Would like to get daughter a pony?

Question

We would like to get our daughter a pony for her birthday but I do not know if we have enough land for one. We have about half an acre that will be fenced off..is that enough?

Daughter has had riding lessons past three years, we are very horse literate people. I have heard it was three acres to 2 horses but we are not talking pony, not miniature but small. She loves horses and I love horses...there are no plants or neighbors to have to worry about and we do not live in the city so zoning is not a problem. I was just worried about the acrege.

Answer 1

That's probably enough space, particularly if there are trails nearby that she could ride on. But you should check on the zoneing laws in your area. Some places have some pretty strange laws about farm animals, and many have minimum amounts of space you must have.

Also, many people like to put little kids on ponies because they're small. Problem is, they also tend to be fairly hostile. Of course there are always acceptions, but ponies have a reputation for being hard to train and generally nasty to ride. My sister is a quite competitive rider (at the age of 16, she's already been approached by someone who wants her to train her pony), and she's had supposedly well-behaved ponies jump the arena fence, try to back her over a cliff, and refuse the third jump in a series (something that simply doesn't happen, except for this pony). And those are the good ponies. The bad ones bite, and buck anyone off who tries to ride them.

For a begining rider, you're best bet is an older horse (not a pony) with good training. A well-trained older horse will tend to be reliable and mellow. He'll also tend to do sensible things without your daughter having to give him very good cues. Also, you don't want a horse that's too energetic as he'll take off if your daugher doesn't tell him otherwise. You're much better off with a horse who will grind to a hault as soon as she stops telling him to go. She's a good bit safer that way.

Buying a horse is a serious commitment. Horses and ponies aren't like dogs or cats. They're not pets that you can keep in your back yard and play with. Be sure you do your research and know what you're getting yourself into. You should be thinking about a lot more than just whether or not you have enough space.

Your daughter's instructor would be a much better person to talk to about this than complete strangers on the Internet.

Answer 2

Half an acre for a pony should be fine, so long as you supplement the grass, as others have mentioned.

However, horses are herd animals and you're asking for trouble keeping ONE pony on your property. He may develop behavioural problems, agression, boredome, ect. Pony should really have a pony buddy, or at least a goat. Which will be a problem since you only have half an acre.

And, sorry to break it to you, but if you were 'very horse literate people' you wouldn't be on yahoo answers asking strangers such important questions. Your daughter's instructor would have been the first place to go, then your vet, then your blacksmith, then your feed store, and lastly the staff at your tack shop.

Do you have an equine vet? What will you do about pasture rotation if you only have half an acre? And worming? Will you be able to remove & dispose of the manure so your pony doesn't reinfest after worming? What if the pony is a houdini and breaks down the fence at 3 a.m.? What type of fencing will you use? Wire needs to be strung tight and maintained monthly. Wood plank is expensive, and also need maintenance. Split rail is tough too, and smart ponies can easily rub the rails out and escape. Electric fencing *can* be a very good option, but you need to run the fencer 24/7, and expect to get zapped frequently.

I really do wish you the best of luck, and know you're trying to do the right thing for your daughter. But please consider buying the pony and doing what's best for *it*. Perhaps boarding it at a barn with other horses and folks prepared to deal with horses in their life, full time.

Answer 3

Are you in the US? A half acre is enough for a pony. You might want to check with your local county conservation district. In my area, we can take workshops on farm plans. You'll need to get the pasture worked out so you don't have mud in the winter, you'll have a compost pile for the manure and things like that. I wish that I was able to do this before moving to my 10 acres because we deal with a lot of mud in the winter.

The pony will of course need shelter, you'll need a place to store tack and a place to store hay. Just another thing to think about when you bring a pony home.

Your great parents for considering bringing home a pony for your daughter. My grandfather bought me my first pony. Horses teach children responsibility, independence and confidence. I wish all horse crazy little girls could have a pony!

Best wishes to you.

Answer 4

We have 4 horses and 4 miniature horses on 4.2 acres, so .5 acres should be plenty big enough for a pony, as long as you keep enough hay. Have you considered a miniature? You can't ride them, but you can drive them. Our miniature gelding, Walker, loves to pull us behind in a cart. They have groups and competitions for miniatures. This may save you from having to upgrade to a larger horse as your daughter grows, and they eat a lot less food. As far as temperament, miniatures are very loving an non-aggressive (as long as it's not a stallion), unlike what someone else mentioned. We absolutely love having them around, they are a lot of fun. Plus on .5 acres, you can probably have two miniatures that will keep each other company and they are fun to watch when they are playing with each other.

Answer 5

Half an acre should suffice but be prepared to have to buy hay as the grass will be gone quickly. It also depends on if your property is zoned for horses. It usually has to be atleast an acre of property, but you can find out from your town office. Good luck! Thats a lucky little girl, horses/ponie certainly kept me outta trouble..still do haha!

Answer 6

Definatley not enough pasture for a horse. You will need to feed hay year round. You will also have to pull the horse off the pasture once in a while as horse will over graze your pasture to the dirt. It would help your pasture along during the summer if you sprinkile it.

I can't think of a better gift for a child than a horse! It teaches them responsibility and gives them an extra outlet. I recommend getting involved in your local 4-H program To get more information, contact your county's ag extension agent. Don't forget pee-wee rodeos too!

Answer 7

That would be plenty of land for a small pony, as long as it is exersized everyday. It will need sufficient hay and feed as well as hoof care. You'll need a shelter, law requires the shelter to have 3 sides and a roof, the pony does not need to be locked in it, just the option to go in out of weather if it wants to. Take your time in finding the right pony, they can have temperment issues. Its best if you get an older one that is used to being lead all over and has dealt with kids for awhile. Good Luck, have fun.

Answer 8

Yes. You will need to supply hay for roughage, because your paddock will become a dry lot quickly. Many horses live in stalls with turnout pens smaller than a 1/2 acre. You didn't mention a shelter for the pony, make sure you have one, even if it takes space from its pasture.

Answer 9

I'd wait until ur daughter is old enough to have a horse or something on the lines of a POA, Pony of America. My formula for pasture was always 2 to 3 acres per animal, pony or horse. Like in all animals u have to consider company for your animal.

Answer 10

i have owned horses all my life and i know for a fact that you can enjoy a pony on 1/2 acre. you will have to buy hay for it but it won't eat as much as a big horse, your little girl will really love having a horse so go for it, all you have to worry about is that she will grow up and be good at her sport and want a bigger horse so she can get better at her game....god for bid it will keep her away from all the bad things that young kids seem to get in to. you go girl, get that pony for that little girl.