Owning My First Pony

Hello, I’m Matilda and I’m 12 and I’ve just got my first pony, a New forest Mare called Lucy.

I started riding when I was either four or five, and have wanted a pony ever since one! I never dreamed I would get one though. I’ve ridden at quite a few stables, riding in the arena and out on hacks, therefore gaining quite a lot of experience, and for the last year I’ve ridden Lucy – a friend in the village’s 14 year old pony – and looked after her a bit.

I never thought my parents would agree to buy a pony

I used to always beg and beg and beg but the answer was always no. But now they have seen that I do have the commitment and I can look after a pony, they finally gave in! It was also as my good friend is moving into the village and getting a pony, so we’ll be able to use each others’ fields and her mum knows a lot about horses where as mine doesn’t! I can’t believe now I have a pony of my own, I never thought I would, but I always had a little bit of hope.

We bought Lucy because I knew her really well as I’d ridden her for a year and looked after her a bit, and I knew I could look after her and I think my parents did as well.

The first week with Lucy was in the summer holidays so I had a lot of time and I just loved the feel of having my own pony, I actually enjoyed poo picking!! I gave Lucy and Bracken (a miniature Shetland pony we loan as a companion) so much attention and I rode everyday – I loved it, and I still do!

I actually find it much easier to look after her than I expected.

I just have to get up a bit earlier in the mornings, poo pick and give them more water if needed and the same after school plus feeding them and putting rugs on if needed. They live out at the moment, but in the worst weather conditions I will bring them into the stables, and that will mean a bit more work (giving them hay nets, mucking out etc.) but I don’t really mind the work!

Although I like riding in the arena, I prefer going on hacks, I like riding through fields, woods and orchards, I love the nature. I like cross country the most because I like the different types of jumps and galloping across fields and there is a field near us with loads of XC jumps and Lucy and I both love galloping round and jumping over the tyres, houses, wagons, blocks, barrels etc.!

My advice to others

To others hoping to get a pony or trying to persuade their parents to buy one, I’d say it is an amazing and very enjoyable experience, but you have to be sure you can afford it and you need be aware of the time and work it takes, you also need to be sure you know what there is to know, for example if your pony gets ill, you need to know what to do, and you need to know what feed it will need, etc. Don’t just get the pony and realize you don’t know what to do!

I hope you have enjoyed and benefitted from reading this article and I’d just like to say that owning a pony is one of the best – if not the best – experience of my life, and it will be to any one with a true love for horses.