What child doesn’t dream of being close to animals? Especially children who don’t have their own pets often love going places where they can spend time with animals.
Small animals can be popular, but often horses and ponies are especially beloved.
Most children, whether they are girls or boys, cherish a desire to harness, groom, and ride a horse or pony.
Fortunately, there are pony farms for just that, where you can spend a carefree day and enjoy the animals’ company.
Do you need special riding clothes?
Whether you need riding clothes or whether normal children’s clothing, with jeans and a t-shirt, is sufficient depends on what you intend to do.
If the children are still relatively small and only one excursion to the pony farm is planned for the time being, durable everyday clothing is sufficient. But be careful, the children are likely to get dirty.
Therefore, we recommend clothes that can take a beating and that you don’t mind getting grubby.
However, if it is already clear that this will be the first outing of many, it makes sense to buy proper riding clothes. Whether in jeans or riding trousers, however, safety should not be neglected.
A riding helmet is obligatory and body protector or safety vest recommended because even a fall from a pony’s back at low speed could cause serious injuries.
What should be considered when handling a pony?
It is important to teach children in advance how to handle ponies with care.
Ponies are gentle and sensitive creatures, but their strength and weight should not be underestimated.
The animals that live on a pony farm are of course used to contact with children and usually very calm, but nevertheless they should be respected.
One must not forget, the ponies are living creatures with diverse, individual, and lovable personalities that also have a mind of their own.
Attentiveness is therefore essential. It’s important to make sure your child follows safety precautions such as avoiding standing behind a pony.
If the animal kicks while a child is behind, it can have devastating consequences because, despite the pony’s small size, it has a great deal of strength.
It is also important that the child always keeps an eye on the hooves and is careful not to stand too close to them so that the pony does not step on the child’s feet.
Pony farms around Manchester
There are several superb pony farms and petting zoos around Manchester that make great day trip destinations.
Farms offering horse riding alongside other activities are particularly worth visiting. Reddish Vale Farm, for example, offers indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a petting zoo, bouncy castles, quad biking and tractor rides.
This makes it perfect for a whole day out. Children of different ages and activity levels will get their money’s worth here.
If, however, you’ve always wanted to bathe a giant turtle, operate a large excavator or find a pirate’s treasure, Lancaster Park could be just the place for you.
This place is perfect for a birthday, a day trip, and much more.
There are many other great destinations, such as Cockfields Farm Park or pony rides at Pony Patch.
If you can’t decide, the best thing to do is plan a trip to each park for an unforgettable day out.
