A pony or horse for a child: what parents need to know

This article is about buying and owning: when a family is ready, how to match child and animal, and who looks after it. For how a child starts riding, choosing a school and the first lesson, see Riding for children. Most sources are British, Australian or American, so they are not law in Slovenia or Croatia unless stated.

A pony is not automatically suitable for a child

The British charity Blue Cross writes, in its guide to choosing a riding horse, that when choosing a pony for a child it is even more important to make sure the animal is safe and suitable. The breed profiles on Živalce say the same: for all four breeds below the rating for children is "conditional", because the individual animal, its schooling and adult supervision decide, not the breed.

Nor is a pony "a smaller horse with less work": the Shetland profile calls for schooling as serious as any full-sized horse and a closely controlled diet, and the Welsh profile for carefully rationed feed because of a tendency to insulin dysregulation and laminitis.

Is your family ready?

Asked when to buy a horse or pony for a child, RSPCA Australia answers: as late as possible, once you are absolutely certain of the commitment of your child and the rest of the family. Most children want their own pony at some point, but many grow out of the wish. When interest fades, the RSPCA says, it is not as simple as giving up ballet: the animal has to be sold or rehomed. The British Horse Society (BHS) calls taking on a pony a big but very exciting commitment for the whole family.

The RSPCA advises starting with riding lessons at a reputable riding school. The child must be keen on all aspects of caring for an animal, not just riding, and a good school should offer care courses that show what ownership involves; according to the RSPCA, some Australian Pony Clubs (youth riding clubs) run courses for families just starting out. Blue Cross adds that if you are unsure of the commitment and responsibility, regular lessons and conversations with a qualified instructor may be better until you feel ready.

Pony or horse?

The word "pony" says the animal is smaller, not that it is calmer. The FEI (the international federation for equestrian sports), in a piece for parents (2020), warns against the myth that smaller horses and ponies are always the sweetest: sometimes the calm big horses are the most reliable, provided children learn to keep clear of their hooves. So the choice is not only "pony or big horse". According to the profiles on Živalce, Sections A and B of the Welsh pony are children's-pony size while Section C and the cob also carry adults, and the Haflinger is a small horse that its studbook of origin describes as suitable for riding and driving by children and adults. Because temperament and schooling decide in the individual animal, the choice is settled by a trial, not by the label in a breed's name.

Child and pony: size, schooling, temperament

In its guide to rider size, the BHS writes that riding a horse you are too big or too small for can cause welfare problems. A rider without the strength to be effective on a big horse may feel "over-horsed", which is potentially dangerous if control is lost. A pony carries rider and tack together, and beginners tend to be more unbalanced, which is harder for the animal to carry. There is no single formula, the BHS says; most BHS Approved Riding Centres set weight limits, and sometimes height limits, for each pony and horse.

For lessons or a lease, the FEI advises a docile horse that will not mind a new rider's mistakes, and realistic expectations: a horse hard for a trainer to catch is not likely to behave any better for a child, and one that dislikes loading should not be left to a young person to transport. Blue Cross warns that a horse that seemed calm when tried may be unsettled in new surroundings and take several weeks to settle; horse and rider also need time to get used to each other.

The Equestrian Federation of Slovenia (KZS), in its document on pony and small-horse competitions for children, allows ponies aged 5 or over that are suitably schooled for children; stallions are not permitted. A judge may exclude a pony that endangers a child. These are competition rules, not purchase rules, but they show what the federation treats as essential.

How to try a pony or horse before buying, and why an independent vet's examination matters, is covered in Which horse is right for a beginner. RSPCA Australia adds that the pre-purchase check should be done by an equine vet who also assesses temperament.

Who will care for it every day?

A pony is small in height, not in commitment.

According to the RSPCA, ownership is a commitment every day of the animal's life, often for several hours a day; the younger the child, the more parents need to be involved in the care. Anyone without land of their own who keeps the pony elsewhere has to travel to it every day, sometimes twice a day. The sources place responsibility with adults: the code from the UK government department DEFRA (2017) states that a parent or guardian of a child under 16 is responsible for any animal owned or cared for by the child, and for riding the AAP advises that nobody should ride unsupervised.

DEFRA adds that an owner who leaves an animal in another person's care must make sure that person is competent and has the authority to act in an emergency. We found nothing in the sources about a similar rule in Slovenia or Croatia; the code is good practice, not domestic law.

Safety: supervision, hat, trainer

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in its 2011 educational handout on horseback riding, writes that, unlike other sports, the risk of injury is highest for the most inexperienced riders, and that the most serious injuries off the horse come from kicks.

