What do you look for when buying a small pony?

[rowy]

I'm currently producing a small pony (currently 12.1hh to make 12.2hh) She is a rising 4 year old fully reg exmoor pony (currently carrying a 9 stone 5ft6 rider with ease and without the rider looking too big) and so far she is:
- Backed and walking, trotting and cantering. Very quick off the aid, forward going and starting to attempt going in a baby outline. She also understands about bending around the leg and start of leg yield.
- Riding over trotting poles.
- Just started hacking her out through fields and has already been led in hand on the road and she is fine in traffic.
- Has been out to shows and placed everytime and really well behaved but is yet to be ridden at shows.
- Good to long rein and lunge.
- Good to clip, foot trim, travel in a horsebox, catch and with the vet. Recently had the dentist and had her wolf teeth taken out.

So what else would you expect a pony of her age and size to do, bearing in mind a child may be riding her in the future.

Also, I am thinking of putting her up for sale in the spring but was wondering, would a low price put off a mum looking for a safe pony that her and her child can ride? Would it be better to put her up for more (thinking around £1500- £2000) so as to "reassure" people looking for a pony that its good enough if that makes sense?

 

[Suffolkangel]

If you're thinking of selling her as a childs pony, I would if possible have a child ride/exercise her and and poss take her to a show on and off the lead rein. have you done any ride and lead with her? this would also be an added plus point for a childs pony.

 

[CrazyMare]

If shes a registered Exmoor, I wouldn't market her at children - I haven't known many that are suitable for that job.

They are cracking adults ponies though, such personalities.

I'd put her on Horsequest under the M&M showing section

 

[Walrus]

If shes a registered Exmoor, I wouldn't market her at children - I haven't known many that are suitable for that job.

They are cracking adults ponies though, such personalities.

I'd put her on Horsequest under the M&M showing section

Agree with this. If she's good quality I'd aim for a showing home - the showing forum Horse Gossip has a for sale section, inc a sub section for M&Ms.

 

[juliette]

If you are thinking of children possibly riding don't forget they love doing "round the world", "scissors" etc. Also, is she used to be vaulted on bare back to be ridden in from the field in a head collar?!! All things all the kids I know have done quite regularly regardless of their parents views on it!

 

[rowy]

I was aiming for perhaps a mother/ daughter ride. I would aim for an adult to do m&m showing but the market is so small and she is a good mare so thought I would train her so if someone wanted to put a kid on board they could.

Haha thanks juliette, think I may start having a go at some of those things. Could be fun!

 

[wellwisher]

18 Months ago bought a 7 yr Welsh sec d who had only been broken 4 wks having been a working stallion. Everything was warning signals for my v novice 9yr old but his temperament, lots quality and scope were everything u could dream. Person who broke him knew he was ace ao sold home with 6 months lessons/help with an understanding she would always buy him back (he is gorgeous) as see could then say he was experienced with children. Worked Amazingly for us as now got a pony and daughter who hunt all day every say but than go and sj\xc\pc etc. Just a thought if you trust him..... Hope you find a good owner for him back

 

[AFlapjack]

IMO I wouldn't think many people would look at an Exmoor for a mother/daughter share. I would definitely suggest aiming for a showing home especially if she's a good stamp of the breed. I would suggest taking her out to affiliated shows inhand and ridden to get a few good results under her belt.

 

[Tuffles 23]

Hi over the last 3 years at various times i have been small pony shopping for my kids and i would not have looked at such a young pony, so i don't think you would be looking to sell as a kids ride or even mum and child because there are so many 13.2 to 14 hh around at the mo ,but if your pony is well bred i would market her as just that as there is a market for good quality m&m also i woluld not advertise to cheap or you would get all the numpties turn up

 

[happyhacking:)]

What about breaking her to drive too? Would maybe increase the number of people interested. Child to ride adult to drive

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

A bombproof leg at each corner type...
Looks not important nor breeding but an honest type

 

[scheherazade]

having spent ages looking for the perfect child's pony, I'd have to say that temperament and manners are pretty much at the top of my list, I wouldn't be interested in however saintly it was under saddle if it was rude / difficult to handle and needed an adult to do everything.

