Ponies for Sale

Ponies for Sale: Types and Breeds

Ponies for sale vary more than horses do, because size decides who can ride them. Family riders usually start with All-rounder Pony and Leisure Pony, while young competitors look under Show Jumping Pony, Dressage Pony and Eventing Pony. Driving Pony, Hunting Pony, Endurance Pony and Broodmare Pony complete the categories.

Breed tells you a lot about size and type:

• Welsh ponies: in the US stud book, Section A ponies stand no taller than 12.2 hh (127 cm) and Section B ponies up to 14.2 hh (147 cm).
• Connemaras: an Irish breed that ranges from about 13 to 15 hh (132 to 152 cm) in North America, so some are horse-sized.
• German Riding Ponies: sport ponies bred in Germany from Welsh, Arabian and Thoroughbred lines for dressage, jumping and eventing.
• Shetlands: the smallest of these breeds, used both for riding and for driving.

Pony Heights in Hands and Hunter Pony Sizes

Ponies are measured at the withers in hands. One hand is 4 inches (10.16 cm), and the figure after the point counts extra inches, so 13.2 hh means 13 hands and 2 inches, or 54 inches (137 cm). Internationally, the FEI caps ponies at just over 14.2 hh (148 cm without shoes, 149 cm with shoes).

In USEF hunter classes, ponies are divided into three sizes:

• Small pony hunters: 12.2 hh (127 cm) and under.
• Medium pony hunters: over 12.2 hh, up to 13.2 hh (137 cm).
• Large pony hunters: over 13.2 hh, up to 14.2 hh (147 cm).

A pony shown in classes where height matters needs a USEF measurement card, so ask to see it before you buy a show pony. Check a pony that measures near the top of its size carefully, because the card decides which division it can show in.

Choosing a Pony for a Child

Temperament comes first. The right first pony is quiet and forgiving, stands still for mounting and behaves for grooming, the farrier, clipping and trailer loading. Ask the seller directly about spooking, bucking, bolting and how the pony behaves alone or away from home.

Match experience carefully. A green pony and a green child rarely teach each other well, so beginners do best on a schoolmaster: an older, experienced pony that has already carried other children. These ponies often cost more than younger ones, but their experience is exactly what a beginner needs.

Size should fit your child now, not in three years. Leg length, weight and ability matter more than age, and a pony that is too big or too strong can overwhelm a small rider. If your child is growing fast, a lease may make more sense than buying.

Involve your child's instructor from the first viewing, or a Pony Club instructor if your child belongs to the United States Pony Clubs. They know how your child rides and can spot problems that parents miss.

What Drives the Price of a Pony

Safety is what parents pay for, so a quiet, proven pony commands a premium. Size within the hunter divisions, a USEF show record, soundness, age and training all move the price.

As indicative market ranges, a quiet family or lesson pony often sells for about $2,000 to $8,000, depending on age, training and soundness. Ponies with a winning record in USEF pony hunter classes often cost five figures. A pony advertised at €10,000 comes to about $11,200 at late-2026 exchange rates, and importing one from Europe typically adds $7,000 to $10,000. Budget $250 to $2,000 for the pre-purchase exam as well.

Buying a Pony Safely

Use the same safeguards as for a horse: visit in person, have a veterinarian you choose do a pre-purchase exam, check that the Coggins test is current, and put the sale in a written contract or bill of sale. Never pay for a pony you have not seen or had checked, and be wary of sellers who ask you to pay their transport company up front.

The trial ride matters even more with ponies. Plan it like this:

• Watch the seller's rider first, so you see what the pony does with someone it knows.
• Have the child who will ride the pony try it, with their instructor watching.
• Ride in an arena and outside, and come back for a second visit if you can.
• Let your child catch, groom and lead the pony, and see how it reacts to small mistakes.

Ask the vet to look closely at feet, teeth and eyes and to take a blood sample for a drug screen; a pony that is calm only when sedated is not a child's pony.

Selling an Outgrown Pony on Paardplaats

Good ponies often move from one child to the next, and a clear ad on Paardplaats helps yours find the right family. Give the height in hands and say whether the pony has a USEF measurement card, describe the size and ability of rider it suits, and list its experience at shows, Pony Club or on trails. Add daylight photos, a video of the pony being ridden, vet records and a current Coggins, and be honest about quirks, because buyers will find them at the trial anyway.