Advice sought

[slipperandpjsmum]

What are people's views on someone buying an 11.2 cob 3 year old colt? Its for a children's pony but I am concerned about the age. Priced at £185. Comments very welcome.

Would you have to back it/break it yourself??
If yes then you probably know enough to know wwhat youre doing!
If not then i would stick to something over about 6yrs old.

break it IN

Already backed and described as not coltish in any way. Heard really positive things but not seen in the flesh yet. Agree about 6 yrs but there is something about the look of him (pics) that I really like which is why I am even considering.

I'd agree with allgonebellyup, if you know what you are doing and have a lot a experience with horses, and when you see him to 'try him out' he is calm and obedient, then it could be a good investment. If however you are going to have to do a lot of work with him your children may well have grow out of him before he is really trustworthy as a childrens pony. Consider factors like how much time you have to dedicate to him, how experienced your children are around ponies, and if they are novice riders do you have anyone else that could exercise him from time to time as he'll still need a lot of bringing-on.

It wont be a cob standing at 11.2hh at 3 yrs. If that is what the ad says then I would doubt the seller's knowledge. Doesn't mean it would be a bad pony though. If that is the kind of thing you are after then take a look. :)

I don't want to seem negative but if I would run the other way,you need a "been there and done it" pony. Children need something which is not going to shatter any confidence they have but build on it. I've just bought a 5 year old, he is for me to ride and bring on and I've been riding for 30 years. The children's ponies are 15 years old, 12 years old and 10 years old, not forgetting the shetland who they all started on - she's 24 now!! My son's instructor said to me when we were looking for a second pony for him - "when your children go to school, would you be happy if they were trying to learn with an student teacher, or would you prefer them to be taught by someone with years of experience?" It was good advice.

How old are your children?

I wouldn't go for anything much under 10 years old for my children. I like them to have a bit of mileage, a bit of experience, and be a bit 'been there, done that' and schoolmasterish.

Unless the child/children is capable of bringing on a youngster (or you're small enough and experienced enough)then the pony isn't going to learn what it needs to and will remain green, no matter how good the temperament (which is also a bit unknown in a youngster)

I always feel that either the rider or the pony needs to be very experienced, but my children do call me the health and safety executive! (and roll their eyes at me a fair bit) so I know I am cautious!

Good point the others have made about the age actually. We have an idiot at our yard ho bought a 5 yr old for her daughter, it has been a disaster. You can get very good youngsters, but I agree it is a bit of a risk.

I don't think age is an issue in a nice sensible pony. I'm slightly more incredibly concerned at buying a stallion for a Childs pony. It is a very bad idea. It is also not allowed For a child under twelve to show a stallion and I'm pretty sure the same applies to riding off lead on the road.
I used to work on a welsh a stud, and I would not let a 3yo colt anywhere near my kids. We had one there who used to chase down walkers and try to hump them.
If you buy this animal, you MUST have it gelded.this will cost around £300.

Oh...is it entire? Well that would explain the price.

Pros and cons -

Pro - We've had young horses before and they can be perfectly good if you know what you're doing. We bought a 3yo Welsh A palomino gelding (for 1,000 pounds)and broke him in ourselves and turned him into a very nice showing/riding pony. Buying young meant that we didn't get any vices. However we do know what we're doing and I couldn't recommend this route to everybody.

Cons -

a. Would definitely not buy him until he is gelded

b. 11.2 is not very big so you have to factor in that your children will have outgrown him by the time they are around 7/8.

c. I don't really understand the term cob in this context. Usually this is a word to describe a Welsh Sec D but yours sounds too small for this. I presume he is just a part bred with a bulky body and cresty neck. Does he have any passport / papers at all?

d. As you are posting this in January do we presume he is now 4 rather than 2 turning 3 - the latter would worry me as too young for a riding pony. Also he needs to be 4 if you are going to do things with him such as pony club, shows, gymkhanas etc.

e. Hopefully you are not buying on the basis of price. Buying the pony is the cheapest bit and I'd always recommend spending as much as you can afford on a better, more proven pony as they all cost the same to keep! We sold a top little man last year who could show at county level, go on or off the lead rein and could jump at pony club level. We only got 1,200 for him as it is a buyers market so you should be aware that there are proven horses out there for not much more money.

Please don't buy an entire as your childs first pony. It should have been castrated by now and will already be showing coltish behaviour. Don't believe anything the seller tells you, colts are colty. 11.2 cob sounds very weird to me. too. And you're already being swayed because his pic looks nice? You're in the danger zone of impluse buying already.

I bought a 4yo 11.2hh for £170 for my 5yo last year. BUT, it was more of a rescue (he was very neglected), I have lots of experience and have even more experienced friends I can call on, and I know some very experienced small jockeys that sat on him first and made sure he is safe. If he hadn't been I would have done something else with him.

I'll second what Butkin said about price too - the initial money for the pony is the least of it.

Definitely do not buy a colt/stallion for a child, must have it gelded first and then let him 'settle' (sometimes stallions can display coltish behaviour for some time after being gelded). I would also see age as a problem unless you are very experienced as some ponies don't mature until they are a bit older and can go through a 'teenager' period. I should know, I bought a lovely gentle 4 year old who was good for about a year and then turned into a proper hooligan, really testing us until finally calming down again at around 6-7 years.