What would you look for in a childs first horse?

shanti

shanti

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 October 2016
Messages
253
Visit site
Hello, my daughter has decided that she would like to start riding. She has been around my horses a lot and has ridden one of my geldings pretty confidently a handful of times but he is much to big for her to properly learn on. Generally when buying for myself I know exactly what to look for and how to navigate and weed out the adverts and horses that would not suit me. But I have never actively looked for a quiet beginners pony am I am feeling quite overwhelmed trawling through hundreds of ads and not knowing exactly what to look out for and avoid.

I have been to view 9 potential horses (I go first otherwise she would want them all) however none have been at all as described, a few were downright dangerous!
I am avoiding anything under 6 years old, as I just don't believe that horse that young could possibly be suitable for a beginner no mater how quiet, and anything with photos showing kids standing on the horses rear-end (because, well it just annoys me more than anything).

I guess what I am asking is, what makes a good horse for a beginner and what should I avoid?

Thanks :)
 
I think you need to weed out more from the adverts or talking to them on the phone beforehand. I've only ever viewed one or two per purchase. I wouldn't want to rake around looking at 9 unsuitable ones! Ask them to provide decent videos and if they can't or if they are heavily edited don't bother going any further. Any parent with a child on a pony is going to video them in action if the pony is any good!
 
Must be good in traffic and with farm machinery. Why not ask your local pony club if they know of anything?
 
Excellent recommendations. To be honest if someone has got as far as advertising then, for me, they will not be suitable. I source 1st ponies through word of mouth, pony club and local instructor recommendations.

Don't discount a loan - the really good ones are also people's beloved pets and so may go on loan to a good home but will not be sold. Also with a loan you can get something absolutely the right size and pace without worrying about her outgrowing it. When she is ready to move on pony just goes on to the next child. Also don't discount older ponies - if their temperament is right an older "been there done that" is much better than something young.

Outside of that - you know your daughter best but you want something rock solid on the ground and as bomb proof as possible. No bad habits when ridden - 1st and LR ponies can develop some nasty habits to get rid of a small rider. Then with at least a liking for whatever your daughter's favourite activity is going to be - showing, jumping, games etc. (Be aware mounted games ponies are not suitable 1st ponies...)
 
I would want to see a child of the same sort of age/skill ride the pony. I would want one that's quietly forward not a total rib basher and avoid any that have the word "leadrein" attached to it!
 
I think Shay's advice about word of mouth is important. Also anyone selling who has not had the pony long points to a problem. From selling as an agent I'm very reluctant to take on horses that don't come from producers. Someone with just one horse to sell doesn't have to worry about their reputation and people will lie through their teeth.

Here's a recent example, I was asked to sell a horse who had it all done with fab videos in every discipline and a steal at a small price. I tracked down his previous owner, turns out he was a stallion til a mature horse and has put current owner in hospital. She's afraid of him hence the sale! It's absolutely criminal how irresponsible some people are.

That's why there is security in buying from reputable agents, dealers and producers who are known to be honest. Perhaps it's worth considering buying on word of mouth or recommendations rather than trusting a one time seller.
 
Don`t discount age either.

We got my sons pony from a dealers last year, 4 years old (only just 4), and no one had been to see her due to her age. Well, she`s an angel on 4 legs. She`s taken my son from wobbly novice to cantering all over place, and riding bareback on the beach and in the sea. He does everything with her, catching, grooming, tacking up etc, I don`t have to worry about a thing, she`s never put a foot wrong. My son is sadly growing out of her and I have a number of people wanting to take her on. I only wish she was a couple of hands bigger, I`d keep her for myself lol.
 
^^ I don't see how you can generalise. I've advertised all my daughter's out grown ponies and with some of the sales money she bought another pony to bring on and sell. He will probably have been here a year by the time he's sold and he will have been ridden exclusively by children in that time and had absolutely all the training necessary to make him the best kids pony he can be. I am a private seller but I still don't want a bad reputation or any hassle! I have absolutely everything documented on video and on our FB page and can show our ponies behaving safely and beautifully in any situation. We don't do PC so no PC is going to recommend my pony!
 
