Do You Want A Horse Or Pony?

Do you want to get a pony or horse? That's great! For a horsecrazy girl, a horse or pony is a best friend forever. Just be sure to do your homework first because there is a lot that goes into having a horse or pony as a pet. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do I have a safe place to keep my pony? Horses need protection in the way of shelter from the weather, such as rain, wind, ice, hot sun, and snow. It's also very important for them to have a place to run freely every day. Some ponies live in a pasture and have a barn or some form of shelter nearby for escaping the weather. If a horse gets wet and then stands in the wind without protection, she can get sick. If you are thinking of keeping your pony in a pasture most of the time, you need at least one acre of land, up to three acres, for your pony to run freely and graze. Large trees within the pasture area would be great so your pony could enjoy the shade on hot days.

What type of fence or barrier will be used to keep your pony inside the pasture? Horses and ponies can be very determined animals. They will try to put their legs and heads right through a fence if they think they can. The type of fencing you use to surround your pasture must be safe for your horse. The fence must be very strong and something the pony will see easily. It can't have anything on it that would cut or injure your pony. Barbed wire must never be used!

One of the best choices for fencing is a heavy-gauge, woven wire mesh material with holes small enough to keep your pony from putting her hoof through by accident. It's a good idea to put a wooden rail along the top of the fence so your pony will see it, even when she is running, so she can stop or turn away without running into the fence.

Another place to keep your pony is in a barn, inside a stall, or box. As long as you have a pen outside for giving them some exercise, a barn is a safe place for your pony to live. If this is the case, you must build a pen, or corral, for her so she has a place to exercise every day. The fence of a pen needs to be very strong since your pony will come into contact with the fence more often. Strong metal pipes or wood are often used to build pens and corrals.

How will I take care of my pony? In addition to the proper living and exercise area, your pony needs a lot of care, so you need to be prepared for what it will take to keep your pony healthy. Here are some things to think about.

Food and water: You must make sure your pony has fresh water every day and a good amount of hay or grass each day. If they are kept in a stall, they must be fed and watered at least two times every day.

Grooming: This is a great way to spend time with your pony and it also helps keep her coat shiny and healthy. Every day grooming would be great, but make sure to always groom her before you ride her so dirt on her coat doesn't get into her skin. You'll need to take care of her coat, mane, tail, hooves, and sometimes trim certain areas on her head.

Mucking her stall: This is very important for keeping her hooves healthy. If your pony is kept in a stall, you'll need to clean her stall every day. Did you know that the average pony will produce several gallons of urine and 15 pounds of manure every day? Your pony could get sick if she has to stand in that all day long.

Check for illness or injuries: Your pony needs to be checked every day for possible injuries or illness.

Training: You'll need to spend time each day training your pony so she will be a good riding horse and safe to be around.

Hoof cleaning: All four hooves will need to be cleaned out each day.

Exercise: If your pony is kept inside a stall most of the day, she will need to be exercised in her pen or allowed to run freely in a fenced-in pasture every day.

As you can see, having a horse or pony is a big commitment! After school, you should allow an average of two hours every day to care for your pony. Other costs to consider are veterinary bills, farrier costs and buying her tack. Owning a pony can be fun and rewarding, but just be prepared for working hard, too, in order to keep her happy and healthy.

Sydney Rose is a nine-year old girl who is crazy about ponies and horses. Together with her mom, she has created http://www.HorseCrazyGirls.com a fun and safe place for girls to find online horse games and printables, share horse and pony names pictures, and lots more. She is hoping to get a pony or horse for her tenth birthday.

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