too sure for own pony??/

[lijo52]

here goes with my first posting!!!

my little girl (just turned 5) has been riding for about 8 months. For the biggest part of this time, she has had private lessons, but since starting school she has only been able to have group lessons. Although she still enjoys her lessons she seems a bit frustrated that she can't trot all the time and her progress has really slowed. She has only just started cantering on the lead but is really eager to do more. Do you think it is too soon to be considering buying her a pony? I wiuld probably have to drop her lessons to 1 a fortnight but do you think the extra time spent in the saddle will make up for this? I do ride myself so can help her with the basics, and we do have another very experienced rider in the family, but would this make up for her lost lessons? Also, although I can ride, I have never owned a horse. How steep a learning curve is this going to be? I'm wary of not recognising things like health problems etc!! I intend to keep the pony at part or working livery. What should I expect to pay for this?

Hope someone out there can offer some advice!!

[CLAUDIA]

It all depends on the options you want your little girl to have when she grows older.

Learning to ride with the best basic foundation skills from the beginning is a HUGE asset. It's VERY hard to relearn and fix problems with position and sort through bad habits. If you want your daughter to be able to advance to showing horses successfully, then allowing her to learn the basics from a reputable professional is very advantageous. You never know at this point what your daughters riding goals may be. :)

[anuvb]

If you've not had horses before then buying a horse suitable for a five year old is a big commitment, both financially and time wise. The chances are it won't be suitable for you to ride but she is not old enough to look after it on her own. Also you might find she changes her mind and doesn't want to ride especially if she fell off - small children at that age can be very unpredictable as I am sure you know and quite often will refuse to ride one particualr horse if they have been hurt on it before - changing their minds can be VERY difficult ;) .

I would agree with Claudia - learning through a professional riding instructor is much more valuable than getting her her own pony at this stage. At five, whilst I know some superb young riders, there isn't much they can learn in terms of advanced riding because they don't have the physical development for it. Her riding will progress as at this stage even with group lessons but most of her riding lessons will be about focussing on her balance and getting her confident in the saddle. I would recommend waiting a few years until she is bigger and can really start developing her own riding - at this stage riding just needs to be fun and enjoyable for her.

Have you thought about talking to her riding school? Quite often they will lease a horse one day extra a week, where you could go up and practice what she has learnt in the lessons, groom etc. this way you get the benefits of taking it slowly with her and an insight into keeping horses of your own. You could also do a full lease and I would recommend looking into this option as well before you buy. Many people keep little ponies as family pets and are only too keen to loan them out if they think they are going to be well kept. You'll learn everything you need to by doing this but without the long term commitment at this stage.

[lijo52]

thanks for your advice everyone.......think I'll probably wait until she's a couple of years older.....i'm pretty sure she won't go off the idea, as she spends every spare minute with her head in pony magazine!! She has fallen off, and been bucked off by a well spooked pony but on both occasions has jumped straight back on without a whimper. She's also happy to ride in the pouring rain - which is more than I can say for her mother!! Anyway, she's very tall for her age (120cm!!!!) so she'll probably be able to ride about 14.2h within a couple of years.....then I can steal it from her. at the first oppurtunity!

[anuvb]

... splendid idea! No point you sitting there wishing it was you that was riding. This way you both get to enjoy you favourite hobby :)

[FreedomStar]

hmmm, sounds like you're not a newbie to the horse world, and you did mention having another experienced rider in the family. I say go for it. Shetlands are the best for kids like her. They're small, cuddly, and cute, but they're still kinda fast and have lots of energy. They might seem boring, but shetlands are always different. They're cool, I love shelties. Next to thoroughbreds, arabs, and trahkeners, shelties are my favorite. hehe. I call them ponies with an attitude.

[lijo52]

hello again everyone......

after much umming and aahing I finally gave in to temptation last week and bought Lily a Welsh sec A.....he's absolutely gorgeous and now I'm really jealous of her!!! He's 11.1hh, dapple and is called Llelo....Lily's still going to have her weekly lessons as well so now we can't wait for summer. She'll probably only ride him at weekends in winter,and he'll be exercised at the livery yard during the week,....does anyone else out there have a horse/pony they only get to at weekend???

[JenJane]

yup, i only see my pony at weekends. Its a pain and only happens cos its winter, i work full time and she lives half an hour away. If i'm not there though she doesnt get exercised, but is fine with just being ridden twice a week, she is also a native - a new forest. She is checked and fed every day though as she lives on a riding school.
Dont worry though, summer will come and you can see your new pony every day!!!

[lijo52]

jen jane

its nice to know we're not the only one's!! I can't help feeling like I'm abandoning him.....i almost feel like we've got another baby in the house......even my husband keeps calling in to say hello to him on his way to and from work.....I guess this means we've caught the bug eh!!!

[ggabby]

good luck with your new pony, i am sure you will look back on this time as the most fun, and rewarding time with your daughter. get involed with lunging and longreining your pony its so much fun, you dont have to ride him to enjoy him.but remember one is never enough.;)

[lijo52]

hi again...

Lily has had her second ride on Llelo this morning....think they're getting to know each other a bit now...i think he's bonded with my hubby best tho and he's 6'3" so it looks a bit like he's taking a large dog for a walk when he's leading him.....lol.


GGabby.....you're right....i'm already getting the feeling that 1 is not enough!!
PS. i'm in Lancs too....whereabouts are u?

[Steve.R]

Just to say that I got my own pony at 5 (also a Welsh section A) and never looked back! The only problem was it began a horse addiction and the longest I have been without a horse since is 2mnths (I am now 25)!! I have just heard from the current owners of my first pony Mandy - she is now 33 years old, much loved and expected to reach 40! She is being ridden by the daughter of a girl I was in Pony Club with when I had Mandy! Scary....but nice to know she is well

Esther