How much is a Pony?

A pony is £25 pounds.   That is what they will tell you if you ask that question in London, but why?  Why do Londoners call £25 a pony? 

The best theory is that a 25 rupee note had a picture of a pony on it, so when British people came back from India in the 1800s, they gave £25 note the nickname “A Pony”. Check out our explanation below!

Ask us that question here at Strathorn Farm Stables, and you will get a very different answer!  We wish a pony was £25 but unfortunately, we have to pay a lot more than that for them.

Current Pony Prices 2024. What is the pony market like?

Pony and horse prices have risen to all time high levels in the last 4 years, initially fueled by the COVID lockdowns, but now supported by an increase in prices of horses coming from Ireland due to Brexit.  Ireland was typically a source of good value horses for us in the UK, however the fees and the extra paperwork required have now put prices at a premium. 

Horse prices took an upturn in the same way that dog prices did during lockdown. Many people with a bit of land suddenly found themselves stuck at home and unable to access their local riding schools, so the market got very buoyant very quickly. 

Horses are subject to the same supply and demand pressures as any commodity, and the reduction in supply from the increase in red tape from the EU and the increase in demand from leisure riders has increased prices to record levels. 

Not only that, the feverish demand is leading to people buying horses unseen – not something we’d recommend. Bear in mind horses can live for up to – and sometimes over – 30 years, and they have a way of winning you over which makes you unlikely to want to sell them. 

Add in the cost of lifetime ownership of a horse and making the wrong choice can not only be heartbreaking, but also bank breaking! 

Our advice would be – if you are thinking about buying a horse unseen – don’t.  You really want to get to know the owner, know it’s history and know what you are getting yourself into.  If someone is pressuring you into buying a horse because they have “another 6 people coming to see it” let it go.  Let someone else take the risk. 

It might take a bit more time to find the right horse, but it will be worth it. Also being rushed into a cheap sale is a false economy.  If the seller is pushy and puts pressure on you, walk away. The horse could be with you for the next 25 years, treat it would you would any partnership, you wouldn’t marry someone after only one ride, so do commit to horse on the same terms.

How much does a Pony cost to buy?

It very much depends on what you are after. Do you want to take on a project? Then you might get one for free! You can probably expect it to have some behavioural issues though, or an injury. As they say, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!

That’s not to say you can’t make something of it. We have had some horses with suspensory ligament issues do very well as long as they don’t jump. Horses with back issues probably should be avoided, unless you are only going to have very light riders on, or walk only.

There is a concept called “Servicably sound” where a horse is fit for its job. In many many all horse are only “Servicably sound” as – like a human with over work – little niggles will start to become apparent. An Ex three star eventer may no longer be fit for eventing, but as a happy hacker it could have a long and comfortable life.

Our advice would be to find out the horses history, perhaps even have it vetted and be prepared for a long haul if it’s injury or behaviour causes issues.

How much should I pay for a Pony?

Breeding, confirmation, level of schooling, fitness, soundness and ability all play a part in the price of a pony. There is an old adgae that says a horse can only be two out of three… Fast, cheap or good.

How much should I pay for a project pony?

Firstly, what is a “Project Pony”? It’s likely to be something either coming back from injury, unhandled, or the current owner simply isn’t getting along with it. For example, we often move horses along from our riding school as projects because they just don’t like the life.

Having different riders is not every ponies cup of tea, or group riding in indoor schools might not be their thing. These horses always go on to have a happy single rider life somewhere else, maybe as a happy hacker or pony clubber, so defintely dont rule them out.

You can get “Project Ponies” anywhere from £500 to £4000. I have provided a few examples below

Project Pony Prices

How much is a well schooled pony?

If you look at “ready to go” ponies, you have to appreciate the work and the cost that has gone into getting the pony where it is and expect to pay a decent amount for it. I have provided a selectiopn below to give you an idea of prices of well schooled ponies. If you look at size, there is a strong correlation between height and price.

How much does and under 11.3hh well schooled experienced Pony cost?

Betweeen £3750 and £5500

How much does a 12hh well schooled experienced Pony cost?

Betweeen £7000 and £8000

How much does a 13hh well schooled experienced Pony cost?

Betweeen £9500 and £10000

How much does a 14hh well schooled experienced Pony cost?

Betweeen £12,500 and £13,000

How much is a 6 year old pony?

These 6 year old ponies cost between £2000 and £7000

How much is an 8 to 12 year old pony?

These 8 to 12 year old ponies cost between £3000 and £7950

How much is a 12 to 16 year old pony?

These 12 to 16 year old ponies cost between £1200 and £8000

How much is a 16+ year old pony?

These 16+ year old ponies cost between £1995 and £6000