Here are some of our more frequently asked  questions.  Please feel free to contact us if your question is not answered below

This is a party for a one-year old?  Is that old enough?

 
Any child that can sit up unassisted is old enough to ride a pony. A baby's first birthday is an ideal time to celebrate - they often will suddenly start talking that day, if only to say a word they have made up for 'pony'.  

What about the weather?

Children who want a pony party are never going to be deterred by a little drizzle and we have rain gear, however, we are happy to offer face painting services in lieu of the pony party in case of inclement weather cancellations.  Transportation surcharges will still apply should you elect to have the face painting and/or craft table - your deposit will be applied to that service. Please see our Policy Page for more details.

What will I need to provide?

Please supply approximately 50 feet of parking space alongside your front yard by blocking it off ahead of time.  The ponies come off on a ramp from the back of the trailer, equipment is accessed from a curbside ramp.  We prefer to work as pictured here, in your front yard or cul de sac, so that the second pony can be tied safely and children supervised around him. If the side ramp area is clear we unload our beautiful carriage as a photo prop and, weather permitting, my face painting station.

 We have a low hitch and need a non-hilly place to turn around, or an exit route out of your neighborhood.

  Please have your dogs crated or otherwise enclosed for their protection. If there are dangerous or distracting dogs in the neighborhood, please consider contacting your neighbors in advance.  If the handler feels the ponies are threatened she can elect to leave the party site with no refund.

Other than that, a bag of carrots and a few pieces of cake as the ponies depart are always appreciated! Our ponies loooove birthday cake, and the children love the spectacle of ponies gobbling messy icing and cake.

Do you provide supervision?

Each child will have a different reaction to the animals.  Our goal is to provide every guest with the best possible experience as they ride the pony - at times this may take all of our attention.  We expect that, as hosts, you will assist us in our mission by keeping ballons and active ball play in a different area of the yard, and loud noises and unsupervised toddlers to a minimum. 

What is the etiquette?  How do I prepare the children?

To maximize the pleasure you have during your event, you can tell your guests that the ponies will be happier without sudden movements and that if you put your fingers in the pony's mouths, they can't really tell fingers from food. Ponies are fine with loud noises, but cannot tolerate objects swinging around them or hitting them or balloon bursts or being squirted by water guns (yes I have dealt with all of this!).  Children may not run after the pony while it is giving rides.  Proper footwear is a MUST.  Bare feet are a no-no, especially when standing on pavement.  On the positive side - these ponies weigh about 400 lbs each and are unlikely to injure to properly-clad feet.  

Our ponies have these jobs because of their patience and love of their work, and this is reflected in their somewhat un-ponylike behavior.  Please do not be unduly alarmed if the children walk behind the ponies despite your instructions - my ponies are not kickers and do not startle easily. 

Can we feed the ponies?

Children can hand-feed larger carrots, allowing the ponies to break them off from the whole. The ponies can drink from cups etc. and in fact, believe they are the guests of honor. They do not have access to pasture at home and will be very interested in trimming your lawn.  They also expect a bit of birthday cake for their send-off.  You'll love the squeals of delight from your children as they watch nimble lips cleaning the trailer door edge for the last bit of cake icing.

Do you conform to health regulations?

The ponies have all the standard inoculations, worming, foot and dental care.  They are our show ponies and our treasured family members.  They enjoy traveling and working. We do carry insurance.

The USDA does not have jurisdiction over pony ride businesses as they do with petting zoos so no licensing is required.  Horses and ponies do not transmit diseases to humans such as e.coli, salmonella or botulism - so stash the hand sanitizer, relax and enjoy! 

Our ponies are trained to walk ahead while we are at their side, allowing us to grasp your child firmly at all times he or she is mounted.  You are welcome to walk alongside, but please do not allow the child to hold onto anything but the saddle horn.  Helmets for riding are unnecessary.

What about the mess?

Our ponies have somewhere along the way potty-trained themselves to not 'poo' on the job up to two hours and we may put them on the trailer for a potty-break if your party is a longer sort. Should they resort to such we will certainly remove it - to your garden if you prefer.   They do however, often 'tinkle' after they exit the trailer...the small children, with their lower vantage points, find this fascinating.     Both ponies are geldings, which means that they are males that are 'fixed', so be prepared for questions!   In summertime you may want a hose handy, if it would increase your comfort level - pony urine can 'burn' your lawn.

I've put off making arrangements and now my day has been taken!  Can you come later in the evening?

The ponies are just as happy to entertain you under your floodlights - something to think about on those hot summer days.

We're going to have a moon bounce - is that a problem?

No, not at all.  In fact many times we are not the only attraction!  There are a few common-sense considerations:  No balloon art around the ponies.  No fireworks or firecrackers.  Billy objects to amplified music, so if you will have that at your party, please let me know in advance and be aware that the pony rides will have to be somewhat out of range of the music.

Can we offer you a glass of wine?

Most often our clients are entertaining more than children on the day of the party.  Sometimes the adults are just as interested as the kids!  Please keep an eye on your guests, especially those to whom English is a second language.  It is imperative that your guests understand and respect the 'personal space' the ponies require.  Alcohol can release inhibitions regarding all sorts of behavior, including interaction with animals.  At our discretion we may have to leave the party early if we feel the guests are endangering the safety of the children or ponies through inappropriate behavior. 

It's winter - is it worth having ponies?

The twin adrenaline pumps of a party and ponies is enough to warm the tiniest toddler.  So long as it isn't excessively windy, your children will enjoy the novelty of our two fur-balls.  

What ARE Ponies?

There is no such thing as a stupid question!  Ponies are horses and are the same species.  All ponies are horses...but not all horses are ponies! Strictly speaking, a pony is a horse of a certain small size, 58" or less when measured at the top of the shoulder.  People who love them know that ponies tend to have a particularly charming character that is subdued or lacking in their larger brethren.   Just as a small terrier seems to have more 'personality' than say, a Mastiff, so do the ponies act more expressively on the whole.

Our ponies are named Billy the Kid (he's the one with the blue eye) and Jesse James (he looks like a girl - but he's all boy). They are what I describe as "Mid-Atlantic Shetlands" - mostly Hackney pony, with some Shetland thrown in for size.  They are most probably full brothers, although their exact provenance remains a mystery. Like most brothers, they sometimes disagree...but are in the end, inseparable.

Ready to Book your Party? Click here

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.

Copyright 2008  All rights reserved.

Here y

Use t