Nearly a month ago, one of my minis foundered for unknown reasons. Not overweight, no feed changes. Our only two guesses are that either someone gave her an excess of treats (we live on a dead-end road that a LOT of people use for walking) despite us being set back, or it was mechanical due to crazy ice & snow we had that week...vet doesn't want to comment one way or another. It's now become clear that we're not going to be able to get her comfortable again (she's just a pet...no need to be sound as long as she's not in pain). I've put down a disturbing number of horses over the years (that's what happens when you do rescue...sometimes the kindest thing you can do is give them freedom from a lifetime of pain) and never hesitated before when it was clearly what was best for the horse. This time, I'm having a lot of trouble getting past the complications.
A) I adopted these 2 minis to keep my riding horse company this summer. Shortly after that, I decided to board my riding mare so I wouldn't have to haul to ride (do dressage...an arena makes life MUCH easier). So I kept the 2 minis just as pets. But they are mother-daughter, in their teens, and the daughter has NEVER been away from her mom & of course is incredibly herd bound to her. Of course, it was the mom who foundered. What on earth do I do with the daughter? I don't have any other horses on my property. And as amazing as my hubby is, I know his reaction if I say "let's get another pony companion for the pony I got to keep Foxy company." Especially when hay is running $250/ton & we're almost out.
B) There are 2 neighbor girls who come over to groom the ponies almost daily. They are VERY attached to the ponies (and the ponies to them). One of the girls rode when she was younger, but when one of her parents (the horsey one) passed away a couple years ago, the remaining parent had to sell their horses. Having access to the ponies has been a big deal for her. What kind of repayment is it to all the people who helped me with my love for horses when I was that age if I just get rid of the ponies?
This sucks sucks sucks. Someone wave a magic wand over my pony & make her better please?
A) I adopted these 2 minis to keep my riding horse company this summer. Shortly after that, I decided to board my riding mare so I wouldn't have to haul to ride (do dressage...an arena makes life MUCH easier). So I kept the 2 minis just as pets. But they are mother-daughter, in their teens, and the daughter has NEVER been away from her mom & of course is incredibly herd bound to her. Of course, it was the mom who foundered. What on earth do I do with the daughter? I don't have any other horses on my property. And as amazing as my hubby is, I know his reaction if I say "let's get another pony companion for the pony I got to keep Foxy company." Especially when hay is running $250/ton & we're almost out.
B) There are 2 neighbor girls who come over to groom the ponies almost daily. They are VERY attached to the ponies (and the ponies to them). One of the girls rode when she was younger, but when one of her parents (the horsey one) passed away a couple years ago, the remaining parent had to sell their horses. Having access to the ponies has been a big deal for her. What kind of repayment is it to all the people who helped me with my love for horses when I was that age if I just get rid of the ponies?
This sucks sucks sucks. Someone wave a magic wand over my pony & make her better please?
