Who believes it's a good idea to buy children ponies just because they asked for one?

Question

Cause I recon it's a silly idea, I recon they should have to work for it... I spent four years working for my horse and i'm now working full time in order to pay for him myself... farrier, dentist, insurance, food and bedding etc.

It annoys me seeing these kids who either

1) Have rich parents and do absolutely nothing for their horses but get their parents to pay for a groom to care for it and take it to shoes every month or so and expect it to win then hate it if it doesn't.

2)Parents who have kids who know nothing (and neither do the parents) about horses and think they know better than anyone else, this is what leads to ruined horses.

Answer 1

They shouldn't have one unless they have have a lot of experience as well as parents who are willing to help them care for the animal and even with that they need to prove they are committed to it.

There are some kids who have ponies and don't deserve them and there are others who don't have ponies that do.

I want one is not a valid excuse for getting one.

Answer 2

Well, I totally agree with you on your points 1 & 2 (the do no work kids, and the know nothing families).

I rode for 5 years, and spent most of my time helping out at the horse farm next door before my parents bought me a (greenbroke) horse when I was 11.  I didn't have to pay for the horse or it's care until I was older, but my dad's threat was that if I didn't do all the work, the horse would go.  I'm pretty sure he would have followed up on that threat but I didn't test it!  I've had horses ever since, and have always taken care of them myself and graduated pony club as an A.

But, now my son has a pony.  He didn't earn it or even ask for it.  He got it before knowing anything (actually he got it when he was 6 months old when I found my old pony at a horse rescue and took him back).  But, the difference is that I know lots, and I am a tough parent and am making my son learn things and be responsible.  At 7, there's only so much he can do right now, but he has joined pony club, and does the chores that he is able to do.  I also bought him 2 chickens this spring, a year after he started asking for some.  He has to do all the work with them (with supervision of course).

I think having animals to care for is a good thing in a young child's life.  They learn responsibility and love for animals, and the consequences of their actions.  Of course, those things don't happen if they are just bought a horse and don't have to do any of the work involved in maintaining it.

Answer 3

I hate those kids. I told my parents that I want to get a horse in a couple of years, and they said "You get a job, you pay for it, and your drive to the barn. We won't pay a cent for it, but if you pay for it, than we will look into it" It's not like they are paying for it, or offering it to me, I hate the spoiled rich, or stupid kids. Or stupid spoiled rich kids..those are the worst. ; )    A horse is more than just a pet, or a bragging right

Answer 4

I think it's a bad idea to buy anything for a kid just because they asked for it. But horses are probably the worst pet for a kid whose parents don't know enough about them. Some parents seem to think that since their kid took good care if a hamster they're ready for a horse. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what's wrong with that logic.

Answer 5

Let's see your question from horses view, I just don't wonna parrot all the other answers you've got already, what is it that usually happens to the horse? The kids you're talking about are having a blast with their present for a moment, then it becomes work, and the horse usually ends up as a pasture ornament, bored to death and maybe ridden three times a year, developing all kinds of bad behavior because the kids don't know what they're doing. If it's a mare they suddenly want a cute little baby too, when that cutie isn't that cute anymore we have one more unwanted horse heading for the slaughter. I've worked for different facilities all over this  country and  in Germany, and this is exactly what I've experienced.

I totally agree with your opinion.

Answer 6

DON'T GET IT!

Answer 7

I'm just going to throw a spanner in the works here, and say that in my opinion, kids should not have to work to support their ponies.  My kids are only wee -my daughter will be 5 in October and has had her pony for 2 years - so I'm not really qualified to talk about teenagers and their ponies, but I will add my thoughts and plans for 10 years' time...

My children will not have to work to pay for their ponies.  I'm sure they will have enough to do with school, ponies, plus any other activities they do, without having to get a paper round before they do the ponies before school in the morning.  I will expect them to muck out their own stables as much as possible, and chip in time and effort, but not money.  I just think there is enough going on in a teenager's life without making them get a job to keep their ponies - their job is school.  If they do more than that, they'll be working more hours than me just to keep their way of life, which I gave them in the first place!

Children should definitely know the value of money and contribute the time - but to ask a 15 year old to work after school isn't fair, and the school work will suffer before the pony does.  (Mine did - I had ponies, piano and school - in that order.)

