Childrens ponies.

[Onyxia]

How much do your children get out of having their own?
Have always wanted a pony for R obviously

but am seriously considering it for next spring.
He adores playing on a 14hh ATM(much too big,he is only 4 and 3ft but nothing smaller at RS and he is only plodding about on lead rein moaning that he wants to go faster,lol).
He HATES being inside and is not someoen who can switch off and chill at weekends,so think a pony of his own would suit him down to the ground.

So,do they get more from a pony of their own then being a pony club centre meber or does it not really make any difference?
I dont mean in terms of future superstar sucess,just as a hobby we can share.

 

[Munchkin]

I've only just re-joined the forum so bear with me if I ask questions that everyone else knows the answers to! Do you have your own horse and are you horsey yourself?

If so then yes, I think a pony is a great idea. I really do think kids learn much faster and build so much more confidence on their own pony - provided it's the perfect pony for them and one that they build a rapport with, and that they are still having lessons from a qualified instructor.

Saying that, I managed perfectly well without a pony until I was 12 and turned out ok

Of course the pony will be outgrown and there's the heartbreak of a sale, and the potential risk of him losing interest...

I think it really depends on your circumstances but if you have the time and knowledge for a pony then go for it!

 

[Jorgi]

I'm not sure tbh.

I think 4 may be a bit young, but then it probably doesn't matter.

Mine each had their own when they were 6. They did get more out of from then on in, because they were then really aware of what it took to look after them everyday. At a riding school they never really learn that.

The only thing I would say is that I would wait until the child is actually asking to go and ride. Otherwise, who is the pony for? The child or you...........?

 

[Cop-Pop]

I didn't have my own pony but used the nextdoor neighbours whenever I wanted during term time (kids boarded) and I loved it. The pony was an exRDA pony tho so was a fab pony to learn on

 

[Onyxia]

[ QUOTE ]
The only thing I would say is that I would wait until the child is actually asking to go and ride. Otherwise, who is the pony for? The child or you...........?

[/ QUOTE ]
hehe good point

He begs to go and sulks like mad that I get to go to the RS without him.
I adore that he has an intrest in what is(outside of my family) my greatest passion but have never pushed him into it.
He came back from the nursery leavers trip to a city farm begging for riding stuff,we said sure if you still want it for your birthday and he spent the next week trying to convince us his birthday was only a few weeks off...nice try llittle man but we do know it's the end of November

 

[Onyxia]

[ QUOTE ]
I've only just re-joined the forum so bear with me if I ask questions that everyone else knows the answers to! Do you have your own horse and are you horsey yourself?

[/ QUOTE ]
Not got my own ATM but am horsey.
Worked at a large riding school after school and a very swish livery yard for a while too.
Moved from London to Yorkshire at 20,met OH at 21,son at 22 and horses were put aside for a while

[ QUOTE ]
If so then yes, I think a pony is a great idea. I really do think kids learn much faster and build so much more confidence on their own pony - provided it's the perfect pony for them and one that they build a rapport with, and that they are still having lessons from a qualified instructor.

[/ QUOTE ]
He will be signed up for the yards pony club whatsits(which I still think is very unfair,they diddnt have the pony club centre thing when I was little

) in the Autum,and plan is that if he is still keen come spring we will be looking for a pony for him.
There is no way in HELL I would teach him myself,if I wanted to shout at him we could stay at home

My son R is suspected to be on the autistic spectrum and struggles with "normal" life quite a bit,he can cope well with back up but finds things very hard without that bit of extra support.
The thing I love most about seeing him around horses is the change in him,he seems to lose all his inhibitions and the confidence is amazing!
He wouldnt dream of talking to a new person out in the world,but every new face at the stables is a friend to him(a small but big thing,he normaly refers to people as "that one" so to call a person "that friend" is a huge deal in terms of his outlook).
I really think having his own pony would give him a greator sence of fitting in there and hopefully help his confidence to grow both at the stables and in other areas.

 

[asbo]

my 2 have had fizz since they where born and its made a huge difference to how they act and treat their pony i feel

, they dont take for granted that they have her thankfully

 

[punk]

I totally agree with Munchkin - in every respect - I didn't have a pony until I was twelve, but my own daughters have all ridden from th age of four, and loved it. They did not necessarily get their own ponies straight away, but we have had so much fun together, and it has been a lifetime experience.

All my daughters have gone on to event to a high standard (3-day event), but when the elder two decided to give up - no problem - their choice. I am sure they valued all the fun times we had, and it gave them a lot of experience of team work and determination, outside of school!!

The third daughter is still eventing..........................

Good luck with the first pony!! It won't be your last - and beware - you will soon be tavelling the country doing things you never imagined you would do!!!

 

[TGM]

I think if you have a good riding centre nearby, then it does them good to wait a bit to get their own pony.

When the Sprog was younger, she had a few rides on our old Welsh Sec A, but she was getting too old and creaky to do much, so we sent the Sprog to the local riding school for lessons at the age of 5. This was a great solution as she got to ride a range of different ponies and had someone else teaching her other than mum! However, by the time she was nearly 9, she was desperate to have her own pony so she could go to shows and compete, so that was when we got her one of her own.

I think it did her good to have to wait a bit for a pony and to really want one before she actually got one. I think if they have a pony ready and waiting for them from a young age then they can easily take them for granted.

 

[hollyandivy123]

how about a share pony kids grow out of ponies to quick maybe sharing one or even have one on loan, this the route i would choose to start with, an older loan pony been there and done it, who is safe is worth their weight in gold and tend to be known to be avaiable by word of mouth.

 

[measles]

I will stick my neck out and say I think that having a pony is a great idea regardless of how young the child is. Our younger child got his pony when he was 3yo and whilst the amount of riding he could do was limited the pony has been part of the family and we include him in our world which I think has enriched it for our son. We are just back from PC mini camp and son had a ball and made new friends - all possible because of the pony.

The thing to be aware of (and you will be as your are horsey) is the time it will take as no matter how small ponies are they need looking after properly and so I would say as long as you have the time (and money!) then go for it - you will have memories to treasure that no one can take away.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

i am in the process of looking for a pony for my TWO year old, as that's the age i was when i got one... also, the pony will be a companion for my horse too.

i don't expect him to take care of the pony (obviously) but he does already help on the yard... and i think it's a great way for kids to learn responsibility etc. he'd have lessons when old enough, but for now he can potter around on the lead rein, groom, and enjoy having the pony around. i have a less enthusiastic 11yr old... who hates all the 'chores' but likes to sit on and ride sometimes, so he can plod around on the pony too.

i think it's up to you, and if you think it will benefit your son, go for it. x