What have you done with kids outgrown ponies ?

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minimex2

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I have 2 daughters 14 & 10 with 1 pony. Pony is fab for 14yr old but too much for 10 yr old so toying with the idea of getting another. Ideally 12'2-13 been there done it type who she can have fun with and get some confidence with. Our pony takes advantage of her a bit!.

Ideally on loan for a year but there doesnt seem to be any around. So do i buy knowing new pony will be outgrown in a year ? - Current pony is a 13'3 tank of a cob so very unlikely to be ever grown out of.

Also if im looking for a been there, done it type will prob be older. So could i in reality sell on? and would my daughters let me??!! My daughters are not competitve and really like pc and plodding around, dressing them up etc so the "moving on to the next level" wouldnt apply.

What have you all done in this situation ? -

thank you
 
Oh, iv ended up keeping 2 out grown ponies. The first was a bombproff in every way 11hh but he's done us proud over the years and if I sell I can't sercure him which I feel I owe him that much. I see to Many little ponies go through the sales and don't want mine going that way so he's a family pet now. Still comes out riding mind I lead him off mine so he don't miss out.
2nd is to old and blind in one eye so again he's retired now but goes for the odd walk down the road.
It's hard when I comes to kids ponies. I loaned the little 11hh once and my daughter cried all night that he had gone so never again. He's our family as they all are
 
Why don't you buy something a but bigger but less of a challenge than the first. That way both girls will be able to ride. Your younger daughter could then progress on to your other pony when ready but you would also have the fallback of the new one if pony is still to much. Your older daughter may also appreciate having something to ride that is a bit easier occasionally too. As well as having something for friends to ride too.
 
When daughter ourgrows hers we are keeping her. Had her since a yearling & she is my daughters much loved pet. She'll move onto my 14.2 but will still hack hers till she gets tall enough that she unbalances herself or pony, which will happen long before she's too heavy. Then I plan on driving her. Would consider a share from our yard, or loaning locally if daughter loses interest. But won't sell. Pony is 11.1, takes up leg well but is finely built, will only be 7 when outgrown & is very much a second pony type, wouldn't dream of putting a lr child or using her as a first ridden. So think we'd struggle to find a long term home, & don't want her to spend her life with a new home each year, or risk her being blamed for causing a novice accident. Daughter has mine who's ideal anyway so not worried about holding her back.
 
So far, ours have been passed down between my 4 daughters. However, youngest daughter now rides our 13h NF (her legs just come past the saddle flaps) & next youngest is almost grown out of our 13:2 Welsh x.

Wouldn't contemplate selling (our ponies are family members) but might (just) loan locally or find someone who wants to ride from our yard.

Last year, we had a very successful arrangement where a local child rode our 13h from our yard until youngest daughter grew enough to ride her. We didn't ask for a contribution to costs but it kept the pony happy, gave our second youngest someone to ride with and the childs mother was able to take the girls to ride midweek, when I was at work.

Edited to say that, while our 13H was being ridden by another child, we loaned a lovely little 11:2 for my youngest. We were very clear with her that the pony would only be with us for a year & (at the end of the loan period) made sure that she was involved in the process of finding the pony a new home. She was fine about it, as she had already moved on to our 13h pony and the little 11:2 has gone to what seems to be a lovely new home.
 
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We kept my stepson's 12h pony for a year after he outgrew it and we were offered a fantastic pony on loan. He rode her occassionally, and then we loaned her to some local people who kept her with us, but didn't do enough with her. She ended up moping around the field, and eventually got laminitis.

When we got her sound and right again, we sold her on to a lovely home where she was loved to bits and is still doing well.

His second pony could have stayed with us, but he loved being the centre of attention and would have hated being left in the field when everyone else went off to ride. We definately wanted to avoid the lami situation, so we sold him. It broke my heart to see him go, but it is wonderful to get updates now and again from their new homes where they are both doing well and adored.

I don't think I would ever loan one out again!

