Lunesdale Eagle shared Sian Catherine's post.
20 mins ·
Sian Catherine to Highland Pony Group
29 mins ·
My mother and I have had a long and very hard discussion about our pony Lilibet of Kuranda.
She will be turning 16 years old next year and has been in our family for the last 9 years.
We have great success with her, our highlight being when she was the Southern Highland Champion a few years back.
She has competed and is still competing at a local level in dressage, show jumping, eventers challenges, WHP, showing and cross country. Happily jumps 2'3-2'6 classes.
Lilibet is still low mileage considering her age.
This pony owes us nothing!
The problem we have is that we now have a younger highland who takes up more of our time and has giving us the competing bug back. As a result we are feeling increasingly guilty that we have a pony with so much to offer the right person sitting in a field. She is currently being ridden by a friend who has come back to riding after 10 years and Lilibet has been amazing and looked after her brilliantly.
She is a yellow dun, approx 14hh who is not chunky type. Lives in or out with mares and geldings. She is sensible, does not buck or rear. Open to any vetting. She isn’t a fan of large rattling lorries of tractors but never puts you are risk and rarely reacts now unless you react. We have worked out that if met by such traffic we let go of the reins and let her look.
She is great to catch, load, box, clip and handle but is a highland with a highland mentality at times e.g. can be bargy or can suddenly dive for grass when you are leading her. With that in mind she needs an experienced highland forever home with an adult where see will be taking out hacking and possibly to local shows and be enjoyed without the pressure of someone trying to push her to achieve more in her later years.
We often see posts from people who are having difficulty with their highlands and may have lost their confidence and often agree that Lilibet would be a perfect alternative as long as the person has horsey common sense.
All potential homes would be vetted and she would be offered on a trial. We are happy for people to try her with us a few times before a decision is made. We would hate for her to go to the wrong home and wouldn’t want the person interested to have her if they weren’t 100% happy and confident with her.
We have discussed it and would consider the option or a swap for a younger cheekier but safe pony who may caused their owner to lose confidence.
We are in no rush as she is an excellent older pony to have around our younger highland as she offers him with confidence on rides and a brilliant travelling companion.
This is a really hard decision to make and they have been many tears but feel it would be the right option for her allowing her to have the full time love and attention she deserves.
We haven't got a fixed price in mind as to the right person she would be absolutely priceless regardless of her age. We are open to sensible offers or swapping her for a younger less established pony.
Please feel free to add me as a friend to view all my photos and videos of her.
