Re: New generation

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

 I LOVE PONIES, I LOVE PONIES, I LOVE PONIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I rode a pony until I was 15.  Have owned at least 2 dozen since then. 
Got started finding them for folks, and I just can't resist them!!!   The
only problem with ponies is that way too often they have been owned by
people who know absolutely nothing about horses.  Worst case scenario,
they buy their children a foal, so they can grow up together.  These
beasts who are horribly spoiled end up messing up the reputations for the
rest of the bunch.  

The plusses for ponies over gentle horses, in my opinion are:

A child can get them out all by themselves.  \
They can learn to put on the halter, bridle, etc. without adult
supervision.
They can ride bareback, which in my opinion is much safer (with a helmet)
since we don't have to worry about feet getting hung up in stirrups, or
loose girths.
A pony standing on a child's foot, does a lot less damage than a horse.
Ponies don't need shoes (usually) that leaves more money for my endurance
horse.
Ponies, in my experience have greater survival skills than horses (like
mules).  A pony is not likely to get himself hurt by bolting etc. 
Ponies seem to live forever.
Ponies stay fat off of air.
I've never had a vet bill for a pony.
The stakes are lower in every mistake the child makes.  Lessons learned
aren't nearly as dangerous.

  I bought a POA type pony mare that the vet said seemed to be between 25
and 30...12 1/2 years ago.  My 7 year gets her out by herself, puts on
the bridle, backs up 20 feet...runs and does a leap/slam into her,
scrambles up and goes over jumps with no hands and her eyes closed.

I hunted everywhere for a "next step up" size pony.  Couldn't find any. 
(Large ponies are worth their weight in gold).  I've always been a firm
believer in old horses or ponies for beginners, but when Nan Crites of
Rountuit Welsh Pony farm offered to give a registered 18mo. old Welsh
pony to the child of an endurance rider in a contest, I let my daughter
enter.  Rountuit's Animal Krackers is now 5.  My daughter (11) can walk
down the field with the bridle in her hand, and he comes to her.  I
couldn't believe it when she would put the bit in front of his mouth, and
he opened his mouth and took it voluntarily.  She can either turn and
walk up the field and he follows her (the reins around his neck), or she
backs up and does the 20 yd. sprint/slam/climb on and he just stands
there.  He bows on command, and would love for me to teach him a few more
tricks.  We tried keeping him at a field down the road for awhile.  He
would just jump the fence and come back home.  I also got his 4yr. old
brother which is 3/4 Welsh 1/4 TB.  He's topped out at 13.1 or 2.  If
Kaboot goes on an extended medical leave, you will see me on him at some
rides.  

A few pointers for pony buyers.  Do not be afraid of a little founder. 
"Tender feet make for gentle ponies" someone once said to me.  I keep our
OLD pony well trimmed, and she has no troubles, but she has had several
bouts with founder.  Of the 3 or so unusable ponies I've had, none of
them were foundered (was tempted to give them a few gallons of grain  :-)
  Maybe it's because they weigh so little, but a pony will come back from
founder almost 100%.  

A little trick I learned for the little kids.  Run a string from the ring
on the bit, up through the browband, through the saddle rings and back
around the otherside of the browband and back to the bit.  It will look
like reins hooked to the saddle.  Adjust is so the pony can't get it's
nose lower than its knees.  The biggest problem small kids have is
keeping a pony from eating.  (With an english saddle, this may require a
crupper.  Our shetland turned the english saddle into an ejector seat
before the crupper)

I prefer a pony that has a large enough barrel that I can get on and
correct it if necessary (I'm 5' tall).  The very trim "cart ponies" are
almost impossible to balance on.

With horses, I always ride geldings.  With ponies, I've found that people
often wait too long to geld them.  I usually prefer pony mares.  My
ponies are both geldings (gelded young) and have fantastic dispositions.

You may have more luck borrowing a good pony than buying one.  When I
used to drive for the local preps in pony club, they had a regular
cooperative.  A  good pony was always being passed down.  There was a
regular waiting list.

For those of you who like for kids to go on long trail rides, I can see
why you like horses for kids.  For me, I like for my kids to get ponies
out, brush, play with them, set up jumps in the yard, ride them under the
monkey bars and practice swinging off, pretend they're indians in the
woods, and walk out in the field and see if they can lay down next to
them in the sun (which the ponies let them do).  They'll be grown soon
enough.

 Karen, I'm tempted to send you a copy of some home movies.  There's
nothing cuter than a three year old on a pony that's in perfect
proportion for her.  When Josie was three "I'll do it myself" was her
mantra.  Her pony was small enough to notice her leading it...(can you
imagine yourself leading a horse whose belly was at your eye level?)  She
could climb on by herself, clean her feet, brush her from head to toe. 
And if I would walk in front of it, it would follow me as if I were
leading it.  This worked well, since heaven forbid that Josie think she's
being led!  The stories are much too long for this letter.  Good luck!


Angie McGhee and Kaboot, (who thinks he's a giant at 14.2 next to
Krackers, Stormy and Abby (40+ and counting???)



On Sun, 22 Mar 1998 00:54:16 -0500 mkgehrin@n-jcenter.com writes:
>I am a proud mama today.  My almost three year old daughter told my
>husband that she didn't need him to hold her on the horse and to back
>away she could do it herself.  Of course, he held her anyway but I'm
>starting to take her requests for a pony more seriously (she does seem
>to have a natural seat afterall :-).  I'm wondering what types of 
>ponies
>tend to be friendly, bomb-proof and trail hardy.  It will be awhile
>before she can hit the trails with me but I want her to have a pony 
>that
>can keep up and enjoy the ride.  I read about Fell ponies and they 
>seem
>to meet those criteria.  Anyone know about them or have other
>suggestions?
>
>Karen
>Ormond Beach
>
>

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]