What do you buy as a first pony?

[RegentLion]

I spent $800 on a semi sound 18yo 11hh (scared of the stick so this is an estimate) Shetland gelding. He’s quite lazy and doesn’t like to steer always but otherwise is very reliable in all situations including trail rides.

My main goal was safe for the kids to handle so they could learn to brush, tack up, be led around on etc. Pony has been perfect for that and as his stifle healed and strengthened, he has now taken my almost d1 daughter to pony club camp and put up with my kids shenanigans in the field. (My son somehow mounted a completely naked pony while holding 2 empty water buckets in hopes pony would walk him to the spigot by the water tank. Pony did not oblige).

I love that once I set ground rules about helmets and supervision, the kids are safe to play with their pony without me micromanaging.

Is he going to win at a show or teach them to jump? Probably not. His canter is a little lurchy/round in the back, but he’s not being mean and the kids can handle it. He doesn’t always steer, and when ridden in the open sometimes decides to build character my taking the kids away from home on an impromptu trail ride.

I would buy this pony for 10x the price for the joy he’s brought us.

[clanter]

@WildLittleWren

. Morgans I have heard can be fabulous for kids.

more so for the parents who are funding this as the child changes or decides they want to do something completely different such as going from working hunter to I want to be cowboy and team pen, you just buy more tack for the Morgan as they will do whatever is asked …and be in the ribbons doing it

We had several friend who were always getting Little Johnny or Jane a new horse because Old Buster could not do what was the new activity of the day… we just bought more tack

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I didn’t actually choose my first pony (my trainer made recommendations to my parents & he was a surprise), but I had a 1/2 Connemara 1/2 Thoroughbred cross large pony. That pony would do anything - trail rides, normal hunter/jumper stuff, 2nd flight in a hunt, bareback rides in his pasture… whatever I asked him to do. Not sure that they are still popular these days, but in the 70’s they were all the rage - combining the best elements of the pony, with the best of the horse.

I’ve also had a purebred Morgan. Also multi-discipline, kind, courageous, and sure footed. So I agree with @clanter and @WildLittleWren that a Morgan is also a great choice.

[clanter]

the reason we did not go with a grade horse, which there are thousands of very sensible ones out there, was having a specific breed allowed our kids to compete in a more controlled environment within that breed’s organization.

We were wanting to use this horse as a tool in raising our kids. We wanted our kids to learn how to make decisions and then understand their choices would affect them directly … showing within a breed’s sanctioned shows was a microcosmic of the real world, for us this just allowed better control of the events

[Bay_Toby]

A POA that has been shown by kids on the POA circuit is the perfect first pony. It will have “show horse” manners and mentality and be BROKE. Every POA that we have owned has been smart, fun, and up for whatever adventure my kids wanted to go on that day. My daughter’s last POA did all the classes at the shows and did well in them all. We sold him to a little boy and he uses him for rodeo events! The POAs are big enough for adult tune ups and don’t seem to be rotten minded like so many ponies are. They aren’t going to be cheap but are well worth the money and retain their resale value.

[exvet]

I too commend you for looking for something appropriately sized. My kids started out on a gem of a section A Welsh. I acquired him through word of mouth. Once they out grew him it was a series of arabs that they developed their passions on because that is what I found that were of the right size (mine were smaller but very stout), VERY versatile, dead-headed with the kids and allowed them to pursue their disciplines of choice (very different from each other, of course). I bred/breed welsh and the ones I had outside of the section A were not suitable as kids’ horses (at that time). The biggest thing I think that helped is the size. My kids had to learn how to tack up their mounts on their own, get themselves mounted without help and ride independently. Having mounts that they could get a saddle on without help, bridle without help and manage at a hectic show ground without help not only fine tuned their horsemanship skills it really taught them patience, listening and responsibility.

[LAD]

Having been involved in Pony Club more years then I want to admit, I will say that the number one thing I look for in a kid’s pony is a good brain. Size, breed, price, etc are all negotiable, but the brain is not. The other thing I tell all my parents is the age of the kid + the age of the pony/horse > 20. For example, for a 4-year-old, the pony should be 16+. I have found appropriate mounts from $500 on up depending on the parent’s show expectations. Good luck, the best ponies never hit the market and are traded by word of mouth, usually with a waiting list.

