Horse Training - What you need to know when buying a pony
All parents have heard it at one time or another from their children—“Mommy, can I have a pony?” Oh, the innocence of a child! They think that having a pony means pony rides whenever they want, with nothing else to worry about. Unfortunately, we know that it’s not all fun when we become owners of a pony. There are many things to consider before making a huge investment such as this—and it is a huge investment. Where will the pony be kept? What type of equipment and how much equipment do we need? How do we care for the pony? These are all important factors in making the decision to buy a pony, but one of the most important is the horse training that is required. Horse training is necessary for all ponies for their safety and the safety of your child and anyone who will be riding the animal. A properly trained animal is less likely to misbehave, which in turn can prevent injuries from happening.
Just as the pony needs horse training, you will need to have lessons as well. You should take instructional classes on how to care for a pony, how to ride, and how to use the equipment involved with caring for and riding your pony. It would be a good idea to do this before you think of becoming an owner yourself. In fact, you should probably have some experience under you belt before you have your own pony.
There are three options of horse training you can choose from. First, you can buy a pony that has already been through horse training. This is a great option, but of course it will cost more, possibly thousands of dollars more.
Second, you can pay for your pony to have horse training provided by a professional equine instructor. This may cost between $600-$800 a month. Depending on the amount of horse training that is required, it may take as little as a couple of months or as much as a year or more. The good part of this horse training is that the pony will receive excellent instruction; the bad part is that you do not get to take part in the horse training. This is fine for experienced riders, but for a beginner rider, the learning process between the animal and you may be more difficult.
The third option is to train the pony yourself and learn together. This will cost much less than the first two options. You can buy videos and books that will walk you through what to do. Once you have become more experienced, you can buy videos on other skills such as backing up, turning around, and trailer loading.
If your child is going to be riding and caring for the pony, it is important that they receive the proper instruction as well. Horses can be a great addition to any family, but it requires a lot of time, hard work, and money. For more information about horse training and other related subjects, research websites online or contact a riding club.