Help, Looking For Pony To Buy

[vyvyen]

I've finally decided to get my OWN pony (actually finally talked Hubby into letting me get one). I've got 2 already, both my daughters, one a raving loony 15yo Riding Pony mare (too chicken to ride her) the other a fantastic ASSP 12.2 gelding just turned 6 and practically bomb proof, you can take him anywhere. I'm going to look at a 12.3hh 2 3/4 yo welsh x arab gelding today, I'm really worried about his very young age, he's not broken just apparently well handled and lightly backed. I've just passed my ground skills only in Parelli level 1, too chicken to ride the above loony mare. If he was suitable in temperament like our second pony, do you think I should get him and let him live as a horse for a while and then do 6 months of ground work with him and then send him to a Parelli trainer? I would really love some feedback on this ASAP.
Thanks guys
Vyvyen

[FreedomStar]

My opinion is to skip the green 3/4 y/o. It'd be awful if you lost your confidence trying to ride a green horse who's just been backed. Keep looking.

[Fraggle]

Hi

I bought my first ever pony (I'm 36 by the way) 6 months ago. I went out looking for an experienced schoolmaster as I'm a novice, and came back with a very green 5 year old Dales gelding who had never been out on a road before! I've been very lucky in that I've had good support from my old riding instructor as I stable Sam on her yard.

I've had to take it very slowly with Sam and after 6 months hard work, he is hacking out and is out on the roads. He is still definately not 100% with large traffic but he is rock solid out in open countryside.

If you say you are "too chicken" to ride the looney pony then I don't think you'd really suit a Welsh/Arab cross. Both breeds can be very sharp and I've never heard anyone who owns them refer to them as "laid back".

I was lucky in my choice of a Dales pony in that they have very kind, forgiving temprements whilst still being forward going and they seem to take most things in their stride. I'm certain if Sam had a more "arab" temprement, he's be too much for me to handle as I just want to hack out safely.

Personally, I'd suggest that you look for a pure native breed. (But them I'm biast!):D

[vyvyen]

Hi Fraggle,

Thanks for your reply, I live in Australia so we don't have the English native breeds here, the Welsh ponies here have an excellent name for temperament and the 12.2hh 6yo gelding I already have is an Australian Stud Saddle Pony ie Welsh x Arab and he is bomb proof. My loony 15 yo Riding Pony mares sire came from England - Rotherwood Windswept and apparently he's as mad as a cut snake, she must have been crossed with an Arab mare because she is a nut out of her comfort zone, and at 15 her temperament is not going to change, I've persisted for a year now with Parelli with her and she has improved brilliantly but I will never feel confident on her back. I want to start with good temperament and work from there. ;)

[Peace]

Hi, Vyvyen:

What you're saying is you wouldn't be riding him right away, right? You're planning to do 6 months of ground work, and then send him to a trainer, so it sounds like you're looking more for potential than for immediate results. How's your support system - do you have people around you can ask for advice when you have questions?

I'm a novice adult rider, and I recently bought a three and a half year old American Paint Horse. He's had a good bit of experience for his age, though (he's been a trail/lesson horse since he was 2), and he's amazingly calm (he was still a stallion while he was a lesson horse - he was so quiet apparently no one noticed for awhile that he still had testicles!).

Like you, I was really worried about his age as a factor in whether he'd be suitable for me. I went ahead with it because I have such a great support system at my barn - my instructor is a wonderful confidence builder and she's always available for advice and help. She also rides him for me while I'm away at school, or to help me straighten out problems.

My advice is to evaluate more on temperament, and not to be overly worried about age. So far, I've found Quanah easier to deal with in many ways than some older horses. When he objects to something it's usually due to inexperience more than resistance, and it's just a matter of showing him he's capable of doing what you ask. And his puppyish ways make me laugh, which is good for my confidence - it's hard to be scared when you're giggling!

Let us know what you decide!

[vyvyen]

Hi Peace,

I have a great network of help (luckily)! I am a member of a Parelli Horseplayers group and meet with them monthly. I have also been having lessons from a level 3 Parelli student and I also go to Parelli clinics, so I'm very lucky in that I have a great support network.

Its really given me confidence reading your reply, you've coped with a young recently gelded colt ! WOW !!! He must have amazing temperament and you must have a lovely partnership together and good support too.

I've decided to get this little 2 1/2 yo gelding (Arnie) his name was Clyde but my husband has renamed him Arnie after Arnold Schwartzenegger (not sure of spelling) because he is such a little weed at the moment. I figure if the loony 15yo mare I have is still hard going after all this time and effort, surely it must be easier if you start with good temperament and build on that. What do you think? I hope I'm right!

I will let him be a horse for the next 6 months - 1 year with lots of freedom with my others on our property and do only ground work with him, I'll also take him out once a month to our Parelli group where I get lots of support. When he is mature enough physically and emotionally I will get him started with another level 3 friend and horse trainer, she's small enough to ride him to. So all this should keep me busy for the next 1 1/2 years!

I'm also a novice adult rider (can't really call myself much of a rider!) I'm 44 and have not ridden consistently for the last 28 years, I've got no balance etc and have to learn a new way of riding as well (Parelli) very different to english riding.

You sound like you are doing amazingly well, good luck with your partnership with your prey animal and thanks for your support and info.

Vyvyen

[Peace]

Congratulations on your new addition to the family!:)

It sounds like you have a wonderful support network. Once exams are over, I've promised myself to learn more about NH groundwork, particularly the Parelli ground games. Poor Quanah -nothing worse than a novice owner with a new book!:D

I can't take much credit for Quanah - we haven't known each other that long, and he was a wonderful fellow by the time I first met him. :) He'd actually been gelded for about a year before I got him. I'm amazed at all the little fellow went through at such a young age, and still managed to keep his temperament and sense of humor intact! Not that anyone was unkind to him (his former owner loved him very much), but two years old seems awfully young to have a full-time job!

Good luck with Arnie - I know you'll enjoy working with him. Keep us posted on his progress!

[liz--y]

ask around your area, and try and get one be word of mouth also look in magazines, pappers and tack shops. take you time to find what you want