[HUS_WP_lovr]

I can tell you from experience, horses that dont feel good , when they feel good again they can have complete personality changes I wouldnt do it, I think you will be putting yourself in a not so good situation. Especially, when you can get a sound pony for the same amount of money.

[lacy]

I think that I just feel more bad for him and am thinking that underneath he would be an awesome little guy.

But, I am still looking...

[Appylvr]

Is Dustin your son? How old is he?

If you don't have a lot of money to spend and have never dealt with founder before I personally don't think you should go for him...

From looking at the pics I can tell he's definately foundered. The first pic is a classic founder stance and the pics of the hooves... the rings are another sign. It's been so long... I think with the rings being all the way up his hooves means that the founder is now or very recent (I'd say now with the way he's standing). Once he's better the rings should go away until you don't even see them.

My mare has foundered 3 times. I almost lost her the last time. It is very costly... I can't even imagine how much we spent on her trying to get her better. It's also a lot of work... and like everyone said... once he's better he might become a totally different horse.

Maybe you could print some stuff up about founder on the internet and show the owners? If they're new into horses it's highly likely they don't even notice anything wrong or know how serious founder is.

[lacy]

Originally Posted by Appylvr

Is Dustin your son? How old is he?

If you don't have a lot of money to spend and have never dealt with founder before I personally don't think you should go for him...

From looking at the pics I can tell he's definately foundered. The first pic is a classic founder stance and the pics of the hooves... the rings are another sign. It's been so long... I think with the rings being all the way up his hooves means that the founder is now or very recent (I'd say now with the way he's standing). Once he's better the rings should go away until you don't even see them.

My mare has foundered 3 times. I almost lost her the last time. It is very costly... I can't even imagine how much we spent on her trying to get her better. It's also a lot of work... and like everyone said... once he's better he might become a totally different horse.

Maybe you could print some stuff up about founder on the internet and show the owners? If they're new into horses it's highly likely they don't even notice anything wrong or know how serious founder is.

They have no clue at all. The husband said that he does not even know why they are doing this (having horses or bought the house with all the property). Basically, the old owners left their 2 horses and their daughter dropped her 2 retired TB's because they have the property and she coulden't bare to sell them. I have no clue if she ever goes out there...

I'm going to call him later today. Try to explain all of this and the importance. Tell them as a SUGGESTION of what they should do and tell them they will loose him if they don't. I also thought of offering- if they give him to me for free, have the vet out to get XRays and diagnose everything, including the insulin resistance, then if the vet gives me direction and a good "recovery" gestimation, then I might take it on. I still doubt it, but I just feel so bad for him and I am confident enough in myself to know that i can do it.

Just don't have a lot of money to put into it. Can you guys give me some ideas about the cost I would be looking at and what types of things would have to be done?

[lacy]

Tim- your such a smart guy

The guy has called me this morning and wanted to give him to me for $300 But, I expressed what I felt was going on as far as the founder and told him that I could simply NOT afford to pay for the pony and all the vet/farrier bills.

All he could say was "Okay, thank you, we'll look at him" and wanted to get off the phone. Poor pony... the things in so much pain.

I just emailed him since he got off the phone so quick...

"Thank you for talking with me. I wanted to add a few more things if I could...

If you guys have the vet out to take Xrays of his feet and say that the Founder isn't that bad, then I will take him for a bit cheaper. I know that I can bring him out of it, but I simply do not have the money to pay the medical expenses and buy a horse to get him out of founder before I can use him.

If you wanted to work something out with getting him to my farm and off of that grass, I would be willing to discuss anything with you. Essentially, he needs to get off of that grass as soon as possible. Ponies are not made to be able to feed like that. Having foundered before, pretty much guarantees that he will founder again in the same circumstances.

Please email if we could come to any agreement. I believe that he would be a great little pony for my son, but it takes a long time for a pony to get over founder.

Thank you for reading... "

I guess I will see what he has to say and let you guys know. But, either way, I'm off to see the mare

Lol, never mind. He just emailed me back. I wish people who diden't know a darn thing did NOT have horses

This is all he wrote back. Serves me right for telling a stranger how I feel...

"Thanks for looking. Best of luck finding the right pony for your son."

[tbtrainer]

Maybe they will take to heart what you've told them... people can be really funny.

I know what it's like to want to save them all...If my heart dictated which horses I should own, I would have overflowing fields...

Keep looking for that nice, quiet, sound, childproof pony for cheap, they are out there!

[Sedona16]

He's very cute but if he's founder more than once and you think he's going to again then i wont thats just extra problems that you dont need!

[prairienights]

From what I've seen, most minis and little ponies are project horses, lol. They're great for backyard pets, but a lot of them are overweight and not really ready to be kid ponies.

That being said, I'm sure you could find something else that's healthier and still a fixer upper. I don't like this one. I feel bad for him, but he's just so overweight and founder is such a chronic issue with ponies that I have a hard time imagining that there will be enough time to enjoy him. I'm sure you could find something else.

[lacy]

Thats everyone... I feel bad. But, what I am going to do with a foundered pony? Maybe if I got him for free, but I'm not paying for him.

[Appylvr]

I feel awful saying it, but it's the truth... you're better off not getting him.

If I were you I would e-mail the owner back and tell him Founder is serious and definately NOT something he can ignore. Also if he's trying to sell the pony... most horse people will recognize the problem and want nothing to do with it.

It's cruel to say it... but I think the pony will be better off being put down. I couldn't even imagine leaving my mare the way she was and ignoring it. Definately not a way anything would want to live. If the owners are not wanting to spend any money on the poor pony (which sounds about right from what you've said - they want to make money on it, not loose money) it would also be the cheaper way to go.