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Post by wondering on Jul 22, 2014 16:03:41 GMT
Is it acceptable to retire a pony at the mere age of 15 ? 11.2 children have outgrown and he has served us well for 10 years, we would never consider selling him he is with us for life, and can't find another jockey we have tried and nor can we loan him as Ive seen too many loans go wrong, he is turned out daily with company and pampered , we take him for walks on a lead like a dog , and he isnt a laminitic type so no work hasn't turned him porky. He seems happy enough but I worry he may get bored after an active working life, although as I say he seems happy enough,he lives a nice cared for life with equine company just isn't ridden anymore... thoughts please or am I just been silly worrying he will be bored ?
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Post by leevale on Jul 22, 2014 16:06:24 GMT
The pony won't be bored if he has company and grazing. At least you know he is loved and cared for if you keep him with you
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Post by wondering on Jul 22, 2014 16:13:58 GMT
thank you leevale, Its just Ive had a few people saying its cruel for him not to be ridden seeing as he is healthy and fit. Id personally rather him be a field ornament for possibly the next 20 years who knows than be sold on and we dont know where he ends up. We do get the odd friend's child have a potter round on him now and again , but he won't likely be going out to pony club again or long hacks and shows .
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Post by brindlerainbow on Jul 22, 2014 16:17:20 GMT
When my daughter outgrew her 11.2 section A I decided not to sell him as I didn't want him passed on. I retired him aged 10, he is now 22 and still going strong. He is happy because he has company, is well looked after and totally adored and spoilt
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Post by wondering on Jul 22, 2014 16:21:12 GMT
Thanks for your words of encouragement too brindlerainbow, he is definately not short of cuddles love and care he is totally spoilt I could no sooner sell him than the family dog he is with us for life, just wish people would stop commenting about us being cruel to him their words by letting him retire , its only because childrens legs are now hopelessly too long for him ! these comments made me worry he would be hopelessly bored.
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Post by brindlerainbow on Jul 22, 2014 16:39:58 GMT
Tell them to shut up :)The pony wont care if he's ridden or not as long as he is fed and well looked after and has company
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Post by highlanderlass on Jul 22, 2014 16:52:37 GMT
Definitely not cruel, you are doing the best for your pony and I am sure he enjoys his walk out now and again. I am just the same as you, all our ponies are with us until the end, they are serving us extremely well and it's the least we can do to reward them for what they have given us. It's nobody elses business whether you or I decide never to ride our ponies again, only we can decide what's best for them.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using proboards
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jul 22, 2014 16:55:35 GMT
He will be absolutely fine. But if your conscience gets the better of you teach him to drive!
I have currently 17 ponies here from yearling to 22yo and none are in work. How do you think breeding stock live? They are blissfully happy standing around under the trees swishing flies off each other and just being horses as nature intended.
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Post by catkin on Jul 22, 2014 17:38:31 GMT
Stick to your guns. Whilst perhaps other people might benefit from your pony, the pony itself should be at its happiest out with friends - as nature intended.
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Post by comanchediva on Jul 22, 2014 19:40:28 GMT
What is cruel about having the pony you love stay the rest of his life in a happy home with people who love him and nothing more to do than graze, roll and sleep as and when he decides? There are lots of things that can be deemed cruel but not this!! Enjoy your pony and ignore these people and their silly comments, I hope your boy knows how lucky he is
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Post by wondering on Jul 22, 2014 20:18:14 GMT
Thank you all for your kind replies youve all put my mind at rest. And sarahp I might just consider that getting him to learn to drive one day ! just been up to bring him in for the night and for once didn't feel bad that he was perhaps bored he happily tucked into his haynet and looked quite contented to me, why do people have to make nasty comments and make you wonder about things, he has everything he needs bar a jockey but he has everything else .
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Post by pipandflo on Jul 22, 2014 21:09:54 GMT
I've just been out for a lovely evening drive with our similar to your pony, perhaps try going out for a drive with someone and see if you enjoy it. Otherwise just let him be a pony, he won't mind either way.