Of course there's honest and sincere private sellers, I'm sure the majority are. But meet the one that's an accomplished liar with a dodgy horse and no conscience and you could be in trouble. That's all I'm saying.

FW I'm sure you're doing a great job producing ponies and because of that probably have a nice collection of satisfied buyers who would be only too happy to vouch for you. That's another form of word of mouth and a very powerful one.
 
I know what you're saying:) And fair enough but you would be surprised how problem horses can be diguised, videos and all by unscrupulous people.

I have ten beautiful videos for the horse I mentioned above, doing a dressage test, jumping 1m courses, going cross country. He's a picture! But on closer inspection in some he's ridden by a top trainer, with a reputation for sorting problem horses. His owner is not riding him in many, I wonder why...perhaps because she's injured as I later discover.

If I go to see that horse he will be perfect because he's been reschooled by the top trainer and she will be riding him in a controlled environment that he is used to. He'll be a picture:)

But if an amateur takes him home and he's removed from that controlled environment and left off for a few days say, there's every chance he won't be so easy to handle and his explosive behaviour could emerge again. The consequences for an amateur don't bear thinking about. He's a professional ride but he's not good enough for that market so they're trying to pawn him off on the leisure market.
 
Last edited:
FfionWinnie said:
^^ I don't see how you can generalise. I've advertised all my daughter's out grown ponies and with some of the sales money she bought another pony to bring on and sell. He will probably have been here a year by the time he's sold and he will have been ridden exclusively by children in that time and had absolutely all the training necessary to make him the best kids pony he can be. I am a private seller but I still don't want a bad reputation or any hassle! I have absolutely everything documented on video and on our FB page and can show our ponies behaving safely and beautifully in any situation. We don't do PC so no PC is going to recommend my pony!
Click to expand...

Not quite the same but the cob I bought was brought on by a youngster, she competes and those horses have a specific job so the mum buys a youngish horse and daughter schools it then sells it on, does the same the following year and like you her reputation is important to her even though she only sells one a year, Betsy has turned out to be everything she was advertised and described as, in fact in some ways better.

There are some honest sellers out there, the problem is finding them.
 
Which proves the camera can't lie, the owner wasn't on the horse it was a pro - big red flag!

In the case of a child's first pony if there is uncut footage of the child doing lots of different things in open spaces it would be very difficult to set that up without a lot of effort if the pony isn't safe. It would be pretty obvious if the child is a pro rider or not! Who would risk their child to make such a video, not me. When I sold our two first riddens recently I used video footage of a wobbly child who had only been riding a few months, plus my own child who is a pretty accomplished rider for 7 but is still only 7, to show they were genuine first riddens.

Most people don't have the skills to make a truly misleading video, far more likely is that a lot of buyers don't have the skills to see the "tells" in a video either like lots of editing and very short clips cobbled together of stuff / not a full round / dressage test / all taken on one day from 6 miles away and lasts 10 seconds over one fence etc etc. Hence it's a good idea to post it on here for us suspicious lot to pull it to pieces!
 
Last edited:
Yes it's a huge red flag to me, but I'm local so I can spot it because I recognise the trainer. That horse is available on the internet and would be very appealing to many British buyers, for instance. They're not going to know the rider is a trainer and the seller will tell you it's just her friend. So it's easy to see how people can deceived!
 
I have found that often a pony is sold when outgrown, but the rider and the pony have developed together and often then the pony is too good/hot/strong for a younger child just growing into that size pony. Also never buy a pony for a girl that has been ridden by a boy.

If you daughter is big enough for something about 13 hh or above they can be better as a small adult can school them and keep them on the straight and narrow.

Word of mouth is usually best, children's ponies seem to get passed around without coming up for public sale, for a good reason. Mum spots a likely one and puts in an offer.
 
