“Every horse deserves, at least once in its life, to be loved by a little girl.”
Do you have a horse crazy child? It may be time to look into getting them their own pony. Horse ownership can teach children many valuable lessons. It can instill hard work, persistence, and patience. This pony will depend on their little person to feed, exercise, and groom them. That’s a lot of responsibility, which can be good in many ways!
Finding the right pony can be tricky though! Some are notorious for being stubborn and naughty. They may be little, but don’t underestimate them. It’s a great idea to have your instructor help you find your child’s first pony. They’ll be looking for a quiet, dependable, and well-trained gelding or mare. Some breeds are very popular with youth riders!
Pony of the Americas
This breed is really neat! Not only do they have a flashy look to them, but they’re quite competitive in western disciplines. Some even jump and drive! The average POA is between 11.2 and 14 hands. They can be described as having similar physical characteristics of a Quarter Horse and Arabian. This breed is most noted for their loud coloring. Most have a leopard coat like an Appaloosa with mottling around their eyes and muzzle.
Developed in the United States, POAs originated from a Shetland breeder in Iowa. Black Hand was the foundation stallion. He was a cross of Arabian, Appaloosa, and Shetland pony. The breed has grown in popularity amongst children and smaller adults.
Welsh Pony
There are four sections of Welsh Pony, including A, B, C, and D. Each one is distinguished by their height and type. The smallest is A known as the Welsh Mountain Pony, while D (Welsh Pony) is the tallest and often used by children and adults. The Welsh Pony of Riding Type (B) and Welsh Pony of Cob Type (C) can be very competitive child mounts. Most are ridden in jumping, driving, on the trails, and pleasure riding.
Welsh Ponies have small heads with large eyes. Their also known for their strong hindquarters and short backs. The breed ranges from 11 to 16 hands. All solid colors are welcomed, but leopard and tobiano patterns are not. They usually make great children’s ponies thanks to their good disposition.
Shetland Pony
A Scottish breed of pony, Shetlands are well-known and well-loved by many! Originally, the breed was used to pull carts and carry peat. Nowadays, they’re ridden and shown by children in various disciplines. You can even find them in petting zoos and therapeutic riding centers.
This hardy breed has a smaller head and ears. Their bodies are usually compact and stocky with strong legs and a deep girth. Shetland ponies have thick manes, tails, and winter coats. They can be any color, other than spotted. The average height is around 40 inches tall.
Quarter Pony
This breed of pony is similar to an American Quarter Horse, but is smaller in statue. They typically stand between 11.2 and 14.2 hands with a stout built. Most of the breeders focus on height, conformation, and temperament. The Quarter Pony comes in all solid colors and can also have a pinto pattern.
While many dominate in western rodeo disciplines, they’re versatile enough to compete and train in any including jumping, dressage, and driving. They make perfect children ponies due to their calm nature and dependability. Like the larger Quarter Horse, this breed is known for their even temperament.
Miniature Horse
Miniatures are not necessarily classified as ponies, rather known as small horses. They do make exceptional horses for children though! Some of the bigger ones can be ridden, while the smaller minis can teach your child valuable handling and grooming skills. Those that are not ridden can be driven and shown in hand. They also make great companions and therapy animals.
The typical mini is under 8.5 hands, so only young children can ride them. Their proportions may be small, but they are similar to a big horse. The average is only 150 to 350 pounds. They come in a wide range of colors and markings. Most live between 25 and 35 years!
There are plenty of other breeds that make great ponies for kids, but these are the most popular. Share your experiences with them!
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