Advice please - Mother and daughter pony share!

[foxglove]

Hello all - Could I ask for some advice? I am looking into the possibility of buying a pony for my daughter and I to share. We are both novices, (although I used to own a New Forest gelding when I was younger!), so I am not seriously looking until next summer, when we both have a bit more experience and confidance.

My daughter will be 7 (and very tall!) and I am about 5'7" and 12.5 st.

Do you have any suggestions as to what breed would be suitable, please? Also could you give me some idea how much it would cost to keep a hardy pony (Out at grass 24/7) on a monthly basis?
Thanks so much!
Sarah

[Hels]

A little cob of some kind I would have thought. Sorry I am not an expert!

[LindaAd]

I think I'd go for a Forester - they're likely to have a calm temperament too. Or just a cross-breed.

I never could share with my daugher; once she was big enough to ride my 14.1 pony, she thought he was too ploddy and wanted a competiton horse.... But lots of people do manage it, quite happily...

[Janette]

I share with my daughter AND my son. (I have 2 legs, and they have a leg each, because I'm the chauffer!!!!)
I tend to do the schooling/dressage/showing.
Heather like to ride XC, and hack out with her mates, and Stephen is into showjumping and showing (mainly because tall 15 year old boys who ride are scarce, and he gets propositions from the girls to ' come and see my horse':D I think the tight jods on the girls help[ his enthusiasm along as well.

Star takes it all in her stride, and lets none of us get away with anything!

When it works, sharing with your kids is a great way to bring you closer to them, except when you see them do something that you know they shouldn't and your blood boils :mad:

http://groups.msn.com/NRphotos/starandhoney.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=2467

[Caitlin]

Totally unrelated to original thread but Janette... can Stephen come and see MY horse? :D :D I've yet to meet a horsey boy, and surely it's only a few plane trips away :D :D

I would think a nice little native pony? :) But then again my mum and I 'shared' (well, rode the same) a pony who was a fine little welsh mountain, so I would say look into all possibilities! To find a horse to suit one person is great, to find a horse to suit both is even more exceptional! :D

[Janette]

Its off thread I know - sorry.

Caitlin - I checked with him, and he'd LOVE to go and see your horse - BUT! he has to be home by bed time;) ;) ;)

See - this is what sharing with your kids does to you - sends you a bit mad.

[Noblesteed]

Hi Sarah
My daughter and I started to ride about 3 years ago. She's now 13 and I'm too old to mention. We were both hooked and for a while Sarah (daughter) loaned a pony at a riding school. I had a big ploddy cob for a while. But now we have Noble who we share. He is a 14.3 welsh cob cross. He carries us both. I'm also too heavy to mention! Sarah does her thing; jumping, cross country, local shows, and I do mine; hacking and schooling. He looks after us both and is forward enough for Sarah and steady enough for me. It's a great arrangement for us both and for Noble. The only problem is that we sometimes argue about who's turn it is to ride!
Good luck in your search. It is entirely do-able with the right pony.
Regards Cathy

[Yann]

I think this thread was also posted to the adults on ponies forum?

I'm a 38 year old dad who shares with his 9 year old daughter, it works brilliantly for us too:) Rio is a 15.1 welsh type cob with the sweetest of temperaments but plenty of go. We have a pretty set routine to avoid arguments! Mum sometimes rides too.

[Echo64]

I think I'm the only one who's ever had a problem with sharing :rolleyes: Well, I'd just like you to know that while there are MANY harmonious shares (look at all this wonderful evidence!) not all shares are good.

Before I got my Arab, my mother and I shared Cassie, the pony she drives, and she used to be mine. That was an absolute mess. Usually, I'd have the joy of warming the pony up, which was no easy task. She's quite hot but a very hard worker. I'd usually be done warming up when my legs felt like jelly and I was gasping for breath. My mother would get on an trot merrily away on the pony and that'd be that. I was also training Cass to do some shoulder ins and what not, and then my mother would get on and start training her all NEW things.

We didn't both ride her all the time, sometimes I'd ride, sometimes my mom would ride.

I think the situation is a lot different when you have to share, versus when you want to share. Now that I've got Adamas, we trade sometimes just to remember what the other one is like. I've got the lazy easy ride, and forgot what the pony was like.

Sometimes you've got to work out a schedule if it becomes an issue, but I don't think it will. :) Maybe I'm just selfish with my time, I don't know (...yes I do).

*note: sorry I keep saying "the pony" but that's what we call her ALL the time. It probably sounds funny.

[jenna_horse]

The Mountain and Moorlands are definately the type for you. I wouldn't however, recommend the Welsh Cob as they can get highly strung (you get the odd one that is quite sedate-I have one myself) and can be strong willed. The section Cs or the New Forest can make wonderful family ponies. I have a 15hh New Forest (exceeded height) that is a complete all rounder in every sense. She is ridden by a 7 year old cousin of mine, right the way through to a 58 year old. She competes in a spheres from gymkahana to dressage to cross country. The best way is to get in contact with your local native pony association, or anybody that has a keen interest in the natives. Fell and Dales are also very sweet natured ponies and can carry an adult easily. They aren't usually much higer than 13.2hh, so would also be ideal. I hope your search goes well. Good luck. Jenna xx