Advice on buying a pony?

July 28, 2005 | self / vanity

[The Other Harry]

I am very close to buying a pony – imminent, as in possibly within the next few days – and this message is very much off topic.

The price of the pony is about $750, and she appears to be very nice. Stabling would be around $75. She is not a shetland, but more like a small horse. (Not sure of terms here.) Her temperament seems very good. Gentle, which is what I want.

If any of you can give me any advice on what to look for or look out for, I’ll take it. I have no experience with anything equine.

It might be best to do this by FReepmail, as I don’t think many others would be interested.

[unbalanced but fair]

Harry, you are either the biggest BSer on FR or an idiot. You don't get along with your neighbors, you're an admitted alcoholic, and you give gifts to little girls in the neighborhood.
Why not get a pony? Go for it. Buy a pony and a case of beer and some Rubiks cubes and sit back and relax. Of course you'll need a shovel for the real sh#t, but I'm sure you can handle that.

[Ditter]

Horses and this includes ponies, can have very bad dispositions. If you haven't ridden much or ever owned a horse, I would advise you to spend some time ( alot of time actually) around a stable riding and handling horses. If a horse senses that you don't know what you are doing or that you are afraid, they can and will take advantage of you.

Years ago I bought a small horse for my sons. The previous owner was a boy who had gotten too big for the horse. The boy was about 14 and could make the horse do anything. I had a horse when I was young and rode very well, but when I put my scared young son on the horse it wouldn't do anything. Eventually after a few months the horse was impossible even for me to handle. We had to get rid of it.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Harry, you have no business getting a pony.

nuff said.

Becky

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I have had several horses and a couple of half Shetlands over the years. If you know nothing about horses PLEASE do not buy one. Read some books, talk to people, find the cost of tack, annual vet and feed bills. Who will shoe this horse? Where will you get grain and hay? Will you know when it is sick and do you know how to keep if from becoming ill?

Think in terms of a very large dog that can't come in the house and will live for 20 years.

[martin_fierro]

I have a silky, sillllkyyy pony.

It grooms itself.

[soozla]

"If you have no experience with anything equine, please do not buy a pony. Start by signing up for some riding lessons at a stable, volunteer to help clean the stable, something that will not put you in a long term situation. Find out if you like "equines" (round here, we call em horses) before committing to the care and feeding of the pony."

I can't tell you how happy I am to see this posted here. If each of us who have had the pleasure to be owned by a horse or a pony could give really really good advice to someone who has never been a horse/pony owner, this would be it. There are many equine shelter operators who would advise the same........horses and ponies are tremendous responsibilities, not to be taken lightly and it certainly is NOT for everyone. Please don't make an "experiment" out of this creature. The pony may "only" cost $750, the boarding so much, etc, but are you prepared to care for it well, in sickness and in health????? Can you give it the exercise it needs?? You cannot put a horse/pony away in a stall for 23 hours a day and take it out when you have company from out of town. Horses/ponies are major high maintenance investments.......don't commit to one until you are well aware of what it takes!!

[PAR35]

Get the animal checked out by a large animal vet. You might want to have a blacksmith look at the feet as well, although the vet will probably cover that.

You might also want to check with your insurance agent to see if you need additional coverage.

[Duchess47]

This is a bad, bad idea. they are sorta like rabbits or potato chips. You can never have just one.

The voice of experience here - I have 18 of them. So - if you don't change your mind, let me know how many more you want.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

That makes sense, about adult vs. child training. It did seem to be a power play between the humans and the pony - the pony looked for new ways to win the day.

[Lemondropkid31]

I love your horses, they are so pretty. I will buy them both LOL.

[HairOfTheDog]

My husband says no selling... not even our pony :~D

[beyond the sea]

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/multimedia/v/edwardshair.htm

John Edwards attends to his hair.

[beyond the sea]

I didn't see your link at first. That video is unreal!

His "comb hand" is bad enough, but the other hand is so "gay" (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Lady GOP]

Hi Harry,

She sounds like a nice pony. One thing you need to be careful with the mare (female) is that she will come into season. You can have some real problems with her. Sometimes women are discouraged from riding mares and stallions in the show ring for that reason. We usually buy geldings. Our mare was calm and quiet as can be until she came into season. Then she would pace, run off and clear 4 foot fences.

[Lady GOP]

That is a good price for board. Find out what is included ie., they clean the stall, feed, turn out etc. Is there a place to ride and someone to give lessons..? Get some books on horses and read up. Horses for Dummies is a good place to start.

[WhiteGuy]

Spend some time with the pony.

Watch the pony eat.

Observe the pony making a "number two"

That will be the new life cycle of your money!!!!

HA

[Beaker]

I want to give the local kids rides. And I need something to do. I like animals.

It's a nice idea, but please reconsider. You would be doing this pony a great diservice by buying him and not knowing a thing about horse and pony care. Horses and ponies are not like cats and dogs. They need around the clock meticulous maintence with feed, feet, teeth and vet care. They can colic at the drop of a hat, and injure themselves on things that you didn't even know they could injure themselves on. They need a constant feed schedule, with proper hay and grain. You won't be able to put him out in a grass paddock and expect him to fend for himself.

If you're really interested in getting a pony, please talk to a local stable and get some experience first. It's the only way to do it. You don't own them, they own you. Caring for a horse is an around the clock thing.

[The Other Harry]

Harry, you are either the biggest BSer on FR or an idiot. You don't get along with your neighbors, you're an admitted alcoholic, and you give gifts to little girls in the neighborhood.

I can't think of one post I've made to FR which was BS. There might have been one, but virtually all have been quite serious. Joking, yes, but also serious.

I am not an idiot. What I am is a bit crazy and rather bored these days.

The booze is a problem, but I've been working on that.

I do get along with my neighbors -- all but that one, who no one gets along with.

I see nothing wrong with buying gifts for the local kids. I even got a computer program to help me keep track of their birthdays. I do not invite them inside my house or otherwise make any inappropriate contact with them. I just like them. Kids are, in many ways, more likeable than adults. Plus, it gives me something to do. As would the pony.

Why not get a pony? Go for it. Buy a pony and a case of beer and some Rubiks cubes and sit back and relax. Of course you'll need a shovel for the real sh#t, but I'm sure you can handle that.

I don't drink beer. Scotch is my preferred poison.

I have a professional stabling arrangement for the pony. She would have plenty of room to move around. The man who owns the stable is the person who takes rescue equines from the SPCA. He also breeds ponies. He could train me to train and care for her. He's very good.

I also have a backup arrangement.

I started out knowing nothing, but I am able to ramp up on new subjects very quickly. I'm ramping, and you folks are helping me.

I can take the razz. I'm too old to mind it.

[Beaker]

If they are a little rank it is because no one puts the time into training them that they would a full sized horse, they think they're more harmless because they're small.

I think the person was certainly telling tall tales when he or she told you about the horse's age. Horses can get to be into their 40s, but that's really old, and that doesn't happen all that often.. They can easily live into their early to mid 30s, though. To be fair, however, I once knew a pony, his name was Dynamite, who lived to be 45.