Here is an upside to the pony - if he is that hogfat and he hasn’t foundered then you are in luck. Yes he needs to lose that weight but you have some leeway and at this point in his life he probably isn’t IR. But before purchase I would do a really good exam of his feet and rads to make sure you are not buying problems. And remedy his weight ASAP when purchased.
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Being I have Morgans, I wish I could agree with this, but unfortunately I really wouldn’t make that assumption. A lot of people ignore or don’t recognize signs of chronic low grade laminitis and the air ferns can continue on that way for quite a long time with no catastrophic breakdown…until they can’t.
I was looking for a retired broodmare/lesson horse to come to my farm as a companion, and went to a Morgan breeder I’ve bought a lovely horse from in the past. She had a couple of mares in their early 20s that could have worked out personality wise, but they were really overweight. I did a PPE with two of them, specifically to pull blood for a metabolic panel, and sure enough, both were Insulin Resistant with no Cushings, even though the owner was convinced “they have no issues from it.” Having dealt with IR/Cushings in other horses, I just couldn’t voluntarily take on another one and had to pass. The management challenges are just too difficult, no matter how nice the horse.
For this pony, I would definitely do a metabolic blood panel and x-ray feet as part of a PPE, just so you know what you’re starting with. And think hard about whether your specific setup and management routine can accommodate a pony that will probably always need a muzzle if grass is part of your setup, and a careful feeding routine to provide hay in appropriate quantities (probably always netted).
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Thank you everyone! I’m never going to be short a pony if the “ponyapocolypse” occurs that’s for sure, I seem to like to collect them.
I contacted Pony’s owner to make a time to see him once more. I’ll bring my harness headstall and different bit and see what happens with that.
I must be nuts.
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Your answer is great and a good reality check. I do have a dry lot and can make another. I have 3 other ponies, 2 that are metabolic and we do the “hay weighing” and nets. So Pony would automatically be treated as if he was IR once he got here. I would get a PPE most definitely.
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If Pony is amenable, you might also try working him without a bit at all just to test if his reactions are bit-induced (if your bit doesn’t fix the problem, that is). I understand your concern about photic symptoms, too. Do you by any chance have a tiny nose net or piece of panty hose that you could use to see if it eases the head tossing? Hopefully, that’s not the issue at all, and his little mouth is just sensitive.
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The fact he’s such a little butterball and his teeth may be uncomfortable (if that is the issue) might mean a little digging deeper is needed (since bad teeth often means weight loss).
What were they feeding him?
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Well, OP, sounds like he can join your other residents without any dramatic changes in your management protocol….but you do realize tack never fits, its what keeps that business going.
Hope nothing turns up that DQs him. We do need a thread on pudgy projects, tired of looking at skinny ones.
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Not sure about the diet, she did say he was an easy keeper, but I’ve found that owners who primarily have big horses still feed ponies too much even though they are feeding much less than they feed their full sized horses. I made that mistake when I sized down to the littles. I’ll have to put eyes on the exact amount to get a good idea of what he’s consuming. I weigh all my hay portions, 1.5 lbs/100lb body weight so I don’t cheat and get heavy handed with the green gold.
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Head shaking is a dealbreaker. The rest sounds manageable. If you can satisfy yourself it is really teeth or bugs go for it, but proceed with caution! There aren’t a lot of great ponies for sale because they get snatched up by people that know them. Caveat emptor!
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I agree, the headshaking is my biggest concern. I can take him on a trial for as long as I want (owners primary concern is he gets a good home and we fit) so I would be able to evaluate him and that’s a plus. Without that it WOULD be a deal breaker.
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How cute is this pony? Like on a scale of crack a mirror to Harrison Ford in Star Wars? Are there pictures of the pony, with identifying characteristics blurred out but overall cuteness apparent? Because if he’s really freaking cute, friendly and the price is right, that justifies a lot of new harness and problem solving, but if he’s fugly and has an unpleasant personality, that’s a whole 'nother kettle of fish right there.
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Need pictures of this cutie. We need to know exactly what level of enabling needs to be exerted here.
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I have some pics but I don’t feel right about posting them as his young rider is with him. On a cute scale he’s about a 8 or 9. I won’t say he’s a 10 because I already have one of those and he might get jealous (he thinks he’s a 10 and that’s what counts, right?)
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LOVE your “scale of cuteness.” 
Ok, we’re all thinking it….
Get the pony!
The answer is ALWAYS “get the pony”! 
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Does he toss his head like that with a rider on?
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Not sure. As far as I know he has only been used for lead line. He didn’t do it on the lunge. I’m going to go see him again this week and then make a decision.
Without having seen the pony, but going on the “no adult or teen could ride because he’s too small” description, I would guess the head tossing is simply untrained to the bit combined with let go of my mouth, small passenger.
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You say that all is good except for the unknown quantity of head-tossing, IIRC. Sounds to me like a trial period is the way to go. Pony sounds like a gem, really.
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