Please help me find my tiny 2 year old his first pony

EgerdenFarmStud

EgerdenFarmStud

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Hello all.

I'm looking for the most saintly pony in the world for my little man ( just turned 2 )

I dont mind how old it is ( or young really if it has a proven record of little ones on board )
don't mind mare / gelding colour etc.... Just has to be totally totally safe for Jack to learn on. Don't want a shetland as their little legs move too quickly for him, would rather a little Welsh A or similar that is very slow and confidence giving. Must lunge well with tiny person on board and listen to voice commands etc. Would prefer one that will happily go off LR well too as once i've bought one i'll never want to sell it... MUST be 100% for him to brush and paint feet etc and put up with hours of pampering... upto aroud 12 hands ( give or take )

Basically he / she has to know his / her job inside out and enjoy being loved and fussed by little ones.... Jack will no doubt want to jump like his daddy once he has learned to ride so something that has experience with poles will be handy too...

I don't want to pay a fortune for a pony but at the same time have a good budget for the perfect saint...

My ideal pony for him will be a 15 yo+ little old lady / man that has been there and done it all now looking for a quieter life I guess but we won't rule out anything if it meets all the criteria. Pref South East...

Would consider full loan too.

Have searched all usual websites but wondered if anybody knew of anything not yet advertised, or looking for new family through word of mouth etc.... I can offer perfect family 5* experienced home and pony will never want for anything...

Please help me find one :)

Thank you xx
 
Luci07 said:
What about something like Blue Cross?
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Have looked on re-homing sites too but would rather have something where we know full history. Wouldn't put me off for me looking but for my little man safety is paramount and i'd rather have something that people have seen / heard of for being a little saint.

x
 
I know something that would be utterly perfect in 10 years time!!!
She is a gorgous little black mare, 4yo, I think said she was dartmoor (but she doesn't look like one to me) - certainly section A height, and very pretty.

Beautiful temprement, loves people and kids. Sort of broken in. (has had little kids plonked on her back!) with no issues.

If you could be persuaded to put a little work into her, I am positive you'd be rewarded for it. I'm tempted to buy her myself just because I like her so much (I don't have kids!). I appreciate why you would want an older 'been there' type one though.
 
If its the only pony he'll be riding I think at two you are better with a miniature shetland than a Welsh a, ime they are too wide for a toddler to ride all the time. If he has a tiny one now chances are he'll still be small enough to have it as a first ridden when he's older. Plus be able to tack up & groom himself without a step. Genuine first riddens are like gold dust so looking at the tinies gives you more options. And in all honesty, I have a 7yr old who's rode all her life & the type of ponies she rode as a toddler she had outgrown ability wise by 4/5 & described them as boring. So bear in mind that you could run in to the same thing in a few years if he starts early.
And contact local pony club too, the best kids first ponies often get snapped up before they're advertised.
 
I have a client with a 12.2 Dartmoor that needs a new home, 10 yrs old and is everything you have described. He is 100% first ridden pony.

She has someone interested that she knows, but has said if they haven't made up their mind by the end of the week she will advertise him. If you are interested pm me and I can let you know more details and if he becomes available.
 
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I have one, he's a full up standard shetland, and he's still being ridden by a very tall 9 year old and a small 14 year old. He's ancient, but I can trust him totally and utterly. He cost me £100 from word of mouth via the pony club (we weren't members).

A child will gain more confidence on a smaller pony, even when their feet are knocking poles down, because they'll feel safer. 12hh is HUGE to a five year old.

Do consider a shetland, because out of all the 'angel' ponies we've had, this one is definatley the safest. He's smart, quick thinking but trustworthy. I liken him to an old wise eeyore.

Ask your farrier and vet because these ponies don't get advertised, it's always word of mouth. And register your wishes with your local pony club DC, he/she will know almost every pony in the area.
 
Thank you all... Love little grey one on hm. Didn't see him when I looked...

Galaxy - would love you to pm me more details if poss.

Thanks for advice little legs but would really rather steer clear of shetties etc. he really hates the legs moving too quickly on the littler ones and prefers to ride something a little bigger ( he loves my 16.3h broodmare and has a major strip daily that I won't let him ride my 16.2 2 year old stallion ) ... I think the slightly bigger ( 11.2-12 handers ) are more his thing as their legs move a little slower.

X
 
I felt just the same, never wanted a shetland. So bought my daughter a Welsh x when she was 4. Total nightmare! Now we have the most perfect standard shettie who doesn't care if she rides him every day or once a month. He really is the perfect angel and such a character! He dislikes adults but adores little people and I never have to worry about her. If the perfect one comes up, please don't let it pass just because it's a shetland. The good ones are worth their weight in gold! x
 
EgerdenFarmStud said:
Thank you all... Love little grey one on hm. Didn't see him when I looked...

Galaxy - would love you to pm me more details if poss.

Thanks for advice little legs but would really rather steer clear of shetties etc. he really hates the legs moving too quickly on the littler ones and prefers to ride something a little bigger ( he loves my 16.3h broodmare and has a major strip daily that I won't let him ride my 16.2 2 year old stallion ) ... I think the slightly bigger ( 11.2-12 handers ) are more his thing as their legs move a little slower.