Anyway, getting round to the original question - no, a child should not have a pony just because they asked for one.  They need to demonstrate time management and a work ethic appropriate to their age - but I don't believe that means earning money.  It means doing well in school (not necessarily top marks, because not every child can be top of the class) and trying hard, being helpful around the house, that kind of thing.  Buying a pony for a child just because it was asked for will ruin the child just as quickly as it'll ruin the pony!

Answer 8

I wouldn't expect anyone to answer this question with a yes unless they were being sarcastic.  I think a more pointed question would be whether a kid should be allowed to have a horse without earning it. Most 10 year olds can't get jobs to pay for their own horses, yet I don't believe that a ten year old should never be allowed to have his/her own horse for that reason.  In fact, wonderful values can be taught to children through horse ownership. My three daughters all rode and took riding lessons.  Two of the three owned their own horses along the way.  Nothing about their horse ownership was a negative in their lives.  They both were provided their horses by me.  And they both wanted them.  But neither was in any way spoiled for it, and both developed many good qualities because of it.  The key is that I was involved with horses, and was there to teach them, and they learned the responsibility that goes with it.  I think that when kids are well raised, getting what they "asked for" always comes with rules and responsibilities.

Answer 9

completly agree with you...i believe kids should hav to qork for it its LIKE wen you do chores and u earn ur own money then you will be more careful on spending it and not just wasting it if u use ur parents money....if u work for something you will appreciate it more and most likley stick with it =]]

Answer 10

The child must prove themselves to be responsible first.  They should also go to a riding camp or take lessons before investing in a ever ending committment.  It is the parent's decision to make not the childs.

Answer 11

i think it is stupid. i saw a girl on her and she was like   umm my daddy just bought me a stallion and two mares and they always stay together. ummm what should i name them. COME ON. I had to wait and take ,lessons and get responsible before i got a horse, and i still have to clean the house to earn my stuff. POOR PONIES. I say they get a bad REP becuase they get bought for little girls that never have touched a horse then they sell them and people dont want them becuase they are mean

Answer 12

well i think it's silly when the kids know nothing about horses, and they get a horse... but if they know about horses, and they're parents are willing to buy them one, and drive them to the barn often enough to take care of the horse, and the kid knows how to take care of the horse, then that's fine!

like for me...

i took lessons at a barn for a year, then i started leasing a pony... i leased him for a year, and then my parents bought him for me for my tenth birthday!!! i've now owned this pony for two years, but have ridden him for three. the reason my parents bought me him was because i was madly in love with this pony, and was learning so much from him! plus, my mom always wanted a pony when she was younger, but her parents never bought her one... and now for my twelfth birthday, my parents bought me a really nice thoroughbred =] . so i knew about horses before i bought one, so in this case, i think that's exceptable, because i rode for a year, and took horsemanship lessons and stuff! also, my mom used to ride, and still does ride occasionally. plus, my mom teaches horseback riding... so she has knowledge of horses! and my parents take me to the barn everyday! so i'm always taking care of my horses!

great question !!!

Answer 13

1. i think we should give kids whatever they want

2. i think someone else should raise kids besides their parents.

that's how people think today and it makes me sick. but that's also why i'm not having kids. . . my kids would report me for abuse because i wouldnt give em as much as the other kids. LOL

Answer 14

I know, it is unfortunate when children get horses simply because they ask for them... In my opinion, children should prove that they are able to take care of and appreciate the privilege to have a horse. I don't think they necessarily should have to pay for it, some children are ready for owning a horse but aren't old enough to have a paying job. But they should definitely prove that they are ready for ownership! :)

Answer 15

If the child works hard in school, shows that they are responsible enough to have one and continues to be on a 'good path', yes I would reward with a pony and do whatever means I could.

Equines are an excellent resource for kids to learn about life, work and play.  It isn't always fun to own one, and they soon realize it.  But if they are dedicated, huge lessons are learned.

Answer 16

I think it's a bad idea to get a child a horse just because they ask for it. As you expressed, there is a lot of responsibilities to having a pony/horse. Try a small animal like a hamster or rabbit. The child needs to learn to be responsible.