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11hh pony or forever type 14hh for 6 year old child? help

57 replies

anydreamwilldo · 02/03/2014 09:06

Have to make a decision, both lovely ponies. The little one she will love but fear she will outgrow it and be heart-broken when he has to move on. Don't want to over-horse her with the cob, but we could keep him forever ........ don't know what to do. Any ideas welcome, probably lots of things I haven't thought of? Thanks

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Yeehaw · 20/03/2014 20:49

We had a section a a few years ago. I'd never have another one Hmm

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Incapinka · 20/03/2014 15:04

I dread to think how many horses we would have if we didn't sell them on! As for them being like cats or dogs we would need a bigger house too if they were going to curl up on the sofa...! I am guessing thinking has never owned a horse...

Good luck with the cob and finding dd a pony. I agree with trying to find a nice older one that's about 12.2. As for section a's. I had 2 when i was little and they were evil little things. Best pony was a 13.2 my parents bought from a riding school and she was so grateful of a nice pony club home she never put a foot wrong... Keep us posted

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Yeehaw · 20/03/2014 11:26

We have a 14.2 that I am planning to keep forever - I have two more children waiting to ride him, he's 15 already, my youngest will be 13 when he's 20 so will probably just starting to come off him. If he is still fit and well I would loan him to a local pony club family for a couple of years but he will always come back to us. He's been such a joy and I owe him a very nice life :-)

Grumpy 13.2 will be outgrown in two or three years, he'll only be 14 and desperately needs working so we will almost certainly sell hiim (if we can Hmm)

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Butkin · 17/03/2014 13:03

I agree with Saggy. We kept my cob until his dying day and I think horses will mostly be given proper homes for life.

However ponies are completely different. DD is 11 and we've already sold on 2 of her ponies and let one go on permanent loan. Children grow and ponies don't just want to stay in a field, unridden, for 20 years. Much better you pass them on to some loving family who will appreciate the experienced pony you are selling/loaning them.

Likewise we've bought DD a lovely 12.2 Show Pony from a family whose daughter had outgrown her. She'd been to HOYS with them and last year went to HOYS with us. How would we ever have got her according to your ideas?

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SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 14/03/2014 23:08

Thinking thats the biggest load of old chuff ive ever heard! Ponies aren't dogs or cats. They are sadly outgrown in a couple of years but can live for 30! do you expect the outgrown pony to spend the best years of its life rotting in a field?
It's by far the best thing for the pony to find a new rider. Whether or not you loan or sell them, they get to keep working and enjoying themselves. I know several who have a waiting list of riders.
Much much better than just doing nothing and going to waste.

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Mirage · 14/03/2014 18:06

Thank goodness that people do loan their lovely old ponies out,otherwise we wouldn't have DD1's super pony.If Dpony is still fit and well when DD2 has outgrown her,there are a few people who'd love to loan her.She hates not being in work.

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NigellasDealer · 14/03/2014 17:21

ooop lol i meant loan the pony not dd Grin

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NigellasDealer · 14/03/2014 17:20

thinking in a couple of years when dd goes away to college we will loan her to another loving home, another little girl to love her - what is wrong with that as long as the new home is carefully chosen!?

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Booboostoo · 14/03/2014 17:18

How would anyone ever get an experienced pony or even horse under that idea thinking? Leaving a young pony in a field with nothing to do is far more cruel than giving it a loving new home. If you wish to retain control you can always loan the pony out and make sure you have it back if it is ever out of work or when it's elderly.

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tattychicken · 14/03/2014 16:19

That's ridiculous Thinking. You'd end up collecting loads of ponies! If the pony is elderly or unsound then you've got a point but otherwise selling them on to a good home where they can help another child is a sensible thing to do.

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fullerlonger · 14/03/2014 14:51

Oh fgs. Ponies like to have a job to do.

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thinkingaboutfostering · 14/03/2014 14:25

Think this thread is very sad Hmm. Makes my blood boil when people think it's ok to pass on ponies simply because they no longer want/have use for them. You wouldn't do it to a dog so why would you sell on your child's pony! Confused
If you take on responsibility for an animal you should honour that responsibility for the rest of their days. Hate watching ponies who have taught children so many valuable lessons simply cast aside like an old toy. Poor poor animals. HmmConfused
Op if you can't keep your child's potential new pony for the rest of its days then please do not buy one!!!

