Advice needed on whether or not I should get my child a pony!

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indiat

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Hi all, I have a bit of dilemma I was hoping you could help me with. I have a seven year old daughter who is crazy about horses. She rides my 15h cob in the arena off the leading rein and on the leading rein on a hack and has regular lessons at our livery yard which also runs a riding school and is a pony club centre. She is at level six in PC terms and is now starting to learn to jump. She begs, borrows and steals any ride she can and is very confident and keen to do more. I am thinking of either loaning or buying her a pony but I am wondering if its pushing her too much at a young age? I would only take a placid kick along pony, some thing safe to hack and teach her the basics of schooling, a pal for her to bond with rather than some hot PC prospect. She is a long way off competing and we are lucky to have off road riding near us. But would I be best just letting her carry on with her weekly lessons and riding my old girl? She looks very confident but can be insecure. She hates the older kids watching her ride for instance, and if she makes a mistake she really beats herself up. She got bucked off a couple of weeks ago on a borrowed pony and cried her eyes out. She got back on, bless her, and carried on riding but she was mortified at acting her age in front of all the other girls who are at least 10. Will I put her off some thing she loves for life? Help!
 
I was in the same boat - 8 year old loved ponies etc. Bought pony and ok for three years got second pony (still have first) now have two ponies and a daughter who prefers to do judo! Now need to sell ponies!!
However I got my first pony at 8 and have never not had one so I think it depends on the child. I would go for it - can you find a really quiet one on loan as she will probably outgrow it quite quickly ( in terms of ability and what she wants to do not size!).
 
All horse loving children should be given horses
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. . can you tell that I was one of the poor deprived children that wasn't
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lol sorry no help whatsoever! You know your child best and whether or not they will stay interested or whether their attention will wander to another hobby. Having her own may help her grow in confidence as she develops a bond and trust.
 
That is some thing I hadn't thought of. I think I should talk to the riding school and see if there is some thing we could part loan. She wouldn't get up much after school as I don't drive and it would take some of the pressure off me excercise wise. They are very kind people - they have already lent my four year old a shetland to ride whenever she wants at no charge! At the same time, I don't want to look as if I am taking the mickey.....
 
Hi Hoggedmane. That was my thinking. She is frustrated at only getting half hourly group lessons once a week and she is claiming my 15h Irish cob is too slow! She is arthritic and I don't allow my daughter to jump her or go faster than walk on a hack. I was thinking more time in the saddle and a private lesson once a month would be better. The stables have said she can borrow a pony when she comes up if it hasn't done much that day but I hate to look as if I am always begging favours. Plus I would like her to have a regular ride she could bond with, as you say. Once you trust each other, you achieve so much more together (I could put that on a t shirt!).
 
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That is some thing I hadn't thought of. I think I should talk to the riding school and see if there is some thing we could part loan. She wouldn't get up much after school as I don't drive and it would take some of the pressure off me excercise wise. They are very kind people - they have already lent my four year old a shetland to ride whenever she wants at no charge! At the same time, I don't want to look as if I am taking the mickey.....

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that's how i got my first pony, he was eventually given to us and stayed with us until i was an adult when he passed away, aged nearly 40! if you don't want to take the mickey, arrange formally how much you will contribute to his upkeep. good luck! x
 
If she is THAT keen, I would say its a crying shame not to!
I have 3 seriously horsey kids in my lot, and the youngest at 5 has been at it since he was 3.
In fact as the old yard was so close to his school, he used to ride his pony to school as part of "golden boot challenge" week.
Its good structure too. They must catch, groom, feed, muck out if required, clean tack.....you get the picture! I think it gives them a sense of responisbility.
 
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Its good structure too. They must catch, groom, feed, muck out if required, clean tack.....you get the picture! I think it gives them a sense of responisbility.

