- Cob
- Skewbald
- Mare
- 10 years
- 12.3hh / 130cm
- Super Safe / Unbelievable Quiet / On and Off Lead Rein
- Ridden By The Tiniest Of Tots Unaided
- Ridden By RDA / Complete Beginners For 2.5Yrs Riding School
Smartie – The Ultimate First Pony
Smartie is the quietest, kindest and most sensible little pony you could ever wish to meet. She is exceptionally safe, both under saddle and on the ground, making her the perfect first pony both on and off the lead rein.
She will happily walk, trot and canter beautifully on the lead rein for children taking their very first steps into riding. Off the lead rein, she is equally happy carrying riders who are holding the saddle handle while building confidence, as well as those riding independently. She truly has a young body with an old head on her shoulders. She is never spooky, sharp, strong or silly and always takes wonderful care of her riders.
Over the past 2.5 years Smartie has worked in a professional riding school where she has safely taught hundreds of children, from tiny tots aged just two years old through to more established young riders. She has patiently introduced countless children to walk, trot, canter and their very first jumps.
She has three beautifully balanced, steady paces and responds exceptionally well to the voice, allowing beginners who are still holding the saddle handle to be guided confidently without needing rein contact.
Smartie has never bolted, reared, bucked. She is not strong, pulley or forward going, she goes wherever you ask calmly and sensibly, she has more whoa than go, making her a lovely, reassuring ride for someone just starting out or building their confidence. However, when ridden by a more experienced jockey, she will happily step up a gear and become more responsive and forward when asked.
She is an incredibly genuine, sensible mare who adapts beautifully to the ability and confidence of her rider.
She truly is every child’s dream pony, with the most adorable little face that you simply can’t help but fall in love with.
She waits patiently in group lessons for her turn, is equally well behaved in private lessons, and has taken part in our in-house competitions including Lead Rein classes, Handy Pony, Fancy Dress and Pony Club rallies.
She has a lovely snaffle mouth and requires no gadgets.
Smartie will happily be lead around the yard by the tiniest of tots without pulling or being strong, allowing even the youngest children to confidently catch her from the field, groom her, pick out her feet, and care for her safely. she stands quietly to be groomed, bathed and fussed over, she will happily stand in her stable with the door open and not try and come out, will equally stand at a mounting block without move for as long needed, she is super chilled, quiet and easy to handle.
She is a firm favourite during our stable management courses and therapy sessions.
Smartie is exceptional out hacking. She is completely unfazed by heavy, fast-moving traffic and has seen everything from articulated lorries, double-decker buses, tractors and trailers to motorbikes, bicycles, prams, trolleys and dogs — absolutely nothing fazes her.
She hacks confidently both alone and in company, happily leading or following. She is never strong, nappy or silly and is perfectly content to stay at the back of the ride without trying to overtake, race or be silly in any way, she maintains in her pace and place even in a large group hack.
In open spaces she remains calm, relaxed and sensible. If the other horses canter away, Smartie is more than happy to stay behind with her rider, and she will patiently wait if the others return home ahead of her.
Smartie enjoys jumping and will happily pop a small course of coloured or rustic fences, both on and off the lead rein, always giving her rider confidence.
She is excellent to catch, load, travel, shoe / feet paired, and stands perfectly for the dentist, farrier and vet. She loads first time, every time, travels impeccably and is an absolute pleasure to take out and about. Smartie is currently barefoot as she has very strong healthy hooves, she is equally happy to be shoed.
Smartie has recently passed our annual Riding School Licence inspection, carried out by a veterinary surgeon, which is comparable to a Stage 2 vetting.
During the entire time we have owned her, she has never been sick, lame, suffered from colic or required any time off through injury or illness. She is fit, healthy and in excellent condition, with no sarcoids, sweet itch, laminitis, lumps or bumps. Smartie is a substantial build with most definitely I leg in each corner, she has never suffered from laminitis.
She is wonderfully low maintenance and doesn’t need riding every day. She can happily have four weeks off and return to work exactly as she left it, without any fuss or freshness.
She currently works four days a week in our riding school and thoroughly enjoys her job.
We have several horses and ponies available for viewing.
Smartie has a very simple routine and is incredibly easy to keep. She has a basic diet of haylage when stabled and grass when turned out. She currently lives in a mixed herd of 25 horses, is stabled during the day when working and turned out overnight.
Equally, she would be perfectly happy living out full-time or being stabled full-time. She is not clingy and is equally content living or turning out on her own if required.
Smartie is only available because we regularly rotate our riding school horses after around 18 months - two years. We strongly believe these wonderful ponies deserve the opportunity to enjoy a one-to-one family home where they receive individual attention, more variety and plenty of fun adventures. Sold on behalf of a working livery.
They work incredibly hard teaching children and give so much of themselves every single day, so we feel they deserve the very best next chapter.
Whoever is lucky enough to buy Smartie will not just be purchasing a pony — they will be gaining a kind, genuine and utterly trustworthy family member who will give a child years of confidence, fun and unforgettable memories.
If you are GENUINELY interested, please CALL or WhatsApp me.
Stockport, Cheshire, SK2