I would second a loan or lwvtb. I have 2 very different kids. Son rides anything so we have a cheeky youngster that I bought. Will in time be a lovely pony as genuine. Daughter is a nervous rider in extreme and we have a gold plated pony on loan. She is old been there done it type, owners would not sell her but we have the pleasure of her.
Also be wary of ex riding school ponies. They seem to be knackered or need lots of work to keep them sensible.
Look at your local pony club Web page for classifieds and the main page site.
 
Irish gal said:
Yes it's a huge red flag to me, but I'm local so I can spot it because I recognise the trainer. That horse is available on the internet and would be very appealing to many British buyers, for instance. They're not going to know the rider is a trainer and the seller will tell you it's just her friend. So it's easy to see how people can deceived!
Click to expand...

You don't need to recognise the trainer to think hmmm that rider is a much much better rider than I am. I'm not going to be able to ride that horse anywhere half as well as they are and in that case is this a horse I can handle. If you can't that's what instructors are for. I bought my new horse with very little info about him really and I showed me riding him to both my instructors and they both said get that horse. I did and he is the best thing since sliced bread (and he is Irish but I didn't buy him from Ireland myself ;) )

Too many people kid themselves about their own or their child's ability and if they over horse themselves can't recognise it or take the correct action. You can't really blame the seller for that.

That said when someone came for one of our ponies I put her on an older pony to see what sort of rider she was and said she isn't going to manage the one you came to see. You can have the older one but not that one. The mum wasn't keen to give up on the one they liked better initially but I stood my ground and they bought the older one and the child did great on it. They wouldn't have had the same outcome with the younger one and it wouldn't have been the ponies fault.
 
Last edited:
You would be surprised the number of people who won't spot it though. All they'll notice is the horse going very nicely. Most people will only buy a horse every ten years - that's the idea getting a nice one you won't want to part with. So they lack practice buying through no fault of their own.

Whereas you buy a few FW so are more switched on. It's all practice - like anything. And over horsing is one of the worst problems a rider can end up with, far better to be underhorsed I reckon!
 
Quite Frankly IMO you are never going to find a good pony on a LWVTB basis - a good pony is like gold dust and does not need to go on loan to 'prove itself'. You have not said how old your child is but you keep talking about horses so I assume they are a teenager. My daughter is 10 and has been riding for 5 years at affiliated showing level. She is a very competent rider for her age, however, I would delay putting her on a horse unless it was a hairy cob for as long as possible. Stick to a large native or native cross as they are a lot more sensible and a lot cheaper to keep! You need to think very carefully about what your daughter wants to do. I would recommend looking on HorseQuest for an older showing or dressage conni as they will be very well schooled.
 
sadly videos and photos are very easily cropped and edited. for a beginners pony I would most definitely want to see it ridden by a novice and taken out of its normal environment to see how it reacts. To me, a new environment will generally show the true nature of a pony and its reactions and this therefore wouldn't necessarily discount younger ones then. Harsh but probably true. Word of mouth is really the only best way to find the good uns unless you are very thorough when viewing and view several times and definitely cantering in a open field. I also like to see a simple snaffle and noseband and tack on a beginners pony.
 
Thanks for all the replies :) Sorry, should of mentioned her age, she is 11 but rather tall and leggy (she is slightly taller than me, I am 5ft 2) so wouldn't really want anything under 12hh or she will outgrow it after 6 months. I am in Australia and unfortunately loans are not really a 'thing' here, they come up occasionally, not often enough to be a viable option. My area is very unhorsey, I really don't know anyone with horses around here, I have my own property and have the only horses for miles, but asking at pony clubs is a good idea! I had discounted breeders and dealers but I think I will definitely check them out now a see what they have available. Thanks!
 
I think Orangehorse means you should avoid the "typical boy's pony!", a description that is surely on the way out along with the long departed 'gay ride'.
Neither of these will give confidence to a nervous rider but they will both gladden the heart, if that is what you like!
 
