From fitness and responsibility, to confidence and stress relief, discover how caring for a horse or pony builds character, resilience and lifelong skills.
1. Owning a horse stimulates physical activity
Caring for a horse means you will get plenty of exercise, whether it’s riding, feeding, rugging, brushing or training, and in all kinds of weather! In a world that is increasingly becoming computerised, and more time is spent being sedentary, this is a big advantage!
2. Owning a horse teaches responsibility, committment and priorities
Having a large animal depend on you for everything they need, helps build a sense of responsibility. You may need to get some paid work so you can buy things you need for your horse, such as feed, agistment, tack or riding lessons. You must prioritise your time spent with your horse, so it is well looked after before heading off with your friends.
3. Learning respect and compassion
Owning a horse gives the owner an opportunity for continuous learning through interacting with a living animal. Communication, friendship, humility and trust are things you will learn about in your relationship. You will also learn the value of all living creatures.
4. Owning a horse builds self confidence and independence
Horse riding is a sport that is really a partnership between a horse and rider, and learning to be the leader in the partnership inspires confidence. Through effort and patience, a sense of achievement is gained. These valuable lessons all contribute to growing independence.
5. Owning a horse reduces stress
There are many mental health benefits of caring for your horse and stress relief is one of them. Interacting with animals has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, and the physical activity involved when looking after horses has therapuetic benefits in mental health as well.
6. Problem solving and creativity
You will experience challenges when owning a horse and this forces you to find solutions to your problems and become more creative in those solutions. The lessons learned can help with other challenges you may experience in your life.
7. Social stimulation
If you have riding lessons or go to pony club, you will meet many like-minded people. Strong bonds are often formed with others who you share your time and passion with.
Interview with Allison
This is the second in our new series where Ruby our doggie reporter interviews the staff working for Melbourne’s Pony Parties. Today we’re interviewing Allison.
Name
Allison
Age
17 years
How long have you been working for Melbourne’s Pony Parties?
4 years
Which pony is your favourite?
Why?
She’s calm and very pretty
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Go out with friends
What is your favourite food?
Lasagne
What is the best book you have read?
What do you want to do when you’ve finished school?
Go to uni and become a dietician
What is your funniest horse/pony moment?
Getting bucked off galloping up a hill
What is the worst thing about corona virus?
Not being able to see friends
What is the best thing about corona virus?
Chilling at home
Allison is a great example of a young person who has owned horses growing up, and this has helped set her on a positive path to independence.
Read more about Allison’s adventures with ponies!
Meet more of our friendly staff.
Here’s a poem we wrote for one of our ponies, Peanuts.
Want to find out more about Melbourne’s Pony Parties? Make an enquiry.