Get a solid Morgan. Problem solved. 
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Ha! My darling Buddy took my little sister in her first walk-trot classes. Safe as houses, but he listened to the judge tell the ring steward and would change gaits before the announcer got the message 
ETA: I’m all about the POA, but that Fell pony is stunning! I love a Welsh pony, too. Heck, I guess I just love ponies! But a well-bred POA has more of a horse brain IME. Much less naughty than say a Shetland, and I just adore the princess head with a big old booty.
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when told to line up on the Steward, the steward was standing with their arms outstretched to indicate where he wanted the line to form, as the steward kept moving daughter’s horse would follow him until he actually stop, there the mare stood.
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Oh, gosh, yes! My brother’s and my childhood mare was like this! I SWEAR she listened to the name of the class going in and knew whether it was w/t or w/t/c bc she never tried to reverse early in a w/t/c but would in a w/t. That mare was a SAINT
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So you have a half-linger?
I love your mare! She’s a stout, well set up horse.
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I can’t believe I’m still considering this. Where does one find a solid family pony? Facebook groups?
Can a pony be pastured with a horse? Are there some breeds that are hardier than others?
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Barns that have kids programs usually have a few in their inventory….usually to lease or on a per ride basis. They want to hang on to the good ones.
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Word of mouth, Pony Club families, FB but caveat emptor. Mine have all been quite hardy (over the years POA, Connemara, Hackney x; currently Welsh, Fell and Montana sport pony). They can hold their own just fine in the pasture with the big horses (NO ONE is pushing them around), but they’re relative air ferns, so I don’t put them out on the “good” grass with the 2 big retirees, and they don’t get access to the all-day hay buffet either, except for the growing 2 yo.
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Most ponies are too hardy and need a muzzle and diet. Most are fine with big horses unless teeny tiny.
Ask your vet, farrier, or local riding schools to see if they have one that would like a single family vs lessons or one sitting in someone’s back yard that needs a job.
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That’s a new one for me… down the rabbit hole of pony breeds I go.
Remember the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? If your story turns out to be like mine…If you give your kid a pony with the idea of having your little one share in your horse hobby, then soon you’ll be getting your kid another pony–a show pony–because showing a pony becomes said kid’s goal. And if you get your kid a show pony, the kid, after showing some and falling more in love with horses, will outgrow said pony and so you’ll get the kid a horse so kid will ride equitation and hunters (and you’ll have way less time or money for your own horsey endeavors). And if your kid rides eq. and hunters, then your kid will fall in love with jumpers and if you give your kid a jumper, soon said kid will want to ride Grand Prix. And if you give your kid a horse that can do Grand Prix, your wallet will be totally depleted and you will get gray hair and ulcers as you watch in pride and terror and wonder why you got your kid a pony all those years ago…Just sayin’ Ha ha.
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If only to be so lucky! I’d happily be poor if my daughter kept up with the sport.
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Spoiler alert: he’s just a short, hairy horse from Kalispell! I just call him a Montana sport pony for my own amusement.
Left: Mr Nigel Murray, the MSP
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He’s adorable!
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That’s called a Haflinger.
Fjord
That forelock makes me think of Thelwell’s ponies.
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“your daughter is only 4, she’s not “horse-crazy”, you want to entice her to spend more time w you at the barn, and the smart side of your brain tells you she’ll quickly outgrow pony or lose interest”.
I bought each of my daughters a pony/small horse when they were around 11, after yrs of taking lessons at public lesson barns, and a clear interest on both their parts. Many mothers’ days we spent riding together, and it was the best.
If you have your own farm, then it’s not a big deal to bring on a safe and sane pony. Boarding is a little different, esp if your daughter loses interest and the pony doesn’t sell easily.
More than that, if I’m reading you correctly, you are buying the pony for yourself and your wish that she spend more time w you at the barn. Why not wait a few yrs until she expresses, over and over, a wish for her own horse? My oldest daughter’s pony lived until he was 33, and she rode him until he was 28. Younger daughter was trampled, broke a bunch of ribs, was in icu w chest tube for a few days and never rode again. My opinion, and it certainly doesn’t have to be anyone else’s, is that 4 is too young.
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I would look for some youth horse programs like 4-h or pony club have unmounted activities just so your child could be around horse crazy kids without the pressure of actually riding. Sometimes the best way to get kids interested in horses is to have them around other horse crazy kids. Groups like this also can be a great networking tool if and when you want to start looking for a horse or pony.
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