Where are all the First Riddens?!

[Donkeyotey]

I am finding it impossible to find a decent 12-13hh first ridden! I like to think we are good buyers - my daughter is a novice but sits nicely and rides gently, we can offer a lovely knowledgeable home, and we don’t have any budget constraints, so I’m not sure why we can’t find anything!

We’re not looking for a world-beater either, just something easy and safe and capable of doing low-level PC activities.

I am searching all the usual websites, am on all the Facebook pages and have asked our PC DC but still drawing a blank! Is anyone else having the same problem? Anyone got any other ideas of where we should be looking? Thanks!

Very difficult. They often go by word of mouth. Are you following all the different local pony clubs Facebook and websites? That's how I found two of mine but it was some years ago now

A lot of those 'quiet cobs' do very well as first ponies, even if they haven't hit their teens yet.
While they can be a bit unresponsive and hard work to get going, they are also unreactive and safe usually.
Maybe consider a sweet coloured cob instead of an older, experienced native pony? A lot of the smaller ponies remain sharp, clever and determined, right into their late twenties. While they can be very educational (!), they can also be offputting for a young person, who doesn't need to be outwitted every time they want a nice quiet ride.

Cobs can also be opinionated and strong

Oh yes, I've known two that were real so-and-sos!
But it's worth considering that a lot of them are genuinely so laid-back.

Either passed on by word of mouth through pony club (and usually have a 10 person waitlist), on the market for £000s (saw one 18yo the other day for £8k) or (sadly) languishing in a field somewhere as the family couldn’t bare to part with them and so are now a muddy field ornament!

We’d consider a light cob, although what I am picturing in my head is a teenage native breed. I’ll pay whatever for a good pony at the moment! You’re paying for safety I guess and I am happy to do that :).

My oldest dc went onto a 5 year old New Forest at the 13hh stage! But they'd been well started and were bombproof hacking. If you think this is hard wait until you need a 14.2!

"Registered New Forest Pony.
Age 12.
Heartbreaking sale, due to being outgrown, our beautiful Indie is now looking for a loving home.
Indie is a bay mare standing at 13.2/3
Perfect to load (loads herself)
Great for farrier, dentist and vet.
Update with vaccinations, and wormed to date.
Hacks alone perfect and also in company, first or last.
Indie can be forward going if need be, but also a dope on a rope when a young child is on her, she’ll happy walk out in the heaviest of traffic with no problem.
Good in open spaces.
Indie loves to jump and has been to clinics, show jumping, cross country, beach and forest rides and always perfect!
For sale purely as my daughter has got a little too tall and is now looking to move up.
Indie will only go to the very best home!
Will come with saddle and bridle.
For any more info, please contact me.
£6500"

From NFED

Most true first ridden are never advertised and have waiting lists that make the state of the NHS look reasonable. To the extent that I actually find it a bit suspicious when they are available on the open market
Is your daughter currently a PC member?

I don't know where you are, but someone near me has a business called LWF horses, and she seems to focus mainly on selling first ridden ponies

Our first ridden was not advertised and it was PC word of mouth local contacts and a friend who is an instructor that found her. We also needed to look after the pony precisely as required and agree to all terms. Money didn't really come into it as she was older and much loved. Sadly she died of old age and after looking around we got a 4/5 mini cob next and I was very careful to make sure she didn't have a string side and have put lots into training. Hopefully our next 14.2 type is the rising 3 I bought as a yearling having ridden the stallion father. Spent most of the day today with a fantastic instructor getting that youngster ready to trot in hand in a show on Sunday and have poured so much into getting it right as I still do with the young mini cob especially in showing new experiences. I know this seems like a lot of work and it is but being open to a younger horse or different breed might open up possibilities especially if you have the time and support around. So in a long winded way don't discount the younger or heavier breed and absolutely need to look locally through contacts. Mini cob came from out PC branch advert, as did my older horse when he was 4. Yearling wasn't advertised and neither was first ridden

I've said it before and will keep saying it, a true first ridden is for me the very rarest type of pony, they have to be such a precise mixture of calm and responsive (lead reins can get away with being almost totally unresponsive to rider aids since they just follow the leader, and 2nd riddens can have a bit more about them but 1st riddens are the Goldilocks of ponies, perfectly in the middle!). They are out there though, you just have to preserve, be prepared to pay £££££ and potentially accept some less than ideal qualities too e.g. some stable vices or management difficulties, slightly older than ideal, ponies can go on well into their 20s (although do bear in mind what you'll do when outgrown with a real golden oldie, can you afford to keep them in a potentially long retirement), a non standard breed or type, not a 'pretty' pony e.g. sarcoids, scars, poor confirmation (so long as sound).

The best first ridden I've ever met was unfortunately a proper ugly duckling, she had persistent sweet itch (poor thing) so all summer long she had bald patches and a very wispy/patchy mane, she was some kind of misshapen misbegotten cob/native cross with huge ears, feet like dinner plates, spindly legs and a sizeable peachy arse 🍑 she certainly turned heads at pony club rallies and shows, and not in a good way. But my god was that pony ever a gem, never put a hoof wrong, she didn't willingly move out of an ambly trot but would potter a small child round a handy pony or course of cross poles (albeit booting them out of the way rather than picking up her feet most of the time), never objected to an accidental mouth pull or heavy landing, was a safe hack and put up with endless hours of hugs and love from the DCs. The kids would rarely if ever win any prizes on her (too slow for most PC stuff, not pretty enough for showing/dressage) so most did eventually want to move onto a more sporty model but she was a true friend for any novice or nervous child (or their mothers!). She'd been around about 10 pony club families in the area including mine for a while before eventually being honourably retired aged 25. These ponies do exist and are out there! Word of mouth is probably your best bet, let everyone know you are looking and be prepared to move fast if there is an opportunity (including for a loan arrangement as understandably a lot of people don't want to let these old family friends go)...

Thanks all! Very helpful advice. @maxelly I love your description of that pony! Brilliant.

@maxelly I completely agree your description is perfect and I agree about managing health issues or cosmetic/ bearable management requirements. Also being flexible on loan/ purchase and when and how to help break it to the children leaving the pony with you. I don't usually let a good one go past a early week appointment to view into the weekend and will fit in with the owner as much as possible. Good luck they do exist!