Does size matter?

The answer to this is both yes and no. On the plus side for the smaller mount, is that a pony's proportions and shorter stride well suit a smaller rider. A child can be like a "passenger" on a larger mount, with her legs unable to wrap around the barrel. She may find it difficult to apply any meaningful leg aids on a larger animal and will be further from the ground when mounted. Just climbing aboard could be difficult on a larger horse. Small equines are less intimidating and can be more easily groomed, tacked up and mounted by a child.

However, some experts prefer the larger horse to a pony. "I'm a big proponent of the older gelding a horse not a pony," says Nicole Kitchener of Cornwall, PEI, a riding school owner and camp director who specializes in teaching children. She finds many ponies too "feisty" for a child and with less riding mileage on them to prepare them for the "poking, prodding" and lack of skill in younger riders. Many ponies are too petite to be ridden by most adult riders and so often do not get the same level of experience and training that larger horses do. Often, small ponies have been spoiled, confused or frightened by green owners and can be rude and/or wildly unpredictable. This sad reality is the source of the reputation pones have for being willful, ornery or nasty. Reform is possible but should be undertaken by an experienced, skillful rider, not your child. Another caution: ponies that have been used in lead-line classes may be wonderfully gentle but may have no idea of how to respond to the reins and will also need training. Well-trained, reliable ponies are always in demand, so may be more difficult to find than a similarly skilled horse.

If you do end up getting a larger animal, says 'horse matcher' Wendy Hunt of Langley, BC, who developed her business of finding the right pony for the right child, Ponies R Us, "get a narrow one." But, she asserts it is better to remount a child periodically than "overmount" it with a horse that is too large or too strong. "Ultimately, the child must be comfortable."

Age, Gender and Breed

As pony fan Karen Briggs states in her book, Understanding the Pony, "If you are buying a first pony for your child, you'll want a real 'packer' - a pony with a long history of reliability and an age that at least makes him eligible to vote." Kitchener agrees, "Don't overlook the older, bigger fellows who might have a few aches and stiff joints but are otherwise wonderful mounts and friends for children." She cautions, however, that pre-purchase vet checks are essential. Minor soundness issues can bring the price down and are usually easily alleviated with anti-inflammatories or nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin, but investing in a horse with major unsoundnesses will only set your child up for disappointment.

Horses over the age of six are considered mature, but are still young enough to provide many years of enjoyment. Horses over 15 years are seniors but can live up to 20 or 25 years of age or more. Ponies are even more long-lived and quite hardy with 30+-year-old troopers still ferrying children into basic level sports. Of course, with age can come infirmities such as arthritis, changes in dentition, reduced muscle tone and reduced endurance. However, with good care many ponies will be quite active well into old age.

Gender is usually a personal preference. Stallions, of course, are too unpredictable and headstrong to make a safe children's mount, despite the romance of books like The Black Stallion. Some experts prefer geldings who tend to be somewhat more predictable in their behaviour (lacking the hormones that affect the moods of mares and stallions). Others say that some mares seem to respond very well to children, especially on the ground. Hunt refers to this phenomenon as the "baby-sitting gene." Most agree that gender is a minor concern when choosing a mount unless you are a knowledgeable breeder and will be using a quality pony mare for breeding after your child outgrows her.

Breed is also a minor factor as most of the traditional pony and small horse breeds are versatile and sturdy enough for anything. Some breeds are noted for their amenable dispositions, but don't assume that any individual of a particular breed will have the ideal temperament. Individual variations can crop up in any gene pool, plus environment and training play a key role in developing good temperament. If your child will be showing, there may be some breed or "type" preferences in her chosen discipline, but otherwise any breed, type or grade of pony or horse can make a suitable mount. Bloodlines will only be an issue if you plan on getting into breeding.

Conformation

While not the top criteria for selection, conformation can be important, mainly if your child is keen to compete with her new friend. Some sports can be quite physically demanding and good conformation will help keep your pony sound. Being built well enough to the job required of him, will also make riding more pleasant for your child. For example, if you have a young dressage hopeful, purchasing a pony that is built downhill (withers lower than croup) and has a low neck set will make training a more difficult chore than the average child will find enjoyable. Similarly, a pony with a short, choppy trot thanks to upright pasterns and a straight shoulder will likely not make a successful western pleasure mount.

That being said, however, first ponies are usually not a show mount, but rather a confidence builder and friend. Read on for the most important requirements of such a creature.

Disposition

With children's mounts, safety must be the number one consideration, say all the experts. A safe pony says Hunt "is unflappable and tolerant. They need to keep their heads in all sorts of circumstances." "Bombproof," says Kitchener, produces confident riders. Rolled eyes, pinned ears, swishing tails are all signs of agitation or lack of patience and should be a red flag in a child's mount. While no horse is perfect, says Hunt, they should not be prone to dangerous behaviours such as bolting, rearing or bucking. The best indicator of this is a history of good behaviour with children, but if that background is not there, a little testing may be required. Do they stay relaxed when approached by children? Do they show little flight response when startled? For example, says Hunt, "when the cat jumps down onto the pony from the rafters, does he just say, "oh, that's just the cat," or does he panic and try to run?"

