Pony Costs

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skewbald86

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I am hoping to get my daughter her first pony within the next 6 months. Shes only 3 (but already 1.15!)so looking for 10-11 hands and super safe.

I have my horse at full livery but thinking does a pony need to be at full livery? Only as I don't have the time to muck out and bring in in winter.

Will a pony need to be stabled in winter if its elderly? I'm thinking late teens early twenties?

We have fields surrounding our house and thre farmer said we can keep a pony with his sheep, there is natural shelter from trees etc and would be easily able to check on twice a day.

Is it ok to keep a pony on its own with sheep? I have never kept a horse with sheep or without horsey friends so have no clue about this? Also as I wouldnt be able to restrict grazing with electric fencing how effective are grazing muzzels?

Thanks for any advice
 
i personally wouldnt buy an older pony such as that - there are younger and safe as houses ponies - you just need to look for them.

If you havent got the time to muck out - then mabye assisted DIY? or part livery? Theres other options - not just full....

I woldnt keepa horse with sheep - be careful of lami too with ponies/lush grass in particular.... horses imo need equine friends - (that may be the start of a debate lol)!... but i wouldnt -

IS thre no way you can bring your horse back to the field and the new pony - then you will have company for each of them - probably cheaper??
 
Sheep depends on the pony, my welsh a would kill a goat/sheep/anything smaller than her because shes got a TB mind in a welsh body and shes scared stiff of anything smaller than her :p

You could keep them out all year round, but i keep mine in at night during the winter because shes a princess :rolleyes:

I wouldnt say age makes a different but i wouldnt go for a welsh a, ive only known 1 sane one in my whole life! :D

Oh and grazing muzzles - Mystis record for getting it off when its on as tight as it goes was 47 seconds ;)
 
yep go for an older model but try and find one to loan or share small 3yr girls change their mind a lot

i have kept ponies and horses on their own with sheep, pony if a chilled on will be fine and stressed out pony wouldn't ok for your daughter any way.#

you need to find a nice pony, no vices and it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as its bomb proof and stops and go, this pony is for you girl to have fun and gain the confidence to do greater things
 
I know that Full Livery is expensive but if you have a horse on Full Livery because you don't have time to look after 1 how will you cope with 2 (time wise?!?) as you are well aware, just because ponies are smaller they still need the care and attention of a horse and shouldn't just be chucked in a field of sheep to look after it's self until you turn up to let your daughter ride.
Sorry if I'm sounding grumpy but I'd suggest either putting the pony on Full Livery so it gets the same care and attention as your horse or at least part/assisted livery so you only have to go down once a day and someone else can do the mucking out and bringing in.
 
i would advertise locally for a share option on a small pony before you go to the full expense of a "pony of her own" esp at this time of year. half the winter will be too cold for a 3 year old to sit on a pony! As they are just passengers and dont 'ride' they get very cold very quickly. what area are you in? i have a delightful shetland who is brill with children, who could do with more riding outings. he is quietyly for sale to the perfect home.. he likes his stable and routine he is in now .
 
Sedgemoor Chaos said:
I know that Full Livery is expensive but if you have a horse on Full Livery because you don't have time to look after 1 how will you cope with 2 (time wise?!?) as you are well aware, just because ponies are smaller they still need the care and attention of a horse and shouldn't just be chucked in a field of sheep to look after it's self until you turn up to let your daughter ride.
Sorry if I'm sounding grumpy but I'd suggest either putting the pony on Full Livery so it gets the same care and attention as your horse or at least part/assisted livery so you only have to go down once a day and someone else can do the mucking out and bringing in.
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I have to have him on full livery as I do not have the time to muck out with a 3 year old in tow (and not fair on fellow liveries!). I will have easy enough time to be spending the whole day with a pony next door rather than my horse who is 30mins away as it the best yard facilities wise.
As my little one would be with me with a pony I can trust around her it would be ok just the two of us with the pony- if i'm making sense?
Its ok for her to be round a safe pony while I teach her how to care for him/her but not my 17hh on a busy yard. I have lots of time (too much!) to care for a pony, but a horse IS different as you cannot trust them around a 3year old, even though she is very well behaved around horses.

I am looking for something super safe, not bothered about looks etc. I'm based worcs/warks.
 
I'd think a share/loan would be a great option for you to start with as even if your daughter really takes to the idea she will grow and I know several adults saddled, if you'll excuse the pun, with their childhood ponies they can't ride but can't bear to sell (but do loan). Loaning a companion for it should be pretty easy to do in these times too, plenty of people wandering how they'll afford the winter.
 
QUOTE "Is it ok to keep a pony on its own with sheep? I have never kept a horse with sheep or without horsey friends so have no clue about this? Also as I wouldnt be able to restrict grazing with electric fencing how effective are grazing muzzels?"

Why should a pony have to live without 'pony friends'? Their needs are the same as horses. Your horse presumably is kept with other horses, either in the same paddock or in individual paddocks adjacent to each other so why deny the pony the same life?


QUOTE "Its ok for her to be round a safe pony while I teach her how to care for him/her but not my 17hh on a busy yard. I have lots of time (too much!) to care for a pony, but a horse IS different as you cannot trust them around a 3year old"

Total rot! You must have a untrustworthy horse & it appears to have little manners if you feel that about it. My two horses, actually both showjumpers, have children around them & they show no sign of any aggression toward them. They are trustworthy. You seem to think that small is safe & that holds no truth at all. As with all animals you must always be on your guard though.

I'm afraid this post has really hit a nerve with me. :(
 
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Toby_Zaphod said:
QUOTE "Is it ok to keep a pony on its own with sheep? I have never kept a horse with sheep or without horsey friends so have no clue about this? Also as I wouldnt be able to restrict grazing with electric fencing how effective are grazing muzzels?"

Why should a pony have to live without 'pony friends'? Their needs are the same as horses. Your horse presumably is kept with other horses, either in the same paddock or in individual paddocks adjacent to each other so why deny the pony the same life?


QUOTE "Its ok for her to be round a safe pony while I teach her how to care for him/her but not my 17hh on a busy yard. I have lots of time (too much!) to care for a pony, but a horse IS different as you cannot trust them around a 3year old"

Total rot! You must have a untrustworthy horse & it appears to have little manners if you feel that about it. My two horses, actually both showjumpers, have children around them & they show no sign of any aggression toward them. They are trustworthy. You seem to think that small is safe & that holds no truth at all. As with all animals you must always be on your guard though.

I'm afraid this post has really hit a nerve with me. :(
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I'm sorry you feel like that.
I trust my horses I have around her. But I dont trust other peoples horses I dont know. If its not a yard aimed at children they shouldnt really be there. I go to enjoy my horse, have time on my own with him, love my daughter to bits but I don't want her down the yard with me when I'm riding etc not really fair on her either. She comes down with me once a week to help groom him as she adores him.

I dont think small is safe. I have seen horrible ponies I wouldnt trust around children. But she will need a small pony.
 
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