Loan Pony Advice- been offered a 4yo 14.2 and 7yo 12.2- which one??

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Lej09

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In need of advice. We are getting a loan pony for our 11yo daughter who is jumping at a low level at the Riding School. I event BE100 and have experience with youngsters.

We have been offered a 14.2 4yo which I would need to back and ride away that is calm on the ground and walked out in hand nicely with horses tanking off all around us. I'm comfortable with the work that needs to go in to get him to a point where our daughter can ride him in the summer hopefully, it would be both of us riding him so i know the foundations are in place and maintained. However he is an unproven entity without being backed but he would last us for years.

We have also been offered a 12.2 7yo pony that is bombproof to hack and fairly good in the school, would still need some schooling to jump etc as he is low mileage. The good thing is she can get straight on and start going out straight away and we know what we are getting into. The only trouble is he would last us 6-12 months due to height.

This really isn't a complaint as I am so fortunate to be offered two brilliant ponies but I don't know what to do hence why I am turning to you guys for advice and thoughts.

What would you do?

Appreciate the support in advance.

Thanks
 
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Fanatical

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The 12.2hh no question!
So many unknowns with the 4yr old and time is precious! Enjoy the pony while you can and worry about needing a bigger one when the time comes!

Edited to add... or both! If it was possible have both. Let your daughter ride the 12.2 whilst you back the bigger one. By the time she's outgrown the smaller one, the bigger one might just about be ready for her. Although I'd be wary of taking an unbroken horse on loan in case you did all the hard work and then had it taken back off you!
 
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Lej09

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Fanatical said:
The 12.2hh no question!
So many unknowns with the 4yr old and time is precious! Enjoy the pony while you can and worry about needing a bigger one when the time comes!

Edited to add... or both! If it was possible have both. Let your daughter ride the 12.2 whilst you back the bigger one. By the time she's outgrown the smaller one, the bigger one might just about be ready for her. Although I'd be wary of taking an unbroken horse on loan in case you did all the hard work and then had it taken back off you!
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Thank you. The 4yo loan would be as a long term loan and LWVTB further down the line, with the price being agreed on todays value before we put the work in.

I have tried to convince both to the OH but he is having none of it!
 
Glitter's fun

Glitter's fun

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Lej09 said:
Thank you. The 4yo loan would be as a long term loan and LWVTB further down the line, with the price being agreed on todays value before we put the work in.

I have tried to convince both to the OH but he is having none of it!
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Still voting 12.2, otherwise what will your daughter ride now? 6 months off is a long time to an 11 year old.
 
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gallopingby

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I’d go for the 12.2. Your daughter and therefore you!! will have more fun with a pony that suits her now, even if she’ll grow out of it in a years time. Been there, done that with a younger pony so didn’t make the same mistake with my granddaughter and we borrowed an old schoolmaster for a year to get her started. Her riding came on much quicker than we expected and within 18 months she was confident riding a much bigger pony. It really is worth the stress of worrying that the pony will be outgrown to set them up properly. Plenty time for young ponies in the future. 😀
 
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Patterdale

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Lej09 said:
Thank you. The 4yo loan would be as a long term loan and LWVTB further down the line, with the price being agreed on todays value before we put the work in.

I have tried to convince both to the OH but he is having none of it!
Click to expand...

If your daughter is still keen and riding in 3 years then buy a nice 14.2.
If you have her spend the next few years laboriously bringing on a youngster, it will more than likely suck all the joy out and she won’t be riding then anyway.
 
KittenInTheTree

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At eleven, has your daughter got any important school exams upcoming between now and summer? If so, then I would think the four year old makes more sense, since she might not have as much time for riding with revising and other homework. Also, seeing the pony being backed and ridden away could be interesting for her.
 
twiggy2

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I wouldn't take on a 4yr old for a child of that age, especially if the pony is unpacked and your daughter wants to jump.
Confidence can be so fragile.
Is your daughter small enough to get much time with the 12.2?
To be honest I would keep looking, something 13.2 to 14.2 that's reliable and knows its jib would give your daughter so much more fun and independence.
 
honetpot

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I bought all our ponies as just backed at 3/4 bar one, and I rode them away and they did PC on them. An older pony as usually learnt all the tricks, and at seven it will still have a few up its sleeve.
I would take the 14.2, if its a good loan you will have a pair for longer, and hopefully by riding it yourself will avoid most of the naughty stuff, and learn what it boils over at. I bought a 3yr old 14hh for my tall eight year old daughter, and this worked for me. The only priviso is you have to think like a novice, do not get too sharp off the leg, and just ride relaxed. I once has had a dressage lesson with a FBHS, who said the pony could be really good, but I just wanted a pony my daughter could ride and be in control off it, and that means you only teach the pony what the child can cope with, basic weight aids etc.
 
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SO1

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As this is your daughter's first pony I would say a just backed 14.2 might be too much pony for her if she is still small enough for a 12.2 for 6-12 months.

What size ponies does she ride at the riding school?
 
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maya2008

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12.2hh without a doubt.

I have backed a gelding for a novice adult rider - saintly temperament from the word go. We started the transfer of riders from age 5.5, backing was a gentle start at nearly 4. So next summer might be seriously ambitious. A well known lady on fb bought a slightly oversized 6 year old for a novice child - that went quite wrong indeed. If you look at fb for sale ads you can see plenty more.

Regardless of age, how tall is your 11 year old? My 11 year old child still fits on a 12hh pony, and my 13hh New Forest allows him to pilot from time to time. There is no chance, whatsoever, he could stop the 13hh if she decided otherwise. It is very clear she’s indulgently allowing him to pilot and that’s it. He can catch and groom her but can’t get the saddle on without a step up, and if she lifts her head not the bridle either. He’s a tiny dot on my friend’s 14.2hh and couldn’t get him tacked up or rugged up. With the 12hh ponies he is completely independent - can catch in, rug off, groom, tack up, ride, untack, rug on, turn out. I am completely not required. He is an experienced rider who has backed and produced his own ponies - we won’t be making the jump to 13hh for a year or so.

Lastly, they can say it’s a long term loan all they want, and then still come take the pony back once you’ve put the work in. If you want a youngster for a long term prospect, buy one.
 
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Wishfilly

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If it's a pony for your daughter, then the 12.2, no question. It's not just the riding, it's also your daughter being able to do so much more independently with a 12.2, which is surely part of the point of getting a pony on loan? The great thing about a loan is it doesn't matter if the 12.2 gets out grown- although it is always tough sending them back!

If it's really a pony for you both to share, and your daughter can continue having lessons elsewhere and so on, then I can see why you would lean towards the 14.2. But realistically, any 4yo will likely need some time out over the next 12 months, and not all 4-5yos will react well to a less experienced child rider. You also potentially have the teenager phase hitting when your daughter is only 12-13 and relatively inexperienced.

Do you have anything of your own to ride at the moment?
 
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Lej09

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Thank you all For the advice. We have opted for the 12.2 pony as it’s more established but also takes up the leg well. I was thinking of the fun I would have producing a pony more than I was thinking about what she ACTUALLY needs right now. I have my 17hh eventer so having a 4yo would take riding time away from him and whilst he is in his prime which also makes sense to have the pony. Also these messages made me think of the over horsing mistakes I have seen previously on yards with children.

I needed your advice so thank you, it made me see sense! Thanks all x
 
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