HOW TO GET A PONY ( i need help so help me pleese!!)

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chessi

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I want a pony soo bad.
I am trying to persuade the parents and I need to know if anybody has any techiniques? lol..sounds sad but ill do anything!! I cant help out with costs cos i dont work
(only at high school *sniffle*)

Also,i need to know roughly how much a pony working 5-6 days a week could cost,living out in the day and in at night.
also,how much does good quality tack cost about?? thankyou!!!

I NEED LOTS OF REPLIES!!
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Show your dedication and be patient, and most importantly SUCK UP TO YOUR PARENTS! Wash the dishes, tidy your room, that kind of thing, promise to help them pay for it by giving up your pocket money to help pay towards the pony, and get a paper round for extra money!
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Good luck!
 
Livery DIY - 25-50 pounds per week ish. Full 50-100 plus pounds per week. You will need assisted or full livery if you are at school and your parents are not horsey and willing to help.

Per week (if not included in livery) 2 bales of shavings 10 pounds, straw about 1 pound per bale, hay 2 pounds per bale.

Shoes 45 pounds roughly every 6 weeks. Trim 20 pounds.
Wormers 100 pounds per year.
Vaccinations & other vet stuff & dentistry allow 200 pounds per year. Always have 200 pounds in reserve for emergencey Vets bills.

Insurance, starts at about 15 pounds per month. Depends on value of pony and what you do.

Decent quality 2nd hand saddle 200 pounds plus. Decent bridle 40 pounds plus. Bits 10 pounds plus. Other tack allow atleast 200 pounds per year for replacements, odds and ends repairs etc.

Rugs 30 pounds plus.

Rug cleaning 15 pounds plus.

Thats before you have any lessons.. 15 pounds. or go anywher & do anything which costs as much as you are willing to spend.
 
A pony is a HUGE responsibility, so think long and hard whether you'd be commited to it. DIY Livery is about €25 (£20) a week, but this will probably exclude hard feed. it's €150 (£120) for public liability insurance for a pony per year. Don't buy new tack unless you're prepared to pay about €900 (£830) for a good leather saddle, there are some great 2nd hands out there though! Bridles are cheap enough, €60 (€40) for a decent one. There is so much stuff, the list is endless, so I'd read up about it in books,
CM
 
Well, I begged and pleaded for about 5 years before I got a pony! Leaving little notes round the house (when I was like 6 yrs old!) saying how much Id LOVE a pony with little pictures of me and a pony with hearts round it..... you get the jist!

Make sure you are REALLY commited so your parents can see that. For example, get as many lessons as possible, go to your yard and offer to help out to gain experience etc. This all shows your maturity and that you can be responsible etc.

Owning a horse is expensive......!!
 
Can't add much more to that list.

I currently pay £26 a week at my yard. That includes hay/haylage, grazing, stable rent, trailer parking, water, electricity. I'm on assissted DIY, for an extra £1 a day YO will turn out. Another £1 and she will bring in. Extra £3 a day for mucking out, £5 for full livery.

Shavings are £5.70 a bag, one-two bags a week. Feed = around £5 a bag, more for feeds like Dengie HiFi. He gets through a bag of mix once a fortnight.

A selection of rugs will be needed, ranging from around £50 for a lightweight turnout to £180 for a heavy weight turnout with necks etc. Also requires stable rugs, same price range. Cooler/fleece rugs, around £30 a time.

Travel boots etc if you decide to travel anywhere = £50 a set upwards depending on make.

At my last yard I think I paid £60 a week for full livery mon-fri inc. shavings and basic feed. Both my current yard and last one were very very reasonably priced!!

