Buy Hunting Pony

Hunting Pony for sale: Buying and selling Hunting Pony

There’s something wonderfully honest about a good hunting pony: it goes where you point it, jumps what’s in front of it, and brings you home in one piece. When you see “Hunting Pony for sale” in an advert, you’re usually looking at a tough, clever little horse that’s learned its trade out in the field rather than in an arena. These ponies are often the backbone of family hunting, carrying children, small adults, and sometimes doing double duty as Pony Club all-rounders.

When we talk about a hunting pony, we’re not just talking about height. You’ll see native types, Connemaras, Welsh crosses, cobs, and sportier part-breds all described as “hunting ponies.” What really defines them is attitude and experience: they need to be mannerly at the meet, bold across country, happy in front or behind, and sensible in a crowd of horses, hounds, and vehicles. Buyers and sellers will often mention terms like “stands at the meet,” “good with hounds,” “goes first or last,” and “snaffle mouthed” – these are not just buzzwords, they’re clues about how the pony actually behaves on a hunting day.

In the wider equestrian world, a solid hunting pony is valued because it teaches riders to think ahead, ride in open country, and cope with real-life situations. Many of these ponies hunt through the winter and then show, event, or do Pony Club in the summer. For you as a buyer or seller, understanding how much real hunting mileage a pony has done, what country it’s hunted over (big hedges, walls, timber, or mainly gates and gaps), and with which pack, will tell you a lot more than any polished sales line ever could. That context is crucial when you’re looking at prices, suitability, and long-term soundness.

Buying Hunting Pony - what you need to know

When you’re buying a hunting pony, start by being brutally honest about who will ride it and how it will be used. A first-season child who’s mainly on the lead rein needs a very different pony from a confident teenager jumping hedges all day. When you go to view, don’t be shy about asking to see the pony in as real a situation as possible: hacking in company, cantering in open fields, and popping a few natural fences if facilities allow. If the advert says the pony has hunted, ask how many seasons, with which hunt, and at what level – quietly at the back or up front all day.

Always ride the pony yourself or have the actual jockey ride it, not just the yard professional. Pay attention to brakes, steering, and how it reacts if another horse canters past or away from it. Ask the seller for videos of full hunting days if they have them; many people have helmet cam footage now, and it can be very revealing. Documentation matters more than people often admit in the hunting world: ask for passport details, vaccination records, shoeing history, and any previous vet reports. A pre-purchase vetting is money well spent for a hunting pony, because they work on varied ground and over fixed fences. For a child’s pony or anything over about £4,000–£5,000, I’d strongly suggest at least a 2-stage vetting; for higher-value ponies in the £6,000–£15,000 range, go for a 5-stage with flexion tests and, ideally, the vet seeing it canter on grass.

Prices for hunting ponies vary widely. A straightforward, older hunting pony that will safely take a child on smaller days might be in the £2,000–£4,000 bracket, especially if it’s quirky in other ways or has mileage on the clock. A smart, sound, competition-type pony that will hunt all day, jump hedges, and then event or show through the summer is more likely to sit between £6,000 and £15,000, depending on age, height, and record. Red flags when buying include a seller who can’t name the hunt it has been out with, no recent videos, vague answers about soundness (“never been lame with me” but no details), or a pony that’s only ever been hunted by one very strong, experienced rider when you’re buying for a small child. Take your time, go back for a second ride if you can, and remember: for hunting, temperament and proven experience are worth more than a flashy trot.

Everything about selling Hunting Pony

Most hunting ponies come onto the market through private owners, Pony Club families, and small producers, although some dealers specialise in this type. As a seller, you’ll get better interest and better prices if you present your pony clearly and honestly. Make sure its teeth, back, and saddle have been checked, vaccinations are up to date, and you can show a consistent shoeing history. Buyers looking at hunting ponies for sale will expect you to know when it last hunted, how many days a season it typically does, and what sort of days suit it best – big hedge country, quieter trail hunting, or children’s meets.

Before advertising, give the pony a few weeks of regular, varied work so it’s fit enough to show properly without being wild. Video is your friend here: short, unedited clips of the pony hacking in traffic, standing at a simulated “meet” with other horses, cantering in open fields, and jumping small natural fences or rustic show jumps. Be honest in your wording: if it can be strong in big country, say so; if it’s better in a pelham than a snaffle when hunting, don’t hide it. Buyers appreciate accuracy, and it saves you wasted viewings. Have the passport, vaccination card, and any relevant vet or physio reports ready to show. If the pony has hunted with specific packs, mention them by name in your advert – it reassures knowledgeable buyers.

Pricing your hunting pony realistically is crucial. Age, height, soundness, and true hunting mileage are your main drivers. A reliable, older schoolmaster that’s still sound and safe is often worth more than a greener, flashier youngster, especially for family buyers. As a rough guide, expect children’s hunting ponies with a good record and no major issues to fall in the £4,000–£10,000 range, with top-end, competition-proven types going higher. Timing your sale around late summer to early autumn usually brings more interest, as people are shopping for the coming season. Use online equestrian marketplaces, hunt club noticeboards, Pony Club networks, and social media groups where “Hunting Pony for sale” posts are actively searched. The more clearly you can show that your pony is fit, genuine, and well-mannered in the field, the quicker you’ll find the right buyer and the smoother the transition to its new hunting home.