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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 9, 2009 7:11:16 GMT -5
We have several nephews and neices under the age of 3 and hubby is thinking of getting a mini or a pony for them to ride while they are here for a visit. We have 2 geldings currently that are 15.2 and 16.0 hands. We have a 12x12 run in. Would you put a mini or pony in with them or give the little one a place of it's own? (I know it's a good idea for a while until they get used to each other) I guess I am worried they will hurt it.
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Post by lilysladyluck on Mar 9, 2009 7:23:42 GMT -5
Depends ont he geldings. but many will see it as another part of the herd and be protective of it rather than aggressive towards it.
I have 4 geldings here ranging in height from 14.2-17 HH, and if one even thinks of picking on our pony, 1-3 of the others will step in and intervene.
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 9, 2009 7:29:21 GMT -5
Thanks Lilys,
I know my boys hate dogs and am hoping they would not think it's a dog...LOL
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Dawn
Bronze Member
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Post by Dawn on Mar 9, 2009 9:32:53 GMT -5
The only thing is it works but if you go with a mini you might make a seperate area. Dad "loaned" our mini to a friend for their grandson since one of the grandkids ahd outgrown her and the rest were very young so she wasn't being used. Well she had always been out with our horses and fine. Sadly the big horses were running and playing and one kicked out catching her in the leg, broke it in several places there was nothing to do but euthanise her sadly. Dad still gets upset about it since she was such a good mini and had planned on her for the rest of the grandkids to learn on.
In fact she came from a member of this board and came highly recommended and was everything they said she was. And I know it was a fluke accident but after that experience I don't htink I could put a mini out with the big horses again. We have a larger pony now that is fine out there but again he is much bigger.
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 9, 2009 10:00:41 GMT -5
Oh no how sad!  So sorry to hear of what your dad must be going through. I may just rethink this whole idea. |
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Dawn
Bronze Member
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Post by Dawn on Mar 9, 2009 17:30:33 GMT -5
thank you Dad sure had a tough year they lost the pony early in spring then had the old mare put down before winter, and his gelding went down in January and had to be put down. The last two were older horses with issues that he knew their time was coming but doesn't make it any easier to watch our friends get old and pass on.
I would try ot find a large pony though the kids could be riding him/her a lot longer than way they won't outgrow it so quickly. But that said mini's are so fun, great personalities. What happened to Dad's was a fluke but if you have a really playful group a larger pony might be better suited to deal with it. When the mini was here or at Dad's it was a nonissue since our group si well pretty lazy LOL
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 10, 2009 6:37:51 GMT -5
Wow what a tough year... Sorry your family had to go through that. It's the one thing I am dreading as my boys age.
I thought about a pony of decent size but hubby would really like a mini that they can brush and lead around. (with help of course) I almost forgot about our 5 year old niece who is totally horse crazy. How much weight will a mini hold? Maybe a small pony would be ok but we don't want anything that will eat as much as the boys do and will fit in the run in if they get along. Since we are thinking of doing this out of kindness I am sure no one in the family will help fund it.
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LLStar117
Bronze Member
Rest In Peace - Precious Bonnie!
Posts: 178
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Post by LLStar117 on Mar 10, 2009 20:21:46 GMT -5
When I worked at camp they had a mini and several ponies out in the herd of 35-40 horses. They never had any problems directed towards the smallies. Infact if anything the ponies pushed the horses around. Any horse can get kicked by another and get injured severely. Its sad that that happened but it doesn't mean its going to happen to everyone.
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Dawn
Bronze Member
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Post by Dawn on Mar 10, 2009 20:53:29 GMT -5
LL hope you didn't think I meant it that way as I say she lived at my place (with two geldings who totally thought her antics were adorable) and at Dad's but again Dad kept her out of the lot that had the overlly dominant gelding although is doubtful he woudl have bothered a mare.
It was only at the friends place she was on loan to it happened and the mare who kicked her was only playing at the time not intentional at all they were there and saw it happen.
Now our pony now is the chameleon of the group he fits in whereever he wants to if he wants to eat next to the lowest horse there or our most dominant none bother him.
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sam
Junior Member
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Post by sam on Mar 10, 2009 22:11:50 GMT -5
also remember that minis (and ponies too for that matter) require a lot less to eat...many cannot be kept with horses depending on the feed arrangements (grass lot, or free choice hay) --this is not the case with all of them
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 11, 2009 6:41:44 GMT -5
See I didn't realize a pony or mini would over eat. I just assumed they would stop when full like most regular horses.  |
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Post by resugirl on Mar 11, 2009 16:19:57 GMT -5
I was told for a Class A mini, no more than 60lbs of weight to carry. Mini's are charming, but a moderate sized pony would probably work better in the long run. My mini has no problems with being picked on by our full sized horses. He is in the middle of his herd, large horses above and below him.
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 12, 2009 6:59:19 GMT -5
Ok thanks for the info....  |
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Dawn
Bronze Member
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Post by Dawn on Mar 12, 2009 14:19:51 GMT -5
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Post by PaintWalker on Mar 13, 2009 7:01:29 GMT -5
Awwww I could see my neices and nephews on a pony... I would have to get boots and hats all around... LOL Hmmm this could get expensive. ;D
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So sorry to hear of what your dad must be going through. I may just rethink this whole idea. 
