Frequently Asked Questions

 A. Top quality care for our horses and ponies can get expensive.  Our prices reflect the quality feed and care our furry family members deserve! From customized feed plans to massage and chiropractic appointments our horses are well taken care of to ensure they are happy and healthy when they visit your special day! 

A. Ponies are herd animals and are used to living in a group. They rely on each other like family. We have also found that many times a child who is afraid of riding a pony alone will be fine riding beside a friend, so two ponies are great! Either way you can't lose, more ponies, means more riding time!

 A. Yes, horses and ponies are mature at the age of five. The word 'pony' refers to their size, not their age. A 'horse' is simply an equine that stands over 14.2 hands (a hand is 4 inches), while a 'pony' is an equine under 14.2 hands. 

 A. Yes, our ponies need only a small yard, quiet street, cul-de-sac, parking lot or something similar. Even sidewalks will do. If a patch of your grass begins to suffer during the party we'll shift the riding around a bit or move off the grass. 

 A. We generally suggest one pony per 5-7 kids. 

 A. There are no age restrictions for our parties but there are weight limits that protect our ponies' health. Our variously sized ponies have carry weight limits up to 90lbs

A. Yes, yes, yes! Our ponies have an unsurpassed safety record.

We use well-trained ponies and horses with great dispositions, and have competent, professional staff who are well-trained to handle kids of all abilities. All our rides are hand-led so there is always a handler within reach of each rider. And if a child looks unsteady in the saddle, we'll ask a parent to walk along with him/her. With advance notice, we can provide additional handlers to act as side walkers.

We reserve the right to alter or refuse service in the unlikely event that we find an unsafe situation. It is our job to keep everyone safe and happy.

A. Our ponies are well groomed, clean, vaccinated, healthy, and ready to bring smiles all around. They are not, however, potty-trained. But don't despair: we clean up after our ponies. And composted pony manure makes great fertilizer, so if you compost, don't let it get away. In fact, if you want lots more contact us, we can deliver.

 A. Our main safety equipment is our rock solid ponies and great staff. You are more than welcome to use your own helmet if you wish. We never tie anyone on a pony as we feel that is very dangerous. We do ask parents to walk alongside younger children as they ride. 

A. It is a sad truth that some people misuse their ponies. Their ponies are a means to an end rather than part of the family. If the ponies look skinny, dull-coated, and depressed then chances are, they are not doing well.  Happily most people love their ponies. At Northwest Pony Parties, we select our ponies carefully for health and temperament, then we treat them with the respect and love they deserve. Our ponies eat the best quality feed and get plenty of days off. They don't work events more than a few days a week, and then get to enjoy lush pastures on their days off. Most people don't have it this good! 

 A. We are happy to bring our ponies to locations all over Washington, just ask. Travel Charges will apply from our locations.

We do offer lessons! Due to ensuring our horses and humans have rest during busy weeks we take a limited number of regular clients.  Feel free to contact us for availability! 

We welcome riders of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced riders. Our experienced instructors will tailor each lesson to the rider's individual needs and skill level.

Safety is our top priority at NW Pony Parties.  Our horses are also well-trained and regularly checked by a veterinarian to ensure their health and safety.