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mcnaughty

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Hi

I am thinking seriously about getting a pony for my son and daughter. I have a mare myself and am starting to feel a bit guilty about not letting them have a go but she is rather green...

Anyway, I probably need to be certified mad but hey ho!

Daughter is 4 and son is a small 9yo (about age 7 size) and wondered what you all thought of cub saddles - like the link attached..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CUB-SADDLE-mi...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3cae4a1137

or should I just get them a normal saddle. Neither have had any proper riding lessons. I was thinking of a section A or B - again thoughts on this? Don't really want them to grow out of it too quickly but also want them to be able to have a lot of fun and just messing around like I used to as a kid. 12.2hh or smaller?

What about age - should I go for something I can train up or something ancient that has seen it and done it all and would only bolt off in walk....

Mind you I just learnt to ride in a normal saddle so......

Thanks for any comments. Oh, and sorry for all the questions....

Fi
 
tbh, as a first step I would get then a couple of riding lessons, then they can learn the basics and a nice steady riding school type and you can also check that they won't just go off the idea quickly!
When you get a pony I would get a normal saddle, then get a balance strap on the front so they have it for stability and they don't try and use the reins for this.
I wouldn't get a pony you can train up, esp as they are just starting I would get a super sensible type that they can just get on and enjoy. There is nothing more crushing that getting taken of with, spooked with and not being able to try things you are interested in because the pony needs more work than you have the experince to offer it and if they are just starting out then schooling a pony on could be unlikely. Unless you are teeny you might have probs getting a sec a or b going in the right direction! I would ask around local pony club mums and see if there is a pony you could loan. There is often a legendary pony that does the rounds and taught pretty much everyone to ride!!
 
I would get them some lessons and let them fall off a few times before i bought them a pony to make sure its what they really want to do. I would get thema normal saddle.

I made the mistake of getting my son a mini shetland in oct last year (he will be 3 in a couple of months) he wanted to ride all the time and lead her everywhere when we first got her, now he dont even stroke her some days he just wants to play on his tractor. So pony is kind of for sale now :-(. I wouldnt want you to end up in the same situation.
 
Definitely get them some riding lessons first :) on a nice steady pony and if they're still loving it a few lessons down the line, maybe a pony of their own is a good idea! :)

Not sure about saddles, probably a normal one with like someone suggested a strap and maybe safety stirrups? (I started learning n a 15.3hh in a normal saddle without straps but with a neck strap on the horse and I was 8)

I'm now 20 and up until I was 16 I was still riding a 13hh (an exmoor x) ;) and he was the best pony ever! He was my first pony and he taught me loads, the most important lesson being owned horses are much different than riding school horses! He was bomb proof enough to keep me safe but intelligent enough to make me pay attention and cheeky enough to keep my on my toes at times :)

I hope you all have loads of fun together with your horses! :)
K x
 
I made the mistake of getting my son a mini shetland in oct last year (he will be 3 in a couple of months) he wanted to ride all the time and lead her everywhere when we first got her, now he dont even stroke her some days he just wants to play on his tractor. So pony is kind of for sale now :-(. I wouldnt want you to end up in the same situation.
Click to expand...

I did this aswell, thankfully sold the pony to a great home.

Definately go with riding lessons first to make sure they stay keen.
 
I've just bought the exact same saddle off that seller! I've just got a welsh a for my daughter, he's a perfect gentleman on ground and on lead rein just a bit green off, not naughty just unbalanced and unsure about some aids. So I'm planning to bring him on, luckily I'm only 5'2" and 9 1/2 stone so don't look to big on him, so that by the time she comes off the lead rein ( I'm guessing around a year) he'll be fine. I bought a cub saddle purely so that when she rides I don't gave to keep swapping stirrup leathers etc over. She can also "help" with tacking up without me worrying about her dropping a heavy and expensive saddle.
 
The cub saddle would do for your daughter to sit on but your son is not likely to find it comfortable. Once, if, you get a pony look at getting a Thorowgood pony club saddle fitted that should suit both kids and the type of pony you're looking at, or a second hand leather one shouldn't be too expensive.

I'd go for the ancient pony myself, more likely to be tolerant of mistakes, have already done everything you're likely to want to do with it several times over and if the kids turn out to like to ride now and again rather than several times a week, more likely to be ok with being left in a field inbetween times without turning into a nutter!
 
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