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NigellasDealer · 08/03/2014 15:00

really fuller, someone just practically gave us a lovely 14.2 gypsy vanner, well it is a loan but for all intents and purposes....

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fullerlonger · 08/03/2014 14:58

Yes anything below 14hh is struggling to sell. I've lost count of the amount of people asking me to keep an eye out for a lovely 14.2 though.

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NigellasDealer · 08/03/2014 14:01

whatever they ask, offer half, I bet they will take it.

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NigellasDealer · 08/03/2014 13:57

do not be put off by people asking or quoting silly prices.
people are giving away horses and ponies at the moment, even in the south east.

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NigellasDealer · 08/03/2014 13:56

how much would you pay for pretty 11hh section A ,10 years old but been left in the field a whole year
right now, it would depend on what it had done.
if nothing, about a fiver.
if exp with pony club, lead rein, showing classes, good to catch, box clip shoe then about 300 quid.

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fullerlonger · 08/03/2014 13:53

My 7 year old rides a 14.2 but he's the kindest mannerliest pony on earth and she's very confident - she is supposed to share a 13.2 with her sister but since my oldest dd outgrew the 14.2 it seems that dd3 has gone straight onto him Confused

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Booboostoo · 05/03/2014 07:14

Great, good luck with your new pony!

If I were you I would be looking for a "first ridden" for your younger DD. "All rounder" describes too advanced a pony for a rider that is only just getting to grips with canter. She needs a pony that understands how to look after its little rider.

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Littlebigbum · 04/03/2014 21:11

Exciting good luck

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anydreamwilldo · 04/03/2014 19:20

Thanks again folks, I've been offered the cob on loan and I'm having him for me!My eldest daughter will also ride him, she is more experienced than me. Going to see a nice little New Forest 12hh and 14 years old described as "good all rounder" so we'll see..........

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MsBehave · 04/03/2014 14:51

Personally, I would be looking around for a 12.2hh all rounder who's been there and done it but isn't a total plod.

At her age, with the best will in the world and the kindest cob on the earth, she will not be able to handle something of that size. She will be restricted on what she can do and feels capable of doing on a mount that size and she will need so much help with handling which is invaluable where bonding is concerned between horse and rider.

I would also strongly suspect that it may break her confidence if an animal of that size in comparison to her decides to act up even a little bit and as somebody else said, it's much easier to fall from a 12hh pony than a 14hh cob and besides that, her little legs will be stretched over a barrel with a cob which means any leg aids would be utterly useless. Even if the cob doesn't take advantage of her, it won't do her confidence any favours for her to feel her aids are being 'ignored'.
Much better in many ways to go for a 12hh - 13hh (maximum) pony that she can enjoy and have fun on for a few years, build her confidence and for her to feel comfortable and secure in the saddle.

I never outgrew the 14.3hh I got at 12 and I still have her now so the second pony may well end up being her 'friend for life' horse.

Good luck.

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bishboschone · 04/03/2014 11:55

Saggy is right though , my lnot was a thoroughbred type. I never did cobs but yeah how will she hold it ?

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Booboostoo · 04/03/2014 11:47

When it comes to outgrowing you only have two options:

  • buy what is suitable now (size and temperament) and accept it may well be outgrown in 1, 2 or 3 years' time
  • buy something that is suitable for later but risk shatering your DD's confidence now. The risk is also that your DD will be seriously hurt if she fails to have this pony under control.


If you are buying for a child or someone who has competitive ambitions or someone who is very novicey and is likely to progress a lot you have no option but to bite the bullet and accept that the horse will be outgrown in a few years. Better than the alternative though!
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SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 04/03/2014 10:55

Dear GOD! Please don't buy a 6yo a fricking 14hh COB! Thats got to be the insanest thing I've heard in years!
Even the steadiest school master will be far and away too big and will soon learn to take the piss. How will she get its head up if it decides to stop and eat? How will she stop it if it sods off? She will be far too small to cope with its paces and will be bounced about all over the place.
What if it decided to be an idiot and knock her over? or stand on her foot?
The mind boggles!
DD at 6 was an average sized kid and her sec A was a git. Even at 11.2 she was too much. DD is 15 now and an average skinny 5'2, she can still ride the old mare at a push and her current pony is a 12.3 new forest. No, they will never look good in a show ring, but they're more than happy to hack about, jump stuff and generally have teenage fun.

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