Are You Thinking Of Buying A Pony?

Photo by Karina B. on Unsplash

For many children, owning a pony would be their definition of a dream come true. 

However, adults have some realities to consider before becoming the owner of one of the biggest pets available.

Who Is Going To Look After Your New Addition? 

If you don’t already own a horse or pony or never have, you will be surprised at the time needed for their care. 

If you can’t provide that time, someone else will be needed.

Horses kept in fields or stables must be checked at least twice a day. 

Then, there are daily jobs to be done that can vary depending on the time of year. 

These tasks include mucking out the stable, supplying fresh water and feed, grooming, exercising or riding, and checking and changing rugs. 

You must also arrange veterinary, farrier and dental technician visits as required.

This big new addition to your family can’t look after themselves. 

So think about this and have a care plan (including when you are on holiday) before you buy. 

Choosing A Pony

There’s no shortage of ponies for sale, but buying a pony is not like buying a car.

Ponies vary in temperament. 

Therefore, you should buy an animal with the suitability of the rider in mind. 

How big, how old, what sort of life (experience) and temperament does the pony have? 

Do these qualities make this a suitable pony for your child?

What level of experience and confidence does your child possess?  

Buying a pony beyond your child’s ability to ride safely and confidently may mean that you end up with a pony that your child doesn’t want to ride or that you don’t trust with your child’s safety.

Safety and suitability are essential elements when buying a child’s pony. 

The Animal Welfare Act (2006) and Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 state that a child under 16 cannot be held responsible for an animal. 

Therefore, the parent/guardian will be legally responsible for the welfare of the horse or pony and must be competent and knowledgeable regarding care and management.

Read “So You Want To Buy A Pony” by Carolyn Henderson for great advice on choosing a pony to buy. 

It’s the Pony Club’s guide to choosing and buying a horse or pony (14.99 on Amazon). 

Equine Passports 

All horses, ponies, donkeys (and, surprisingly, zebras) must have a passport. 

The passport is a document that:

It’s a legal requirement that the correct passport is transferred with a horse or pony at the time of a sale, so accept no excuse for a passport not being provided.

You must keep a valid horse passport with your animal at all times. 

This includes at the stable or when you move the animal.

You need to provide your horse’s passport:

Check if your horse is microchipped by looking at its passport.

If your horse does not have a microchip, you must:

In England, you can be fined if your horse is not microchipped. There are different rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Financial Considerations

Buying and keeping a horse means an ongoing financial commitment. 

The initial price for a pony, from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, is just the starting point.

Before you buy, you should have a vet inspect the animal to check its health condition and ensure no serious weaknesses are within the animal’s body.

If the current owner won’t deliver the pony, transportation will be down to you. 

And, if you don’t have a friend with a horse box, you’ll have to hire one.

You will need to have your pony insured. After buying a home and a car, a pony or horse may be your most expensive investment.

Insurance should cover illnesses and veterinary bills that might arise from treatment. 

It should also cover you for public liability risks. This is protection against any claims that could arise if a pony escapes and causes an accident or kicks out at someone and injures them. 

In either case, a claim may arise against you.

Regular Pony Care Items That Cost Money 

Where Will Your Pony Live?

One of the things that you will also need to decide before you buy a pony is where it will live.

Your choice will have a bearing on the ongoing financial cost of ownership and the time you will need to look after your pony daily.

If you own or rent land and plan for your pony to live there, this will save you money, but your time commitment will be greater as you or someone else in your family will have to visit the pony at least twice a day to check on them and to feed them, provide water, groom etc.

The alternative is to use the paid services of a livery yard. 

There are generally three service levels, and prices rise as you progress upwards.

When thinking about choosing a suitable livery yard, assess the distance from your home, the facilities of the yard, the experience of the owner and the staff working there, the length of time it has been operating, turnover of clients (ask) and of course the rates that are charged for livery and for any additional services that may be required.

The Pony That Wouldn’t Jump

We finish with a story highlighting the suitability issue mentioned earlier.

A few years ago, a story appeared in the Irish Times about a pony purchased for €67,000 (£49,500).

It was intended for use by a teenage girl in showjumping competitions. 

However, this particular pony refused to jump. 

That’s a massive drawback if you plan to enter showjumping competitions. 

You can read more about what happened via this link. 

NB: Links to websites and information accurate at the time of writing may be subject to change.