Cost of keeping a pony

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steve_in_devon

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Hi
Would anyone be able to let me know that kind of costs keeping a little pony (shetland size). My youngest son and wife love ponies and I would love to get one but have no idea of the cost of keeping one.

We have some land around us that I might be able to get access to to keep one but its the "running" cost that I could do with some advice on.

Thanks
 
If you aren't sure what one costs to keep, chances are you aren't experienced enough to keep one. If you intend keeping one on local land it will need a companion for starters. The best thing to do would be paying for riding & stable management lessons for them both. Then when you know the work involved you should have the experience to list the cost involved too.
 
Shetlands are quite cheap to keep but still have the basic costs of a larger horse/pony.
You'd be looking at the cost of land rental which varies considerably, foot trimming 6 weekly which can be from £15 - £40 depending on on farrier/trimmer; 3rd party liability insurance £60 a year, also sensible to include vet fees if you have no savings to dip into which will increase the cost a fair bit, hay in winter £5 - £10 a week (not sure how much you would go through for a shettie,) I feed haylage which is £7.50 a small bale and get through two to three bales a week in winter for a 14hh pony.
Wormer, £40 a year, dentist £50 every six months to a year, vaccinations every few years if tetanus only (not sure on cost of those off the top of my head) Then there is the tack, grooming kit, stable equipment, probably electric fencing to retrict grazing as shetlands are notorious for becoming overweight and prone to laminitis.
Whatever figure you get, you'll probably spend more, most horse owners are terrrible at sticking to budgets!

Eta; I agree with Littlelegs, far better to get plenty of experience under your belt and know what you are letting yourselves in for, and it would also need a companion.
 
Well, ditto that really.

It is said that a horse costs as much as a car, but that depends on the car! A little pony really doesn't cost much to keep, but there are things like regular vists from the farrier (£20 every 6 weeks for a trim, or a bit less), worming - save £1.00 per week so you always have the cash to buy. Then there is hay for in the winter. Insurance, particularly for vets fees, or some savings if you don't want to pay out for that, but 3rd Party Insurance is a very good idea or join the BHS which includes that in the membership.

Little ponies are generally healthy, and cheap to keep but they do need care and maintenance. They need sufficient feed, but not too much as that leads to behavioural problems and serious health problems.
 
Although they are smaller and eat less... I have to pay more for the little ponies as we have to patch as they are too small to be gorging in a field (hoovers and high lami risk). We supplement with hay which costs.

You have to expand/move the patch and poo pick, which we don't for the others (fields and harrow). You'd need a companion too.

Do you/your wife have the experience to exercise one properly and teach younger son, if not then instructor costs. Probably getting someone to walk/lead it out if not ridden regularly.

I wouldn't say they come in cheaper than horses at all. The one we look after costs the same if not more than our horses in time and money...

Pan
 
Thanks for the replies, give me something to think about. I am looking at schools around us for my 8 year old son who wants to learn and have a post on here asking for recommendations for schools around exeter.
 
I have a welsh section a, so slightly bigger than a Shetland.

Livery is the same for any sized horse wether you have a shire or a Shetland.
Feed is the only thing that's slightly cheaper as you are either feeding nothing or basic feed and less hay.
Trimming/shoeing is the same as a bigger horse
Insurance is slightly less as mine isn't ridden
Vaccinations/teeth are the same as a bigger horse

So slightly cheaper, but not by much and very time consuming restricting grazing, adapting fencing to keep the little monsters in etc

And if they do get laminitis which they are prone to the vets bills run up into £100's very easily!
 
montyforever said:
Livery is the same for any sized horse wether you have a shire or a Shetland.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true.

Some places will charge less for pony stalls and more for large horse stalls.

Also out on grass ponies are often charged less, however for the time often invested in poo picking/moving fencing etc it doesn't get taken into account everywhere.

Pan
 
Pj - really?! Never seen that, but I've always been on yards where the stables were all the same so had to charge the same but I've always thought its unfair considering the ponies eat less grass, less bedding, hay and feed.
 
montyforever said:
Pj - really?! Never seen that, but I've always been on yards where the stables were all the same so had to charge the same but I've always thought its unfair considering the ponies eat less grass, less bedding, hay and feed.
Click to expand...

I've noticed several stables doing it. We are grass and charge less but have to say they take up far more time and actually cost the same if not more in the long run. Rather than harrowing a field, we have to continually poo pick, move/expand paddocks, feed less over winter in roughage, but provide all year which none of the horses have. I love them and they are proper cuddlies, but certainly not the easiest to keep! Can't herd with horses as they just chase them round being 'leader'. Little pains, but no horse gives the same wrap around cuddles and comedy value as the diddy ponies!

Pan
 
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