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The most important thing to bear in mind before you begin the hunt for the perfect first pony will be the level of the child’s riding ability. Now while we all tend to think that our child is the next Harvey Smith of Show Jumping, this is not always a realistic picture. If your child only started riding two months ago, it is also not a good idea to rush out and spend thousands on the pony that won the Horse of the Year show, as your child may not be interested in horses let alone his own one in three months time. So always allow a certain amount of time to elapse before investing in a pony, remember it isn’t so much the initial cost (though that can be quite considerable); it is the monthly keeping of the pony.
It is always best to take your child’s riding teacher (instructor) with you when looking at potential ponies, as they have had experience in what to look for as well as what to look out for, when making this considerable purchase. They will also be able to gauge how far this pony may take your child and whether they are suited to each other. If your child is a fairly new or inexperienced rider, then look for a bombproof pony. This just means that the pony is safe and will not scare your child off riding, by bucking him off (though even the safest ponies have been known to do this), or running away with your child if he is too strong or high spirited. As a general rule, young horses are not bomb proof.
Should your child be an aspiring show jumper then talk to your instructor about ponies on the market, and attend local shows to see how they are going in the ring. There are always a number of children going up the ranks into Juniors and some of them have wonderful ponies that have been through the grades a couple of times and will boost your child’s confidence. Let your child try them out more than once, it isn’t fair to either child or pony to only let them have one go at getting to know each other. The best pony I ever had bucked me off and ran away with me the first time I sat on his back. We bought him anyway and were inseparable for the next five years. He taught me more than any instructor ever could, and took me up to Children’s B-Grade, before I went Juniors, but if I had only tried him out once, I never would have bought him.
One of the biggest mistakes well-meaning parents make is to buy a pony because it is pretty. Unless your child is going into Showing, then do not base your purchase on looks alone. A good dressage horse is not necessarily a pretty one, even though nice movement is mandatory, it can’t move like a camel and expect to win any classes. So always ensure your choice of pony is suited to the discipline your child wants to follow.
Breed in pony isn’t really an issue, unless you are going to compete in showing where little Welsh Ponies are generally the pretty ones. Most ponies are of mixed origin and won’t be thoroughbreds, as they have to be small enough to be allowed to compete in children’s shows. Check the pony’s height as each country has its height restrictions on children’s classes.
Last but most important of all make sure you get a Vets Certificate. It is frighteningly easy to make a lame horse, sound, or to cover up any other little defects. Ensure that you get a reputable vet to make sure that your pony isn’t actually a geriatric donkey.
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