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Post by maxandpaddy on Jul 22, 2014 21:23:09 GMT
I wont part with our 13.2 sp and shes only 9, after a nightmare loan story I gave up trying to find her another home then a friend of a friend asked if they could have her. Shes with them now and very happy but when the day comes that shes too small for them she will be back home with us and ...yep a happy field ornament Till our lovable ninja mutant 3 year old gets her hands on her
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Post by angelimpala on Jul 22, 2014 21:31:54 GMT
Depends on the pony- our 24 year old 12.2 pbw was out grown but too sharp for my youngest nervous daughter and for our borrowed jockey who rides our old FR pony, she was always looking depressed and just seemed flat, she had taken to cribbing even in the field when before, she had only done it in the stable. I tentatively looked for a loaner and found a lovely family on the wirral, she is now having a fab time with a little girl doing hacks on the beach and RC shows and hasn't cribbed once since she went there. Her daughter however has been outgrown 2/3 years ago when she was only 7 and would be quite happy doing nothing! Trying to find a loaner for her is mission impossible! Can't give the thing away lol . In the end it comes down to what suits the pony and the owners- ponies have no ambitions so I'm sure a lot of them would be quite happy being field ornaments
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Post by judyh on Jul 23, 2014 6:55:26 GMT
My 12.2 is now a very healthy 24 year old. He loved showing - went to Wembley and gave my daughter a fantastic time in the ring. It was my intention to produce him for another child - nothing ever leaves my care. He was then 9, it was when we began to hear about people being sued . I made the decision he would be retired. After 4 years a friend who owns a riding centre asked what he was doing . We decided to put her daughter on him, I worked him in long reins for a week, we took him to Osmotherly Show where he won, beating a professionally produced pony!! The following year her daughter was too big so he continued to be the happy field ornament he is today. Our 13.2 is 20 and never enjoyed work. They both are in at night/ day depending on the season, are rugged up and treated as if in work. I think this is the key to making them happy . Keep your pony, it's no one else's concern and you will be happy knowing you are doing the right thing for him and your family.
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smalley
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Horses lend us the wings we lack
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Post by smalley on Jul 23, 2014 10:08:48 GMT
I don't think there's anything wrong with early retirement - I 'retired' my pony 2 years ago at the age of 13 after trying unsuccessfully to sell her because she is so difficult, and I had no time to ride her with 2 others. She is very happy and occasionally I get back on her and ride her about a bit, I may do veteran classes next year but for now she is fine with doing nothing. However if you can find a good loan home that is close by I don't have a problem with loaning out a special pony - we loaned out my 12hh darty who had given us years of fun and success but both my brother and I had outgrown him. He was 16 and had cushings, but we worried he might get laminitis if he didn't do anything. Besides, there are few ponies that are as good as he was. The family who loaned him are lovely and have kept him in great shape, they bought him after a bit and are going to keep him forever. They always let us know how he's getting on which is nice to hear.
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Post by Potty Pots on Jul 23, 2014 10:09:59 GMT
Personally I don't think animals have any human emotions and do not stand in a field thinking " gosh I do hope someone takes me out for a ride" As said before as long as they are fed, watered and have company is all they need. Better you keep him and know he is being well cared for and ignore the others who are trying to pull your choices down !
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Post by nj on Jul 23, 2014 10:57:45 GMT
Glad you asked this, we have a very similar Show pony who competed at the top, but we have had to retire him at age 16yrs but saying that it's because he has mild arthritis in his knees, I felt sorry for him to begin with as he had always been in work, shows stable, work, shows, stable on a producers yard, until he came to us, where he was turned out, beach rides, shows, to begin with he was pretty depressed but now enjoys the life of riley, still treated as if in work, comes in at night, pampered, but he will never leave us, and I could never loan him out with his mild health issues, so he is a happy bunny now, he owes us nothing, we owe everything to him for teaching the little girl everything, so he deserves a happy retirement.
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Post by nici on Jul 23, 2014 12:23:17 GMT
I also think it depends on the pony. We used to have 2 little mini Shetlands (mother and daughter) that my daughter and her friends rode when they were small. When my daughter moved on to a standard Shetland, one of the minis used to stand and watch her ride, looking thoroughly miserable, while the other grazed on happily in the field. I don't think Bridget would have been happy being a field ornament for the rest of her life, although Megan probably would have been. But as both were still young (Bridget was 9, Megan was only 5) I found loan homes for them both - 4 years on they are both still there, both still happy and I love getting regular updates on FB. After 3 years my daughter's standard Shetland also went on to a loan home as he also loved his work. After 18 months in a wonderful home where he had loads of fun at pony club and taking his boy hunting he has now just moved on to another PC/hunting home. I would have loved to have him back to sit in my field - out of all the ponies I've ever had, he is the one guaranteed to make me smile whatever my mood, just by being there. But every time I saw him out hunting in particular he was obviously loving it, and I'm pleased he will be able to carry on doing it with his new little girl.
On the other hand, our Welsh A will never leave me, despite being hopelessly outgrown. She has health issues and I don't want to risk her going anywhere else. I do try to keep her exercised as part of her weight management. I might break her to drive one day - she's already worn a harness and towed the kids on a sledge so is partway there. She's not particularly enthusiastic about her work, but is a great confidence giver for kids starting to canter or jump, so she'll not be retiring for a while.
Whatever choice you make for your pony - it should be your choice alone. There's nothing cruel about having a pony as a field ornament - my baby C has been just that for the past 4 years. He's in for a surprise this summer though, as that's about to change. I don't however agree with a previous poster that it's important for them to be stabled and rugged though. Our ponies all live out, and in the winter only the ponies working that winter will be clipped and therefore rugged. The others will be expected to grow their own rugs, which are more effective than anything I could buy. Whether working or not, they all get regular handling and are fed according to their needs, rather than just chucked out into the field and left.
