When to buy your first pony?

[P0ny Lover]

Hi there! To start this off I am a young rider. I've been riding for a year almost 2 now. I can walk, trot and canter but I wouldn't classify my self as a pro rider. Although I would say I'm experienced in handling horses. At my riding lessons I get 1 hour practical (tacking up learning to groom,that sort of stuff). I also read the pony club manual from start to finish. Plus I read pony mag and horse and rider every month. And my grandparents have a mini shetland stallion. I help groom, brush and help rug him up. I even pop him over small jumps, by hand. It's safe to say I am absolutely horse daft and I even fantasize poo picking, because I love horses soo much. I dream and think 24/7 about getting my own pony, school at home where ever really. I dont come from a horsey family but I live in the countryside. My family have quite an amount of animals, chickens and that sorta type of pets. I've done the maths and I have found a cob I quite like that fits my budget. The point is I really really want my own pony and I am prepared to pay and do all the work for it. I would love an adults option on wherever or bot I'm ready for my first pony, before I show my parents the cob I've been looking at. Thank you for reading my rambles!!

 

[I'm Dun]

Could you find a share first?

 

[SEL]

It comes down to money firstly - can you do a budget for your parents? Remember to include vets fees, insurance, dentist, worming, farrier, saddler, feed and a contingency fund. The riding school you go to may be able to help with this.

You will also need to continue to have lessons even when you have your own horse so you don't save any money there.

A horse can't be kept on its own so budgeting for livery costs is essential and they really aren't cheap. If it's kept at your parents then it'll need a companion so you will have to double your budget.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I agree with the above but it also needs a fair amount of parental involvement and commitment. Do your local yards need you to be supervised till your 16? Are you dependent on lifts.
I definitely think a share is a good way for you both to understand what is involved.

 

[Peglo]

I helped out at my trekking centre before I got my first pony. Spent the weekends there and went as many evenings as I could after school. It was great preparation for going into ownership.
agree with Sel’s post above. Lots to consider there.

 

[GypsGal1718]

first of all find a yard that would suit, keeping on grass livery is healthier for the pony and cheaper ( as long as there is not to much grass for the type and you manage weight carefully) Secondly then add up if you can afford all costs and have some left just in case , then find someone experienced to help you with general sorting of stuff eg worming, dentist, farrier,vaccs,what to feed, etc. then get them to help you pony shopping. Best of luck! And also keep money to vet pony

 

[ycbm]

Welcome, what a lovely first post, you sound just like me as a teenager. I knew that blue book off by heart.

How old are you PL? Don't give any details that will identify you, but it makes a very big difference whether you are really young or an older teenager.
.

 

[Abacus]

I was about to say before @ycbm posted... it depends a lot on your age and where the money is coming from. You sound like an older teenager and are being sensible, considering the budget and doing some research before talking to your parents. Hopefully this will all help your argument! Also consider any exams and commmitments you have outside horses which will affect your ability to give time to the pony.

In my opinion the majority of people don't really have the time and money for a horse and if you add it all up it looks scary on paper, but there are ways of making it work and somehow many of us manage it anyway. You might for example be able to help on the livery yard to offset bills. Could the pony live with your grandparents' shetland and are they experienced enough to help you?

This link might help in putting together a budget.

How much does a horse cost a month?

If you are wondering how much it costs to own a horse, then Horse & Hound is here to break down the various costs for you so you can budget accordingly

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[P0ny Lover]

I am turning a teenager in the summer if that helps anyone, so I am not 10 years old or anything!!

 

[Goldie's mum]

Hello, welcome to the forum .

Sorry but personally I would hold off actually buying until your life gets a bit more settled.
I know what you're thinking - at your age life IS very settled but teenage years contain huge upheavals. In a good way I mean, but you are about to choose school subjects, come under more pressure to do homework and pass exams. Well within the timescale that most horse ownerships last, you will be going to college.
From what you say your parents wouldn't be happy to take over care and exercising of your pony during your busy years?

Edited to add , you are also about to grow a lot taller, so whatever you bought now wouldn't suit you in a couple of years' time.