Because in my experience a pony that has been ridden by a boy will always be too strong for a girl whether it is because boys are more gung ho or they simply use more strength in their riding. I have seen this happen on several occasions and wouldn't repeat the experiment.
 
shanti said:
Thanks for all the replies :) Sorry, should of mentioned her age, she is 11 but rather tall and leggy (she is slightly taller than me, I am 5ft 2) so wouldn't really want anything under 12hh or she will outgrow it after 6 months. I am in Australia and unfortunately loans are not really a 'thing' here, they come up occasionally, not often enough to be a viable option. My area is very unhorsey, I really don't know anyone with horses around here, I have my own property and have the only horses for miles, but asking at pony clubs is a good idea! I had discounted breeders and dealers but I think I will definitely check them out now a see what they have available. Thanks!
Click to expand...

In all honesty, if the gelding you own that she has already ridden is mannerly and reliable, then I'd let her learn on him and get her a horse of her own in a year or so, once she's more established in her riding. The fact that she's not a very young child and is tall and leggy would clinch it for me. Big horses are great :)

PS - I wouldn't be at all concerned about whether the previous rider of any eventual horse was male or female.
 
I'm another that will say don't discount a young pony, they may not have the life experience but some special ones are out there.......

The overall thing I would look for in a first pony above all else is the pony must be a saint on the ground for a child to handle themselves, it must not take the pee and that's without even getting on top to see what it rides like.

I loaned then bought a 4yr old 12.2 for my 5yr old daughters 1st pony. She had been riding/wobbling around since age 2&1/2. On paper he was the worst possible buy, top quality Welsh B, broken to scurry drive primarily, only backed & ridden briefly, kind of nervy disposition and obviously very very fast. However my primary goal was for my daughter to learn from the ground up and he was and remains a total and utter saint in that respect (slightly cantankerous now he is much older-lol!) My other most essential was that anything I bought had to be perfect on the roads as hacking was 99% of what we did.

He was and still is the most amazing beautiful pony to ride and handle, my daughter certainly learnt from the ground up and commenced hacking on lead rein to off lead rein to pony club to ridden showing to dressage and finally to mounted games which proved his absolute forte.

I can 100% trust him on the roads and out hacking in company and solo, he has had 2 on site loaners (I refuse to sell/let him out of my sight) since my daughter outgrew him and both have loved him dearly, the only essential I have is that anyone who takes him on must not be scared of speed as he goes like ***** off a shovel but he will always always stop, he never runs off on his own.

Yes we have had our problems (discovered early on he wasn't a 'jumper') but at the end of the day I wanted a saint on the ground and a saint on the roads and that's exactly what I got......
 
At 11 I learned to ride on a 15.2 saint of a cob but that was many moons ago. You need a full up saint of a 14.2 for your daughter that is kind enough and responsive enough for her to ride but big enough for her not to outgrow she is of an age where she probably wont get a huge amount taller and a bigger good pony will last her the rest of her life and is still big enough for an adult to ride. There are quite a lot of them around but they dont come on the market often
 
Orangehorse said:
Because in my experience a pony that has been ridden by a boy will always be too strong for a girl whether it is because boys are more gung ho or they simply use more strength in their riding. I have seen this happen on several occasions and wouldn't repeat the experiment.
Click to expand...
It's true, and a known factor, especially in ponies.

It isn't pc anymore to be of the opinion that there may be differences between the riding style of girls and boys, hence my previous post.
 
ozpoz said:
It's true, and a known factor, especially in ponies.

It isn't pc anymore to be of the opinion that there may be differences between the riding style of girls and boys, hence my previous post.
Click to expand...

Nope - never heard that one before and a good, well schooled pony will still be a good, well schooled pony whether it is ridden by a boy or a girl. I have no idea where you even start looking in Australia for a new pony but does she have an instructor that you can take along when you buy something? I would recommend it! Look for something no bigger than 14 to 14.2hh and dont forget that if the pony is broad it will 'take up her leg' a lot more ie she will not look as big on a broad 14 hh as she would on a narrow 14hh due to the way her leg will fall. Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top