Once you have found the pony, you need the kit to go with it — and the lists online can be overwhelming (and expensive). The good news is that a first pony needs far less than the catalogues suggest. Here is an honest checklist of what you genuinely need, what you can buy second-hand, and what you can safely skip until later.
The essentials: tack
- A well-fitting saddle — the single most important item. It must fit the pony (for its comfort and soundness) and suit the child. Always have fit checked by a qualified saddle fitter.
- A bridle with a suitable, correctly fitted bit — usually a mild snaffle for a first pony.
- A numnah or saddle cloth and a girth to fit.
- A headcollar and lead rope for catching, leading and tying up.
Very often the best option is to buy the pony's existing tack if it genuinely fits — it saves money and you know it suits that pony. Just have any saddle checked by a fitter before you rely on it.
The essentials: the child's riding gear
- A correctly fitted riding hat to the current safety standard — the one thing you should buy new, or only second-hand if you know its full history. An unseen knock can compromise a hat.
- A body protector — strongly recommended, and essential once your child starts jumping.
- Jodhpurs and boots with a small heel (never trainers), plus gloves.
Safe, correctly fitted and clean beats expensive every time. Do not be talked into a wardrobe of matchy-matchy kit before the pony has even arrived.
The essentials: yard kit
- A grooming kit — dandy and body brushes, curry comb, hoof pick, mane comb and a sponge.
- Mucking-out tools — fork, shovel, skip and a barrow (often shared or provided on livery).
- A basic first-aid kit for the pony, and the vet and farrier's numbers to hand.
- Feed and water buckets, and a haynet or two.
It depends how the pony is kept
Rugs, field boots and extras depend entirely on your pony and how it lives. A hardy native pony living out may need only a lightweight turnout rug (or none), while a finer, clipped pony needs more. Ask the seller and your yard what this particular pony actually uses, rather than buying a full rug wardrobe on spec. The same goes for boots, over-reach boots and travel gear — buy them when you know you need them.
What you can buy second-hand
Most tack and kit lasts for years, so good-quality second-hand saddlery, rugs and grooming kit are a sensible economy — with two rules. First, always have a second-hand saddle checked for fit and condition before use. Second, never cut corners on the riding hat: buy it new, or only second-hand with a fully known history. Everything else is fair game if it is sound and clean.
Budgeting for it all
Kitting out a first pony is a real cost on top of the purchase price — a fitted saddle alone is significant when bought new. Buying the pony's existing tack and sensible second-hand kit keeps it manageable. Fold it into your overall planning with our guide on what a first pony really costs, and remember the ongoing running costs — livery, farrier and insurance — matter far more month to month than the one-off kit.
Next steps
- Plan the full budget: what a first pony really costs.
- Sort the running costs: farriers and hoof care and pony insurance explained.
- Still choosing the pony? Browse first ponies for sale on Pony Search.
Buy what you need, buy it well-fitting and safe, and add the rest as you go. A first pony needs less kit — and less money spent on kit — than most families expect.