I'm having real wobble about Emerald at the moment

[dalesnfellfan]

This latest incident has really dented my confidence in her again, she hasn't done anything wrong she was just being green, but I keep wondering why I keep putting myself through this at my age when I've got a lovely safe pony to ride who is such a pleasure to ride.  i have taken Em's saddle to the saddlers today to be sent off to Ideal and it will be 3-4 weeks if they have the right tree in stock, longer if they haven't and I'm already having doubts about riding her again.

I feel in such a dilemma, I have had no response from anyone suitable from my adverts for someone to ride/share her and I feel she needs to be kept going in order to find someone, I would much rather just ride Connie who is so perfect for me.  Part of me just wants to leave her in the field but at rising 9 I feel she is too young for this and she clearly enjoys going out but on the other hand I don't feel like giving up on her yet.

My husband has suggested that maybe I should think about selling her to someone who can ride her and do lots with her to give her an active life, part of me agrees this would be good for her but I would hate to think that she may be passed around and I couldn't guarantee she would have a good home, although I would be honest about the problems she has had, my fear would be if she is not managed correctly the gut issues may resurface and she could be labeled a problem pony if pain makes her misbehave again.

If I did that I would need to get a rescue pony as a companion for Connie so I think I may as well just stick with Em who is lovely to have around, but it just seems such a waste, she is bright, enjoys her work and is now perfectly capable of being ridden, I just don't know what to do for the best.

I guess I just need to wait until I get my saddle back and see how I feel then, but in the last few days I've been having serious doubts, I've had flash backs to my accident on her 2 years ago, something that hadn't happened much for about 6 months now, I think coming off her again has just brought it all back, I have a fear of being badly hurt again.

Sorry to ramble on, just trying to get my thoughts straightened out a bit.

[Fi]

Am not surprised at all at your 'wobble', you had a real tough time of it after the accident and I for one am so impressed at how brave you've been getting back on and at gettting to the route of her problems and sorting them.

It's still quite early in the year, not yet light on an evening, so there may be still a chance of finding someone in the next few weeks.

Ponies have no idea of their 'potential' so as long as she is happy and healthy being a companion then she won't begrudge not being ridden. And I assume she and Connie get along well? And you could do inhand stuff with her instead.

I think if it were me I'd be tempted to keep her, it removes the worry about her future, and you have an established couple of ponies and routine etc. You won't have to introduce Connie to another pony and wait for them to settle.

Don't feel you have to ride, I know of a lot of people with horses and ponies who for a number of reasons hardly ever ride, some barely even pay them much attention beyond paying the livery bill, if she's healthy and happy then that's fine.

Just my initial thoughts, hope it helps.

Fi

[harveydales]

I agree with Fi completely. As some one of a similar age to you I completely understand how you feel. However, as you clearly love Emerald and she and Connie are "a team" it seems silly to sell her and then get another companion for Connie who could easily not settle in so well. Look at me - I got Frankie to be Harvey's companion and they hate each other! I would never part with Frankie though and now I need Lily and Dolly to be companions for Frankie!

Dolly loves coming in and having a job to do but I don't have time or energy to ride 2 ponies so she is now a field ornament and is perfectly happy. I'm sure Em would be happy too. I know she is young and could have many ridden years ahead of her but she is perfectly happy in the field. You could pretend she is a brood mare who hasn't taken. lol

[dalesnfellfan]

Thank you both, you are right, I don't have to ride her, I'm sure she would be perfectly happy doing nothing in the field and I could perhaps do horse agility with her, I just need to get over the feeling that she is being wasted as a field ornament and that I ought to be riding her and I ought to be able to cope with her, she really isn't naughty just green.

No I don't really want to part with her, I do love her and she is a delight to have around with so much character and her and Connie do get on so well, they are very easy together. When I retired Spud and bought Briallen they didn't get on at all and had to be separated, she hated him and beat him up badly in the field, yet could not bear not to be able to see him and would run through fences if he was out of sight, not easy at all, so it is so nice that the 2 girls get on so well, and Emerald is quite happy to be left on her own while I'm out on Connie, even for a few days when we have a weekend away, so she is the perfect companion.

When I get her saddle back I may just get Sam to ride her once a week to keep her going in the hope of finding a rider for her, also we have booked BHS camp again for July and if my daughter hasn't got transport sorted for her pony she will take Em so I need to keep her fit enough for that. If I don't find a rider by the end of the summer she can have the winter off and maybe try again next spring.

I think it is the right decision not to ride her myself, I felt fine on Connie on Sunday and had a lovely ride but took her out today and felt a bit nervous on her which is ridiculous, she seemed to know though and kept to a very sedate trot and canter, I don't want my nerves about riding Em to affect my confidence on Connie.

I think I will feel much better once I have accepted not riding her, in a way it would have been easier if she had been unable to be ridden, but I am glad she is feeling so well in herself again.

[colmworthdales]

I fully support all the above comments. Think there are hundreds times more ponies out there having enjoyable lives and not fulfilling their potential than really being worked hard and doing everything they are capable of. I feel guilty about Mollie who could do really good dressage and quite high level showing, but I am not fit enough to ride her to her full potential - and although I have a super trainer who loves her dearly she is too busy to do much competing with her. Still, Mol is happy enough to do what I can with her - and if she goes a bit crooked (due to my lop-sidedness!) we just have to do our best together. I still intend to do a few shows and rides, etc but am not prepared to drive for hundreds of miles to compete in one class!

And I have her Mum in the field NOT being a brood mare for the past five years, and her Mother enjoying her retirement now aged 26 although I am sure she is capable of still doing short hacks but I do not have the time to ride her.

Such is life.