Ok, so maybe I could add to that list..
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OOO I know where Loveclough is!! There are lots of small stables round there, so for now why not just keep helping at some of them. There may be someone with an outgrown pony you could ride in return for mucking out etc.
If you want to win your parents round there is only one way. Show how important a pony is to you. Ask them to give you nothing present wise but money for a "Pony" fund, open a post office account and save every penny in it, do jobs, get a paper round, offer to do anything legal and once they see the money building up they may reconsider. Don't forget though, that ponies are expensive to keep and it may not be in their power to fund one for you..
There are quite a few cheap places to keep a pony near you (pm me for ideas if you want), and have you thought about one fromn HAPPA?
you can make do with second hand tack, bridles can be bought for as little as £10 complete, and a synthetic saddle for £50-£100. I don't know if they still do it but the tack shop in Ramsbottom used to have an excellent selction of second hand stuff.
 
Begged for a pony from the age of six- and I mean BEGGED. The fact was my parents didn't have either the knowledge about ponies, the money, or the time (well I couldn't very well drive myself to a stable yard twice a day) to make my dreams come true no matter how much they wanted to. I have had to wait until I was old enough to get a job that paid well enough to afford one.

If you live on a farm with the facilities there to keep a pony (or your parents are loaded) then keep up with the begging and pleading.

If you are more like the majority of people and money is an object then, as others have said, prove to your parents how serious you are and make sacrifices to prove just how serious you are. After all, from a parental point of view time with horses is less time spent away from boys...

And finally, if your circumstances are like mine were, and it just can't happen then make the most of whatever opportunities come your way- riding lessons, working for free at riding schools/livery yards, helping friends with their horses etc... because if you want it enough you will have your own horse one day even if you have to wait, and if I'm anything to go by you'll enjoy it all the more when you do get it x

Good luck! xx
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I definitely second much of the advice the others have given - particularly about showing your dedication by working for free at stable yards. And by this I mean every weekend - not just when the weather is good! A lot of parents think that the pony phase may be a five minute wonder so you need to prove this is not the case. Might be worth joining the Pony Club too and attending all the stable management rallies and helping out at the ridden ones. That's what I did and the DC finally managed to persuade my parents to get me a horse
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unless you look around and find a nice YO. Mine offers full livery services (m horse is kept at grass though) if I cant make it or my daughter is ill she is happy to put on or take off a rug, feed him check he is ok etc etc and has even offered to take him to the clinic for me (though I wont be taking her up on this offfer as thats pushing it to far) and thats all for £21 per week winter and £15 per week summer including hay

but there is the cost of food/shoes/vets/insurance
 
I had to wait until I got married. Used the money for wedding presents to buy Amber. Wrote everyone a nice letter thanking them for the money that we had used to buy a cabinet for all the china!
OH was in total agreement as it meant he had more free time to do what he wanted as well. Still married after 17 years!
 
wow there all great replies!! (as they say in primary skool- give yourselves a pat on the back lol..)
yup ive been going on at them ever since princess dianas funeral.
I saw the horses and i said,mummy im going to have one of those when im all growned up!!

been riding 9 years,my riding teachers says i can help out at the stables on a sunday so ill think about that one (the stables are about 8miles away lol..i think we gunna have to drive
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the lil account thingy was a great idea!! im guna do that!!
and i would like to get al synthetic tack cos u can put it in the washing machine hehe..

i <3 you ALL for replying sooo great and if anybody has any more ideas PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PM ME!!
OR JUST POST IT ON HERE!! xoxoxox chessi
 
can you really put synthetic tack in the washing machine???
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bits of bridle maybe, but surely not a saddle??? or maybe that's not what you meant and I'm being dense. probably.
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I've waited nearly 40 years for my first horse, but did have about 15yrs not riding inbetween!!! The last couple of years I had a horse on loan which came with tack, I was also really lucky as she stayed on the yard I was loaning from, my horse is now there and it's great as I have a small hotel my mornings and evenings are really busy so I know there is always someone there to help out. If you are still growing then maybe a loan pony would be the best as you find that you may grown out of your horse really quickly. Its a HUGE responsibility, I had a bad fall in January and am still really nervous about riding my horse, will ride other horses, but need to get my head together to get back to regular riding. Another option is woking livery, but the big downside of this is your horse may not be available when you are, you will have to make sure that you are firm with them about when you want your horse available, believe me I've been there and it can be very frustrating. Good luck lets us know how you go
 
i statred a pony fund! (although i don't think i got over £60)

i made a spreadsheet showing my parenst the running cot of a horse, i looked inot where i would keep it.


