THE CHRISTMAS PONY

FEATURE

LORRAINE DOWDESWELL, the Horsemanship Coach and writer, looks at the reality of buying a pony for your child for Christmas…

Are you thinking of buying a pony for a special child this Christmas?

Maybe you’re imagining those wild screams of delight, that wonderful look on a child’s face when their dreams come true there in front of them is the pony of their dreams.

It all sounds so wonderful, and I am sure that there are many parents out there right now contemplating whether or not to start the process of finding that Christmas perfect pony. But have you honestly thought this decision through? After all, there are no refunds on Boxing Day if this doesn’t work out! On the plus side, owning a pony can teach children respect, responsibility, assertiveness and leadership skills, something that will stand them in good stead as they are growing up.

For those of you who may be contemplating purchasing a pony for the first time, here are a few points to consider - taking the time to do some research could help you make a more educated

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decision and one that will not be looked upon with regret down the track.

1. Do you have a budget?

Take some time to research what a well-educated pony will cost – they’re NOT cheap – and buying a cheap pony will come with unforeseen difficulties. Look online or in some of the glossy magazines to give you an idea of what the current price will be. If you were looking for a particular breed, then you may be surprised that some ponies may cost a lot more than others.

2. Where will you keep your pony?

Do you have space at home or will you need to agist your pony on someone else’s property? Doing some research now before you bring your pony home will alleviate any stress in looking for somewhere at the last minute. Keep the agistment as close to home as possible, as you will be making daily trips if you are not in a position to pay for full care of your pony. 3. Do you know how much the pony will cost to keep?

On average you will spend about $100.00 per week on agistment, feed and care, and that will also depend on whether you have space at home to keep your pony or if you will need to agist on someone else’s’ property. It will also depend on what you choose to feed your pony and how often. This amount does not include any veterinary bills that may arise from time to time.

4. Feet and teeth are important

Your pony will need consistent care from professionals such as a farrier and a dentist. Unlike most pets, a pony’s feet and teeth keep growing and do require a management program to keep them in good condition. Feet will need to be trimmed between four and six weeks and teeth will need to be checked annually. Plus there is regular worming, annual tetanus shots, and depending on where you live and what your child wants to do with their pony, Hendra vaccinations as well.

5. Match the pony to the child

Regardless of what anyone says, matching the pony to the child is one of the most important aspects you will come across from a safety point of view. Don’t fall for the thought that a young pony and a young child are a good match; you want your first pony to be well educated and mature, anything over the age of eight would be more suitable for a beginner. Don’t fall for the concept of buying a pony because it needs to be rescued. There have been instances where professional horse trainers have not been able to rehabilitate these types of ponies and horses. They are not suitable for beginners and please stay away from ex-racehorses, your child is way too precious to be faced

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with a horse that needs to be retrained after learning how to run in a straight line at high speed!

My rule of thumb is if the child can lift the saddle onto the pony’s back with ease, can brush the pony’s back and even see over the pony’s back then you are on the right track. Overmounting a child on a pony or horse that is too big may result in the child losing confidence, falling, being out of control and not wanting to continue riding through fear of being hurt. 6. Don’t look for a certain colour or a pretty face

There are many pretty ponies and so many breeds out there,

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and it’s hard to resist a pretty face; however, we do need to be mindful of what is important.

An older educated pony, even one who is not so pretty, is a much better acquisition than a pony who may not be suitable but is your child’s favourite colour or looks sweet.

7. Get some professional help

Buying a pony can be daunting if you are are looking to own your very first pony. I would highly recommend some professional advice to help you on your way, research equestrian professionals in your area and have a chat with them about your needs, they may know of a pony that may be suitable. Take the time that it takes to find your perfect pony so that there will be no disappointment to your child if you need to sell the pony because it is not a good match.

8. Get veterinary advice

Something that I highly recommend is to get a Veterinary Inspection before handing over the money to purchase your pony. I have known of many instances where injuries and health issues have not been detected before the purchase and have left new owners with devastating effects. Look at the cost as an investment rather than an expense. Always better to be safe than sorry and end up with a pony that cannot be enjoyed. It’s a small amount of money in comparison to the cost of the pony!

As a child, my parents finally succumbed to my constant requests to own a pony, and I have many fond memories of weekends and school holidays filled with hours of riding and taking care of my horse. For us, a lot of what we learnt about owning a pony was trial and error, many mistakes were made, and injuries occurred in the pursuit of understanding what was needed and what was the right thing to do.

I encourage you all to take the time, do the research, speak to professionals and gain some knowledge before taking ownership of one of nature’s finest gifts - the horse.

You can find more information in Lorraine’s first ebook ‘Ten Handy Hints For First Time Horse Owners’ now available on Amazon/ Kindle www.amazon.com.au/dp/ B07KTXP4GV or follow her on Facebook at My Perfect Pony. www.facebook. com/myperfectpony.com. au/?ref=settings

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