What is the smallest field you could keep a pony in?

[Enid]

I am seriously thinking of turning part of our garden into a field for a Shetland.

it is small though.

I don't like cleaning horse feet. I hate the back feet in particular.

They get all sorts of health problems, too.

I hate saddling them, too.

All that tack and trouble, just to go for a ride.

They're a lot of work, Enid.

Don't do it!

Get a goat instead.

You won't have to mow your lawn, either.

Just mind your washing line!

ok

here are my horsey credentials as they aer being called into question:

learned to ride aged 4
rode regularly until I went to uni
can ride very well
can groom, muck out, untack, clean tack and feed a pony
have lots of pony people in village and am friends with the vet

anything else?

ok

here are my horsey credentials as they aer being called into question:

learned to ride aged 4
rode regularly until I went to uni
can ride very well
can groom, muck out, untack, clean tack and feed a pony
have lots of pony people in village and am friends with the vet

anything else?

Does your dd have riding lessons?

Get a small welsh mountain when she can ride well - she will want one that can be exciting enough - we used to career about on ours, in no time! A trudgy miserable shetland will be hopeless for careering about on!

Gymkhanas.
You will be able to go to gymnkhanas!

passed with flying colours

your op however gave the impression that you had no knowledge of ponies.
Hey I think they are wonderful pets to have and I love my 2 horses, but are very hard work and very tying, but I would never give them up and dd loves toddling outside every morning to see them

You are much more horsey than I originally thought!

They smell.

My father swears after a while they smell good, as in inhale and 'Ahh, horse'.

I don't believe him.

Horses & ponies are prone to colic, laminitis and many other things, it is very dangerous and irrisponsible for someone to buy one without any knowledge of these issues and how to prevent and treat them. I dont mean to be harsh but I have seen so much of this its heartbreaking. I really reccomend you do a stable management & healthcare course before considering it.

lilly

yes I do sound clueless in OP

well I AM clueless about whether my garden will be good enough

I love the horsey smell and my dog's smell too........does that make me wierd?

I doubt very much I would do a course

would read books though

yes, she's officially and sufficiently horsey imo! I love the smell of horses, manure & all! Think 50' x 40'garden doesn't quite allow it though.

yes

but I want dd1 to be able to run out in her nightie and cuddle the pony first thing

Get her a nice big, stuffed toy one!

She can cuddle that in her nightie all night.

You can part-lease one, too, and keep it at a stable.

My dad's done this with horses, but I don't know about ponies.

To answer your orgiginal question, I think you need at least 1 acre, which can be halved or stripped grazed, have a stable/shelter, and NOT lush grass.
That would be MY least requirments.

she has one of those [another pph reccco]

Yes enid I totally agree, but will she rush out when it is pissing down?
my dd loves going out to see horse first thing in morning,and I feel very privilged that she can do this,
but the horses welfare comes first, every time.

How about a nice goat?

whats pph?

yes agree

of course would not do it if it would be cruel

will walk out distance later

To be absolutely sure o the size and the welfare of the horse, why not ask your vet friedn his advice? he/she will tell you better than any of us

Oh, yes, that is the other unpleasant thing, how horses like to roll around in dirt or mud. It's their idea of 'play'.

Eeeewww. So then they're sweaty, whiffy AND mucky.

Niiiicceee.

It's like when I went riding with my dad last time and he said, 'Let's gallop! Quarter horses love to run. They'll enjoy it'

Well, I don't.

Yuk.

I like the smell of horses!