So which ponies does every one have these days?

[mickey]

Seem as it's so long since we had any threads on here I'm sure there's been some changes!
Our current herd:
Rory Mac
Ridgelane Duke
Roandale calamity Jane
Roandale Elsie
Roandale Mary Mac ii
Elamdale Jericho
Country rose
Elamdale belle
Sowermire Evie
Yeti

[Debbie]

I had mega changes in 2018. Dundee, Rita and Reigny all went to pastures new with new owners who do WAY more fun stuff with them than I ever could. And last year we lost our Mister Kitty to age so it's me, Eldon and Blossom ~ AND IT FEELS SO WEIRD! I haven't cared for so few since before Blossom was born.

So for me it's:
Kilmannan Blossom

[harveydales]

Emily, how on earth do you cope with that many ponies!

I've still got the same 3:
Westwick Frankie - now 28 and doing remarkably well. Still herd leader
Castledales Eve - 7 in May and still causing me heartfailure every few weeks! Will start a thread on her latest capers....
Lilie the semi feral Dartmoor, now 17 and still can't be caught

[valerie n scout]

Cor lummy that’s a lot of ponies 😜
Same for me just Scouty boy
We lost our lovely Goosey lab last August suddenly to a cancer the vet thought , so we still have Baloo he seems ok
I think animals are quite resilient especially when loved x

[mickey]

I am crazy and didn't intend to have so many.... Tal has gone out on loan thankfully but Evie is in foal 😂

[Fi]

Blimey Emily,

That’s a lot of mouths to feed! And then poop to collect....😂

I’ve still got Sammie, Sunglow Samuel, but after moving to my own place and Sammie got diagnosed with navicular I needed another. So Larry, Nipna Larch, joined us last October.

And now I’ve just got 2 at home, I need another as a companion for wen I start taking Larry out for longer, and hopefully bring Sammie back into a little bit of work.

So the purchase of another is on the cards (fingers crossed!) when all this dreadful virus stuff quietens down.

And so it begins......then I’ll end up with a list to rival Emily’s! 🤣

[mickey]

Fi they're so easy to collect. Often unintentional but fate... Mary Mac (or Jane as she is known) was not a intentional purchase but happened to find me. We've a couple of older ones these days- Becky (country rose) is 27 and showing her age. Yeti is also mid 20s.
The intention is for Jerry to be backed and sold and for Evie's foal to be sold.

[Fi]

Let me know when you’re ready to sell Jerry! I’m sure he’d be perfect for a friend of mine who was keen on a Dales for the temperament/character but wouldn’t be fussed about a full bred I don’t think!

[valerie n scout]

Must admit I’d have another but being on a livery yard is sooo expensive 😳

[mickey]

Will do fi. He's a lovely pony, 3 in June and currently needs to grow a bit more before backing him. He'll make someone a cracking pony.

[harveydales]

Fi - sorry to hear about Sammie. I thought something must have happened and meant to ask but kept forgetting. Yes, 3 is an ideal number to have - all companions need a companion!

I'm really not sure Eve will ever be up to doing much since her injury last October. She is looking good at the moment and I had just started doing stuff with her again but then this lockdown happened. I sometimes feel she is fated to be a field ornament.

[Fi]

I’m sorry to hear that Pam, I sometimes think some of them just are determined to not be ridden. Not really sure what’s going to happen with Sammie really 😕

[mickey]

It's hard with sick note ponies. Rory is a prime example though it's easier to accept now we've got a diagnosis that explains his dangerous behaviour and is intermittent shifting lamenesses

[harveydales]

Yes, it must make it easier when you have a definite diagnosis. As most of you know, I bought Eve aged 4 as a rescue because she was in terribley poor condition, had been broken in as a 3yo which was clearly too soon. My plan was to give her 18 months in the field to grow into herself and then sell her to a good home as I had Harvey as my main riding horse and I hoped we could grow old gracefully together.

Eve aged 4 - showed dreadful sweet itch and was constantly in season. She had loads of accidents rubbing herself itching including getting her head stuck in a metal gate. Amazingly she survived all this but, in hindsight, did it cause some damage?

Eve aged 5 - no sweet itch signs at all and seasons/hormones all normal. Lost Harvey in the spring which sent Eve into emotional turmoil for a couple of months - she is a very reactive mare and had become very attached to Harvey. Once she was more settled did a lot of in hand stuff with her, agility etc. Started getting her used to the trailer etc. Re-backed her and sat on her a bit. All was going well until she slipped in the trailer due to some idiot lorry driving up our arse and hooting.

Eve aged 6 - re-started her AGAIN and all seemed good. Took it very steady. Finally cracked the travelling issues and took her over to ride out with a friend - once! Then the rain started, field got slippery and she injured her left hind suspensory. Gave up box rest after 3 weeks as she became a danger to herself and me. Tried turn out in a small area which didn't work. In the end turned her out with the others. All went well until bonfire night when she must have reinjured herself and was now lame on a foreleg aswell! Tried and failed at box rest again so decided to turn all 3 ponies in the 7 acre area and planned to give her 6 months off.

Eve this year - seems sound but felt she needed to build up her back end strength so started walking out in hand, slowly building it up. All went well. Finally sat on her 3 times and then came lockdown! I don't feel it is safe or responsible to continue walking her out until this is all over as she is not an easy horse and is very reactive although not at all spooky and does love exploring new things. I honestly don't know whether she will ever be up to much in the way of ridden work. Maybe she has problems from way back - we know there was a period when she was in the hands of some rather dubious people and ended up being almost given away at a sale as a 3yo. So sad as she is a lovely natured horse with loads of personality.

[valerie n scout]

Oh Pam I know what you mean, I truly thought once I’d retired me n Scout would go in gentle hacks 😟 never plan out you’re future eh !
Hopefully Eve will continue to improve, at least Dales are normally long “livers” xxx