First pony for a 5 year old girl?

Question

My little girl wants to buy a pony (same as every little girl). Should I start her off riding lessons or buy her own. If I bought her own what type should I get her? I am just putting out feelers atm as I know nothing about horses/ponies so any beginners info would help me

Thankyou !

Answer 1

definitely you need to start lessons, if you are inexperienced with horses then you shouldnt get one because if it gets ill or if you need to pick out their feet, groom, what feed to get etc. you won't have a clue. give her riding lessons to see if she really is up to having one, in a riding school let her own a pony for a day to see what its like and if she could handle it. then you could loan one for a few months and see if you are still up to it, and finally if everything is going well you should get one.

good luck! and dont rush things.

Answer 2

????? i didnt get my first horse till feb, and im 12. ive been riding since i was 3, and my parents didnt really even plan on getting my gelding. it just happened. and plus, then you have to buy her a bigger pony when she outgrows that one, and then keep going on with that pattern. and the same with saddles, and pretty much the same with bridles too. and each horse has his own needs, so one might need bell or splint boots, and the next one doesnt, so u have no use for them, but then the next horse needs them, but the boots are too small for him. and the girl wont even know how to ride the freaking horse until she has lessons!!!!! so um, duh, start off with lessons at a local barn.

Answer 3

Start riding lessons def you have to be riding for 4 years max

good luck do what you thinks best for the pony

Answer 4

If you don't know anything about horses then don't even consider buying yet.

A pony is a BIG responsibility and requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Its nothing like owning a dog or cat or anything like that, and it is VERY expensive.

Get riding lessons for your daughter a good riding school and see if she even likes riding first.

If she does take a liking to it, you still shouldnt consider buying a pony until she's old enough to look after it herself, since you dont know how. Some riding schools let people stay and help out at weekends so she could do that when she's a little older.

Answer 5

I would start her with horse riding lessons, just so she knows the main things of riding.

Then maybe if you feel she has come alone and is enjoying riding, then start looking for a 1st Pony for her.

Answer 6

Get lessons first, becuase if she decides she doesnt like it, then you'll be stuck with a pony you don't want. Also you have to make sure you know everything about horses before you even think about getting your own. By this i mean how to groom one, tack up, ragwort a field, rug up a horse, etc.

Answer 7

NO!!! Lessons first! Horses aren't like dogs or cats, you need responsibility and tons of experience, plus horses are very delicate. DEFINATELY get lessons. After she's been riding for a few years (at LEAST 2), ask her trainer about if they think she's ready for a pony. Keep her going with the lessons, and make sure the pony is bombproof(beginner safe). Also owning a horse or pony ifs very expernsive now -make sure you can afford it. Before your daughter gets her pony, ask her trainer to go with you and make sure it's the right horse. Read many, many books, and get as much experience as possible. Don't buy the pony until she's had at least 2 years riding experience. Please!

Answer 8

Definitely riding lessons first.

What is when she gets her horse se hates riding? Then you'll be stuck with a pony you know nothing about.

Answer 9

Start her out with lessons.

I didn't start out that way, but I was born into a family of horsewomen.

Standard monumental events in our early development, were rolling over, sitting up, talking, toilet training, and being able to pick a hoof.

Just kidding...sort of.  ;o)

Anyway, since you say you know nothing about horses/ponies, starting with lessons will give your daughter a skilled mentor, and will give you the opportunity to build a relationship with a trusted, skilled advisor if she sticks with it and you decide to buy her own.

Answer 10

take her to a riding school first, but make sure its one where you are allowed to clean and tack up our pony as it is a great way to learn! i started learning when i was 4 yrs old and i wasn't allowed to do this at the yard i was at and this meant i had learnt to canter before i knew how to put a bridle or a saddle on! and without this there's no way you can get your own pony! lol so i would take her to a riding school for at least a year (make sure its a good riding school with proper riding instructors/ qualification/horses/safety standards, as this will insure a good base for your child to learn. i would however try out a few stables and find which one you both like best because there's no point going to a riding school which you dont like as it would put you both off! i would also get your child to have lessons learning the basic ground points with horses (eg brushing/ tack cleaning/ leading/ tying up/ yard duties/ mucking out etc) you may also want to join in with a few of these lessons so that you know how to take the basic care of a pony.

http://www.acreageequines.com/HorseCare/

if your child continues with riding for at least a year and she is working hard then before you buy a pony, perhaps have one on loan

http://www.horsesharesuk.co.uk/pages/pag... this is a good website to look at (you may also want to research some more)

(i would suggest you got her a pony like this on loan-but without the spooking... if you read it you will see what i mean!) http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...

if your child is still really up for a horse of her own and she has worked hard on the loan pony then i would buy a pony like this for her http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...

but please make sure you are ready to have a horse of your own (eg you know the proper care, insurance, vet bill etc)

good luck and i hope this helps!

if you need any more info then just send me a message! lol

x

Answer 11

As you say, you know nothing, ponies are a huge commitment, and like many , many other five year old girls, it may not last! costly for you, and unsettling for the pony.

I would send her to a yard, where she can learn the boring stuff, needed to ride safely and correctly.

Answer 12

do not jump in a buy one, everyone has to start somewhere and the best place to start is lessons, this can progress fron there you should never buy unless you hav the nkoelege and more importantly the EXPERIANCE to own your own

Answer 13

Definitely, definitely start with riding lessons, you shouldn't even be thinking about buying a pony at the moment.  5 is very young to look after a pony and if you don't know anything about them either it could be a very expensive disaster.  She needs to know how to ride, care for and be safe around horses before you can even think about getting one.  Ask around (local tack shops are a good place) about good riding schools and give her a few years of lessons to build up her experience and so she is sure it's not just a phase.

Answer 14

As above DEFINATELY get riding lessons first, once she becomes compotent you could ask her riding school if she can help out.  She will then see the responsibilities of looking after a pony.  You don't want to buy her a pony then end up having to do all the work yourself! A pony will require mucking out stables in the bad weather, regular grooming, worming, shoeing, vaccinations etc etc.  It is alot of hard work and required dedication... there is no day off!

It is also a very expensive hobby! You have livery to pay, potentially tack to buy ontop of the cost of the pony, vet fees, food, farrier fees, equipment for riding and grooming.

I started riding at 7 years old and got my first pony when I was almost 10 (still got him now and I'm 23!)

I had a Shetland x Welsh Section A at 11.2hh and he was perfect as he was small enough for me to catch him on my own/groom him and tack him up on my own etc but I did of course grow out of him eventually!

If she is only 5 get her lessons for a year or so and get her involved in taking after the ponies.  Then if she is dedicated, get her a lovely wee shetland or shetland cross.  They're super wee ponies, hard workers and very loving!

Answer 15

A pony - even a little one - is a huge commitment.  You're right in saying that every little girl wants a pony; some grow out of it, and some are hooked for life.

At this stage, weekly lessons are the way to go.  At her age around 20 minutes should be enough for her - any more and she'll get bored, tired and grumpy.  If after a few years of weekly lessons she's still very keen, speak to her riding instructor about buying a pony.  You will need a lot of support from the riding school; your daughter won't be able to care for a pony by herself until she's old enough to bring the money in (ie about 18), and until then it'll all fall on your shoulders.  It may seem like a "cheap" option to keep a pony at home, but with such little knowledge you are bound to be riddled with problems.  Full livery at a riding school is the best option for novice owners.