To get a pony for my DD2?

[JustDontWantToSay]

I have a strong background in horses, I haven't owned one since Uni due to circumstances but I've always retained an interest and ridden when the opportunity arose. In fact, I ran a small livery yard with 6 horses on my own for a year.

I was keen for DD1 to ride - and she did. For about a year, walk-trot-canter-small jump sort of thing. But she just 'did it' if you see what I mean. There was no passion there and riding is an expensive hobby so I said right, that's it. She wasn't bothered and has plenty of other hobbies.

DD2 has sat on ponies and been lead on hacks, etc. since she was 2. Her legs don't reach below the saddle flaps so I've put off giving her lessons. She's 7 now, but a particularly small 7. When she does ride she loves it and she's fearless.

Anyway, I decided tonight that I'd like to get DD2 a pony. Only on loan, keep it on DIY livery nearby (plenty of yards, I'd probably choose the one at their school which is really close by). I can really see DD2 absolutely loving it, but naturally DD1 has complained massively because I didn't get her a pony. BECAUSE she didn't want one.

So AIBU? Or just treating each child as an individual?

My dd was 7 when she got her first pony and we used a local livery stables which we paid for full livery until my dc were able to do their own ponies when dd was about 9 and ds 13 (he was keen but lazy).

yanbu and of course fine to have a pony at 7 (mine have had them since they were 2!) but could you possibly get one for the two of them 'to share'? You will find that if dd2 loves it and wants to start going to little shows then dd1 will be hugely left out.

we have two kept at home and they are a massive massive commitment once your dds start competing on them...

and the dream was totally mine when we got our first pony...didn't stop all four children becoming totally horse mad though :-D

YANBU and I think a 5 year age gap with big sis should make it OK. My older girl was never into horses. I got my second daughter a pony - I checked DD1 was OK with it and she was - she has other interests.

I am clear sighted enough to know the pony is as much for my benefit as my daughters - we can now go riding together and it is bliss (I have my own pony).

My DD2 is not pony mad, like I was, but she does enjoy it. I do most of the looking after, but I am looking after my pony anyway - and I love it all, I have never grown out of it.

So if you will enjoy your daughter having a pony, then do it.

It is really lovely when the DCs can ride out with you. We have my old horse and an 11.2 welshie on Diy livery. Why dont you go for it, get a pony on loan and then if in 2 years time she has lost interest it wont be a massive disaster........

Problem solved! Got a gorgeous 13.3hh welsh sec B on loan from tomorrow with a view to buying in a couple of months time. Tall enough for me to ride and DD1 - and he's 100% on the lead rein. Very, very happy
Thank you all for the input, much appreciated. I may need some horsey chums on here!!

Oh how wonderfully convenient. And quick. Is this a children's novel? Bravo and hurrah!

YABU if you don't get 2 pony/horses for both dds to ride. I nearly buggered off when I read "I have a strong background in..."
then stuck it out for dd1.

So really you only need one ...dd2 obviouslio will be a better rider for riding the Big Hoss. These temeperaMENTAL pony things do end up limiting riding enjoyment. So I could be wrong...but then... I might be right.

Wow. So you've checked it out, checked its history, had it vetted and arranged livery in less than 24 hours?

Only involve dd1 if she wants to be involved. Make time for her if she doesn't. I strongly suspect her initial reaction was because she felt pushed out, and that's a really unkind thing to do to someone you're supposed to love.

Not that you'll read this.

Blimey ....do you know the pony....

That was quick

ah now if you are smallish and therefore can ride said pony yourself that puts a completely different dimension on it. congrats and enjoy!

JustDontWantToSay Thu 10-Jul-14 00:29:48 - ''I decided tonight that I'd like to get DD2 a pony'' ...

Fri 11-Jul-14 01:19:14 - ''Problem solved! Got a gorgeous 13.3hh welsh sec B on loan from tomorrow with a view to buying in a couple of months''

Bloody hell, and i thought I was impulsive! Glad to see you thought so long and hard over that OP.

That was quick, but you say you have background with horses so I guess you know what you're doing. I've always had horses and when it came time to find a pony for my dd (she was 8) we spent MONTHS looking, 'test driving' and vet checking. Take care!

Wow you move fast!

Lucky you DD's...

Excellent. 13.3 welsh. Perfect size. Love ponies!

Ooo congratulations how exciting! DP you have a picture?

"Excellent. 13.3 welsh. Perfect size. Love ponies!"

Perfect size? For "a particularly small 7" year old lead-rein beginner, whose "legs don't reach below the saddle flaps".

Really?

Well they could get her a cub saddle, she will be fine then. I was thinking more about the fact that all the welsh ponies I have known have been nutters a bit on the lively side!

What I meant was at least her legs would reach below the saddle!

A 13.3 welshie for a 'particularly small 7 yo' seems a touch ambitious. Welsh ponies can be lively, as Pixel said. Please don't rush into this, OP, the wrong pony will shatter your child's confidence.

Ah, so it's a pony for you that your daughter can pop on too. That sounds more like it. You have the perfect excuse of getting a pony for your daughter to have got a pony for you. I struggled to justify getting my pony in my own mind too.

Hope you have many happy years together.

Do you hear, there's strangles in the feral New Forest ponies that are running on the Forest. This could be a disaster

I would get a loan pony that you can all enjoy. Your younger daughter isn't yet at the stage where she needs her own pony. We started with a 13.2. Welsh cross mare. My then 12 year old started riding on her and, as she progressed took her out competing. Her younger sisters started riding on the same pony from about the age of 2. One of my daughters was winning classes at local shows at age 8 or 9 despite her legs coming just past the saddle.

If you have one child who wants to ride often and another wants to ride occasionally, they could easily share if you choose the right pony. Small children don't need to have a 12:2 unless they are showing or maybe show jumping, where classes are split by size of pony and age of rider. We found 13.2 a good size and only acquired more horses / ponies as various children got more serious and wanted to ride together. I'd definitely loan though. We now have outgrown ponies who we are far too fond of to consider selling.

I was thinking 13.3 perfect size because it's the size of my own gelding. He's brilliant for me to ride, not too big so he's easier to handle on the ground than a 'proper horse'. He'll happily become a lead rein pony for beginners and children, and plod around the school with them. And the OP says her pony is on loan, which is great as she can stop the loan if he's not all that she wants him to be.

Oh I do love a happy ending!!