Owning a pony or horse is a huge commitment. If you are taking the plunge for the first time, check this advice and make sure you have thought of everything and are equipped to take on the responsibility.
It’s common sense, but the most important thing is to buy a horse that suits the riding ability of the owner. If it’s a pony for a child, the best person to advise you will be the child’s riding instructor. Maybe he or she will come and take a look at possible ponies. A pony for a child needs to be “bombproof” – that is, it won’t behave unpredictably by bucking, shying or bolting, especially in traffic, and it must be easy to catch.
Remember that looks aren’t the most important thing. The prettiest pony can cause distress if it isn’t right in other respects. Size is more important. The pony must be able easily to carry the child’s weight. A good age for a pony is between six and fourteen years old. Younger than that and it might be immature and unpredictable. Older, and its years of service are limited.
Look at several ponies before you decide. Take your time and don’t be pressurized into making a decision. When you are happy with your choice, have the pony checked by a vet and get a certificate stating that it has a clean bill of health. Don’t buy without this check.
If you are going to keep your pony at home rather than at livery, you need to have the following in place before it arrives:
You need a field (obviously) with a sturdy shelter or stable in it. The field or paddock should be a minimum of an acre, with a supply of clean, fresh water. Check the fencing carefully.
Your pony’s stable needs to be spacious and free from draughts: at least 3 by 4 metres in size, and 3 metres high. It needs a proper double stable door, wide enough for your pony to walk through with ease, and with bolts top and bottom. A water supply nearby is vital.
The stable isn’t the only building required: you will need a tack room and a shed to store bedding, hay and bins for the pony’s feed. You need a supply of straw for bedding. For mucking out, invest in a shovel and a proper mucking out fork with curved sides.
Last but not least, you need to be sure that your child is prepared to visit the pony every morning and evening to check on him, and to feed and water him. When this is not possible, for instance when you are on holiday, you need a reliable back-up. Still, your child is likely already to have pony-loving friends, and if you are lucky, there will be small people queuing up to help!