Expert advice for anyone looking to buy a working hunter pony
If you or your child are looking for the added challenge of a course of fences to negotiate in the show ring, then the workers is the place for you. Our guide to buying a working hunter pony is a good place to start if you’re looking for a new pony to meet the challenge.
What makes a good working hunter pony?
Working hunter pony classes are one of the most popular sections within showing. Show schedules today offer a whole host of working hunter classes where both children and adults can enjoy competing their ponies over a course of rustic fences as well as showing off their way of going and conformation.
Each class is split into three phases, and marks are awarded for jumping, style, manners and way of going, conformation, type and freedom of action. The combination with the highest final score wins the class.
There are different levels of working hunter pony classes, ranging from unaffiliated through to novice, restricted, open and finally, national finals found at the major showing championships, Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), the Royal International (RIHS), and the London International Horse Show (LIHS).
Both the plaited and mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony classes are split into height sections, some of the classes are also restricted according to rider age and competition level.
What to consider when buying working hunter pony
Before you begin looking at the ponies themselves, there are some considerations that you will need to make…
Plaited vs native working hunter ponies
If you are searching for a working hunter pony for your child, then one fundamental decision you need to make is whether to pursue a plaited or a mountain and moorland pony. There are pros and cons to both.
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Plaited working hunter pony classes are age restricted, so your child will generally be competing against their peers. Also, if you purchase a part-bred pony, a sports pony or a British Riding Pony, for example, they will only be able to compete in the plaited ranks.
Just like their plaited counterparts, M&M working hunter ponies jump in height but there are no age restrictions on M&M worker classes, aside from in tiny tots or junior classes. This means that unless your child is just starting out in the workers and is aiming for those classes, they will not have to move out of any one height due to their age.
The advantage of this is that your child can potentially stay on their pony much longer. So, for example, if you were to purchase a 133cm pony for your child of 11, provided they don’t outgrow it, they could stay on that pony until it retires.
This is particularly advantageous to children who are smaller than average as they can enjoy extra years on a native, whereas peers on a plaited will have to move up through the sizes regardless of whether they are still small enough for their existing pony.
This does mean, however, that your child will have to compete with riders of all ages in the M&M working hunter pony ranks.
But if you purchase wisely, you could find yourself able to compete in both sections with a registered native pony that is capable of jumping the slightly bigger fence heights in the plaited sections.
Just remember that to compete in affiliated M&M working hunter pony classes, the pony must be fully registered with their respective native breed society and trimming isn’t allowed by all native breed societies. So even though, for example, the Fell pony you are considering is more than capable of jumping the heights, your chances of wrangling its mane into plaits and slicking down its feathers to look trimmed are very slim indeed!
The Welsh sections A, section B and section C, New Forests and Connemaras each have examples of their breeds currently successfully holding their own in both the plaited and M&M working hunter pony sections.
Age restrictions
Another of the most basic considerations you need to make is the age of your child. There are age restrictions on each of the plaited height classes as well as on native tiny tots and junior sections. There are also differences in the age restrictions for plaited finals at the RIHS and HOYS.
Make sure you read through the rules of the classes you are aiming to enter to ensure that they are going to be able to compete.
A word of caution: for parents new to showing and even to ponies, it may seem like a good idea to buy a pony from one of the bigger height sections even if your child is still relatively young in these classes and new to the competition. However, this means that they will be competing against children much older than them – or even young adults – and will be faced with much bigger fences. You’ll need to make an informed decision on whether or not your child can handle the stiffer end of the competition.
If you’re looking for a working hunter pony for yourself and are reading this guide, make sure that you check which classes you are eligible for. If you are over 18 years of age, then you are confined to either a 153cm or an intermediate in the plaited ranks, but M&M working hunter pony classes are generally open to adults, too, so you don’t need to worry about age restrictions for these classes.
Rider height and weight
As well as considering their age, it’s also sensible to consider your child’s height. The reality is, taller children might need to move up through the pony heights faster than their peers. Consider this before purchasing a pony for your child as you may find the pony outgrown before they’ve really hit their stride together.
As with their age, it may seem a good idea to launch your little 12-year-old into 153cm classes on the basis they can remain on the same pony for years, but if they are over-horsed, you could be creating a whole new problem to solve.
For taller children, they may find they have an extra year or two in a height bracket aboard a native pony, as they can be chunkier to take up long and growing legs.
Your own height and weight should be a consideration for you, too, when looking at ponies. The idea of smaller fences and a smaller pony to manage may be appealing, but you will feel more comfortable and the all-important picture will be much more attractive to judges if you are sensibly mounted.
I’m all for adults riding ponies if they wish to, but they should be on a pony of an appropriate size and build. It’s unfair to expect a pony to work properly over a course of fences if you are of an inappropriate weight ratio for the pony. Welfare guidance suggests that the rider should be no more than 20% of the pony’s weight.
Rider capability, personality and goals
Consider carefully your child’s capabilities and your aims for them with their prospective ride. If your child only has one season left in the class and is desperate to enter HOYS qualifiers, then buying a novice pony with very little mileage is not sensible. Neither is a novice a suitable purchase if your child is realistically not capable at this point in their own education of bringing on a green pony.
