| $ $ Primary Expenses: $750 - $5,8K | $ $ $ Continuous Expenses: $3,8K - $10K |
Ponies are the same species as horses, but they are different in several ways.
They are smaller, stockier, and more intelligent than horses.
While horses take longer to fully grow, ponies reach adulthood faster because of their smaller size.
There is a variety of breeds, just like it happens with horses, and their traits and personalities can greatly differ.
Even though they are small in size, there are not the only type of small horses.
Miniature horses, Falabellas, Nomas, or Icelandic horses are also small-size horses, some of them can even be smaller than ponies!
If having a pony has always been your dream or if you want to get one for another member of your family, there are a few things you should know first.
Let’s review some of their basic characteristics and how much it costs to have a pony.
Table of Contents
Is A Pony The Right Choice For Me?
The size of ponies, even if they are smaller than horses, is just too big to have them inside the house or even to keep them in the backyard.
Ponies and horses in general, need to have a lot of space to exercise and live.
This means having a farm or property big enough to have your pony or taking your pony to a place where it can have all the space it needs while others look after it (boarding).
They live between 20 and 40 years, so they are truly a long-time commitment.
Do you or any other member of your family have the time to take care of a pony?
Larger animals also tend to be more expensive than smaller domesticated pets, so consider your budget and how long they live before buying one.
Primary Expenses
Here you will find the basic expenses you’ll have to make when first getting a pony.
Adopting Or Buying A Pony
There are rescue organizations that have ponies of different breeds and ages up for adoption.
As with most animals or pets that need a new home, you will have to pay an adoption fee that can vary greatly depending on the town or city where you live.
Adopting a pony could cost from $500 to $1,000.
There is also the option of buying a pony from breeders or farms, and the price will also vary according to the breed and age of the pony.
Buying a pony can cost on average from $800 to $5,000.
Pony Tack
This is the basic equipment you need to ride a pony: saddle, saddle pad or blanket, bridle with reins, girth, halter, stirrups, bit, and lead rope.
Most ponies can only be ridden by kids or young adults, but this will depend on the size of the pony and the height and weight of the person in question.
This basic equipment generally costs from $250 to $750.
Continuous Expenses
In this section, you’ll find some of the general expenses you will have to make on a monthly or annual basis when having a pony.
Food
Ponies eat the same food as horses, they are after all, from the same species.
They feed on hay, grains and they will also need supplements like mineral and salt blocks to maintain a balanced diet.
You could spend from $200 to $800 per year on food for your pony.
Boarding
If you don’t have the space a pony needs to have a healthy life, then this could be the best option.
You can choose a full boarding package that includes food and other needs, or a basic package, where they rent the space for your pony to be and you’re the one that has to feed it, clean its area and spend time with it every day.
Boarding can cost between $3,000 and $8,000 per year.
Farrier
Farriers are the ones that trim the hooves of a pony or any other horse, usually every two months, but this can change according to the level of activity of your pony.
This service tends to cost from $300 to $800 per year.
Vet Visits
A specialized vet must check your pony at least two times a year in order to provide the necessary vaccinations, deworm, and dental treatments.
Because of the size, ponies can’t go to a vet clinic like smaller animals or pets, so the vet has to go wherever the pony is, and that tends to cost extra.
Vet visits could cost from $300 to $500 per year.
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