ponies

[cocaloda]

Anyone have a favorite pony breed for young kids. My six year old wants a small horse or pony that she can get on and off by herself. She wants to brush and help saddle but she is currently vertically challenged, at least until she gets taller. Cocaloda is the right size but he and my youngest just don't mesh well. We are working on pulling a cart but she wants something to ride.

[country-mare]

You will hear many things about shetlands, some good, a
lot bad. But the breed has changed over the years.
I grew up with the idea of mean little demons
But looking into getting a couple of small horses, I found and love the shetlands. I also have a mini, which is also a sweet heart.
I found a breeder near by, and got to visit with her and her ponies.
If your child wants a pony look in your area to see if there are
any breeders in your area, and call and see if you can visit.
Also there are several members on here that have Haffies, and they
sound great and might be something else to look at. I would love
to sneak one in with my guys

[Slim Pikkens]

I had a Shetland that was a lovely little creature but I took the time to train her. Too often unknowing parents pick up an untrained pony, with the assumption it is trained, and put a child with little experience on it. When things go amiss there's always an adult around who is willing to take a round out of the pony instead of having someone assess it's training or lack of. Before long the pony has become nasty as a means of protecting itself.

[sli92]

Personally I judge more on temperment than breed. I know some nasty little ponies, and some wonderful ones, of all breeds.
I know of some really cute morgan x ponies that are sweet... and dartmoor's...
conemara's, and a bunch of larger minis that would work...

[Bandit]

A very well trained haflinger! They are great because they are shorter for the kids, yet stocky enough that the adult can jump on them as well. My boy is only 13.3 hands. They also tend to be more people oriented than other breeds (though there are always exceptions).

[Carri]

A haflinger is a great choice, or a welsh or welsh cross. We have a Connemara, also, and she is a doll-baby, but I know they have a repuation for being a bit hot. Ours is not at all, though.

[arabiancowgirl]

I personally like welshxarab crosses My friend ones one and she is great.

[Dream Ponies]

A little section A welsh would be great. Good ponies are out there and can be found. It may take a little time, but the right horse or pony is always worth it.

[PepperPony]

POAs! They are trained and bred specifically for young kids ( i'm a younger kid at heart!) Still, I am not a breed snob and definitely would suggest go by personality!

[mafarion]

I am personally fond of Welsh ponies, Connemaras (although the one's I've known tend to founder if they even get to look at grass), and POAs. I had a little Shetlend (English type) and not only was she lame from founder every other week (despite being kept on a strict diet and in a drylot), she was a rotten little thing that I truly had no affection for. But as others have said, choose first on personality and suitability!

[cocaloda]

Cocaloda is a good pony just not with my youngest daughter. The other kids can ride him with little problem. As a matter of fact it wasnt all that long ago that I posted about if my nine year old was big enough to go from the pony to a horse. But my six year old he will buck as soon as I turn my back, she is sticking but he still tries.
Slim-this pony lunges bareback and under saddle.My daughter can ride him in the round pen and he will walk, trot, and whoa (no canter) just to her vocal commands but as soon as he is out of reach, he can put some rodeo stock to shame.
I think the haflingers are beautiful but someone said that they are a strong for little arms. Anyone know for sure?
Pepperpony The POA ponies are pretty I wasn't aware that they were good kid ponies. I guess I see spots and think App.
A few people spoke about ponies that founder, is that typical of all ponies are just particular breeds?
Quite a few people seem to favor welsh and welshX, are they laid back, she really doesn't want me to help her. She gets some help even so because some thinks I dont feel safe about (picking hoofs) but she is very independant. I do try to give her as much freedom as I deem safe.
Conemaras I will have to read about, I know less about them than other ponies. (which means I know nothing about them).
Thanks for takig time to reply. The problem is that I want a little from this pony and a dab from that pony and a spinkle from another pony.

[enchanting]

I concur with POAs, but maybe I am partial to the spots. They are primarily child's animals. When I was growing up adults were not even able to show them at breed shows (other than stallions in halter), not sure if that is still the case. Here is a link to the breed site http://www.poac.org/

We had two POAs growing up, full brother and sister. You couldn't get two more different animals. The gelding I showed nearly my entire 4-H career. I started riding him my second year in 4-H, and continued riding him until I was 17 in 4-H, I think I only did showmanship with him the last year. He was 13 hands, and we did most everything with him during the time he was with us (we lost him when he was 25). He moved like a small horse, not the choppy pony gaits that many ponies have. He could win pony halter classes against 14.2 Quarter "ponies". I earned the right to take him to state fair either 2 or 3 times. We always did well in Showmanship classes. Many times he would do extremely well in Pleasure classes as well, and horsemanship was normally no problem. I did competitive trail riding one year with him. He had a decent amount of Arabian blood, so could go for hours and never tire. We took him in parades, and costume classes, we even had him wearing overalls one time.

The mare was complete opposite. She was my sister's first speed animal, she gaited instead of trotting, and I don't think she would have ever won a halter class, but she did everything we asked.

Well trained POAs can be expensive though, we raised ours from babies, and trained them basically ourselves with the help of 4-H advisors through the years.

[tallyho]

I aggree with everyone else.....personality first, breed sceond. But there are some breed characteristics that generally breed true to type , so that can at least get you in the vicinity for what you are looking to find.

