Picking a Children’s Pony

We’re seeking professional tips for finding and keeping a pony or miniature horse as a family pet. We’d like your opinion, and any suggestions for books or videos that might help us.
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One of the fondest memories I have as a very young child is hugging and brushing a pony that our neighbors had, and I had always wanted to have one of my own. Our daughter is 3 1/2 years old and we are expecting our second child, a boy, in February. I would really like to get a pony as a family Christmas present. We have had conflicting advice, mostly from horsey people who sound like they don't exactly like ponies in general. They say that ponies can be very mean, and that their personality can change after you get them. So they are generally more dangerous for kids than a nice, calm horse. We have also heard ponies called "smart" and "funny." Some have said that you can sometimes find a bomb-proof pony that you can trust with kids under any circumstances. Some have said that we would be better off with a true miniature horse than with a small pony. Some say we want a big pony rather than a small pony.

We're seeking professional tips for finding and keeping a pony or miniature horse as a family pet. We like the term "bomb-proof." We don't care about whether it can be ridden or does anything special. We just want to be able to trust it with kids. We'd like your opinion, and any suggestions for books or videos that might help us.

What a great question. There are many books that address selecting ponies for kids, and I have seen some nice magazine articles over the years. Some of the regional monthly horse newspapers have a pony issue each year, and there are often articles on selecting ponies for various levels and uses. Those would be a good place to start. The focus will be mainly on suitable riding ponies, and might fall short for your specific goal of a huggable, pet-type pony.

To find a bomb-proof pony or miniature horse for young kids to have as a pet, you might do well to get help from a horse trainer or other professional who understands and celebrates this goal. I'd recommend looking for someone of grandmother age and wisdom. Old mom and grandmother horse women usually remember and often keep track of special ponies. And they can spot and evaluate potential for that kind and forgiving temperament you'll want

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Sue M. McDonnell, PhD, is a certified applied animal behaviorist and the founding head of the equine behavior program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She is also the author of numerous books and articles about horse behavior and management.

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