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Post by chloesmum on Jul 23, 2014 17:18:24 GMT
I agree it does depend on the pony and you know the pony best. Our wonderful ISRT Snip was sold when Chloe was out of class and caused us much heartache, we ended up having him back after a year as he had been injured and we showed him for another year with borrowed jockey and Chloe did some P/B and Hack classes but he was not a good hack ride! and also I didn't want a top class show horse being dragged around in his mid teens and eventually standing bottom of the line because of his age he had shown at top level all his life and won everything - he had nothing to prove. So we retired him at the age of 14 to our wonderful friends house, where he lived with 2 other top ex HOYS ponies. She descibes it as her 5 Star Retirement home!! He lived a wonderful life, again he didn't owe us a penny and loved his friends. He would never be a 'happy hacker' so he was retired and loved every minute of it - warm stable, lovely fields and just enough attention, although I do think he turned a bit feral in his old age!! Sadly he broke his leg last year, playing with his best friend. I have no doubt we did the best thing for him and he was dearly loved to the end. However Jacob - Chloe's Sec C stallion is 16 and would be really miserable being retired - he loves to hack out and does the occasional show which he seems to really enjoy - anyone who saw him bounce at Windsor would agree!! He is looking better than ever but again we will not drag him round the circuit although we know he could hold his own but we are so glad for the SSDA classes - a new career beckons! You know what is best for your pony and if we could keep all of ours I would - but we will never part with the oldies, I cannot bear to see them going from home to home they owe us nothing and we owe them everything.
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Post by Springtime on Jul 23, 2014 18:00:02 GMT
i think it's not only perfectly acceptable but also very responsible. also if a suitable wee rider did happen to turn up at some point the pony could be brought back into work. at least this way you know he is being properly cared for. hope he enjoys his retirement. x
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janet
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Post by janet on Jul 23, 2014 19:38:46 GMT
I have a top class dartmoor pony who was 2nd at HOYS, bot has been retired age 8 yrs, he is now 19, he is a very difficult ride, would have been pushed around yards so I made the decision to keep and retire him as my girls would not ride him, he has been a field ornament for years and is very happy out with his friends, he prefers this life, ponies are really not meant to be ridden and I am sure if given the choice would prefer a pampered life style with no work, it gives me peace of mind that I know where he is and has a great life
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lovebird
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SandbankEarlybird & Freya, Evening Performance HOYS 2013
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Post by lovebird on Jul 23, 2014 20:36:00 GMT
My little mare is 27, been with us since weaning, it's a good many years since she was last in the show ring, she is much loved and pampered, and very happy.
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Post by switchblade82 on Jul 23, 2014 23:19:37 GMT
You can't win can you?, let them live their days, you are accused of letting them get old before their time? You know your pony, he is yours and if he is happy IGNORE them.
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Post by jacksprat on Jul 24, 2014 6:06:01 GMT
i have read all this post and have enjoyed reading about how much joy all these beautiful ponies have given to you and your children. it is heartwarming to think that you all think so much of them that you all will keep them in the lap of luxury for the rest of their lives, i agree that ponies do not care whether they are in work or not as long as they are getting all the things they need.
well done to you all for putting their welfare first
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janet
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Post by janet on Jul 24, 2014 6:59:44 GMT
Plus I have taken another dartmoor in who we owned for 2 years , this was 9 yrs ago and he has come back to me to retire, he found me again as I am the last owner on the passport!! He had a terrible time until he was rescued by someone who told me they felt sorry for him and couldn't leave him where he was, very thin covered in lumps looking extremely sorry for himself, I felt I owed him a happy retirement so he is now looking great and will live her for the rest off his days, The person who got him into this sorry state and I have seen the pics is a Horsegossip user and a said "producer" you should be ashamed
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Post by Kerbeck on Jul 24, 2014 9:29:47 GMT
I really agree it depends on the pony, one of mine would love an early retirement, he enjoy's his work when he's doing it (particuarly WH and hunting) but is as happy as larry doing nothing as well. My other one loves attention and being ridden, and gets grumpy if he has more than a couple of days in the field, if he hasn't been ridden for a while he will whinny when he next sees his saddle! He is very clever, and if not kept occupied will cause all sorts of havoc by: letting horses out of their stables, pulling fence posts out of the ground, digging up the field, scraping his teeth against windows, jumping out of the field, you name it he's thought of it! I do give him 4 - 6 weeks off in winter as he is ridden up to 6 days a week the rest of the time, but by about week 3 i'm pulling my hair out! Therefore first pony gets picked up and put down to allow me to work second pony but he's not bothered. Personally my two are only just coming in to their own at ages 9 & 10 but If I had a pony like the OP then I see no problem in retiring them , although I do think a retired pony should be out as much as possible (preferably 24/7) unrugged if they are a native and allowed to revert back to how nature intended
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janet
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Post by janet on Jul 24, 2014 18:32:34 GMT
Mine live out , no rugs, except if really wet and windy and then they love to come in, they come in once every 6 weeks the night before for the farrier as well
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