A "sense of kids," says Hunt is extremely valuable. Is the pony kind to children? Does he appear to enjoy them? "My guys will just stand there, head down, sometimes falling asleep," says Kitchener, "while the kids groom, tack up and play with them." They don?t seem to notice or care about the nervous energy that some kids put out.

However, says Hunt philosophically, "they all have something you have to live with. Sometimes the right pony comes along and a minor issue like girthiness is the price you have to pay for a pony that clicks with your child."

Tips for the Purchase Process

1. Buy the pony (or horse if a smaller mount is not available) to suit the child's current needs. Getting a mount "she can grow into" is not the best way to start this important relationship. You wouldn't buy your child an adult bicycle for your little one's first cycling experience.
2. Take your trainer but leave the child at home. Kids have a tendency to fall in love with a flowing mane or pretty colour. Without the influence of your child, you will be better able to make a rational judgment of the pony's suitability. The advice of a trainer knowledgeable in your child's discipline is strongly recommended to choose a show mount.
3. "Don't go in search of the perfect colour or the prettiest pony," says Hunt who re-homes a variety of ponies from rescues to show mounts. More important is how the pony will behave with children. Love is, fortunately, blind.
4. Try the pony out yourself, or if you are too heavy or not a rider, arrange to have someone else ride the pony. "One horse I looked at," says Kitchener, "was great on the ground - quiet, loved to be patted and groomed. Once I got on her back, she was lovely at the walk/trot started ok, but she became a bit tense, then exploded bucking and rearing. Obviously not a good horse for children."
5. In addition to the pony's riding manners, make sure you see the pony being caught, led, tacked up and mounted recommends Kitchener. Watch the pony's reactions for anything that would be difficult for your child to handle. If you have a concern, note it down in writing then make a list with pros and cons for each pony you've seen.
6. Watch the pony's body language. If the ears are pinned back and the tail starts to swish at the sound of childish voices, this is not a pony that will appreciate your little one. Children are quick and erratic in their movements, talk loudly and in high-pitched voices. This can annoy or worry many horses. If there are no kids around, flap your arms a bit and talk loudly and quickly and watch his reaction. He may startle briefly and mildly, but should calm again quickly to stand quietly with a low head and neck.
7. Arrange for a trial period of a week to 10 days minimum. Avoid giving your child any background information on the pony so you do not influence her. She should be the one to handle, groom and ride the pony every day to help develop the chemistry between the two. If a lease arrangement is possible, this can be a useful way to try out horse ownership without the long-term commitment.
8. Get all arrangements and conditions in writing.

Small Mounts for Small Riders

Pony breeds

British Riding Pony
Standard height: 12.2 - 15.2 hh
Downsized from Arabians and Thoroughbreds, this is an elegant and athletic pony breed

Connemara
Standard height: 13 - 14.2 hh
A hardy pony with an elegant head, it is popular as a jumper but somewhat rare

Dales Pony
Standard height: up to 14.2 hh
A very rare breed known for its strength and hardiness and calm and willing nature

Dartmoor/Exmoor Pony
Standard height: 11.2 - 13 hh
Also endangered, these cousins are very strong for their size and can be ridden by adults

Fjord
Standard height: 13.2 - 15 hh
A friendly, versatile, powerful draft pony, the Norwegian Fjord is always dun in colour

Hackney
Standard height: 13 - 14.2 hh
A high-stepping, spirited pony used in driving classes ? not a riding pony generally

Halflinger
Standard height: 14 hh
This sorrel or palomino Austrian draft pony is sure-footed, gentle and an easy keeper

New Forest Pony
Standard height: 12 - 14.2 hh
A deep girth and strong loins make this pony strong, sturdy and athletic

Newfoundland Pony
Standard height: 12 - 12.2 hh
Rare even in Canada, this is a hardy, versatile pony with an even temperament

Pony of the Americas (POA)
Standard height: 11.2 - 14 hh
A pony version of the Appaloosa, the POA has been used in many disciplines

Shetland Pony
Standard height: under 11 hh
Remarkably strong and hardy, it is an easy keeper and willing worker

Welsh Pony & Cob
Standard height: 11 - 15.2 hh
Wide size range and graceful form and gait makes this one of the most popular pony types in North America

Small Horse Breeds

Arabian
Standard height: 14 to 15.2 hh
A spirited, multi-talented breed known for its affectionate nature

Bashkir Curly
Standard height: 15 hh
Known for its gentle nature, the Curly has a hypoallergenic poodle-like coat

Icelandic
Standard height: 13.2 hh
One of the hardiest of breeds, it is famous for its five gaits including the speedy tolt

Missouri Fox Trotter
Standard height: 14 - 16 hh
A comfortable and durable saddle horse known for its special gait, the foxtrot

Morgan
Standard height: 14 to 15.2 hh
Highly versatile in type and talent, the Morgan has a distinct presence

Paso Fino
Standard height: 13 - 15.2 hh
Hardy, intelligent and refined, the Paso is known for its comfortable gait

Quarter Horse
Standard height: 14 - 15.3 hh
The smaller sizes of this popular and versatile breed are most common in the ranch lines