[reignthealarm]

@LAD

Having been involved in Pony Club more years then I want to admit, I will say that the number one thing I look for in a kid’s pony is a good brain. Size, breed, price, etc are all negotiable, but the brain is not. The other thing I tell all my parents is the age of the kid + the age of the pony/horse > 20. For example, for a 4-year-old, the pony should be 16+. I have found appropriate mounts from $500 on up depending on the parent’s show expectations. Good luck, the best ponies never hit the market and are traded by word of mouth, usually with a waiting list.

Word of mouth seems to be the consensus. I may contact some old trainers to see if they have any clients moving up from their ponies.

How does it work for test rides? If the pony is too small for me to hop on first I don’t exactly want to put my kid on something I haven’t seen go around. When we bought the mini the previous owners daughter rode him around for us but I’m not sure that was common practice or if they just went above and beyond for us.

[Inclined]

Trainers and owners should be ok with a demo ride. At our previous barn, every sale horse/pony was given a demo ride by a student before the prospective buyer hopped on. If the sellers don’t want to provide this, you’ll need to go with your gut based on the pony’s personality or try a different seller.

[Trakehner]

Got my pony when I was 4…11 hand Shetland…old enough he knew God when he was a corporal…at least 25 years old, parrot mouthed and he bit. The times I rode him out were much greater than the number I rode him back…2 years later got a wonderful replacement…Connemara/welsh cross, all white, sweet and 13 hands…he was huge! Loved that pony… graduated from him to a 14 hand Arab mare…taught me to really be a big fan of mares.

Lots of nice ponies out there…a Fjord is a lovely breed that love kids and are tough. I suggest, let him have fun, screw showing…and find a place with other males riding…he’ll enjoy riding more.

[rhymeswithfizz]

Definitely talk to your local Pony Clubs, maybe even consider joining. You will find that that can open up many opportunities.

For example, I have two saintly, priceless ponies that I will never, ever part with, even once my kids have outgrown them. One is a 10.2 Shetland and the other is a 14.3h POA. I might consider leasing them to another pony club kid coming up the ranks, but ONLY a pony club kid. I know the Pony Club expectations and standard of care, and there’s a higher level of trust there.

[Mango20]

@rhymeswithfizz

Definitely talk to your local Pony Clubs, maybe even consider joining. You will find that that can open up many opportunities.

For example, I have two saintly, priceless ponies that I will never, ever part with, even once my kids have outgrown them. One is a 10.2 Shetland and the other is a 14.3h POA. I might consider leasing them to another pony club kid coming up the ranks, but ONLY a pony club kid. I know the Pony Club expectations and standard of care, and there’s a higher level of trust there.

I totally agree. I have lent our outgrown but never to be sold 12 hand pony to other kids in our Pony Club (he’s no saint, but super fun, athletic and adorable for a kid with a little more experience). If I ever decide to let him be leased or kept elsewhere, it would have to be a Pony Club family. That doesn’t guarantee things will go right, but it definitely increases the odds. Even if you don’t join, they’re a valuable resource for finding the type of pony you’re looking for.

I’m not in the VA region, but have attended several of their Pony Club events, and they seem like they’re well-organized. We’ve had kids as young as 5 join our club. At that point, it’s a little limited what they can do, but they can go to lessons, and compete at the Quiz and Games rallies (we have a division that allows a leader). The VA region also has a “horseless rally” for the little or new members, which is just like a rally but they use stick horses instead, and learn how it’s all done. The state of VA has two different Pony Club regions: The VA region, and the Old Dominion Region. You can find your nearest clubs here: https://www.ponyclub.org/FindPonyClub/Map.aspx

[ecpolo]

Here’s my experience with this… I bought a nice pony for my daughter, and it has been kind of a journey because she’s still just wanting to walk/trot around randomly and has no interest in jumping or showing. I play polo, and had to retire one of my favorite mares last season due to arthritis. Vet said she’s sound for goofing around on, just not polo. Fine by me I’ll keep her forever no matter what. I put my daughter on her and now she’s in love. Well kept polo horses are about as bomb proof as it gets. Most have trail experience. Any polo horse worth its salt stops on a dime. If you aren’t worried about your kid not being able to tack up due to height, I would consider a retiring polo horse, many of which are under 15h. It is really awesome to know that I can just turn my kid loose on that mare and they will wander around nicely while I play. If you find the right person and say the right thing, they will probably give you a retired saint for free.

Alternately, if you’d like a semi bratty pony who sometimes likes to go zooming around for no reason whatsoever I have just the one for you hahaha