Buying pony for daughter

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bumblelion

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Looking at getting my daughter a pony, she's nearly 1yrs old (starting her early)!! Not looking at her to ride it immediately but hopefully she will be by the time she's 2yrs old! Initially the pony will be a companion for my two so I can hack out and take one out of the field without the other going mad at being left!

They will be stabled in the winter but my two can be quite boisterous so possibly looking for a chilled out little pony who will just go with the flow! Any breeds jump to mind? I love shetlands but a few people have warned me off them saying they don't make the best pony for small youngsters as they're so boisterous! Also they will be with me for life so for those who have shetlands, when did your child outgrow them?
 
Shetlands can be very naughty!! I'd go for an older welsh pony that perhaps has been outgrown by another child. People often write off ponies in their late teens but they are what you want. Something safe and unfazed by anything. Good luck.
 
missieh said:
Shetlands can be very naughty!! I'd go for an older welsh pony that perhaps has been outgrown by another child. People often write off ponies in their late teens but they are what you want. Something safe and unfazed by anything. Good luck.
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I was thinking of a welshie also. Age doesn't matter to me, as long as the pony's pretty chilled and safe, that's the priority really!
 
I bought a shetland when my children were around 2 ish, he was a perfect lead rein pony but a tinker off the leid rein, they all adored him but I retired him when he started to get a bit stiff, at a guess my youngest was about 6. He stayed with us as a companion to the end. I know they have a bit of a reputation and as he got a bit old and cranky he wasn't above giving a swift boot if the kids pushed their luck. I adore shetlands and am thinking of taking up driving just so I can have shetlands again.
 
Forgive me but is she a little young for this? I got my daughter her first when she was 9 and only after years of riding lessons and stable management. I still worry about her getting injured. Would you not be worried?
 
I bought my daughter her first pony when she was 3, the pony was described as 12 but vet said he could have been 22. He was a Welsh section A and was bombproof, when I went to see him the girl rode him sown the road and he passed a combine and didnt blink.

This pony taught my daughter so much, when she was a bit older and popping him over little jumps he would slow down and stop on the over side so she could get her balance. As she progressed he would put in a little buck just to make sure she was concetrating.:D

We kept him for the rest of his life as he never owed me a penny in my book and had earned his retirement. He was much loved and we miss him still.
 
millreef said:
Forgive me but is she a little young for this? I got my daughter her first when she was 9 and only after years of riding lessons and stable management. I still worry about her getting injured. Would you not be worried?
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No, I sat on my first pony at 2yrs! She'd be on lead rein and they do little club saddles with handes. I won't be taking her out onto the xc course! Will just be a walk around the school or a pootle down the road! I know any horses can spook and she may come off but that goes for any child/person no matter what their age. I saw my health visitor (who owns horses) the other day and she said she knows a woman who's just bought her son a shetland, who's 9 months! She said so long as they can sit up and hold on, it's a nice idea. I can't keep her away from horses or stable management until she's 9 as my horses are at home, so she comes out with me a few times a day whilst I ride, muck out etc and has done from being born!
 
When I was about 6 months old Mum and Dad went to the RSPCA and got me a welsh mountain pony who was 5 and blind in one eye as previous owner had beated him around head with a stick. He hated men but was a real dude. At 2 years old I would do gymkanas (sp?) and could happily do rising trot and a little canter if Mum could run fast enough :D He was perfet on the lead rein a real star. He had a few tricks up his sleeve for older more capeable riders though!!!

We kept him all his life and lost him aged 26. He was called Squirrel Nutkin ( Nutty for short)
He taught me how to stay on as he had a wicked shoulder dropping trick he employed once his rider was off the lead rein and needed putting in their place LOL

My boys aren't into horses but one is showing an interest so I am slowly letting him get more involved. He is now 6 and did have a loan pony 2 years ago but sadly we had to send her back as we found out my mare was unexpectedly expecting and we were short on space / grass :(
 
Dobiegirl said:
I bought my daughter her first pony when she was 3, the pony was described as 12 but vet said he could have been 22. He was a Welsh section A and was bombproof, when I went to see him the girl rode him sown the road and he passed a combine and didnt blink.

This pony taught my daughter so much, when she was a bit older and popping him over little jumps he would slow down and stop on the over side so she could get her balance. As she progressed he would put in a little buck just to make sure she was concetrating.:D

We kept him for the rest of his life as he never owed me a penny in my book and had earned his retirement. He was much loved and we miss him still.
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Ahhh! That's sweet! Hoping I find a little gem like this! Although will have a year roughly before i sit her on it to suss it out, whilst it's childminding my two!! She's quite happy sitting on the dogs for now! What age did your daughter outgrow him?
 
