Ponys for toddlers?

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Hi. We're looking to get a pony for our daughter. I've been offered a 12hh pony but I'm wondering if this is too big for a toddler to learn to ride on.
She's happy sitting on my larger horses but I'm thinking maybe we should be looking for a large Shetland instead. I would like it to last her a while as well though as I don't like to have to sell horses on unless I have to.
Thanks
 
It's all about the temperament, and the width. You'll find that a large shetland is as wide as many 12hh ponies so if the 12 hander's temperament is perfect and it hasn't got a back like a tabletop it's probably a good bet.
 
The trot stride on a 12h will be a bit slower than a Shetland so often children find it easier on a slightly bigger pony. The other benefit is that it is easier to hold a child when the pony is taller as you won't need to bend down.
 
It depends on the toddler to be honest as said above width and height are a good start. It also depends on how quickly the said toddler comes confident and happy off lead as a really big pony may be a bit of a problem for a small child off lead. Having said that my grandkids and hundreds of other kids have learned to ride from a very early age on my highland on and off lead as she is very good at looking after them and she is 13.2 She is a star in temperament though which of course tends to be better the bigger they get
 
You have to balance up distance to fall compared to width and temperament.

Titchy should last my (tall!) daughter until she is about 6. In that time she will have fallen off a million more times than I'd dare let her fall off a bigger pony. Ie she has a lot more freedom on him because its not far to fall. Also, a small pony they can handle themselves, tack up etc.

I underhand what you say about wanting it to last, but having had him I am well in the camp of smaller ponies of the right temperament are better. Ideally he would be a standard Shetland but he's a mini so we will just enjoy her riding him as long as we can. She has caught up with my friends daughter who is a year older, and in some ways over taken her purely because he is such a good little guy. Her friend's pony is a bit fizzy and about 12.3 so friend can't have the same freedom safely as she has.
 
hi - my thread on LR pony currently active. we ended up with a 13.2 not from choice and I didnt go looking but he needed a home urgently and is lovely. however I am far more anxious about a recent episode than I would have been had he been smaller and I wish she could do more with him ( daughter nearly 4 ) . If i was setting out to aquire a lead rein pony I would go smaller although 12hh is smaller than mine ! that said she find his trot really comfy and doesnt liek small ponies. however she will be really limited in her progression by his size, hope that helps a bit
 
Thanks. I didn't think of the falling off either!
The pony in question is unbroken and nervous and my daughter is only 10 months old, so I was planning on working with this pony and having her on him by next year. I'm just wondering now if its a good idea as there's no guarantee it will ever be suitable.
Maybe a good reliable Shetland would be better to save me the work and so she could start sitting on him now.
 
I wouldn't go for that one. I don't know if you've followed the Titchy saga but he is totally bombproof to begin with and we still had a bit in the middle where he was bucking her off violently. If you go for a bigger one to break yourself at least get something quiet to start with.

I think you will find something small will be more fun as she could be sitting on it from now on. We have had a Shetland since my daughter was 18 months.
 
No I havn't been following titchy, he sounds very cute though, apart from the bucking! I think your right, I'm finding it quite hard finding a Shetland though. I've come accross a couple that are £1000, which I don't want to pay, and there are a lot of miniatures out there too.
 
definately not that one ! mine is 10 and I have known him for 3 years and have never seen him do anything untoward until this week which was a one off and I am still having kittens over it. believe me as a mum it is far more stressfull !
 
SNORKEY said:
Thanks. I didn't think of the falling off either!
The pony in question is unbroken and nervous and my daughter is only 10 months old, so I was planning on working with this pony and having her on him by next year. I'm just wondering now if its a good idea as there's no guarantee it will ever be suitable.
Maybe a good reliable Shetland would be better to save me the work and so she could start sitting on him now.
Click to expand...

:eek3:


Look at it like this: Have a play with nervous pony on a lunge rein and then get someone to scare him. When he spooks off at full speed can you hold him easily? No. You won't be able to. Now imagine your toddler disappearing into the distance on said nervous pony.

Doesn't matter whether it's a Shettie or something bigger it NEEDS to have a good temperament. Remember if you want to make your own lead rein pony that your toddler will be the crash test dummy - that's why good made ones are expensive.
 
Ancient is always a bonus as they are safe as houses and usually very calm know the job better than you do but even they can be expensive and you have the whole end of life situation. Young nervous and spooky is a huge no a well brought up 4 year old will also be cheaper than an established pony and will only have the problems you have created yourself so may be the cheapest option I have had a few section a ponies that have been perfect kids ponies from backing at 4 until they retired at over 30 so it is purely down to their formative years and a great temperament
 
Your daughter is still a baby at 10 months so, wouldn't worry too much at getting a pony at the moment. Don't rush into it. There is plenty and plenty of time. I would probably get a Shetland (a nice one though, not a shitland) on loan (there are loads and loads of them out there) so she can be held on etc and later on be able to stand and groom and help to lead in from the field (usually the age 2 mark - if confident around ponies), and it should last for a good few years. At about 4/5 years, I would then progress to a small pony and I would ring up the Pony Club (or something like that) and ask if there are any golden oldies up for loan that can take a young child from lead rein to being independent. Having had a green 4 year old pony for my children many years ago, would never make that mistake again. Couldn't leave the child to plod around the schooling ring incase it put in a buck or two or tanked off! Children grow and develop so much over the first 5 years, you find that she isn't even that interested in riding later on (especially during the winter lol) - don't make the mistake that she will grow into it and then find its not really suitable. Take baby steps and beg, borrow and loan various sizes as she grows, with the main factor being safety and that she enjoys herself. Confidence can be easily crushed by a naughty pony.
 
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