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agree with this! they learn so much from doing these things. my 2 year old son 'helps' muck out, groom, poo pick, etc... even though he's not the best help, it teaches them responsibility. and shows them the amount of work needed in having an animal.
 
she is definately not to young i bought my five year old little sister her first pony only 12 weeks back and she was on the lead rein she is now of it walking and trotting and is dying to start cantering and jumping and thats at 5 she is adamint she is doing all the common rides with me and my boy next year as well as hunting and pony club camp god help me lol good thing the ponies 16 and has done everything
 
Buy her a pony - a little 12.2hh - that she will remember for the rest of her life. You only have kids for such a short time nowadays before hair, make up, clothes and boys come along and if you get her a pony you will put all of these other horrific things off for a good few years. You will probaly even get away with no mobile phone, no i pod and no designer gear and you will know where she is the vast majority of the time.

Go on - you know you want to. PEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSEEEEE
 
i agree, i bought my daughter her pony when she was 23months old, we have had him for a year now and she is keen as ever. nearly off lead rein in the school and is led off my horse when we are hacking out. we have been doing some showing classes this summer. Its great as she loves just being with them, i would definately get her a pony!!
 
Thank you all, you are absolutly right, I DO want to get her a pony and I do agree its great structure, and it will give her some thing to think about other than her looks and boys when she is older. Mind you, she's been reading Vogue religiously for the last year and wants to be a fashion designer/actress/artist/farmer. The stables runs a pony care club and I am amazed at the dedication of these kids who are there in all weathers, working a full day in exchange for the chance to ride and free lessons. Gingerwitch, you made me laugh, that is exactly the way my four year old says please! You can see where she gets her habit of obsessing over every little problem can't you?
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Right, I'm off to talk to the YO tomorrow - wish me luck!
 
My son started riding 4 years ago, every xmas and birthday we got the "mum.......when can |I have a horse?" question, he has advanced from having a lead rein at age 7 to winning a clear round jumping a few months back, private lessons on 1 certain 15 hand mare at his riding school brought him on a treat, and on monday , for his 11th birthday, I am buying said mare for him, and she will stay at school on working livery. I had to make sure he was serious about horses, cos its really a girl orientated sport at his stables (2 boys there!!) but he showed he was keen and thank the lord... no more "can I have a horse" every xmas. Take your time, think it over, but if ou do decide yes, I am sure your child will remember her first pony for ever.
 
Go on get her one...maybe one on loan first, as they do grow out of them quickly
this is my 6 year old son on our loan pony which is kept at the owners yard..he rides once to three times a week but love to be around them,grooming,mucking out,etc
i dont like to push them and let him do as much as they want to esp at at early age
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being horsy at this age is more towards the girls but some boys loved it too
good luck
 
If you are in a position to Indiat then yes, do let her have a pony. Whether you buy or manage to find a part loan, she will gain so much from it. If nothing else, children with animals, particularly ponies, learn so much about commitment and responsibility and she will have lots and lots of healthy physical acitivity. Like many posters on here I remember my first pony with soooooo much fondness and I'm sure she will do the same.

Go for it!! xxxx
 
My daughter started riding at two. By the age of seven she was fed up, bored, and looking like a sack of spuds! I suggested to OH that her own pony was in order, and he replied "No!" due to all the above. I pointed out that after five years of riding school ponies, arenas, being told when/where to change gear,she was fed up to the teeth with it. She needed the fun, pony club water fights,friends,and the independance that would only come with her own pony. I also pointed out that it kept me away from boys until I was 18! He asked how many ponies she needed!!!!! Move forward ten years......................two horses, one pony, no A levels(!) and full time riding. Oh, and a boyfriend who is coming round to the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" way of thinking! Go on, be brave, and keep us posted!
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PS: I also need to speak to a certain eventer who, ten years ago, told L to "follow her dreams". Well, she did, thank you very much, and I'm BROKE!!!
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Thanks to you all for the advice. Haycroft, your son looks so happy on that lovely little pony. We are in discussions with YO at the mo so I will let you know how it goes!
 
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