Written by Jodie Hannaford | 25 January 2010

We have owned our pony Ros now for 4 years. She's a Section A pony for my daughter, and when we first had her she would live out happily for most of the year, just coming in from November to March at night, more to rest the land than anything else. She was pretty low maintenance, and although she was on DIY livery, she was in with Yard Owners ponies, so I didn't have to go and check on her twice a day as I knew if there was any problems the yard owner would ring me, and as the yard owner had ponies living in as well, I knew she could be relied on to be there twice a day.

The pony had an accident about 3 years ago, and as a result had to have an operation, and rehabilitation, which included in-hand walking 3 times a day, limited turnout under supervision and so on - you all know the routine. Anyhow, at the time I was working three full days a week, my daughter was only aged three so only at school a couple of hours a day, and still I managed to get the pony (which was a good 20 minutes walk, all up hill) 3 times a day. After about 12 months it became apparent to me that she needed more walking to get the leg sound than what I could currently accommodate. Daughter would only sit in pram for so long watching us walk round and round and round the school, or to the muck heap and back without getting bored, and I could only rely on family and friends to help out for so much of the time.
So I took the decision (not lightly) to move her to a different yard, about 4 miles away that has a horse walker. The main sticking point for me over moving was that the new yard didn't offer DIY facilities, just full livery, BUT she did need the horse walker. We moved at the beginning last summer.

For the first 4 weeks I was like an over anxious parent, hovering around the school gates. I went every morning and every tea time to 'check' on Ros. Now don't get me wrong, this was a lovely BHS approved yard, the yard owner was very strict with the girls, the head girl was absolutely fantastic, and I never really had any reason to worry. And it is not even as though I could do anything once I was there, apart from brush her. They had started her on horse walker, so I didn't like taking her for a walk or anything as it would mess up there rehabilitation plan, she was fed, mucked out and exercised by them, I didn't have any tack to clean or anything to do, other than brush the pony, and buy different rugs for her.

After the novelty of being full livery wore off, I began by missing the odd afternoon visit, and then the odd morning, and then the odd weekend, until she was fit enough to ride again, and then we were there 5 days a week, while Frankie started riding again.
At the start of the summer holidays this time round, we had a bit of a car accident (uninsured driver hit us) and it took months and months to sort out, during which time I was without a car, and the new yard was too far to get to. I asked old yard owner if I could move back. She was a bit surprised when I asked if she could sort me a full livery price out, as I have always been a hands on sort of owner, and a bit mocking of the other 'part-time owners' who had full livery and only went a few days a week. However, she did give me a price and we moved back a few months ago.

During the weather we have had, it has been very nice to not have to go to the yard and battle my way through all the snow and ice, not to have to worry about getting to and from the feed place, or hay deliveries getting through, or whether to turn her out or not and so on. However, my yard owner is having one or two problems at the moment, and as is she is also a very good friend, I have been helping her out as and when I can. It has been nice to be honest to go up, run round with buckets of feed, turn the ponies out or get them exercised, muck out and make their beds all nice and shiny and new. When I leave them all tucked up in bed, munching away, it got me thinking - am I less of an owner because I don't do all these day to day things?

I suppose in a lot of ways I am. I don't see her every day, I'm not the one that feeds her, or goes round with hay and water, or brings her in at night and puts her to bed, and to be honest part of me misses that interaction with her on a day to day basis. But on the other hand, it does mean that when I do go up to see her, I am doing the nice things with her. I am grooming, or washing her mane and tail, or starting to walk her out in hand again to get her fit, ready for Frankie to start riding again (aiming for February half term). Would I still have the time to do all this if I were there mucking out every day, or poo picking down the field, or battling through the snow. Or waiting for the pipes to defrost to do her water?

And then there is the cost. It would only save me about £10 per week being DIY, as opposed to full livery. Is it worth a saving of £10 per week to have to go up at least twice a day, 365 days a week? I don't think so, not with just 1 small pony. If I had 2 ponies then I think it would be different, but just 1 pony hardly warrants the agro of getting up twice a day, whatever the weather, and regardless of what is happening at home, such as Frankie being ill or something.

So does this make me a 'bad' pony owner? I don't think so. I know that she receives the same care and attention from the yard owner as what her own do, and even if she may not see me every day but she knows I am 'mummy'. I still get a special whinny every time she sees me, and lots of pony kisses and cuddles. In fact, probably more so now, as I can spend more time with her and doing the nice things. Would I ever go back to DIY? Probably next year I will, when I have something for me to ride as well. Having two it would be a bigger saving financially and don't work anymore (lady of leisure!) so really wouldn't have any excuse. Just don't tell my other half though! He doesn't know I plan on having another (he's planning on a baby) and hates me smelling of horses all day. Some people just don't appreciate the finer things in life!