We have a Hafie, and she is the most mellow and sweet thing around. We have also had many ponies over the years, all good and sweet. One green 11H one my eight yr old trained (under supervision) But she was out there working that pony , starting in 20 minute increments every 2 hours one summer, and got a wonderfully nice pony from all her work. But, all the ponies were chosen for their personalities FIRST. After we outgreww the 11H pony, we kept her for many years as a pasture puff, and then gave her to a therapy program. She was perfect,even after being "off duty" for many years.
All depends on the mondset.

[paso_lover]

Absolutely personality should be # 1. My daughter has a halfy/welsh and he can be quite the dink 70% of the time. The pony we just had brought in is a POA and what a doll. Could be her training or maybe it's just her, either way she's a good buy....she was only 500 bucks.

[Hideaway]

I really liked my quarter pony. He was great. We could do it all and he was sooo quiet. You can get a rowdy one in every bunch. I'd say instead of going strictly for breed and it seems you really don't have a favorite anyway, look for the right pony. Get the qualities that are a must in your head and then search. Welsh ponies are really cute but I've worked with some that a are pain in the you know what. I love haffies too but have heard they do tend to be a little heavy up front and tough on little arms. The only one I've personally worked with was a driving pony and was not heavy but I can't say that for them all. You'll just have to test them. Good luck!

[gbarmranch]

I agree - personality first - and breed second.. but so far I am impressed with the halfies.. we have what we beleive to be a halfie cross that is 12 hands and just sweet, sweet, sweet

The ponies we had as kids.. were spawn of the devil..

[cocaloda]

gbar- the devil is still spawning. I know this because one of his decendants lives in my field.

hideaway- the quarter ponies I see are a little taller than I want do they have smaller ones?

POA ponies are coming up pretty consistantly as a good kids pony. Can the POAs be taught to pull a cart?

The problem is looking for personality is that it is hard to find ponies close to me and with gas prices what they are going to far in to many different directions could get costly. And of course every pony for sale out there is bombproof and loves children. right.

[gbarmranch]

The pony my brother's had was the devil himself.. a small welsh gelding, that was named Lightening.. he bit, kicked, and bucked worse then any big horse I ever rode.. He would lure cats into his paddock and then try to stomp them.. took on a porcupine - we had to have the vet to remove the quills from his face.. (porcupine died, but did exact a revenge)... I HATED that boy.. so I truly understand..

The only way you could ride him was to lunge him for at least 30 minutes before hand.. and he was 14 years old..

Mine horse was sweet.. but he was a 14 hand quarter/appy cross..

[Sassy]

I can't offer you advise on breeds but i can give you some of our experiences and you can take from them what you will.
We have owned 4 forgive me 5 (stray that lived with us a short time woudl have loved to keep him) ponies and everyone of them with exception of our current pony Rolo, were 4 legged demons... Ok maybe not that bad, but close enough .
We were first given a mini/shetland cross... Called him Arrow. He was a 2 yr old stud colt. Halter broke about 10.3 hh pretty pally. We worked all winter with him saddling, bridling etc. And he did ok. But when it came time to ride OMG he turned into a head case. He would rear, bolt, kick bit anything to keep from being riden... Arrow was shot East to Sask. where is he now a Chuck Pony...
Then we traded a Smokey Black well bred Qh 2 yr old for what we were told was a well lead line broke kids pony. Tiny was a welsh/qh cross Who we were told had done gymkhana on lead etc. Were told was a awesome pony had bridle work done just needed to be finished with it,,, OK cool. We thought as we woudl only be leading our 4 yr old son anyway. He was good to lead line. Woudl sometimes get spoky. Nothing serious until he dumped our son in the snow thank god then son would not go near him. So we worked with him he was a good 13.3hh so I would ride him loose in the round pen whiel hubby lounged him he did great. Then I decided it was time to bridle and that pony was crazy under bridle. I mean nutz. As soon as you put any pressure gee or haw on his mouth he freaked. And, would take off at a dead run no matter how hard you pulled him up. I bailed a few times as he crashed threw our round pen. Niether time did he get hurt. So after weeks of bridle work and lounging and working and more work. He was still crazy. He went to B.C. to a nice lady who deals with hard case ponies. Her report after a month was that Tiny had been serverally wroughed about both with the saddle and with the bridle. He actaully had a missing tooth/ had scarring in his mouth her vet found. This lady knew he stuff... Minor pony exspert!
Anyway then came Taz. Pretty 11 hh Mini cross blk/wht well broke. Andhe was went great under saddle. Ethan loved to ride him. Only vices (kicking bitting).. So after a sunner of abuse from his pony Taz our son lost interest and we sold him back to the lady we purchased him from .
Now here is Rolo our new pony. Had her most of this summer. She is perfect I guess. She is easy with everything. And we love her to bits. She is a welsh/mountian shetland cross. Heavy on the welsh...

[horses4me]

ME! ME! ME! i know the perfect pony,,,,, a haflinger!!! My daughter has one adn she is the BEST pony in the world. I have run into many other people that have one adn they say the SAME thing. Just find one that is trained, they are hardy, last for years, have the patience of a saint, and are just awesome to have around. hope you find one(haflinger) soon!!! lol