OMG I've told the children we're getting a pony.

[nomazeena]

Sorry nothing to say I just had to share as husband and all my friends have no interest in ponies. Me and my 3 horse mad kids (8, 10 and 12) have seen a pony advertised and we've decided to go and have a look. We would be paying £29 per week for diy livery inc. haylage on yard with indoor and outdoor school and cross country course. We can just about afford it. We are so excited none of us can sleep. I've ridden for years but never had my own. I know its a huge responsibility, am I completely mad!

[careergirl]

I don't want to rain on your parade but you say the £29 p/w for DIY is just about affordable... can you afford the other costs? Hard feed (unlikely you'll need it for a child's pony but still), do you need to pay for bedding? What about shoes? Insurance? vaccination costs?

[nomazeena]

Sorry, my post did make me sound a bit carried away. We have actually been sharing for over a year so know whats involved and I have factored in the other costs. I'm just finding it a bit scary as well as exciting.

[Treblesallround]

You do know that one pony is just the start, don't you. With 3 kids and you, you'll end up with four. Bet ya!

[Callisto]

That is brilliant. BUT!!! Don't go and see the pony assuming that it is the one for you or you'll end up buying something totally unsuitable. Good luck in your hunt.

[Butkin]

Sounds great. However i agree with Callisto. I suggest you look at at least 2 or 3 ponies before you settle on one. Buying is an exciting time and you need to think with your head not yourheart.

[seeker]

And have a full vetting. Seriously. Dd'd friend was on the brink of buying 3 different ponies last year that all looked fab, but all 3 failed the vetting. The 4th was perfect.

The vetting for Dd's bargain basement pony cost 25% of what she did(!) but it was worth every penny for peace of mind.

And remember it's a buyers market at the moment. There's loads of lovely horses around. Have fun looking! And tell us all about it.

[nomazeena]

thanks so much for the advice and support.
I have already reminded the children of the time we drove an hour to see a kitten and then I refused to buy it as I didnt like the breeding conditions.
I will definately do the vet check as well as asking every horsey person I know for advice!

[seeker]

But it is a lovely thing to give a child a pony. Look on my profile if you like to see a very happy girl with her little white horse!

[Callisto]

I so agree with Seeker. DD adores her new pony (but she is very fair and always says she loves her old pony just as much) and he gives her so much pleasure. I'm also hoping that her love of horses (and competing etc when she is a bit older) will help to keep her away from unsavoury boys and other teenage pitfalls. There is something very wholesome about horses.

[Callisto]

Wow, Seeker - is that your house?

[seeker]

That was my house (boat actually) 10 years ago. Imagine it now tatty and chipped and completely covered in a mixture of junk and animal hair. I look at the pictures sometimes and weep.

[Callisto]

I would love to live in a house boat.

[Callisto]

Even a scruffy, hairy one (my house is scruffy and hairy too).

[nomazeena]

DH is making plans for outdoor storage for muddy boots and kit which has filled the hall all winter.
I love hearing positive things, thanks guys. We have had so much fun already and we havent even got it yet. None of the computers went on last night the kids sat round the table with all their pony books and magazines! This is unheard of in our house.
We are going to see the pony today BUT I had a call yesterday from a mum at school who heard I was looking (I told one person!). She wants to sell hers which is already on the yard, done all pony club and apparantly amazing and perfect etc. So its cautiously going well so far.
I'm really nervous about going and seeing the one today. I'm worried we'll show ourselves up by being crap riders. Any tips on what we should look out for?

[Callisto]

Ask to see the pony caught and tacked up. See it groomed and having its feet picked out. Ask the owner to trot it up a couple of times for you. I would always ask to see a horse or pony ridden before I get on it/put DD on it. Have a look at its teeth to assess age, have a look at the passport. Ask if it has any vices, allergies, ever had laminitis, is good in traffic and for farrier. Find out if the owner is willing to let you have it on trial (I'm always dubious if people are reluctant to give a trial period). There are lots more things but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

[Treblesallround]

Get dds to handle the pony (catch, groom, tack up etc) and note how it is with them. See it ridden before your dds get on board and ask lots of questions about the pony and what it's done. Ask what it's less good at/any issues (they all have something and the seller should be honest). If the pony has done Pony Club ask for contact details for a reference.

Nobody will judge you as riders, but if the seller doesn't think the pony will suit them then don't be offended. If someone was coming to see one of ours I don't think I'd allow 3 riders in succession so be prepared to put the least experienced/confident on board and see how she gets on then arrange another visit.

Don't fall in love, don't buy without a second visit, have it vetted unless it's really cheap and you're really knowledgable, but good children's ponies do sell quite quickly so if you do like the pony after second visit then pay a deposit subject to the pony passing the vetting. If he is a great pony and you miss him by being cautious and waiting till second visit then remember that there are loads of other ponies out there!

Good luck and let us know how it goes

[Mirage]

Lots of good advice here.I find asking if the pony has any quirks or anything I should know about always works well.Owners aren't offended by it being phrased that way and you can find out some interesting stuff.

Also,be aware that the pony will probably react differently to you once you get him/her home,and take a while to settle in.Sometimes they have a honeymoon period when they are perfectly well behaved,then 3 months or so in,decide to start testing you by misbehaving.

Trebles is right,you won't end up with just one.We bought one and 2 months later started looking for another.

[nomazeena]

no way could I have 2... but I said that about getting 1!
Callisto, I have 12 year old who hung out in town twice then said she'd rather be at the yard. Thats partly why I'm doing this it seems a good way to spend a few teenage years.
thanks for the advice on buying, I've written everything dow!. I will warn the children they might not all be able to ride.
I do have a really knowledgable friend of my mums who will come with us at the weekend if its all ok.
We're going straight from school so here goes!

[Treblesallround]

Bet ya!!!!!

[nomazeena]

Well the pony was too advanced for us. Knocked my confidence a bit as the woman was quite rude to my daughter. DD is not put off at all!

[annieapple7]

Don't lose heart - horsey people can be odd (not anyone on the tack room thread obviously!) It is never their horse's fault! Take your time - it is fun looking!

[nomazeena]

thank you so much. Need to get the fun back. I said to my daughter, "why do people with horses think its ok to be really stern and rude," DD went mad saying horsey people were lovely and I mustnt make judgements based on a few people we've met! so that told me. (she's right we've met lots of lovely people too.)

[seeker]

The pony was not too advanced for you- it was wrongly advertised. There ae loads out there- it's a buyer's market. Keep looking!

[Callisto]

Agree with Seeker (again ). When I was looking at first riddens for 6yo DD I was amazed how many ponies were advertised as first riddens who quite obviously were not. You can't trust the seller to sell you a suitable pony - you have to ascertain that for yourself. We went to see one pony who was advertised as bombproof and sounded perfect after a lengthy phone conversation with the owner, and who spooked badly with DD on board in his own paddock, scaring DD.

But don't give up, your pony is out there, you just haven't found it yet.

[Butkin]

Try writing down essential questions such as ponies age, size, experience, quirks, reasons for selling, tack used etc and go carefully over each point on the phone before agreeing to see a pony.

We also ask for photos to be emailed and if possible videos put up on Youtube - we always do this for ponies we're selling to avoid wasted journeys.

Be honest about the capabilities of your children and also explain what they want to achieve be it just hacking or pony club or competing.

I would expect the pony to be ridden by a regular rider first and then I would expect our DD to be able to ride it unless warned in advance.

We wouldn't let our ponies go on trial so I wouldn't necessarily make that a deal breaker.

Good luck - there are lots of lovely ponies out there at the moment. Definitely a buyers market unless you are looking for something specific.