Most of all you have to be organised with your time, do you hoework early, i used to do everythign then mooch aROUND THE HOUSE FOR AN HOUR, SAYING "IF I HAD A PONY, I WOULD BE THERE NOW"

get helping at stables, veen if you have to work fr free, show dedication! that means working whn you feel rotten/ it pouring with rain!!

work out everything about getting pony!
 
8 miles! thats cycling distance! it will show decidation!!


or can you not get a bus/ train?

try and work out an alternative route before aksing ourparnets!

when i got my horse, i would cycle home in the pitch black completely worn out, a heavy bag full of schoolbooks, for 40mins! that showed my parenst that idid really desercve th pony hy had got m!

and 'cause i didn' complain (much) they didn't mind giving me a lift when they had time to!
 
yup,i would go to the stables if i had the choice jess on my bike hehe
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!!
but the parents are scared...oo roads..oo this oo that..ooh be quiet lol!!!
my school is uite far away though so i cant cycle there and to and from the stables *sniff sniff*

HEY JESS!! do you still have the spreadsheet? could you email it me hehe..?no seriously! i need something like that but id miss things off lol..
 
My advice is don't get a pony, not yet anyway.

You're still in school and you're relying totally on parents who are a) not horsey and b) not too keen on the idea.
The fact you haven't yet been working at your riding stables worries me slightly...How much non-riding experience do you have with horses? Do you have the knowledge and experience to look after one by yourself? horses are as much hard work as they are fun and they need dedication. You need to check and feed him at least twice a day without exception...just because you don't fancy going out in the freezing cold rain on Christmas day doesn't mean he can go without! Both you AND your parents need to be aware AND commited to this animal, it's not just you who will be affected by it.
If you are truly dedicated to horses, then you will be willing to wait for the day you are honestly ready...I started riding when I was 4 years old and didn't get my own horse til I was 16...I helped at as many riding schools and local yards as I could, I studied about horse care and management, not just riding and as a result I believe I'm a better horse owner for it!
Also, what about your school exams? College? Uni? Where does a pony fit in with these plans?
Take the offer of working at your local yard on sundays, it will be easier to persuade your parents to let you do this than trying to get them to buy and fund a pony. If you're dedicated enough, many riding schools will allow you to loan a pony from them...it will be cheaper than buying a pony and you will have the help on days you cannot make it to the yard....and he will be kept in work.
It is easy to get a pony when you are not financially responsible for it, a few years down the line you may lose interest, no one knows what is around the corner, you could be leaving your parents in a very unfortunate (and sadly all too common) situation where they are left holding the reins and potentially in debt.

Good Luck with whatever happens!
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Good luck, I think everybody has given really good advice
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One thing to mention though is your parents would really need to be on board if you live a distance from a livery yard. Just saying this as parents need to do so much more than provide the money!

As others have said I think showing dedication to the cause is key.
 
Help at a riding school for a bit first. That's what I do, and if anything, I'd now rather do that than have my own pony. I have made loads of horsy friends there, one of whom now has a loan pony who I can ride sometimes. If anything, working at a riding school you get more riding cos when I go on a weekday and there aren't many customers sometimes I have been able to ride 4 or 5 hrs a day!
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it's really great and you'll get loads more experience. Also now I've been working at the yard for quite a while they pay me £20 every Sunday I work there. If your riding school did this too then you would be in a position to help your parents out with costs, even if only slightly.

When you go to visit potential ponies, the fact you've worked in a ridng school will put pontential owners' minds at rest that you will be a capable owner for their pony.
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Also the YO of the riding school will have a knowledge of other yards in the area, dealers etc and will be able to help you find the right pony. Maybe if you find one you like at the riding school they would be willing to let you have him/her on loan, or sell him for you to keep on as a livery?

