Question from a Newbie

She is average height for her age and is slim build, she is a novice, she would like to start Pony Club (she has riding lessons at the moment) was hoping to get her a Pony as soon as she is confident enough but wouldnt know what to start looking for. She has been having weekly lessons since for 8 months
 
well for a kick off, I would check out your local pony clubs and do some serious asking around, as ours is awfully keen on bigger ponies and I spend half my life being told my daughters' ponies are too small.
So either choose a branch which doesn 't have this attitude (we think we've tracked it down to a preoccupation with eventing) or if you can't avoid it, buy something big enough to keep everyone happy!
 
I went along to our local pony club to watch last night ( i initially wanted to get a 14h pony so that we could keep it for life ) my daughter will never be a giant but was advised to get a smaller pony as she wouldnt be able to participate in the games. That would mean when she has outgrown the pony we would have to sell (as couldnt affordm two) and there would be upset all around. Wondered how other parents managed.
 
I would talk to Her instructor. What size ponies does she ride in her lessons?
She needs something she feels happy on. So ask her what size she likes as well.

my daughter's a small 10 (11 two days ago) and has just been told at PC she is HOPELESSLY too big for her 12.1hh!
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LOL maybe i should go along to your pony club. I wonder what they would make of me a 27 year old on my pony I've had since Nov. He's 12.2hh. Will they say i've hopelessly out grown him. :p ;) :D :D
 
meggyjoe said:
I went along to our local pony club to watch last night ( i initially wanted to get a 14h pony so that we could keep it for life ) my daughter will never be a giant but was advised to get a smaller pony as she wouldnt be able to participate in the games. That would mean when she has outgrown the pony we would have to sell (as couldnt affordm two) and there would be upset all around. Wondered how other parents managed.
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This is usually what people do. I had to move on from two ponies. It was sad but you kinda want to get the bigger model :eek:
But I would say a 13.2 would be nice.

I would also ask her instructor or an experienced horsey person to look at any potential ponies with you. You will need to buy a suitable pony and not one that is too young either. I'd say around 10/12 would be good.
 
sarahsum1 said:
This is usually what people do. I had to move on from two ponies. It was sad but you kinda want to get the bigger model :eek:
But I would say a 13.2 would be nice.

I would also ask her instructor or an experienced horsey person to look at any potential ponies with you. You will need to buy a suitable pony and not one that is too young either. I'd say around 10/12 would be good.
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Thanks
I kind of had an idea re: 13.s but thought maybe that would be too big,looking at the kids on the other ponies last night.
Instructor has offered to come with me when the time is right
 
At 10 my daughter had a 13.1 welsh section C, not too tall but fairly stocky, I used to ride him too. She was too big for him by 13, here she is the Jan before selling him (April)

At 10 years old and a novice it is temperament that you need to be looking for. Another avenue would be to try and find a pony on loan so you dont have the heartache of selling on if he is not suitable/outgrown. Somehow its not so bad when they go back to a much loved home.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=28314&l=74244022ee&id=100001389403533
 
That's a great idea. My very first pony was a loan pony 12.2 I outgrew her so quickly. So may be an idea to try a local loan.:)
 
Loan would be brill but unfortunately only ones i can see on Horsemart are miles away in England as most people who loan want the pony (which is understandable) want it kept on their own yard
 
I recently loaned a littel first pony to a friend who felt the way you do. We both knew I had to sell the pony, but being a 'normal horsey' background, I underestimated how gutted she was going to be when that pony went. It broke her heart and rather spoiled our friendship, which I bitterly regret but cannot change now. I just hadn't taken into account how different people can be.
She has now decided to loan/share/borrow - until her daughter is big enough to ride their 'forever family pony' as she knows she will not be able to do that buying and selling on thing.
So if you really seriously do not think you can cope with it, tread carefully. I never want to see anyone that upset again!
 
meggyjoe said:
Loan would be brill but unfortunately only ones i can see on Horsemart are miles away in England as most people who loan want the pony (which is understandable) want it kept on their own yard
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If you are thinking about a loan try Pony Club classified online and in the local PC newsletter, details can be found on their webpage, also try wanted adds on the local RC webpage and newsletter, put some cards up in the local tackshops and try asking the riding school farrier to listen out for something.
 
