Most of Our Lesson Horses are Actually Large Ponies or Small Horses
One of the first questions new horse families ask is, “Will my child ride a pony or a horse?“
Most people picture a pony as that fuzzy little fellow at the fair, plodding around in circles on a carousel ride.
Ponies Come in Three Sizes – Small, Medium, and Large!
But here’s the secret: ponies come in three sizes – small, medium, and large! In fact, many large ponies look just like small horses.
At WildeWood Farm, most of our lesson horses are actually large ponies or small horses. Why? Because tiny ponies have a tendency to become. . . well. . . tiny dictators.
You see, if a pony is too small for an adult to ride, then it only has to behave as well as the children require it to. And children are wonderfully loving, but they aren’t always the best at insisting on good manners.
An adult can remind a horse that stopping, steering, and standing still are not optional life choices. A tiny pony, on the other hand, sometimes discovers that a six-year-old is much easier to negotiate with!
Of course, there are wonderful little ponies out there, and we adore them. But in our experience, large ponies and small horses are often the safest and kindest teachers for children.
So, if your child comes home saying, “I rode a horse!” and you think it looked like a pony. . . you may both be right.
– Ms. Hannah
