Horse and Pony Info
Buying, training, or caring for a horse or pony can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re thinking about getting your first horse or looking for ways to improve your horse’s training and care, you’ll find helpful, practical advice here.
Horses and ponies are incredible animals, but they also come with a lot of responsibility. Understanding their behavior, knowing how to handle common training issues, and providing the right care are all key to building a strong, trusting relationship. Here, we share real-world experience, not just theory—things that actually work and make life with horses easier and more enjoyable.
The opinions expressed here are from personal experience and we strongly advise you to contact your vet or your riding instructor if you are seriously worried about your horse.
Do you know which bit to use?
One of our most popular pages! If you have a tearaway pony or feel you need to check you are using the correct bit, click here.
Prepare for wet weather problems
Worried about having to cope with mud fever or mud rash? See our tips from other readers here.
Catching a difficult horse
Ponies or horses who don’t want to be caught can waste a lot of time and cause much frustration. Some tips here.
Reader Question
“How can I teach my pony he’s ok in the stable on his own?” Read Lorraine Jennings of School Your Horse’s answer here.
Ten top expenses with owning a horse or pony
Before you buy a horse or pony, it’s a good idea to consider how much it’s going to cost to keep one. More info here. Want to know five examples of ‘horse salesperson speak’ (or what the seller doesn’t want us to know)? More info here.
Loading reluctant horses & working in an outline
Visit our training young horses page – click here.
Be safe: wear riding helmets and Hi Viz
Both can save your life. Read our Hi Viz article and learn about the Riders4helmets© Campaign. More info.
Are some horses impossible to train?
Have you got a horse which is too hot to handle or one which pushes you around? This was one of the many queries which brought a visitor to our website. More info here.
Buying a new horse or pony? Mileage is an invaluable asset
Mileage may be bad in cars but it’s very useful with horses. A pony with mileage is more suitable for a beginner rider than a young four or five year old. Many parents make the mistake of buying a young, sometimes unbroken, pony for a child and, unless the child has a lot of riding experience, this is usually a disaster. Read our page about buying horses and ponies. Click here for more info.
Do you understand what’s in your horse’s mind?
Most of us know that horses are herd animals and that the herd was important over the centuries as a protection against predators. But do you know how an understanding of horse psychology can help you to train your horse? Click here for more info.
Bad behaviour
Weaving, crib biting and wind sucking are three behavioural problems which can be diffcult to manage. They are often caused by boredom, by horses being shut up for long hours without enough work or, some believe, can be copied from others. If your horse has any of these problems, click here for suggestions on how to deal with them. Remember that weaving, crib biting and wind sucking are all considered an unsoundness when buying a horse.
Skin Infections and Rain Rash
Some horses, especially older ones, can overheat under rugs and develop skin infections.
More info on how to deal with this.
Preventing laminitis
Many native breeds of horses and ponies are prone to laminitis. Native types such as the Connemara, Irish Draught, Shetland and moorland breeds are genetically programmed to survive in areas of poor grassland and cannot tolerate rich grass. Overweight equines and ‘good doers’ are also prone to laminitis. Learn how to help prevent this crippling condition here.
Parasites and worms
Horses and ponies need regular worming to keep them safe from parasites and worms. More info here.
Dates for Influenza Vaccinations in Ireland
A quick and useful guide to remember when to vaccinate your horse.