Could you look for a share or a loan maybe? A share can be very satisfying and gives a lot of the benefits of owning without the continuous hard slog and time pressure.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Would you be able to keep the cob at your grandparents or at livery? I did actually get my first horse aged 15, the deal was I had to pay for and look after it all myself including getting to and from the field where she lived. I started saving for her at around your age and in the end was given £300 by my grandpa to buy a horse and my savings and money from my jobs went on looking after her. My mum never paid a penny towards her and I think she maybe took me to see her once.

Before buying my own horse and at around your age I used to help various friends mums with their horses, might this be an option if you have any horsey friends? Or might your grandparents know anyone with a pony you could help out with sometimes? It's very important to learn from knowledgeable people in a share or loan environment as there are a lot of day to day things you might not learn about in a riding school environment. It's also important to find a yard that is happy and supportive of younger riders if you wouldn't be able to keep a pony at your grandparents house.

Keep reading everything you can as well, the more you know the better, always be willing to listen and learn

 

[gallopingby]

Hello, it’s lovely to hear you’d like your own pony but it is a big commitment unless your family have horses. When l was young l was fortunate to live next door to a family who had a few horses / ponies and l was welcome to help whenever l wanted. This is definitely the best way to learn. I didn’t buy my own until l had left uni and had a job. If you’re keen, reliable and polite an ad offering to help in a local tack shop / feed store might be worth a go, your parents might want to check out the place / people were suitable. You would probably be surprised how many of today’s top riders in all sorts of different areas started out by helping or sharing a pony. Good luck.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I was a young rider with non-horsey parents, for me the best thing I did was share a few ponies over my younger teen years...owning would have been very difficult with limited experience and funds. I bought my first when I was 16/17 and that made a world of difference as I could cycle then drive myself to the yard. Being at a good livery/riding school also really helped so I would suggest you try and share/work at a riding school or big supportive livery yard to get the experience if you can. Then when you are a bit older can be more independent with it all.

 

[Fransurrey]

In your shoes, as you're still very dependent upon lifts and supervision (whether you like that or not!), have a look for a 'share'. These vary in how much you're expected to do on a share day and how many days a week you look after the pony, but it's a really good way of finding out if owning one is really for you. It's so much different than having a lesson or even helping with your Grandparents' miniature.

Another option is to offer poo picking services at a local yard. That will give you hands on experience of being around horses and once people trust that you're sensible, they will allow you to do more if you make it known that you would love to ride and that you're taking lessons already.

I think you're very sensible asking for opinions before you take the plunge. Good luck!

 

[rabatsa]

My first pony was kept as a working livery at a good riding school, this was a great benefit to both me and the pony

 

[2 Dragons]

I have a sharer around your age for 1 of my horses. She loves the riding but also enjoys helping out with the ponies. She is now confident doing daily tasks like grooming and mucking out, but is also learning about other essentials like strip grazing, knowing what rug to put on, mixing feeds etc. I think this practical experience will really help if she goes onto buy her own.

 

[lynz88]

I partboarded (shared) horses in my mid to late teenage years and paid for it myself by getting a job. That was, until I accidentally became the owner of mine but that started out as a partboard and he came into my life during a huge life change from college (Uni) to FT real job/real life work. It was the only way I could reasonably afford to be around horses and ride. You know you...I was always told "at 16 things will change and boys will be on the agenda" but I never succumbed to that....the opposite happened! Horses in front of boys! (You can ask some of my ex's!!). If horses really are your thing, I would advise starting with a share especially as you are likely to outgrow a pony and go from there.

 

[maya2008]

I would suggest finding a pony to share locally. It’s a good stepping stone from riding school life to owning. Many years ago I had middle aged ponies, young children of my own and a group of lovely teen/pre-teen sharers. They all went on to get their own ponies eventually, but they definitely needed the share first. It’s a whole different world outside a riding school!

 

[lynz88]

It's very important to learn from knowledgeable people in a share or loan environment as there are a lot of day to day things you might not learn about in a riding school environment. It's also important to find a yard that is happy and supportive of younger riders if you wouldn't be able to keep a pony at your grandparents house.

Keep reading everything you can as well, the more you know the better, always be willing to listen and learn

This 1000x over. I had all the horse care books and riding books in the world and did lessons, did the Ontario Equestrian Federation Rider Levels but nothing has taught me more than being around others who know even more than me.