Monday, September 03, 2012

The Shame of This!

I got to tell you this!……..

Yesterday being Sunday, my wife, and another friend went to Burnley in Lancashire. Now, nothing untoward there, except that we were on the trail of a potentially excellent Lead Rein/First Ridden pony, at a reasonable price!  Now you`d think these little 12 hand ponies would be cheap? Well I would! Or am I just being stupid?

So anyway off we went, picnic basket, and a map!  Two hours later, we arrived at the Village of Worsthorne, just outside Burnley. We followed the directions as described by the ponies owner, and finally ended up an un metalled track, leading up the side of a Fell!

We arrived at the “farm”, where we were told the pony resided. The outside gates were locked, with padlock and chains, nothing to worry me there?… I tooted the horn, and a short, rather scruffily attired lady appeared, baring a ring of keys, suggestive of a prison warder!  Introductions made, she couldnt remember who we were! (Bell No 1 rung!)

She, the lady began a long tirade about how good this pony was, although we had read the add, and made some phone enquiries, you cant beat a actual visit.

I should mention that as I stepped out of the car, I became aware of a rather singular smell, which after a swift perusal of the immediate vicinity, I was able to ascertain emanated from a large pile  of Dog doo doo`s! (bell No 2 rung!….time to go!)

We were lead into a run down barn, (literally it should have been run down!) There in the stall, was a poor 12 hand pony, thin, dirty, and showing age. It had originally been described as late teens? more like late twenties!

Done everything, good as gold and full of life!  It was lame, and looked as though it had been buted!  Poor thing was missing at least 4 back teeth, and showed signs of over bite.  My OH and friend were very upset, as was I.   I was tempted to take it purely to save it, but thought better. We left.

The yard was full of scrap metal, tractors, dirt, rusty metal, and was littered with faeces.  This woman was a dealer, and of foul mouth too, I`m not easily shocked, but yesterday, I was !

Needless to say a report was made to the RSPCA, and we hope something will be done. There were as she said, “I have about 30 ponies here!”  God help them.

Needless to say, we have found a really good pony, and for a fair price, her name is Beauty!

10 comments:

  1. Hopefully something good will come of your reporting her. Looking forward to pix of Beauty. How are those ribs doing?

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    1. Hi Camryn! Good to hear from you! I`m fine, the ribs hurt occasionally, but nothing to write home about!
      Yeah! I`ll post some pics tomorrow, and yes, there seems to be to many people who deal in horses, and dont care.

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  2. I hope something is done about that dealer. I'm glad you reported her. Like you, I would have been tempted to take the pony just to save her. Poor thing.

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    1. True, but we cant save them all, much as I would like to!

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  3. To bad about the pony and I wish something could be done about people like that woman....alas you can't save them all.Glad to hear you are feeling better, Sunny is looking good.

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    1. Thank you!! I`m feeling a lot better, Sunny is really looking the business at the moment, and the weather has improved!

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  4. Awful what some poor horses have to go through. I so hope something gets done.
    Is this your new mount you are looking for after your last trial ride have you decided to look for something a little safer?

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    1. Cheeky!!lol!......No, its for the grandson, and yes! I could end up riding these little things! Might be safer?

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  5. Glad you reported her, might save whatever ponies are at her mercy- or should I say, mercilessness. (That's a word, isn't it?)

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  6. Breaks my heart and I'm glad you made the phone call. I experienced something similar ... Horses hooves looked like goat feet and one mare was "only good" for breeding... She couldn't get up off the ground. I kid you not.

    Your pony in the previous post looks adorable!

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