Where do you look for a genuine first pony?

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Cassy

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We are trying to find a first ridden pony for my granddaughter who is just 7 and have looked on this, Horsemart, Horsedeals, Horsequest. PCUK and Preloved websites but don't seem to be able to find anything vaguely suitable. Also tried Facebook. There are ponies for sale spread all around the UK but little local to Lincolnshire. Am I looking in the wrong places or going about it the wrong way. The few we have seen have not been suitable for a first pony, more show or competition types. Just need an honest Joe or Josephine, safe, sensible and sound! Any suggestions please.
 
Unfortunately genuine first ridden saints rarely come on the open market. They tend to get passed on by word of mouth and amongst friends. It is very likely that you may have to be very quick and travel a conciderable distance for them.

Restricting yourself to Lincolnshire will mean you may be waiting conciderable amounts of time.
Also don't write off those competition ponies without seeing them, perticularly the ones that have been showing. I know a a lot of those who are very very genuine first ridden ponies but can step it up a notch too.

My first ridden pony for example was a 12.2hh open show pony, who took me from leadrein tot to eventing for ponyclub teams and then taught my sister and brother to ride too.
 
Cassy said:
We are trying to find a first ridden pony for my granddaughter who is just 7 and have looked on this, Horsemart, Horsedeals, Horsequest. PCUK and Preloved websites but don't seem to be able to find anything vaguely suitable. Also tried Facebook. There are ponies for sale spread all around the UK but little local to Lincolnshire. Am I looking in the wrong places or going about it the wrong way. The few we have seen have not been suitable for a first pony, more show or competition types. Just need an honest Joe or Josephine, safe, sensible and sound! Any suggestions please.
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Until two weeks ago I was in your situation exactly!! Have you tried the Facebook group 'horses for sale in Lincolnshire' or similarly worded group? There's is also a Nottinghamshire group which is quite busy. In the end, we found our pony on Free-ads and when we'd looked before, Preloved found some of our others.

I understand what people are saying about being prepared to travel, but I was adament not to travel for more than an hour- I viewed many which were not as described, totally unsuitable, totally lame etc. so by sticking close to home I felt I was limiting the potential for it to be unsuitable and a waste of time. Close to home is also good if you're going to want to try it a couple of times and attend a vetting. Stick to your guns, something will come up locally.....particularly after the summer pony club rallies are over in the next few weeks and kids are trading up to bigger ponies!
 
Few friends have found brilliant first ridden ponies via "Cobs and plods" on Facebook this last year. One recently bought a cracking little 13hh cob for her 7yr old and if he'd have been 15.2hh I'd nick him right from under her nose.
 
Sorry not JUST cobs and plods I mean it's an idea to look at local groups and horsey pages for a sound, safe happy plod.
 
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