with us and I provide day to day care, but some one's child has full use of him for riding etc in return, for say, his feet and half his feed? They could ride at weekends or everyday, I could lunge through the week if need be. I know no one ATM who I would loan him out to who has a child the right age: its important to me this little chap has a good life, hence wanting to be there, and we're moving area, so I'll know very few people close anyway. I think it would be more in demand if he were bigger, he's only 12h2, and quite the competition pony, so really a second/third pony.

I imagine you'll have people bitting your hands off for him if you advertise him in the right places.

Can you find your local pony club DC and ask if thy know antbody or put up an ad in the local competition centre - much better chance of getting a competantant child and mummy then

lostinrates

orlao wrote: »

I imagine you'll have people bitting your hands off for him if you advertise him in the right places.

Can you find your local pony club DC and ask if thy know antbody or put up an ad in the local competition centre - much better chance of getting a competantant child and mummy then

Ooh, I hope so. He's a bit grumpy and I bought him mainly because the people who had him weren't coping with him and I could see his future was bleak: he's like a four star eventer in a 12h2 body...very responsive and sharp, but bags and bags of talent and quite honest...just very responsive and sensitive..some people don't like ponies that ride sensitively off leg aids and rather than teach the young people how to ride properly they prefer to teach the pony how to be ridden badly. He's quite a smart little chap too. I'd love to think he could give a young person whose parents couldn't commit to a pony a chance too.

edit: I'll have to look into which PC area it is

orlao

I know a few littlies like that - I always feel a bit sorry for kids ponies, they have a lot to put up with! In saying that, I'm sure I was no nicer to my ponies when I was a kid:o
That's why I thought of PC, they usually have a few capable little jockeys and know who is capable of what IYSWIM....

Best of luck with him and the move!

trudij

I agree LIR - I think you will have people biting your hands off....

might be worth a word with your new(?) vets too - they might well be aware of someone looking...

lostinrates

trudij wrote: »

I agree LIR - I think you will have people biting your hands off....

might be worth a word with your new(?) vets too - they might well be aware of someone looking...

I haven't even looked n to vets yet.

I'mwondering though, will PC and Vets not know more people who would want ponies at home/on a yard already? I'd really rather he stayed at home I think. I'd let him go to, for example, a good NH home, although I am not Natural Horsemanship, I appreciate more of them are open minded about ponies with ''little man'' syndrome...

bouncydog1

I think you will find that there are quite a few parents who would love their child to have this opportunity, but simply do not have the time or experience or even the room to keep a pony at home. This would be the answer to their prayers.

My daughter has ridden since two and we would have snatched your hand off for this opportunity when she was around 7 or 8, being a good little rider but being subjected to the plods at the local stables. Purchasing was not an option for us as we felt we were inexperienced and we worried about how we would not be able to recognise any problems if they occurred.

Go for it!

lostinrates

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

I think you will find that there are quite a few parents who would love their child to have this opportunity, but simply do not have the time or experience or even the room to keep a pony at home. This would be the answer to their prayers.

My daughter has ridden since two and we would have snatched your hand off for this opportunity when she was around 7 or 8, being a good little rider but being subjected to the plods at the local stables. Purchasing was not an option for us as we felt we were inexperienced and we worried about how we would not be able to recognise any problems if they occurred.

Go for it!

Bouncyd, where would you have looked if you were in that position now?

bouncydog1

With the benefit of hindsight, I would contact my local riding club to ask if they knew of anyone who might be interested. Does your riding club have a website - you could post on there. I would also ask at the local pony club as I expect some of the PC members will have friends who don't own a pony. You could also look up BSJA coaches for your area via BSJA website and explain what you are looking for - again they may know of someone's younger brother or sister.

What about asking other horsey friends in case some of them know somebody - years ago when I first started riding I had a part loan via my local riding stables as the owner was taking her GCSE's and just wanted somebody to ride three days a week. I paid for a set of shoes which helped them out with cost and that was the price they set.

NB - before anyone says "she used to ride but didn't have experience to have a pony for her daughter", I only rode for a couple of years before she was born and felt I didn't know enough - know loads more now though from being DD's groom!