Whatever you do, good luck, and do keep us updated.
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Are you actually having riding lessons at the minute?

When my daughter started riding a couple of years ago we took her to the school twice a week, Thurs after school for a private 1/2 hour lesson, and Saturday at 10am for a group lesson, we stayed and watched and got friendly with the staff. After a few months she started to arrive early on a Saturday and help tack up, then eventually asked if she could be a helper and stay all day. Now this is a child who has difficulty finding the dirty linen basket at home, but at the riding school she was turning out ponies for rides to a very high standard, worked hard doing beds, feeds & cleaning tack, she poo picked, muck heap maintenance and hosed horse legs. She would come home knackered and happy.

As parents this proved to us that she was ready for the commitment, it helped that I had a horsy background and was willing to muck in too. I see a lot of her so called 'horsy' friends who arrive, ride and go home, head out shopping for girly clothes and hit a coffee shop afterwards. Katie treks into Tesco covered in muck & haylage to grab a pot noodle for lunch!

We bought her a pony last June, I can tell you, hand on heart it was a HUGE shock to her system, from one day a week helping to 24/7 commitment, and I wouldn’t like to have seen her trying to do it on her own. She is only a skinny 12 going on 13yr old, but boy has she muscles now! The first few months were rough, it wasn't as easy as she thought it would be, plus your own pony is a world of difference from one at the riding school, there were days were we had tears and regret!

Sorry for the long-winded post, you need to show commitment, start saving and you will need your parents help!
 
helping out at the stables is a good way to find out if you have the dedication to own a horse of our own Its a very big step looking after a horse they need to been seen at least twice a day which alone is a huge commitment, be very sure of your dedication. I`ve seen too many lovly young girls who`s parents have baught them a pony and expect just to drop the child once a day at the yard or sometimes not for days on end!! Its not fair to the animal. I hope you do persuade your parents and the best of luck with your persuading, but get as much experiance as possable first.
 
Really sympathise with you,but be patient. Where abouts in lancashire are you? (Sorry if you have already stated, i was a bit lazy reading through lol). How about part loaning a pony first, say for 2 days a week or something? Shouldnt cost too much, you can show the parents how responsible you can be,and introduce them to the whole horsey side, you never know they may really get into it! Or maybe a bit of technicall bribary. Work really hard at school, start saving up ect. Good luck, xxx
 
My children have been riding since they were four and didn't get their first pony till the oldest was 15.

They went every day at the weekend and every night during the week if someone would givethem a lift. Got up at 7am at weekends to get down intime to feed and muck out.

They asked continually, but as I am a non horsie single parent, it just wasnt an option till i could be sure that they had the commitment to look after it themselves - rain or shine - light or dark.

Finally, and I mean after 11 years of riding and working - I bought them a pony and then a year later a horse. They have to be incredibly organised as they are on diy - if they want to go out at night - or spend time at their dad's - they have to get up at 5.30 to go and muck out before school. They know if their grades slip I will sell the horses or put them on loan. I am totally physically unable to step in and take over.

And it costs about £600 a month. Because even though they are on DIY, there is food, bedding, supplements, insurance, vets, shoeing, lessons - you need lessons even more with your own horse, transport and competition fees if you want to compete.

It's not a small investment or commitment and if your parents aren't at all interested it will be hard. Even though my girls are totally commited I still have to book vets, order and pay for food weekly, book farrier and pull the trailer.

I agree with everyone else - get working down a stables - get a bus if you have to - show you deserve it and find out if it really is a life you want. Little or no social life, never have any money and lots of worry!!
 
Basically show how responsible and organised you are (need to be these!)
Do ALL your homework straight away and ontime (this will be the main thing they will be worries about so do it!

Livery varies but I paid £10 week stable/field week DIY at one yard and £15 at another (extra fiver was worth it, facilites far better)

I spent around £250 - £300 month on a horse in DIY livery
 
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