 

[jeeve]

If you're thinking of selling her as a childs pony, I would if possible have a child ride/exercise her and and poss take her to a show on and off the lead rein. have you done any ride and lead with her? this would also be an added plus point for a childs pony.

This - if sold as a childs pony, have a child ride her, that will sell the pony.

I know a few people who have bought young ponies as childs ponies where they have seen a child ride it, and the horse has been suitable. A lady had a newly broken 15.2hh horse that she had her 6 year old rdiing at pony club she sold it for in excess of $10 000AUD. Another mum paid $5 000AUD for a young quiet pony that had done very little, but was good to handle and ride.

 

[measles]

Echo the others and try to find a child to ride her. I wouldn't buy a pony for my child that I hadn't seen another young person ride.

 

[natalia]

Hi,

all my ponies up to 14.2hh are ridden by children and can be shown by them, if a child comes to view I will get a child to ride first. I wouldn't want anything too off the aids, almost for pony this size alittle desensitized is good, a pony that will take a bit of a pony club kick is always better than one that won't. Get her to used to things waving round while your on board, hands waving, holding stuff, flopping about all over her. Half of producing ponies is teaching them that these things aren't scary and to be unflapable.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I was aiming for perhaps a mother/ daughter ride. I would aim for an adult to do m&m showing but the market is so small and she is a good mare so thought I would train her so if someone wanted to put a kid on board they could.

Haha thanks juliette, think I may start having a go at some of those things. Could be fun!

Me, I , know what you mean by mother and daughter ride, unfortunately the two families who came in response to this phrase [two ponies], neither could "ride" ie were novices, and did not understand that one of them should be experienced, and competent.
Personally I consider that a smaller rider for such a young horse, and more "experiences" , with red rosettes, would be needed to get £2000 - £1500, at this moment in time the market is rock bottom and you will be lucky to get £500 to £1000.

 

[ponypilotmum]

Having bought several children's ponies, and raised a youngster or two, here's what I would do if I were you.

I would keep her for another six months to a year. I would have her ridden by a child (advertise, or ask local pony club if they know of a keen but competent pony-less child) and let her experience life. Do a couple of low level showing classes. Get her hacking out, 100% unflappable and used to children/ dogs/ farm life etc.

If I were to buy her for my daughter and I (I'm currently looking for a share and WOULD consider something that age) I would want to see her being a little less forward going, and having done a bit more with life.

At her current stage of education, bearing in mind her breeding, I wouldn't want to pay much more than £500 for her. In my eyes, I'd rather something that's been untouched or something that's been finished than something that's been started and I still need to put work into. Finishing off breaking something that someone else has started can be a nightmare.

 

[spotty_pony]

IMO I wouldn't look at selling her to a child as generally Exmoor ponies don't make great children's ponies and are better suited to small adults. I would either sell her as an all rounder to a small adult, look for a showing home or alternatively contact an Exmoor Stud to see if they would consider buying her a broodmare.

 

[rowy]

At her current stage of education, bearing in mind her breeding, I wouldn't want to pay much more than £500 for her. In my eyes, I'd rather something that's been untouched or something that's been finished than something that's been started and I still need to put work into. Finishing off breaking something that someone else has started can be a nightmare.

I am going to finish off her backing but what would you describe as a pony that had been "finished"? As surely, with a child, all they would want is a pony that is safe and can walk, trot and canter and pop and jump and hack safely and behave at shows.
I do pure dressage with my other 2 and she is really sensitive to seat aids so I could continuine and train her to do dressage such as going in a consistent contact, leg yield, turn on the forehand and starting shoulder in. But would a mother want a pony who is so sensitive to the seat, leg and hand aids so when a child gets on board the pony gets confused.