What age ..

Bought my son's first pony when he was five. The local equestrian centre won't give lessons until they are five as they reckon they don't have enough co-ordination to begin to ride effectively. Made sense to me.
 
It would depend on how interested they are really. I'd probably get something on loan first so that if they decide that horses/riding isn't fun then you don't have to worry about re-homing said pony. In saying that though, if your child is interested at say 3/4 then there is no harm on getting a cheap and cheerful shetland that knows it's job and won't mind sitting in a field for a few weeks at a time before being dragged in for a 15min ride. Also, if you have your own land it's not just a bother as you can just keep them as a companion too.
But like I said, it all depends on the child and their interest
 
I'm planning to get my 3 year old an older 'been there done that' type shettie that he can potter around on. He loves the horses and I let him sit up on the old mare as I lead her to and from the field.
I think it would be good for him to have fun grooming something more his size, and letting him get some practice in, ie leading etc. he loves to help me muck out, feed and hay etc, so if he had his own wee pony it would be ideal.

Would be looking for something older that I can trust with him to give him some confidence. As an ex riding instructor I can teach him to ride myself, so no need to wait until he is five to go for lessons.

Ill be teaching him myself until the day he tells me to b*gger off, will save myself a fortune in lessons ;)
 
My daughter is coming up to two in April and absolutely adores horses, so seriously thinking of getting a little un for her :D same as you HJ I can teach her myself until she tells me to ****** off, but was wondering if it was a little to young, though I suppose I could always drive the pony lol
 
I bought my daughter a cheap little welsh sec a when she was 3. She would drive me mad, even from a very young age, wanting to ride in front of me on the 15.2hh. She's now 12 and still riding the same pony along with daughter no 2 who is currently 3 and capable of a fab rising trot!
Finding the right pony is the key as some are monsters and sap any confidence the child may have. All that leading soon got me fit though!
 
If she's interested and you have the space for something little that doesn't need worked constantly then go for it. Just make sure you don't let her ride too much as it can cause hip problems when kids are that wee:(
 
Emsarr said:
If she's interested and you have the space for something little that doesn't need worked constantly then go for it. Just make sure you don't let her ride too much as it can cause hip problems when kids are that wee:(
Click to expand...

No I wouldn't let her ride for long prob about ten mins, I know about the hip problems, we would never allow children to take lessons til they were four and would advise parents a half hour lesson to start with
 
My youngest child was 18 months old when I bought her her very own first pony. We still have that little pony and although she is now older and has been retired for a few years, she's still a happy little thing.
 
First I actually bought was current pony, when daughter was 3 & pony 1, although admittedly wasn't initially hers. But, from birth she's always had other peoples ponies to ride & look after as her own. Of course its not like she did much as a newborn, but there was always a pony there. She was sat on from being able to support her own head, & going for 5/10 min walks a few times a week, gradually building up. Although not quick enough for her as she screamed blue murder when lifted off.
 
My mothers driving shettie came back off loan unexpectedly 2 months before I had my daughter, so we kept her & she was put to use at the yard.
Daughter was plonked on as soon as she could sit up & was coming out on LR beside me on one of the other yard fuzzies by the time she was 4. However, she was also competing in LR & the occasional 1st ridden that summer.... :o
Riding on the felt saddle gave her a great seat - and riding the shettie off lead also did that too :D
 
Can't edit on phone, but forget to type going for 5/10min walks once able to sit up at 6mnths, not when she could only hold her head up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top