Post by BJMM on Jan 6, 2011 9:26:45 GMT 1
............. and I'm not overly happy about the circumstances in which I have aquired her! This is a long one. Cream cakes to anyone who makes it to the end! ;D
Four years ago last October my daughter and I had moved to a cheap and cheerful yard with Blaze and my pregnant mare, Erin, Jas's mum. We had noticed a pony in the field who never came in, was never seen 'with' anyone and was often dominated by the big horses in her field. One particular late autumn evening, the weather was foul - windy, wet and cold. All the horses were in except this little mare who was standing shivering by the gate, no rug, no hay - and we felt sorry for her.
It turned out that she had been at the yard for 7 years, rarely visited by the owners and had, on occasion, been 'taken on' by a well meaning livery, only to be dropped again when they found her too expensive to keep.
Anyway, we brought her in that night, bedded down, fed, hayed and watered her and next day I phoned the owners to ask if they would like us to look after her. We came to an arrangement where they would pay the livery and we would feed, look after her feet etc.
This went on for a while, my daughter fell in love with the pony and we were happy to have her. Then the YO told me they were 11 weeks behind with the livery and the pony would have to leave. Despite phoning and pleading the money was not forthcoming so I payed the outstanding charges.
Well, after much argument back and forth I managed to find a member of the family willing to make regular payments into my account to pay the livery, and when we moved to our present yard, pony came too. Now hopelessly outgrown by my daughter and in her late teens, she became a babysitter for Jas when I was working Blaze.
Then the money stopped. Then my husband had an accident which left him disabled and unable to work. I have been working 48 hrs a week (nights) plus caring for the three horses and it gets gutty in the winter. Every now and then I phone the owners and excuse after excuse is made. Yes, I could just give her back but they would just dump her in a field and she is happy and cared for with us. And I love her
Before Christmas I made a last-ditch attempt at getting these people to take some responsibility for their pony (whom they actually BRED, is now 21 yrs old, and they say they LOVE her!!!!!)
to be told that they have no money, never will, please will I SELL the pony? Like everyone is queueing up for an old pony these days
I can't dump her at the mercy of the welfare services, they are overworked enough, probably wouldn't have room anyway..................... so, it looks as if she is hear to stay, bless her. Lucy, my wonderful trimmer (horsesfirst on here) very kindly gave her a free trim on Tuesday, for which I am very grateful. I will manage, I have to, she is my responsibility now and she'll stay with me til the end.
Just so pissed off that this family have dumped their 21 yr old pony without a thought for what could happen if I had passed her on, or a care about me and my family, pushed to the financial limits
So now there are three. Pony's name is Silky, she is 14hh, three quarter Arab and a quarter Welsh, chestnut with a blaze and three white socks. A total sweetheart.xxxxxxxx
Phew!! Feel better now ;D Cream cake, anyone??
Four years ago last October my daughter and I had moved to a cheap and cheerful yard with Blaze and my pregnant mare, Erin, Jas's mum. We had noticed a pony in the field who never came in, was never seen 'with' anyone and was often dominated by the big horses in her field. One particular late autumn evening, the weather was foul - windy, wet and cold. All the horses were in except this little mare who was standing shivering by the gate, no rug, no hay - and we felt sorry for her.
It turned out that she had been at the yard for 7 years, rarely visited by the owners and had, on occasion, been 'taken on' by a well meaning livery, only to be dropped again when they found her too expensive to keep.
Anyway, we brought her in that night, bedded down, fed, hayed and watered her and next day I phoned the owners to ask if they would like us to look after her. We came to an arrangement where they would pay the livery and we would feed, look after her feet etc.
This went on for a while, my daughter fell in love with the pony and we were happy to have her. Then the YO told me they were 11 weeks behind with the livery and the pony would have to leave. Despite phoning and pleading the money was not forthcoming so I payed the outstanding charges.
Well, after much argument back and forth I managed to find a member of the family willing to make regular payments into my account to pay the livery, and when we moved to our present yard, pony came too. Now hopelessly outgrown by my daughter and in her late teens, she became a babysitter for Jas when I was working Blaze.
Then the money stopped. Then my husband had an accident which left him disabled and unable to work. I have been working 48 hrs a week (nights) plus caring for the three horses and it gets gutty in the winter. Every now and then I phone the owners and excuse after excuse is made. Yes, I could just give her back but they would just dump her in a field and she is happy and cared for with us. And I love her
Before Christmas I made a last-ditch attempt at getting these people to take some responsibility for their pony (whom they actually BRED, is now 21 yrs old, and they say they LOVE her!!!!!)
to be told that they have no money, never will, please will I SELL the pony? Like everyone is queueing up for an old pony these days
I can't dump her at the mercy of the welfare services, they are overworked enough, probably wouldn't have room anyway..................... so, it looks as if she is hear to stay, bless her. Lucy, my wonderful trimmer (horsesfirst on here) very kindly gave her a free trim on Tuesday, for which I am very grateful. I will manage, I have to, she is my responsibility now and she'll stay with me til the end.
Just so pissed off that this family have dumped their 21 yr old pony without a thought for what could happen if I had passed her on, or a care about me and my family, pushed to the financial limits
So now there are three. Pony's name is Silky, she is 14hh, three quarter Arab and a quarter Welsh, chestnut with a blaze and three white socks. A total sweetheart.xxxxxxxx
Phew!! Feel better now ;D Cream cake, anyone??
poor pony, glad she found some one like you! She sounds lovely tho 
