Soft touch or reality check?

[Mousesmummy]

I would really appreciate honest opinions please.
My 9 year old dd has had a pony on loan for 8 months at a riding stables near to us. He is an old fellow - his passport says 17 but I am led to believe he is in truth nearer 30!
He has been getting used less and less by the stables recently as he certainly seems more tired.
My dd's instructor (not the yard owner) feels he would really benefit from getting out of the yard now, having a one to one with a family. She has even said we could keep him at hers (she is smitten with him, like us!) if the owner would let us have him. We don't know what her plans are for him yet but the instructor said she will find out for us. She did say she would not pay for him though as he isn't worth anything.

So the question is . . . Am I mad to be considering taking him on as he is so old and to be honest a bit knackered? He recently had two more teeth out and has been on a soft diet - looks like he only has about 7 teeth in total!
My dd is VERY soft natured so I am very concerned he would die on us and she would be heartbroken, but equally I cannot bear the thought that he has worked so hard all his life for people and wont have the retirement/home he deserves!

Sorry for VERY long post!!

[LisaD1]

If he were 17 I would say go for it, we have a 17yr old pony dor DD1 who is almost 11 and hs ei perfect, an ideal pony.

However, at 30 I think you will just be taking on someone elses problems. I don't mean to sound harsh but what good years will you get from the pony before you start paying vets bills/special diets etc?

We will keep our horses until the sadly die but we have many, many, happy memories and we're still adding to them so they have definitely earned a happy retirement. I'm not saying this pony hasn't but do you really want to be the one paying for that when you don't have the many good years under your belt? Also, realistically, at 30 how much riding is your DD going to be able to do on him?

[Pixel]

Do you know he's nearly 30 though? How did he get a passport that says he's 17? (although from your description he does sound pretty old). I do agree with what Lisa says as we had our first pony until he was 35 but we'd had him since he was 16 so it was totally different. Also, although we were really upset by his loss, my sister and I were not 9 years old. On the other hand we take comfort that all our ponies have had the ending they deserved so I see your point there if you and your dd are fond of him.

[Mousesmummy]

Girl at the yard said something about him being bought before equine passports came out?? That's how they have managed to sell him on as a younger pony?
I'm not sure to be honest but just by looking at him you can see he is an old man you know? Arch! Just don't know what to do? Feel so sorry for him

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

He could very well be older, the passport regulations used to be a lot more lax. We had a pony once who had had his passport switched with another horse when on a dealers yard. (we strongly suspect) unless he had dental abnormalities it may be possible for someone experienced to guess a ball park age. If he is in the region of thirty, his days could well be numbered. I agree with LisaD, you will probably be taking on lots of problems and bills. My friend had a relatively health 30 year old. He still needed ventapulmin, a special soft diet, a multitude of supplements and special attention. In the event that he needs putting down or dies, you have to pay for disposal. To have friends old boy put down and taken away cost nearly 300!

[Mousesmummy]

Oh god I can see how this is going to go . Yes it was the dentist person (?) who said he is DEFO not 17!!
From what I hear from the yard the owner is 'all about the money' and people suspect she would just have him shot if it came to it . I know I should NOT be getting involved but the poor old man eh?
Thanks for your opinions though ladies - deep down I knw you are right.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Sometimes although it's hard, it is better to put them down. He would have to adjust to a different home and a change of work and this could potentially stress him out.

[ManateeEquineOhara]

I know if I was in your situation I would be taking the pony out of the riding school, but from a detached and logical perspective it doesn't look like the wisest idea. But sometimes you just do what you think is right.

Maybe try and get the Yard Owner's feelings about the situation...would she let him go very cheaply (although if he is 30 I think free would be reasonable)?.

If you do end up in a situation where you may well get him, get a vet to come out, not for a full vetting, but to get another opinion on the age, check heart etc.

Good luck however it works out

[Mousesmummy]

Well looks like decision might be made for me ladies - pony has colic, looks in a bad way, head girl has said to prepare for him not to make it
They are going to ring me later with an update - I am beyond sad!

[shufflebum]

I'm so sorry

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Oh how sad, I am sorry, I hope you and your DD are okay.

[Mousesmummy]

Well he's up on his feet and has eaten he must be a tough old man!!!
Staff have said we will know more over the next week or so. So we will just have to wait and see?
But it has sort of made my mind up for me - if we can get him and he recovers, we will take him just as a 'pet' and let him live out his last few months. Obviously if he became ill again we wouldn't let him suffer.
(Girls there don't think he would see another winter? So it may be that we are taking on the crap, expensive bit but it wont be forever and I also think it will 'teach' my dd a valuable lesson in respecting animals, don't want her to grow up thinking they are disposable iyswim?)
Will let you know and thanks for the support!

[DizzyKipper]

I am so glad you said that! I don't even own a horse/pony and never had done (I am an animal enthusiast though hence lurking the threads) and just reading about the situation was breaking my heart. Animals deserve more than this iykwim - it's not about how "useful" they are or what they can give you, they just deserve more. That being said it's not that I don't understand or empathise with the money issue that many people would have and the fact that most people wouldn't even be in the situation to contemplate it (I had a daft moment of imagining getting this horse myself - although being that I've had court summons over unpaid bills prob not the wisest move, but I would just find the alternative too heartbreaking. And fwiw I think you're teaching your DD an invaluable lesson. Thanks once again, you've somewhat restored my faith in humanity tonight (or at least some of it )

[redredruby]

Mousesmummy, I think you are doing a wonderful thing. If only there were more people like you in the horse world!

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Ah bless, so glad he seems to be okay, and I think you are doing something lovely in still taking him on, if a little crazy, but that is all good :)

[muppetisacat]

What a lucky little pony to have stumbled upon you in his twilight days!
I have read in magazines that vets and equine dentists have been challenged before to accurately give the age of a horse by studying teeth. I think on average most experts were between 5 and 8 years out from the correct age of the horse, proving how difficult it is to establish age by this method and how easy it is to get away with giving inaccurate information!
Best of luck with him, he sounds like he is ready for some tlc and a lovely summer retirement, those riding school ponies earn it in my opinion.