Choosing a first ridden pony

[annieapple7]

Hi tack roomers
DD is 6 but very tall for her age - more like aged 8 in terms of height. She is having weekly riding lessons and can walk and trot independently (on placid riding school ponies of course) and canter on the lead rein. I am thinking about buying her a pony and have started looking at the adverts online. My budget is £1000, although many of the suitable ponies advertised all cost a fortune. I'd like an all rounder that she could take to pony club and will last us for many years as we never sell our horses! But I am out of the loop in terms of competitions...if later on we did want to go to some shows, is it still the case that 12.2hhs must be ridden by under 11s and so on? A lot of the first ponies at 11.2 and under and they won't be big enough for her. I saw a nice 13hh pony but wondered if that would preclude her in competitions later on. Any advice appreciated.

[Lovesswimming]

as far as I am aware the 12.2hh rule still applies to most shows for lead rein and 1st ridden. we had a 13.1hh when my daughter was 8 and so couldn't do those classes, now have a rounder 12.2hh and she hasn't outgrown her yet (she's now a tall 10 year old). Her 12.2 was £1000 and from the pony club website, she's a 1st pony, I think wasn't quick enough for her owners daughter who was doing games, perfect for a 1st ridden for us, jumps and is pretty solid all round. she's what I would say is a 1st pony coming off lead rein but will do enough to last as well.
good luck in your search

[Butkin]

If you are doing affiliated shows it depends on the breed of the pony. If you are going to do First Ridden Show Pony or Show Hunter Pony then they can only be up to 122cm (12 hands). If you are going to do First Ridden Mountain and Moorlands they can only be up to 128cm (12.2).

I don't know about local showing rules - sometimes they have a general class up to 128cm but you'd need to check with the venues you like to go to.

DD is quite tall for her age (10) and has outgrown her 12hh show hunter this year. She is now riding her palomino Section B (see profile pics) in M&M FRs and he is 12.1 and her bay Show Pony in Open 128 classes.

If she was 6 then I'd say a 12 hand blood type pony or 12.2 M&M would last her for a good few years.

[Butkin]

Just noticed you've seen a 13 hand pony. As an example if you wanted to compete it in Show Pony classes the children could be up to 15, in Show Hunter Pony classes they could be up to 14 and in Open Mountain and Moorland Classes the could potentially be adults!

I don't know what your daughter likes doing but you may also need to check the height rules for show jumping and Working Hunter Pony classes but we don't yet do these classes ourselves.

[Gilbertus]

My 6 year old rides her sister's 13.1 and he's plenty big enough (too big really and my daughter is very tall). 12.2 is perfect for this age.

[Gilbertus]

Local shows here: whp 10 and under is always under 13hh much to my 6 year olds annoyance!

[annieapple7]

Sounds like your pony would be perfect for my DD love swimming.....are you sure she is not outgrown yet??
Butkin - lovely pix of your ponies. We would like to have a go at lots of things so looks less important.
The classes sound really confusing but I am sure I will get the hang of it when I get back into it!
Thanks all.

[Littlebigbum]

butkin they are so cute.
12-2 if we are voting!

[Butkin]

Thanks guys! Annie - just because our ponies do showing doesn't mean they don't do lots of other things. DD loves hacking them both and she had done Pony Club, dressage and Working Hunter Pony on the palomino. We plan to do some show jumping with him this Autumn. Just that if you buy the right size you will keep all your options open...

Good luck with your search and let us know out you get on!!

[PoshPenny]

I think if you want to show you need 12.2 or under. The main thing which I'm sure you are already aware of it is to ask if it is a "first pony" - ie one that is sweet and kind enough to do what the novice child asks of it when ridden off the lead rein. Truly a first ridden as it were. Those are quite scarce and can be expensive. There are thousands of angels on the lead and little horrors off it about - they are usually referred to as "second ponies"

[Mirage]

DD1 won the1st ridden cup at a local show on our lovely 13hh,the height limit was 13.2 and age limit 12.We bought her when the dds were 6 and 7 and she still isn't outgrown in size or capability,the better DD1 gets,the more the pony gives.She is such a star that I am dreading the DDs outgrowing her and will never sell her.

Just be careful and look at the size and capability of the child currently riding any pony you are thinking of buying,some children whizz them up,not always intentionally.The really good ones go up or down a gear with the rider.

It might be worth you going along to your local PC and watching a rally.The ponies in the 'just off lead rein group' differ wildly,some look half dead,others are more lively/naughty.Someone may be looking for a new home for an outgrown pony or know of one.Good luck.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I'd not put a 6yo on a 13hander I didn't know inside out and trust completely, personally.
IMO you are thinking too far ahead in terms of showing and all of that stuff. She is having lessons and can trot. Get her a safe pony of a sensible height, that she can potter about on safely, is big enough to control, and doesn't scare the pants off of her. It doesn't need to be a show stopper, it needs to be a confidence builder. Get her miles in the saddle, get her through all of the many teething problems that come with owning your own pony, get her into a decent pony club and see what she decides she wants to do.