An Australian review of 505 children under 16 admitted over 16 years to a large paediatric trauma centre with horse-related injuries (Wolyncewicz et al., Injury, 2018) found that 56% were injured in a private setting and 23% in a sporting or supervised one. Children injured around a horse rather than on it were twice as likely to need intensive care or surgery and eight times as likely to have a severe head injury. The data come from one hospital's registry and do not measure how often injuries occur, so they are a reason for caution, not a forecast.

What the research says about hats and what a child should wear from head to toe is covered in the riding-for-children article mentioned at the start and in Basic riding equipment for the rider. The competition rules of the national federations show what they treat as the minimum: for children's competitions (ages 6 to 16) the Slovenian KZS prescribes a three-point-fastened hat and a body protector, with an adult holding a KZS professional licence always accompanying the rider; the Croatian Equestrian Federation (HKS), in its dressage rules (in force from 23 March 2026), requires a hat as a general rule and a protective vest for competitors under 17 holding D-0 or D-1 licences.

Costs, time and liability

We give no amounts: there is no official Slovenian or Croatian price statistic, and foreign figures do not fit our market. RSPCA Australia lists the ongoing costs as the farrier, feed, worming, veterinary and dental care, and a place to keep the animal; Blue Cross says a rider's budget should include lessons and training. The budget, quotes and insurance are covered in What you need before buying your first horse.

Time is the other cost. The RSPCA writes that ownership is hard to combine with other interests, and that holidays need cover arranged in advance.

In Slovenia the Code of Obligations (Article 158, as of 29 September 2026) provides that the keeper is liable for damage caused by a dangerous animal, and for damage caused by a domestic animal unless they prove they provided the necessary protection and supervision. Whether a given horse counts as domestic or dangerous is not something we assess here; ask a lawyer or an insurer about your case. We did not check any provision for Croatia.

When the child outgrows the pony or loses interest

RSPCA Australia points to welfare problems in the repeated "moving on" of unwanted ponies, because children grow out of them quickly: stress, behavioural problems and a high risk of laminitis. The same source says a pony can be very hard to sell or rehome, especially if the child has lost interest or the pony is unsuitable, and knowledge is needed to buy and to sell. The BHS adds that riding a pony too small for the rider causes welfare problems, so outgrowing is not just a financial question.

The editors suggest writing the plan for that moment before you buy: keep the pony for a younger child or as a companion for another horse, loan it out, or sell it to a home that can look after it. A trainer who knows both pony and child can help find one.

Alternatives: lessons, sharing, loan

Before buying, the RSPCA advises sharing or loaning, which reduces some of the costs and long-term commitments. The BHS loan guide (UK) calls loaning a stepping stone towards ownership without the upfront purchase cost, says some owners prefer a short trial period first, and mentions it as a practical solution for owners who have outgrown a pony. BHS, DEFRA and Blue Cross warn that on loan the responsibilities and ongoing costs are the same as, or very similar to, owning, so agree with the owner who does what and how the arrangement ends. Schools, clubs and programmes for children are covered in the riding-for-children article mentioned at the start.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a child have a pony?

None of the sources we used gives a minimum age for owning a pony. Instead of age, RSPCA Australia stresses the child's commitment and the family's ability, and advises riding lessons before buying. The decision therefore depends on the child, the family and the pony, ideally with the advice of a trainer who knows the child.

Is a pony easier to look after than a horse?

Not necessarily. World Horse Welfare writes that horses, and particularly ponies, with high insulin concentrations are at high risk of laminitis. The Shetland profile lists shelter, exercise, company, a farrier, dental checks and a vaccination and parasite-control programme, much like a horse's needs, and the Shetland and Welsh profiles both stress controlled feeding.

Can a child look after a pony alone?

Not without adults alongside. In England a parent or guardian is responsible for the animal of a child under 16 (DEFRA); we found no such provision for Slovenia or Croatia. RSPCA Australia stresses that a younger child needs more parental involvement, and the AAP advises that nobody should ride unsupervised.

What should we do when the child outgrows the pony?

Write the plan before buying. According to the RSPCA a pony is hard to sell or rehome once the child grows up or loses interest, and the new home may again be inexperienced, so look for a home that suits the pony, ideally with a trainer's help. A pony too small for a larger rider is, per the BHS, a welfare problem, so do not keep it out of habit.

Is a horse suitable for a child with an allergy?

This article cannot judge that. Two British doctors (Roberts and Lack, BMJ, 2000) reported 28 cases of horse allergy seen in their London clinic (three described in detail), with symptoms ranging from urticaria to respiratory distress; they say the allergen can be carried on clothing. Ask a paediatrician or allergy specialist before buying.

What insurance do I need?

For England, DEFRA advises suitable public liability insurance for damage the animal may cause, and considering insurance for unexpected health problems. We did not check which policies are offered here: compare several insurers and ask what applies when a child rides. More on budget and insurance is in the article on buying your first horse.