Please Help!!need More Info!!

[WelshPonyLover]

Hi!! I Have Started Researching About Ponies. I Am A Teen And I Needed A Pony That Could Hold My Weight.....I AM NEW To Ponies And Need Some Help With Care, Grooming, Bathing, Etc. Please Help!! I Found The Welsh Pony Sec C. I Found That They Are Great For Riding And Perfect For The Growing Child. Is This True? By the way, we would be using the ponies only for occasional riding and companionship? Our area is three acres full of flourishing green grass.

Here Are Some Questions.....please Help!!(hint:not Good With Horse Terms Except For Saddle And Halter, Lead Rope, Etc. Please Be Specific.)

1. What Is A Bit? Do You Have To Have One?
2. Does Your Ponies Have To Have Horseshoes? (a Lot Of Money.... ) :(
3. What Is The Most Basic Saddle You Can Have For Riding?
4. Do I Have To Take Lessons?
5. Is It O.k To Have Three Ponies Together?
6. Are Welsh Ponies Sec C Good For Children?
7. What Do You Feed Them?
8. How Do You Groom/bathe Them?
9. What Do Their Health(shots,etc) Contain Of?
10. What Are Their Basic Needs?
11. How do you get the pony to move when riding?Sorry, very new.Do you put pressure on her sides and gently push forward with your hips?
12. What's the difference between a bridle and a halter?
13. If your pony has horseshoes what is the cost?

OH...DONT WORRY...I DO NOT WANT TO BUY A PONY JUST YET!!I HAVE A LOT OF RESEARCHING TO DO.


Please Give As Much Info As Possible!! Thank U Sooo Much!! :)

[Bacharel]

I would not suggest buying a pony if you barely know anyhting about horses. I would suggest finding a local stable you can take lessons from weekly. :) There is soooo much you need to know about horses before you can just jump in and buy one.

[entreat]

I agree with Bacharel, get some lessons first. That way you don't have to go through all the frustration of learning with noone to ask questions of. Horse/pony ownership is a very time & money consuming thing. If the idea of shoeing is making you nervous (money-wise) then owning a pony probably isn't for you yet.

I would buy a book to start you off - a basic guide to horse/pony ownership - you can pick them up fairly cheaply off ebay (or even new in the bookstore they aren't that much). It will outline the basic care required for your pony, including types of tack, and feed, etc. Some books have both a care-guide and a riding-guide, which will give you an idea of what's in store for when you start riding.

Best of luck :)