Beatrice5 said:
When I was about 6 months old Mum and Dad went to the RSPCA and got me a welsh mountain pony who was 5 and blind in one eye as previous owner had beated him around head with a stick. He hated men but was a real dude. At 2 years old I would do gymkanas (sp?) and could happily do rising trot and a little canter if Mum could run fast enough :D He was perfet on the lead rein a real star. He had a few tricks up his sleeve for older more capeable riders though!!!

We kept him all his life and lost him aged 26. He was called Squirrel Nutkin ( Nutty for short)
He taught me how to stay on as he had a wicked shoulder dropping trick he employed once his rider was off the lead rein and needed putting in their place LOL

My boys aren't into horses but one is showing an interest so I am slowly letting him get more involved. He is now 6 and did have a loan pony 2 years ago but sadly we had to send her back as we found out my mare was unexpectedly expecting and we were short on space / grass :(
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Wow, you were doing well for 2!! He sounds like a brilliant little pony! Squirrel nutkins a great name! Would go with my daughters name as she's called jemima!!
 
Bumblelion he was 11.2 and she outgrew him when she was about 11, she is small like me. He took her to pony club and jumped round the xcountry course putting the other expensive ponies to shame.

He did have issues(dont they all) he would get very attached to mares, was prone to Laminitis so had to be carefully managed and he used to crib bite. But a small price to pay for an absolute super star.

Beatrice it must be something about the name because ours was called Nutty.
 
I kept my daughters Sec A when she out grew her for my son. I knew she was such a gem of a pony and would be hard to find something for him when he was a slightly older. He sat on her at when he was 12 days old and pottered around the yard on her when he felt like it. At 18 mths I would tack her up and he would go for a hack down the lane until he fell asleep I would then transfer him to the push chair for his afternoon sleep and lead April home while pushing him along.
She has done him proud, lead rein champion at the local show for the last 2 years, he has done dressage tests off the lead rein (and beaten adults;))and now hacks and rides and jumps at home off the lead rein.
Sadly she is now just about outgrown and at the age of 12 hopefully be sold on to another little one for her to teach to ride, its going to break a few of our hearts though:(
 
Just as an addition, it's obviously worth buying a pony saddle with a handle (forget what they are called- too long ago:) but we had a brillliant synthetic one) and this kept the children lovely and secure.
 
We have a darty if youre still looking who is a little angel on the leadrein and you can lie underneath him and do all sorts on the ground. Hes inly for sale as ive HOPELESSLY outgrown him as im 12. He is soooo friendly and live for cuddles and kisses and used o be bathed groomed led caught ect by 4 yr olds.
 
I have a shetland for my 3year old and he's great. Forward going off the leg and will follow you around like a dog. I have older kids ride him out on hacks etc to keep him as a first ridden pony and he keeps up with 17hh horses buy trotting every now and then. He doesn't jog or anything and will happily follow along 2miles behind the rest. Dont over look a decent shetland as some really are worth their weight in gold x
 
I have a 22 year old shetland on loan, we have had him a year he is the most perfect laid back pony for a nervous child. He has brought her on so much he will follow mum, just trots occasionally to keep up. Will happily graze while I have a canter round field. Will take her up the lane at walk not fazed about any traffic or leaving the herd.

If he was for sale I would buy him and break him to drive as he is such a star!

His owner loves him too much as she has had him from a foal, so he will never be for sale. If you can find an older shetland they can be fantastic kids ponies.
 
I started out on a shetland when I was two, with a saddle with a handle. I rode him until I was about six and needed something a bit more capable. But shetlands are so strong and very naughty! They can be gems but I'd look at other small breeds too dartmoors are good and not quite as rotund as shetlands.

The riding school where my nephew learns avoids natives for the little children as they are so round they can't get their leg round, they have s selection of show pony types some of which are ancient. Might be worth looking out for retiring lead rein or first ridden ponies.
 
mine had a shetland first (when my eldest was 9 months old.... keen...moi!) and he is a legend ON the lead rein, they treat him like an oversized dog & drag him about & he is very amiable, however, he's not an off the lead rein pony, & my youngest (3yo) is about ready for a 'proper' pony to ride, mainly so he can master rising trot, as it's really hard for tinies to learn to do this on a shetland, so, while shetlands are great in many respects, if you're looking at the longer term picture, i'd go with a slightly bigger (11.2 ish) native type, as they will be easier to learn to ride properly,

i'd also echo that at this age for them, age is irrelavent, so don't be put off by more OAP ponies.... i'm on the hunt for one of these!

(& once you find one.... you'll have people queueing up to be next in line for them!)
 
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