What would you do? Am I missing options?

[Timetogetup]

There is a possibility that the riding school that my children go to will be closing in the autumn. We're in an area with few riding centres and those that do have long waiting lists. Our closest one, even if we went on the waiting list now we wouldn't get a place by the autumn (probably next summer earliest ) The others have slightly shorter waiting lists, although we'd probably still not get a place by the autumn, and they have longer drives to get to them. There are plenty of livery yards around, although the better ones do have waiting lists.

So I'm looking into what options I have.
I figure it comes down to share/part loan, full loan, buy, or find another riding school.

I had a part loan pony as a child although never actually owned my own, and although I've only ridden a few times in the last 25 years I regularly volunteer with the RDA so I'm used to dealing with horses/ponies on the ground. My daughter is cantering/jumping but still firmly in the novice bracket, my son is on lead rein.

I do have a friend who teaches children on their own ponies and runs a livery yard. So If we go down the having a pony line I could take them to a yard with an onsite instructor to keep their education going. If she had space I would probably opt to keep the pony there.

I'm just a bit split by it all. While my daughter isn't far off the level I'd like her to be before she gets a pony and she'll probably be there by the autumn. I worry that the pony that is right for her, won't be right for my son, who has additional needs. He'll need a calmer slower pony, whereas she's already sitting bucks and wanting to jump higher!

So I guess I was wondering whether in this position you'd wait for the riding school, go for a share/part loan, go for a full loan, or buy and what your reasoning would be?

 

[Shay]

If you can - and recognizing the difficulties which I will explain - go for a full loan. If you buy you will have a string of outgrown ponies to manage and which you as a family cannot bear to sell. You thought selling the first baby grow, first stuffed toy, first uniform etc was hard? Try first pony... (Voice of experience!).

In all seriousness good ponies are very much beloved and have a home for life. They may go from share to share or loan to loan but the original owner will very seldom let go. This means the really good ones do not really come on the market. Plus if you loan you can choose a pony which is right for your child now and move on when you need to knowing that pony - who you will love just as much by that point - has a safe onward home.

But - this nirvana is not always easy to achieve. Depending on where in the UK you are you may find owners will only allow part share to remain on current yard (this is what I do) or that you must keep the pony within the same pony club or similar. Plus these ponies can have waiting lists even longer than the riding center! Your fall back step might well be to buy.

A good first step is to contact your local pony club DC. They will know who has what locally and who might have something suitable coming available. The other option is your regular instructor if they teach outside the RS. They know you and they will also know from their private clients who is ready to move on.

Don't be put off by age. Some of the best are senior citizens! Be prepared to provide references from the RDA. You could also see if your local PC allows you to hire a pony for mini camp for your daughter - that would be a wonderful interim experience if they do. Again the DC will know which members / ex members have ponies for camp hire. A couple of mine do it and I quite happily use it as a way to check they will be OK as a pair going forward.

 

[be positive]

The first person I would approach is the friend with the livery yard, she may well have one there that could be shared, loaned or suitable for lessons, I would also speak to the RS and see what they are doing with their ponies, if they are nice they will be snapped up by clients and it could give you the chance to really know what you are getting before you take the step into ownership.

I wouldn't get anything too advanced or tricky for your daughter at this stage she will find the challenges of having independence enough without having a bucking naughty pony, your son will be fine on the LR or lunge on a slightly more forward pony and by the time he is ready to go alone the instructor will know both of them and should be able to keep him relatively safe with well structured lessons, ponies that are kind will usually go up and down depending on the rider/ instructor, a pony being responsive to the voice is a great advantage and one that I make full use of when teaching children.

The local PC can be a useful contact and as Shay has said they may know of a pony for loan, I think it will depend on your area as to whether they hire ponies, certainly near me there will be very few available for loan as most get sold on unless they are very old to buy the next one if there is not a younger sibling to take over.