Buying your first pony or horse

Owning your first horse or pony can be a very exciting prospect. It is ultimately what every rider aspires to! In reality finding and maintaining your perfect horse or pony may not be as easy as you first think.

Set your budget, consider the kind of things you'll want to do with your horse or pony - and be realistic about your own abilities.  Finding yourself with an animal you can't handle can be disheartening or even downright frightening.  You should also look into where you plan to keep him.

Ponies are advertised in many places both for sale and loan. It is always advisable to enquire at local riding establishments, livery yards and pony clubs. Adverts can also be seen in saddler’s shops, equine magazines and local newspapers.   Ponies can be bought at sales, but be cautious about this as you won't get the chance to see the pony in its normal environment and the pre-purchase examination is often limited.

What should I ask the owners of a horse I am considering buying?

• When you look at a pony take an experienced person with you as a ‘second opinion’. Your child’s instructor would be a good choice. Ask lots of questions and take the opportunity to learn as much as you can. 
• Ask about the pony’s age, height, temperament - and how much it will cost.  Young ponies will often be less expensive, but they're not a good choice for a novice rider as they can quickly develop bad habits in inexperienced hands.  Ponies around ten years old - or older - generally make much better first ponies. 
• What is its experience and is the pony in full work now?
• Its health and soundness?
• Has the pony had any injuries/ illness?
• Has the pony ever suffered from laminitis or sweet itch?
• Does it have any vices? (This includes bad habits like wind sucking, crib biting and weaving)
• Is it afraid of trailers, cars, tractors, cattle and other things like clipping, farriers and vets?
• What is the pony like hacking and in traffic alone or in company?
• Does the pony have a passport?
• Is the pony vaccinated and when were its teeth last checked and what is its worming history?
• What it the reason for sale?

Watch the owner handle the pony.  Watch it being groomed, having its hooves cleaned, led out etc  - and if you are comfortable with this try doing it yourself.  Once you are happy that you’ve seen the pony on the ground ask to see it ridden.  Take every opportunity to assess the pony in all sorts of different situations, such as being hacked down the road, lunged, loaded, jumped and so on.

When - and only when - you and your advisor are confident that it the pony is safe and you're sure it can do everything you would want it to do, you may want your ‘second opinion’ or another experienced younger rider to ride the pony.

 

What should I do if I find a suitable pony?

• Take your time and look at as many ponies as you can so that you are satisfied that you have chosen the right one.
• Go back for a second look.
• Only take your child along after you’ve narrowed down the choices!
• Let your child try everything from cleaning out the hooves to riding as they would in their home environment. Again it is a good idea to take an instructor or someone who is familiar with your child’s skill level.
• Ask the seller if they would agree to a trial period. This iwill give you time to see if the pony is truly suitable without having to make any commitment.
• Arrange for a pre-purchase examination.

 

 

What can a Pre-purchase examination tell me?

The pre-purchase examination is performed by a vet who will examine the pony thoroughly and tell you of any potential problems. This may seem costly, but can actually save money in the long-run as it reduces the risk of buying a horse with health problems or one which is likely to become unsound in the future.

A 5-stage vetting is recommended.

1. The veterinary examination is initially performed at rest in the stable to check for conformation faults or swellings, scars, skin lumps, foot balance etc.
2. The pony is then trotted up to check for soundness.
3. Ridden work is performed next to exert the pony and ensure heart, lungs and joints etc are all up to the intended future workload. 
4. Another period of rest in the stable allows identification of the pony, assessment of eyes, teeth and a blood sample may be taken at this stage for detection of prohibited substances.
5. Finally the pony is trotted up to ensure soundness after a period of work.

The vet will thoroughly discuss findings so you can decide whether the pony is suitable for the work you intend it for.

A pre-purchase examination is not a guarantee of future health or soundness. There are things which cannot be found in a pre-purchase examination unless further investigations are done such as x-rays, endoscopy of the respiratory tract, ultrasonography and examinations for breeding suitability.

If you choose to insure your pony a veterinary certificate may be required of this examination.

The first few weeks

Ideally before you collect your pony you should register with a farrier, a vet and contact insurance companies.

Find out the pony's daily routine and its normal feeding program and if you want to make any adjustments, do it gradually  to reduce the chances of colic occurring. Check the pony’s recent worming history and ideally get your vet to perform a faecal worm egg count on a fresh sample to ensure that the pony does not have a high worm burden and that it is not going to infect the pasture.

Finally have fun! It takes time to build a partnership with a pony, but good things are worth waiting for and a good pony can bring a tremendous amount of pleasure!