I agree with the "get something quiet but bigger that they both can ride for a while.." camp.
 
I still have my daughter's first two ponies. One is out very happily as a companion where she may get the chance to teach yet another child to ride, the other is out in the field growing old (er - he's 27) with his friend.

The first one has Cushings but is easily controlled and would possibly be saleable as she is a perfect child's pony but is already doing a useful job. The second came to us with far too many quirks to be passed on but he has given us so much fun and happiness and is of course still teaching my daughter that we don't just pass on animals when they have outlived their usefulness, but that they need care and compassion too. (Guess who's feeling rather old themselves today and contemplating life in a nursing home!)
 
If you buy a decent pony - and I don't mean spend an absolute fortune on the best pony ever, but a good, handy, safe, fun pony - then you will probably have very little trouble rehoming it when it has been outgrown. This is especially the case if your daughter is involved in Pony Club, as I've found that good ponies are often passed around the same PC. My sister's first pony was rehomed with a a friend of a friend who was very much involved in pony club, and when both their children had outgrown him they loaned him out for a bit to another pony club child before retiring him (he's in his 20s). We were very lucky, as we put him on loan (we were wary of selling due to him being older) and found the best home possible. It's local, so we can visit, and means he can live out, which he loves. In the end we "sold" him to then for £1 :D
 
happyhacking:) said:
Why don't you buy something a but bigger but less of a challenge than the first. That way both girls will be able to ride. Your younger daughter could then progress on to your other pony when ready but you would also have the fallback of the new one if pony is still to much. Your older daughter may also appreciate having something to ride that is a bit easier occasionally too. As well as having something for friends to ride too.
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I was going to suggest this - perhaps a slightly larger pony than she currently needs, but a sweet, well schooled one which will fill her with confidence and allow her to do more when she feels she wants to, but not take advantage of any nerves. An older schoolmaster type? - I've heard that they sell well at any age as you can't put a price on safety, but if it's a bit bigger then you wouldn't necessarily need to sell it as quickly (if at all ;) )

I still have my first pony - mainly because he's a naughty little thing who chucks off every rider and takes advantage at every possible opportunity!! Can't really trust him with a little rider, it took me years to learn to stay on the beast and then I'd outgrown him! Little brother and sister are a bit terrified of him but do go for the occasional "walk" (them being tied down and pony being held back by an army of people :o)
 
Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.

Yes as i thought, most people hold on to the good ones (or keep them close under a watchful eye!) Looking at the smaller ones for sale advertised they must have had so many homes being passed on every year or so and the way i am (like you ) would hate not to be able to secure their future, as I believe "if they look after our children - they deserve the best in return".

Our current pony was initially good for both daughters, knowing the different riders. But two years on since older daughter has being doing more fun/fast things with him , wants to do it with younger daughter!
 
starryeyed said:
I was going to suggest this - perhaps a slightly larger pony than she currently needs, but a sweet, well schooled one which will fill her with confidence and allow her to do more when she feels she wants to, but not take advantage of any nerves. An older schoolmaster type? - I've heard that they sell well at any age as you can't put a price on safety, but if it's a bit bigger then you wouldn't necessarily need to sell it as quickly (if at all ;) )

I still have my first pony - mainly because he's a naughty little thing who chucks off every rider and takes advantage at every possible opportunity!! Can't really trust him with a little rider, it took me years to learn to stay on the beast and then I'd outgrown him! Little brother and sister are a bit terrified of him but do go for the occasional "walk" (them being tied down and pony being held back by an army of people :o)
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Your comment about your first pony did make me laugh - sorry our boy can be a bit like this but my oldest daughter keeps telling me it would be boring if he was perfect and she wouldnt be the rider she is!! - suppose she has a point, but younger daughter doesnt want all the drama!!
 
Well it is simple.

When my step kids outgrow their pony I will simply trade them in for some smaller step children. I have to say that I think selling them would be a bit weird therefore I will probably advertise them on sites that do swaps, failing that, I will put them out on free loan.

Problem solved!
 
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