X
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Hi,

I came across this on one of the facebook pages, would this little person be suitable:

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/mountain...2_mths_11_0_hh_grey_east_sussex/advert/230644
 
We have a fantastic 11.3hh Dartmoor who we will be looking for a new home for soon. We would like to sell him rather than long term loan, but would loan initially to ensure he & his new family were happy. He has looked after our daughter fantastically & his full history is known. He's jet black, well bred, not wide & just a star. PM me if you would like to know more.
 
Fair enough op, you know him best & no point buying one he won't enjoy. But I would still bear in mind however perfect it may be now (whatever size & breed) if he starts young then he may still outgrow it ability wise long before he's physically too big.
 
Hi, sorry havent had time to read all the posts, this awful weather is making my eyes all woozy...

but i had to say we bought my son a miniature shetland last year and she has definitely been the best little pony anyone can ask for. i was worried he is going to out grow her (he's 5) but then that is soon outweighed when i see that he can lead her around she runs along beside him perfectly. he can reach all over her to groom her. oh and he has fallen off a couple of times its such a small drop he just jumps back up again.

i do know what you mean about the legs, but i have been lunging her and working on transitions. as well as voice commands. i honestly cant praise her enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Wy0QuhT5I&feature=g-all-u

this was their first ride of 2012, i know bad mother its been a hectic year. once again she was a little diamond for him.

:-)
 
Am I the only one thinking its mad to want a bigger pony with jumping experience for a 2yr old!!

I think you would be better with a mini shetland for him to learn to groom and lead around, that he could sit on and bobble around on, then think about a bigger pony with pole experience when he is over 5.
 
EgerdenFarmStud said:
Have looked on re-homing sites too but would rather have something where we know full history. Wouldn't put me off for me looking but for my little man safety is paramount and i'd rather have something that people have seen / heard of for being a little saint.

x
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I wouldn't rule them out - they may well know the full history, such as for this little man who was born on site:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming/horse-profile.asp?id=406827

Obviously he is not exactly what you need at this point, but that's not the say the right one might not show up so I'd keep an eye on their websites. :)
 
have pmed you details op.

I've taught quite a few children from 3.5yrs up on a 12.1 with no problems at all. Some of them are still riding her and now jumping at 9!! I don't think there is a problem at all. It's just the ponies that you can do that with are like gold dust! :)
 
Thank you all for your input... Am looking into a few of your suggestions... And have come across a few others to look at too :)

Honey08 I personally do not think I'm that outrageously mad... I know what type of ponies my child likes to ride because he tells me, if he's on a tiny one he wants to get off, if he's on a bit bigger one he loves it and wants to stay on board all day... As I've said before, nothing wrong with Shetlands ( my first pony was a Shetland ) but not everyone shares the same love for each breed / size of horse and my son obviously feels happier on a slightly bigger pony. As for the jumping experience, why not look for one with experience of everything you would wish to do in the future? Ill feel a lot happier knowing our future pony knows what poles are if and when the time comes for him to start jumping than if it had no idea what so ever...

Sorry to be short but I don't see how you can question my judgement on what I am looking for when you don't know us...

Will keep you updated :)

X
 
We're looking too at the moment but each one we have seen have not quite met the mark so many people say first and lead rein pony when really it would be better for a second pony for an experienced teen. Its very frustrating.

We did have the most perfect pony she really was a total star and we both miss her a lot but sadly as she was on loan and the people we loaned her from kept breaking our agreements including the contract we had to called it a day. She was 12.2 and a total confidence giver was happy just to plod along beside me whilst my little boy had his ride and stood to groom without so much a flick of the tail most she ever did was to nuzzle him which he loved :D They are out there its just being in the right place at the right time.

We did try a smaller pony (shetland) and although a great little chap my son is happier on a larger pony and its nice to have something that they can grow into and not have to swap soon - plus of course less pain on the back when you have to groom. My son started off on his grandmothers 14.2 cob and then went on to have a few little sit and walks around on some competition horses belonging to friends of my husbands (16hh+) without so much as a batter of the eyelashes. Lucky for me my husband is very tall :D

Good luck with your search I am sure that there will be something out there for you.
 
They are out there but can be hard to track down! We have recently bought a complete angel of a pony for our son. She is 12.2hh 10 years old and a Dartmoor type. He took her to their 1st show and was 2nd out of 16 - proud mummy moment. She is brill with small children, he can't quite reach to get her halter on so puts rope round her neck to bring her down the field, hacks with me off the lead, rides in field without grass reins, I could go on forever. She will also do pony games and jumped 70cm with a friends child who is older. I found her on a local website but nearly didn't go to see her as the ad was so vague. My son describes her as his 'fantastic bestest buddy'. Hope you find one soon.
 
got a very nice shetland here. have had him 5 yrs! excellant in all respects! jumps as high as leader can....................... 2 9. bid me!!!! good all respects no vices lami free!!!
 
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