[Booboostoo]

What Saggy said. However tall your 6yo might be she is still a 6yo which affects things like balance, co-ordination and confidence. I don't think it's possible to buy a pony for a 6yo and still keep it for the same child 10 years down the line. You will have to make your peace with changing ponies as your daughter grows, her abilities increase and her needs change.

It is perfectly possible to loan out good ponies though so you can retain control of what happens to the animals and have them back when they need to retire.

[Butkin]

Agreed - we think a 6yo should be on a 12 hander (or small breed M&M) - they just aren't ready mentally for anything bigger and stronger. Our DD is very experienced and only now - aged 10 - is she trying out 13 handers for next season.

BooBoo is right that you should buy something that she will enjoy riding now. Whilst you can buy something for them to grow into, overfacing a child can be a big mistake. There again whilst we've kept horses all their lives we've always sold ponies on when they are outgrown so they can go and teach other little people.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

You need something safe, but a LITTLE bit challenging. So it doesn't always go right, but there is light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

[Lovesswimming]

Not sure where u are OP but I noticed a few ponies on the pony club website at your price, the 1st ponies seem to be, the more expensive ones are probAbly proven games ponies. Worth a look, how's your search going? (another year and u would be welcome to ours but she was unwell over the winter and now possibly has RAO or whatever it's called she coughs all sorted with an inhaler but not ideal to take on! She'll probably be with us forever

[Principality]

We had a similar problem with our DS aged nearly 10 and now 5'1/5'2- but with legs up to his armpits that he hasn't yet grown into!! . He had the most lovely sweet and kind first ridden pony on art loan last year, but sadly at 12.1 ish his toes were dangling way below her belly by the new year...

We ended up sharing a 14.2 ex jumping pony who was owned by the same family. He is fine size wise in terms of leg length as because he is a PBA he is quite fine. A massive plus is I get to ride him too!! (5'4.5)

But he can't do any of the first ridden showing classes locally as they are all for 12.2 and under... :( At the moment they have stuck to nursery stakes jumping (pony any size, rider under 12), best turned out, and will probably try pony club pony classes. On the plus side, pony will be more than capable of stepping up with him, when/if he wants to- pony used to be super whizzy and easily jump 1m+ courses in his day.. at 24 we are trying to take it a bit more slowly..... not that he is convinced if jumping is involved!

[annieapple7]

Here are two in the running any thoughts?

www.horsequest.co.uk/advertisment/78278
or
Smashing pony who is so quiet to ride and handle. He has been ridden regularly on the roads by a nervous 10yro; and around the farm and at shows by an 8yro. Excellent Mountain and Moorland prospect having had reserve champion in his 2nd show! Placed at the Royal Welsh, this pony will go a long way and make a great PC, fun ride. £1000 ono
www.furzehillfarm.com/HaverfordSunking.htm

[Butkin]

Both seem sensible selections. Good experienced ponies who are not too young nor too old. Well priced as well. I don't know how far they are away from you but I'd be tempted to go and try them both out. The grey will be harder to keep clean!

[frostyfingers]

I'd go for the grey simply because he has Coed Coch bloodlines! Fabulous ponies with which I have a family connection, I was involved in the dispersal sale as a child, and helped prepare Coed Coch Bari who went to Australia for £21k - an enormous sum in 1978....memories, memories!

[Lovesswimming]

Keep us updated, are u going to see them?

[annieapple7]

The lady did say something about the grey's brother being sold for a lot of money.
Although 8 he was only broken in last year. Found this about the Coed Coch stud Frosty

www.tangwyllt.com/WelshPonyandCobConnection/Coedcochopenday.htm

Think we will try and see them this weekend...ooh exciting!

[Butkin]

I think at the end of the day if your DD likes riding them then that will make the difference. She'll know which one she felt more comfortable on. They both look like they would do a job for you though. Good Luck!

[Booboostoo]

Was the pony you are going to see only broken last year? Why is that? I don't mean to be negative, but that would make me weary. A year is not a long time for a pony to gain experience and your DD is very, very young so she really needs a 'been there done that' type of pony. The photos on the advert show a much older child riding the pony, so make sure he is suitable for a small, lightweight and inexperienced child. Why do you want a PC pony? For me that means a competition pony which requires a more experienced rider. I'd be looking for a LR/FR pony which is truly good off the lead rein.

Personally I wouldn't go see this pony. You need a pony that has already helped 2-3 children learn to ride and has been passed on from family to family because he is truly brilliant at his job.

The palomino looks more promising with the younger child on board, but what kind of bit is that? He also has quite a heavy set neck and your DD may find it difficult to stop him.

[Lovesswimming]

We had a 7 year old p

[Lovesswimming]

Oops lol, I was saying we 1st got a pony that was 8 that we thought was a good age, turned out she had only been broken in a year, (she had been showed abd had a foal 1st) as she got fitter she got sharper and she was more spooky. Just so u are aware, she seemed perfect at 1st but wasn't once she'd lost weight! We still have her but she isn't the 1st ridden pony my daughter rides.