Horse Help

[Mandy]

I am thinking about buying a Shetland Pony for my 2 year old cousin to play with when she comes to my house, she is scared of all my big horses, I cant make up my mind if i should buy him or not, he is a very sweet boy and loves kids and people but his current owners are asking for a lot of money and he has a snake bite that they dont think he will be strong enough to recover from. I need help!

[Deanna Quan]

go to thehorse.com and there are thousands of adoptable horses and ponies.

[Mandy]

But i dont want some horse i found on the internet, i want a horse i can see on person, a horse that i know is healthy, i needed help in knowing if it would be wise to adopt this horse not help in knowing where to buy horses!

[Damian Noble]

The way the horse market is now a days I wouldn't pay much for a good full size horse let alone a lawn ornament. Alot of people wish their horse was worth more but don't let them trick you.

I'm sure you can talk them down a bit.

If you are able to talk them down to a reasonable price try and get them to get a vet to check out the snake bite before you buy it. If they don't really they are neglecting their horse and could get in trouble for that.

[Mandy]

They are not neglecting him i know these people personaly! And it is a real snake bite, the vet has checked it!

[Mandy Ellis]

is this post for real? animals are not toys to be played with on a toddlers whim - unless you genuinely want this pony for yourself and intend to care for him properly and not just as a toy to be wheeled out for your 2 year old cousin to play with when she comes to your place, do not entertain the notion of getting him. buy your 2 year old cousin a rocking horse - non sentient and very easy care. shame on you.

[Mandy]

No I will take care of him just like i do my other horses! I will treat him just fine and he will stay at my place and she is very gentle with animals she will not be mean to him, this post is real i need help, he might not live throuhg a snake bite i dont know if i should take that risk, SO JUST BACK OFF!

[Mandy Ellis]

no way will i 'BACK OFF' - someone needs to speak out on behalf of the poor pony you so indulgently want to purchase as a plaything for your toddler cousin. irrespective of whether he might live through a snakebite, an animal is not a toy and for you to equate the pony as such for your 2 year old cousin shows a remarkable lack of insight and compassion on your part.

[Mandy]

He is doing fine as of today and they think he might recover with in the next week! And I am not buying him just for my cousin, I have always wanted a shetland and I think you have no right to come on here and tell me i have no compassion for this horse, I have 5 others that i have rescued and I love them very much i will give this pony a good home! Once again I say BACK OFF!

[Mandy Ellis]

i have EVERY right to come on here and tell you you have no compassion or insight. you seem to forget your original post, and i quote 'i am thinking about buying a shetland pony for my 2 year old cousin to play with when she comes to my house', can i just draw your attention to the fact that no mention is made here about the fact that you've 'always wanted' one. and once again i reiterate - ANIMALS ARE NOT TOYS to be used or purchased as playthings for toddlers or anyone else - they are a huge commitment and responsibility and not, as so many people think, a right to have/own. you have now decided that you are not buying him just for your cousin - lovely - and you have always wanted a shetland pony, a good start shall we say, pity it has taken howevermany days and posts for you to decide this when it should have been your priority from the beginning. i work in rescue (for canines, but you could apply this to any animals who are in need of help) and have done for many years and sadly many people are like you - the kids want an animal to play with and one is duly procured, and thrown out/abused when the novelty wears off after days/weeks/months. at no stage does anyone consider whether or not they would be appropriate owners for whatever animal and if they can meet all that animal's needs - it's just easy come/easy go and that is to a larger extent why we see so many creatures abused and in pounds and abandoned or killed - because of the same mindset as you're displaying - having animals as toys. so you've rescued other horses - great, therefore what you're saying is extremely worrying given the fact that you must've been involved some way, or had some connection with some kind of rescue before.

[Mandy]

I know they are a huge responsibilty, I have 5 others! And once again i say i am not going to buy this pony just for my cousin! I know they are not toys OK! I will not abuse him just for your info! I used to help abused animals recover and find good homes for them, i know how it feels to have a pet that you love dearly and then have them have to be put down or just die in the middle of the night without ny warning ok i know how it feels, I have so much love for these big beautiful animals, and if i have 5 other healthy big horses that i love very much what makes you think that i wont love this little one? Just tell me please!? I will love him, i already go and see him every other day just because i want to nobody is forcing me to i love this little guy to death and i know how much animal abuse has taken a toll, some animals are on the brink of extinction if you didnt know, why do you seem to think you are so much better than me and why do you think that i wont love and take care of the pony? Please either tell me or back off!

[Mandy Ellis]

i have told you - continually - but you seem hell bent on refusing to see the problem. i HAVE told you in ALL of my posts - ANIMALS ARE NOT TOYS - that is my problem, that in your post you equate them as such, a plaything for your toddler cousin - reread your initial post where that is your SOLE initiative or motivation for purchasing this pony!!!!!!!! nowhere does it say how much you love horses, that you'd wanted a shetland for ages or any of your other arguments that are emerging as you continue to post. i am coming from a place where i see this ALL the time - animals bought and used as playthings and discarded once the novelty has worn off. your post is very troubling as you are saying that you've worked helping abused animals recover and find good homes for them, yet your post is initially solely about you thinking of purchasing a pony for a toddler to play with - do you not see a discrepancy of any kind there? this is irrespective of your other horses or how you care for them - that's irrelevant in regard to the issue at hand, altho it does bear significant relevance in the grand scheme of things. i am not arguing about whether you love your horses or care for them or not, but from your initial post i AM extremely sceptical about your motivation for the purchase of this pony, and given the post why wouldn't i be!!!!!!! i sincerely do hope that you will care for the pony to the best of your ability and that your toddler cousin's likes or dislikes are relegated to where they belong and become the irrelevance.

[Mandy]

What makes you think that i am not going to love this little pony just as much as i love all my other animals? I know they are not little play things and i know how often they are bought and then discarded and i am not going to buy him just for my cousin, i will teach him and play with him everyday just like with my other animals! If i were buying a regular horse or a cat would you be as concerned? I bet not! I will love him, what makes you think that i wont? Why me?