If you have a little girl or boy who is constantly begging for their own pony, you might be considering whether or not it would be a good idea to get one. Indeed, owning a pony is a great way to teach a child compassion, patience and responsibility – however, it’s also a massive commitment that will need to be made on your part, both when it comes to time and finances. To determine whether you and your child are both ready to own a pony and can deal with the involved commitment, you should ask yourselves the following questions.
Do We Know Enough About Horses?
Far too many parents make the mistake of buying their child a pony, even though neither parent nor child has any experience with horses. Looking after a horse is not as easy as it may look, and if you don’t know what you’re doing it’s easy for things to quickly go wrong. Before deciding whether or not you are buying a pony, you should ensure that both you and your child attend classes for both horseback riding and also horse care in order to make sure that you learn as much as possible.
Are You Ready Financially?
Looking after a pony can be a massive drain on your finances, and if you don’t have enough money to provide your child’s pony with everything that they need, you might need to sell it and break your child’s heart. Rather than do this, it’s a good idea to add up all of the financial costs beforehand, as well as leave room for extra costs which could unexpectedly arise, such as vet bills or broken horse tack. You’ll need to pay rent for a stable each week, buy hay, straw or shavings, horse feed, and basic equipment such as rugs, hay nets, buckets, and other items which can be found at a horse tack store. Don’t forget that if your little one will be riding, they’ll also need safety equipment such as a hard hat and boots.
Can You Commit Your Time?
Many horse and pony owners spend a large chunk of their time looking after their animal. Your child’s pony will need to be fed twice per day – once in the morning and again in the evening, as well as being left a hay net to munch on over the course of the day unless they’re turned out in a field. You’ll also need to muck out the stable every day, and this isn’t the nicest of tasks. Along with that, you’ll also need to make sure that the pony itself is keep in good condition, which includes grooming and checking every day to make sure they’re ok. Depending on the pony you get, they may also need to be exercised every few days. Are you and your child ready for the kind of commitment that this involves?
If you and your child think that you are ready to buy a pony, remember to take somebody experienced with you when looking at potential new four-legged friends.