Choosing A Suitable Pony

Carol hadn’t ridden a pony since she used to be a child, more than 40 years back. Now in her 50s, she planned to buy herself a pony. She heeded the

recommendations

of her instructor and acquired an off-the-track thoroughbred of roughly 8 years of age. The horse was skittish, and unseated her rather suddenly 6 times in around 6 weeks. She sold her horse to a pro rider in her 20s, and the horse took to show jumping like it had realized a lifelong ambition. Fortunately , Carol’s falls did not end up in any significant damage. On the other hand, she got some precious insight on disposition and compatibility. Her 2nd horse was a paint quarter horse of mild temperament who easily went from trail to clinic. This horse was definitely not in the top bracket vis pro dressage, but was solid, stolid and dependable.

Whether the intended rider is old or young, male or female, experienced or a complete novice, the most vital characteristic to look out for when purchasing horses is disposition.

“I advise the elderly, the young and the completely incompetent to go in for a robust pony of mild and tolerant disposition,” claims Margie, an instructor who had helped in choosing the right horse for lots of scholars. “I tell them to look for horses of approximately 10 years of age.”

She promotes horses that “have been there, done that and had enough”.

She also adds a rider: the planned purpose in purchasing a horse can make a contribution to the kind of horse the buyer should have a look for.

“Most adults desire not only a horse for riding, but as a long-term pet, too. They seek the thrill of riding a horse who will also give them companionship,” she says. For such folk, the horse’s resale value is of no significance because they want a pony for keeps, not for reselling a little time later .

On the other hand, continues Margie, younger riders look for horses they can resell once they have extracted the maximum from their horses re competition or maybe vis ordinary riding pleasure.

“It has been my experience that young riders have no hesitation about dumping a horse, even a horse that has been with them a long time, if they find a better prospect,” Margie commented.

She added that she had trained tons of riders of every age and almost invariably, it was only her older scholars who look for a horse to grow even older with.

Another instructor, Christen, has the same views. Younger riders choose their first horses by judging the horse only on its competitive potential. “Almost all the beginner adults I know have decided on horses that have all round abilities and serene temperament. They need horses that will jump low courses without fuss, go on trail, are hunter paced and capable of student level dressage and can be conveyed by trailer to clinic or elsewhere without raising an unrighteous ruckus. They don’t want nice looking horses, they want comfort and equanimity.”

Whenever Christen is asked to keep an eye out for an acceptable horse by an older customer, she narrows her search to horses that have already been with older owners. For folk with lower level dressage ambitions who are looking for a show pony, she tries to get horses that’ve been re-evaluated downward in training, or are being disposed off by young riders who are upwardly mobile and are trying to find a better horse. She is saying that is the reason why resale value is a matter of concern often for the more youthful riders.

“Whenever someone approaches you for help in choosing a horse, the first thing you take into account is the reason why the customer would like a horse,” Christen says. “You will find just the right pony when you look for them with your client’s interests and wishes in mind.”

At 50 and years of age, Pat is the fond owner of a sensible 17-year-old Warmblood cross. After she acquired this horse, she faced great pressure from the owner of her old boarding facility. This person, a pony trader himself, kept attempting to get her to swap her horse for a younger one. He nearly convinced Pat, who had established great accord with her horse. Pat came to her senses in time.

“If I was in my teens and yearning for an Olympic gold,” Pat asserts, “I might think about getting some other horse. My horse does everything I ask her, and I have nothing more to ask. There is absolutely no reason for me to give her up.”

Sandi, a rather more experienced rider of 70 years of age, remembered her experiences with her first horse Hank. He died suddenly after he’d been with her for 10 years. Her present pony is Toots a retired show jumper of over 20 years old.

A bowed tendon has put Toots out of action, and his recuperation will last a year. For a few days, Sandi toyed with the concept of permanently retiring Toots and getting a new pony. She shortly came to the opinion that no pony could replace Toots to her complete satisfaction, and she is going to wait to ride him again, however long it needs to take.

“We are enjoying our retirement in each other’s company,” she explains.

Horses are Heather Toms’ passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100’s of articles with other horse lovers… like all things about horse rugs.