Almost every child’s dream is to one day have a horse or a pony as a pet, and they can bring so much joy to your child and open up a whole new world of enjoyment, but, before you race out and decide to buy a horse there are lots of things to consider.

Firstly, do you have enough room on your property to keep a horse or pony? If so, is it suitably fenced and do you have the right facilities for a horse? Alternatively are you going to pay to agist the horse on someone else’s property?

Before deciding whether to purchase the horse and where to keep the horse, here’s a few suggestions from the RSPCA that you may like to know…

One of the factors to consider is that it is difficult to combine owning a horse or pony with having other interests because of the time involved. So keep in mind that if your child takes up ownership it may be difficult for them to be involved in other hobbies. It is a commitment every day of the animals life, often for several hours a day! It may also mean other family members having to accept compromise because of that commitment.

“If a child expresses an interest in horses, start with riding lessons at a reputable riding school to see how interested your child is. A child must be keen enough to want to be involved with all aspects of taking care of an animal, not just the parts that are the most fun such as riding in the case of horses. A good riding school should offer courses in horse/pony care so that people who are thinking of buying one can learn something about what is involved before they decide to buy. A local Pony Club can also be a good source of information. Some Pony Clubs offer courses for families who are just starting out.”

For more insights, visit the RSPCA knowledge base about when is the right time to buy a horse or pony?

Every horse owner should have a commitment to look after their horse(s) in a responsible and ethical manner. Anyone who owns or cares for horses should understand at least the basics of horse care and welfare - by having a horse you take on a ‘duty of care’. Good horse care is essential for the well-being of a horse, they rely on us completely to get it right. We believe that as a bare minimum, an owner should be aiming to follow the principals laid out in the Three F's. ’Forage, Friendship & Freedom’

For some great tips about Responsible, Sustainable & Ethical Horse Ownership check out this article about Responsible Horse Care

While you’re there you may like to check out the Free Mini-Course which features a 7 video course about Horse Grazing Characteristics - You’ll learn about:

What is a horse? What characteristics do they have that make them what they are?
Why do horses eat so much and why do horses have to have so much food?
How do they live in the free living situation?
How does this compare to when we keep them as domestic animals?
How do horses normally spend their day?
How do horses affect the land that they live on?
How can we improve our domestic horse’s lifestyle?

I hope you find this information helpful and I wish you many years of enjoyment with your horse or pony if you decide to go ahead.