Pony Care

If you are looking to buy (or have bought) a pony then you will need to know the best ways of caring for your pony. Owning a pony is not like owning a small pet - it will need a lot of work, commitment care and attention and this isn’t something that you should take on lightly.

So, you need to think about:

1. Where you will keep your pony - you will need a fair amount of green pasture space even for a small pony and/or a stable. If you are keeping your pony outside then it will need some kind of shelter building for nights/colder weather. Some owners prefer to pay for their ponies to be kept at a stables.

2. What your pony will eat - you can feed your pony hay, apples and carrots and bucket feeds and they may also forage when they graze. It is important to make sure that your pony gets enough food but not so much that it becomes overweight.

3. What your pony will drink - you need to make sure that your pony has access to fresh and clean water at all times.

4. How you will exercise your pony - ponies need to be exercised every day. You can either ride them or turn them out somewhere where they can run around.

5. How you will manage your pony’s health - you must make sure that your pony gets regular health care such as inoculations and general treatments such as worming. You will also need access to a vet in case they fall ill. Ponies will also need regular access to a farrier. You also need to groom your pony regularly.

6. How to make your pony happy - horses are naturally pack animals and do not thrive if left to their own devices. Often regular human contact will keep them happy but some pony owners will pair them up with another pony or horse or a donkey or goat for example.

Bear in mind that there are special pony care courses that you can go on which will help you assess how much work is involved and whether owing a pony is right for you.