Are we going to loose our pony?

[Harlequin32]

As some of you may know I have a pony- sort of on loan, she was pretty much abandoned at the yard i moved to. Her owner pays rent but thats it she hadnt been out of her field in years had serious mud fever and other problems. Then this summer it became apparent she also has severe respiratory problems.
I love this pony and would care for her for the rest of her life as we are- Owner paying main livery and i pay the rest, However the owner has apparently decided to put the pony up for full loan.:mad:
I cant full loan her as in the summer she needs constant high doses of ventipulmin and even then she's not great but i cant afford her livery AND medication on top of hay, bedding, feed farrier etc etc.
What do i do- am presently thinking dont worry say no to loan and then if she finds another person willing to loan her step in quick (she is going to advertise)
At the moment she is still quite weezy so i'm not sure anyone will loan her anyway? BUT then there seems to be hundreds of people looking for horses on loan and her breathing is not awful enough to be really obvious (it will be by June again)
What do i do? I cant bear the thought of
1.loosing her
2. her going back to being abandoned
3. someone taking her on not understanding her problems and asking too much of her

I kind of promised her i would take care of her forever and make sure she didnt suffer again:o but i just cant afford to pay it all so if i take her on properly she will suffer even more.

[happyhacker101]

Sorry to hear this, what is the pony like ridden wise? is she something that a lot of people are looking for ie - kids bombproof etc. Can u try talking to her owner and just pointing out how much better she has been since being with you etc etc? Appeal to the owners better nature;)

[Harlequin32]

She is great when she's rideable which is another thing that worries me- is she go's to someone else they will want to ride her all year round.
She is scared of tractors on narrow lanes, apart from that bombproof but can be VERY wizzy!

[happyhacker101]

I think you need to get a plan of action, write down all that the pony has wrong with it, costs to keep healthy and then go to the owner and appeal to there better side to be allowed to carry on as you are. Point out the negatives, dont gloss over anything as the owner needs to be aware of what you've been doing to keep pony happy and healthy - make sure owner knows how much of the year she is not up to being ridden. If the worst happens and she puts the pony up for loan, offer to help show the pony to prospective loaners, you can then point out the negatives of loaning said pony;)

[sarchie]

Hi! Wasn't this the horse that was possibly going to have the operation to help the respiratory probs?

[Harlequin32]

MM I| did think i would make sure i was there maybe get my daughter to show it being ridden- the owner wont come she hasnt seen her in ages and any prospective loaner will want to see her ridden- I can make her look bad! stick a snaffle in her mouth and show how out of control a child can be:rolleyes: (or is that evil and bad parent like of me;))
Apart from anything its not fair on the child that loans her. My daughter was so upset when summer holiday time came round and instead of riding we were nursing!

[Harlequin32]

Hi! Wasn't this the horse that was possibly going to have the operation to help the respiratory probs?

Yes thats the one! Its just problem after problem! decided against operation money and her age etc coupled with the fact that the vet said actually its too late her lungs are damaged and there were no guarentee's the op would work.

[happyhacker101]

MM I| did think i would make sure i was there maybe get my daughter to show it being ridden- the owner wont come she hasnt seen her in ages and any prospective loaner will want to see her ridden- I can make her look bad! stick a snaffle in her mouth and show how out of control a child can be:rolleyes: (or is that evil and bad parent like of me;))
Apart from anything its not fair on the child that loans her. My daughter was so upset when summer holiday time came round and instead of riding we were nursing!

Evil and bad - def not!! just looking after both your daughters and the ponies happiness!!:D

[montys helper]

sorry but if you cant afford to look after the pony in it condition then you should take a step back.

[Harlequin32]

sorry but if you cant afford to look after the pony in it condition then you should take a step back.

I know and the thing is even if i really stretch myself (already my horse has come off shavings onto straw etc and i have taken extra job) Its so much money to find for her esp for the months she cant be ridden.
Really if i can afford the livery etc then it should be on a healthy pony that can be ridden all year and do shows/fun rides etc in summer- school holidays
I am hoping if i just say no the owner wont be able to loan her to anyone else? And i will make her look awful if anyone dares to look at her!

[Lot1983]

Maybe it's time to walk away, there are probably lots of little ponies out there that need riding without expensive breathing issues and if the owner is going to play silly buggers maybe it's better to let it go now?

[montys helper]

hmmmm, all you can do is keep an eye open really, its deffo sounds like a case of the more you do the more they want. you never know, someone good may come along and really will look after it. i myself fell in love with a pony at the auctions, paid way over the odds and paid for it ever since really, i think if i hadnt then is prob be dead now or rotting in a field somewhere.dont let the care of your own horse(dont take that as iv wrote it) slide, ie, havin to change on to straw instead of shavings(even though i think straw is better anyway). y some ppl bother havin ponies or horses in the first place i dont no. good luck though x

[daftdraught]

Could you ask the owner to put her up for part loan so you could share her with another person, it may benefit the horse because hopefully it will have two people who care. could you buy her and put her at a cheaper yard? I have met a few people who have horses on loan and some of the owners seem to enjoy the power they have over the person who loves their horse. She may be just calling your bluff. Thakfully there are a lot of caring owners out there.

[Kimmy C]

Sorry I havent got anything constructive to say but I think the owner of this little pony doesnt deserve her. Poor thing if it wasnt for you she would probably be dead by now. I know how you feel. You dont want to let her down, how cruel of its owner to allow this to happen, just playing on your good nature. Sorry I had to say that. x

[Denbenj]

Ditto, try and find someone else to share her with you. How upsetting, I hope you get sorted out x

[Cazie]

Was there a contract between you and the owner, because you have invested a lot of time and money into this pony and you may have a case to keep her.

Then again probably not, I guess it is the owners right to sell or re-loan.. but the investment you have made, is that returnable if it is the owner who breaks the agreement?

Really sorry to hear about this, I know how much the pony means to you and your daughter X

[happyhacker101]

Have to say that I totally agree with the two other NR's that have suggested sharing the pony - now that's a really good idea - why not give it a go?

[Harlequin32]

Yes she does mean the world to me- I think she reminds me so much of my old pony and i cant bear to loose her:o
I am going to say no for now and hope she's just trying it on.
If it comes to it I am going to have to find the money i think although i know actually this is stupid and if i'm paying full wack we could have a healthy pony, maybe even one that can handle living out and be even cheaper.

Failing this i intend to kidnap her;) um- and i'm really not joking I will steal her. L