Magicmillbrook said:
If you are thinking about a loan try Pony Club classified online and in the local PC newsletter, details can be found on their webpage, also try wanted adds on the local RC webpage and newsletter, put some cards up in the local tackshops and try asking the riding school farrier to listen out for something.
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Thanks, will have a look at the Pony Club Website later.
 
skewbald_again said:
I recently loaned a littel first pony to a friend who felt the way you do. We both knew I had to sell the pony, but being a 'normal horsey' background, I underestimated how gutted she was going to be when that pony went. It broke her heart and rather spoiled our friendship, which I bitterly regret but cannot change now. I just hadn't taken into account how different people can be.
She has now decided to loan/share/borrow - until her daughter is big enough to ride their 'forever family pony' as she knows she will not be able to do that buying and selling on thing.
So if you really seriously do not think you can cope with it, tread carefully. I never want to see anyone that upset again!
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I know people say "well thats what you do" which I understand but i think i would be like your friend (unless i know the home the pony was going too, which wouldnt be the case)
 
Although there is the temptation to get a pony to grow into be careful incase it is far too strong for your daughter. Re 12.2s my daughter was doing affiliated dressage at 12 on a 12.3 section B.
I am also an ex PC DC and prefered to see children on ponies they could manage rather than big powerful jobs!
A loan or share is probably the best way forward incase your daughter suddenly grows but there will alwasy been sadness parting with ponies to get a bigger model.
 
Yes, bit of a no win situation - i know a small pony is the way to go for the reasons mentioned but deep down could we then sell him/her when my daughter has outgrown the pony. I take it most people just sell I suppose. I wish i would be able to keep the small pony even when shes outgrown and bought another one but it would be double the livery fees (mmm need to win the lottery is the solution!)
 
Divasmum said:
I must own up to the fact we kept the section B for the rest of her life. Some of the time we had sharers for her and then kept her in retirement.
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Oh thats nice, think ill have a look later to enquire about loaning. Will probably be back on later with more questions.
Thanks all
Claire
 
Hi
Further to my posts the livery that we wanted to put a pony when we had one is now full as I bumped into someone who stables her horse there.

Now this may be a silly question but do I ring up and put our name on waiting list and then look for a pony asap when there's a stable free as I can't do vice versa. I'd like to loan one but I can't advertise 'pony wanted' until I have a stable avail.

Also, I'm a bit afraid as everyone I speak to doesn't talk about how worth it is but thats its very hard work, so Half of me thinks 'yes I can do this' and the other half thinks ' but can i' ?

Hope I'm making sense.:o
 
I wouldn't nab your yard, to be honest, as a share or a loan might come up which has to stay on its current yard.
I am concerned that you are the type of person who is going to suffer separation anxiety, and having had that from my friend, I'm thinking look into sharing - since our little escapade, she has decided to keep the boundaries clear - they ride, borrow, share, but do not kind of 'take ownership' of little ponies.
I am really sure your pony is waiting for you - so advertise 'share wanted' by all means, but also, take a lot of walks, look at a lot of notice boards, and hang around a lot of horsey people - s/he will come and find you. :)
 
skewbald_again said:
I wouldn't nab your yard, to be honest, as a share or a loan might come up which has to stay on its current yard.
I am concerned that you are the type of person who is going to suffer separation anxiety, and having had that from my friend, I'm thinking look into sharing - since our little escapade, she has decided to keep the boundaries clear - they ride, borrow, share, but do not kind of 'take ownership' of little ponies.
I am really sure your pony is waiting for you - so advertise 'share wanted' by all means, but also, take a lot of walks, look at a lot of notice boards, and hang around a lot of horsey people - s/he will come and find you. :)
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Thanks skewbald-again:) will let you know if anything materialises.
 
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