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Horses for a beginner / Pony-vs-Horses

“I want my child to ride a pony!”

- WILENE

My daughter’s riding instructor wants her to ride a horse-gulp! I don’t want my child to ride a horse, I want them to ride a pony.

Said by lots of parents!!

Is a pony a horse?

If you aren’t sure, a pony is a small horse that is 38″ to 58″ tall. But a pony is no smaller than 38″. If the small horse is smaller than 38″, they are considered a Miniature or Mini. Refer to horse facts #4 and #5 in my post about hands and ponies. https://newtohorses.com/4-7-basic-horse-facts/.

A reputable lesson barn will know what is best for your new rider-a pony or a horse.

Everyone has their opinion on this matter, here is mine. Don’t be afraid of letting a steady and trustworthy horse teach your child. Ponies don’t always make the best choice for a new or short rider.

With a reputable lesson barn and instructor, you should not have to worry that a horse or pony is the wrong choice for your student. Here is where I input a disclosure; Horses and ponies can be unpredictable, and an accident is not out of the question. And this is why it is essential to check references and reputations before letting your child ride with any lesson barn. It is not rare to have accidents. But, unruly horses or ponies that are nervous, spooky, and do not follow directions do not belong in a beginner rider lesson.


Young Beginner Rider on a Horse

Student Age, size, emotional development, and circumstances do matter.

A beginner rider is a beginner rider no matter their size.  But, what does change is the age and ability of the rider to understand directions and their athletic abilities. Balance and coordination can be developed and never a deterrent to learning to ride a horse. But, riding a pony instead of a horse does create other concerns for a beginner.

Since I had trustworthy ponies, I used them for beginner riders under six years old. The pony size helped me teach a young child because we could physically hold that rider on safer. We didn’t have to reach up and only grasp their knee and ankle. We could cradle their waist in our arms. I also was eye to eye with the child. That does help with trust and communication. I used leaders and walkers for every beginner rider under 6. With constant supervision, I knew they were safe on top of a pony.  

These very young riders did not learn to ride independently for a long time. I had a three-year-old rider on the lead line for two years. If they wanted, every once in a while, I would put them on a big horse so they could feel the difference.  But, they still had their leaders and sidewalks to keep them safe.

Not all barns are as fortunate as this; instead, they have well-trained horses. There is nothing wrong with a new or short student learning on horses.

  • Small pony little girl
  • Graduated to no walkers
Same rider riding a pony with leaders and walkers, and riding a horse with leader but no walker. She was a natural talent at her age!!

Some lesson barns don’t have ponies

Some riding instructors might not have a trustworthy pony for a beginner.  That is no reason to look for a different lesson barn. A good foundation for a rider is confidence and balance. A reputable and qualified instructor will know what size equine in their lesson barn will provide a safe ride for your beginner rider. Sometimes putting a beginner rider on a horse is the safest route to take. 

Finally, an experienced riding instructor will know what is the best choice

Let your instructor choose the right pony or horse for your new rider. They know and trust their lesson horses. Each horse and pony contribute their talents to every level of riding. I had a horse I would teach everyone to canter on, no matter what size the child was. That was his unique talent. And even though he wasn’t a pony, he was the best choice for beginner riders, no matter their size or age.

  • beginner on horse
  • beginner rider on horse
  • beginner rider on large horse
Short young beginner riders riding horses. All closely supervised and safe.

Did this post help you in trusting a horse over a pony? Read my next post about why a pony might not be the best choice.

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New to Horses

This is a blog for anyone new to horses, whether you are a young horse enthusiast parent or anyone with a passion for learning about horses. If you are new to horses in any way…..this is the blog for you!!!

Disclaimer

New to Horses always recommends reaching out to your veterinarian, farrier, or equine professional.  New to Horses blog is purely informational, instructional, and entertaining.

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Retired Riding Instructor

wileneandmadison

I am a retired ARIA Certified Horseback Riding Instructor.  I was the founder and director of a Non Profit called Ponies and Kids.  I coached our Interscholastic Equestrian Team and up to 17 riders during local shows. We also sponsored multiple 4H Horse and Pony members. With years of lesson experience I want to share easy to understand and basic knowledge about horseback riding and care.  Although, most of this blog is about English Riding, those in other disciplines can glean information too. Please ask questions I would love to help with anything you need that has to do with horses. Enjoy!

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Recent Posts

  • Avoidable Situations and What Beginner Riders Need To Know
  • Part 3: Balance is an essential skill for any horse rider
  • Part 2of3: A beginner rider needs to learn how to be balanced on their horse
  • Part 1 of 3: A Balanced riding position is important to a well balanced horse
  • Help me help you, learn more about horses!!

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