Emmie's First Pony Trivia Quiz

Answer: have some horse riding lessons

It's really important for Emmie to have some riding lessons before she gets her own pony. Emmie may discover that she does not like horse riding as much as she thought she would, and she will have to do a lot of it when she has her own pony. It is also important for her to have some basic skills before she has a pony of her own to look after.

Answer: all of these

Unfortunately, some horses live in paddocks that don't have all of these things, but since Emmie wants her horse to be safe and comfortable, she should make sure that her horse's paddock does. It is also important to check that the grass is in good supply and that there are no toxic weeds that the horse could eat by mistake.

Answer: a Welsh mountain pony

Welsh mountain ponies make great riding ponies for children, and are very popular. The other three breeds mentioned can all be lovely horses, but will be much too big for Emmie (an eight year old) to ride and handle on her own.

Answer: all of these

Putting on a helmet and finding a safe riding area are both things Emmie knows she should always do. Watching someone else ride the horse will give Emmie a chance to see what the horse can do, but more importantly, will also show her that the horse will be safe for her to ride.

Answer: It is gentle, quiet, well-trained and Emmie enjoys her first ride.

Emmie is not a very experienced rider, so it is important that the pony she buys has a good nature and has experience so that he can help Emmie learn. All of the other things mentioned might be nice, but on their own they are not good reasons for Emmie to buy a pony.

Answer: get a vet to examine the pony

It is very important for Emmie to find a vet to check out the pony before she buys it. Vets can detect all kinds of problems that may not be visible now, but which could cause big problems for Emmie and her pony in the future.

Answer: a cotton paddock rug or fly sheet

Not all ponies wear paddock rugs during summer, but Emmie wants her horse to have some protection from insect bites and small scratches so she chooses a cotton paddock rug. Sweat rugs and cooler rugs are designed to help horses dry off after heavy exercise. The canvas rug would be too hot for a warm summer day. A saddle blanket is placed under the saddle while Emmie rides.

Answer: find a riding instructor or pony club - every rider needs regular training

Emmie's horse sense tells her that her pony can't be trusted to stay in his paddock if the gate is open and that he won't like being chased by dogs. She might like to show her pony off along the main roads, but this is not a safe thing for a young and inexperienced rider to do. Besides which, she will make friends even more quickly if she joins her local pony club.

Answer: a jockey

Yes, even a dentist! In some regions people use vets to take care of their horses' teeth, but there are also professional horse dentists who do this. About once a year Emmie will call a horse dentist to check her pony's teeth. She will call a farrier regularly to take care of her pony's feet, and when her pony is sick or hurt she will need a vet. Jockeys ride racehorses, so Emmie probably won't be needing one of those.

Answer: downhill racing

Until Emmie is more experienced she should never let her pony go faster than a walk when they are going down a hill. Racing her pony is also not a good idea. The other three activities are all great practice for Emmie and her pony. Good luck to them!