As well as your child’s capabilities, consider their personality and confidence levels, and try to purchase sensibly with these things in mind. If your child is nervous for example, they may be better suited to a pony who will quietly and steadily go about tackling the course, and it may be better to purchase a pony with some prior mileage who can help your child build confidence.
On the other hand, if your child is confident and ambitious, they may prefer a bolder jump and more forward ride. They may also be more mentally able to cope with the unknowns and the hurdles associated with bringing on a novice pony. Of course, this isn’t an exact science, and only you can really know what your child needs and what they can deal with.
If you’re buying a pony for yourself, you still need to consider your aims and realistically, what you are capable of. Can you honestly see yourself having the time and energy to bring on a green pony? Do you really want to jump the meatier HOYS or RIHS qualifiers and finals? If so, you’ll need to find a pony with a sufficient jump to cope with these fences, but if you think that competing at a lower level is more for you, then you may find more ponies to view that fit the bill and fit your budget.
Your personality is also important. What type of ride will you enjoy? A pony with more “go” than “whoa” or visa versa as they approach a fence? As an experienced adult, you may be able to school your pony to give you the kind of ride you enjoy. But be honest with yourself about your goals, capabilities and personality and you’re more likely to find a suitable partner.
Type and conformation
Samantha Darlington and her daughter Georgia Darlington have produced multiple top working hunter ponies. Georgia won the HOYS intermediate working hunter pony final in 2022 riding her own Jara before the pair stepped up successfully into horse ranks, finishing champion working hunter at HOYS in 2025. She was also champion M&M working hunter pony at HOYS in 2015 riding Welsh pony Tynwydd Good Friday. Georgia has also won the RIHS on each of the ponies. During her career Sam won HOYS and the RIHS over fences and was part of the England working hunter pony team.
“We always try to remember that a working hunter class is a showing class, so we’re looking for a type of animal that is good enough to show,” says Sam. “When we look at a pony and we ask ourselves if it would be good enough to show on the flat. For example, it must have correct conformation, move well and be straight.
“If I’m looking at a plaited pony then I would look at it as a show hunter pony. While it’s definitely harder to find these quality types today, once upon a time most riders would do both working hunter and show hunter classes with their ponies.”
“If I were looking for a native, it would similarly need to be a conformationally correct animal that is of a good type and stamp for its breed. If a pony hasn’t jumped it can be hard to tell if it is going to make a worker. You could take a look at the breeding to gauge if it will jump, though it’s not a guarantee.”
Blemishes and injuries
A true blemish, caused by a knock or an accident, is passable if everything else is good, Sam explains.
“I could overlook a splint or something similar if it didn’t impact soundness. A working hunter should have been jumped and hunted, so it’s unrealistic to expect their legs to be absolutely perfect.”
When it comes to prior injury, though, proceed with caution. Make sure that whatever has happened in their past is not likely to affect their future soundness and their ability to stand up to the kind of rigorous training and fitness needed for a successful season in the workers ring. If the pony is perfect in all other ways, discuss throughly with your vet what you can do to manage the condition and make an informed decision from there.
Where to find your next working hunter pony
Ponies are often sold via word of mouth, as Sam explains.
“It’s the best method in my opinion. Asking people who are out and about on the circuit and who have seen the pony around is the best way to gauge if it will do your job.”
Working hunter ponies for sale will be advertised at various times in the season on online platforms as well as on social media. Often, top ponies with consistent CVs will be available after HOYS, especially if the rider will be out of class for the next season.
“Social media and online sources make it easier to find out a pony’s history, and if we have pursued a pony billed as a schoolmaster we make sure to do extensive homework before a viewing; we make sure that it has done what is being claimed.
“I would definitely not recommend buying a pony without going to view it. Many ponies can sound ideal on paper but when you look at their jumping record they’re not quite what it seems, as in they might be consistently having poles down, or might have issues with certain obstacles, such as water trays.”
It’s also worth thinking outside the box. Look at adverts for Pony Club ponies or all-rounders. If the pony has good conformation and paces and is of a good type, it might make an excellent worker with the added benefit of having gained lots of mileage out and about enjoying other disciplines.
Viewing the pony
It’s always advisable to view a pony, even if you have asked around and gained some positive recommendations.
When assessing the ride of a working hunter pony, Georgia says: “I like a worker to ride forward and ‘pingy’. I like something to take me to a fence as I don’t like kicking. I would want a prospect worker to be bold and careful over a fence.”
It goes without saying that it’s a good idea to give the pony a jump when trying it. Think carefully about what you expect in a ride. If the pony you are viewing ticks all other boxes but gives a lesser ride, think about whether you can work with the pony to improve it.
If it rides well but isn’t your ideal partner in other ways, you’ll need to weigh up whether you can compromise on those things. For example, my sister’s former worker stopped twice when we tried him, even though he had previously jumped open tracks. The stops and his behaviour revealed that we were looking at a pony with some quirks, but ultimately we decided to buy him anyway – and though his personality would drive others stir crazy, we work with them where we can as we love him anyway.
If you’re unsure, genuine sellers will be happy for you to try a pony a second time. If you or your child have worked with a trainer for a while, they may be willing to accompany you to a viewing, especially if you are new to purchasing. And they may well be able to give valuable insight.
Ultimately, only you – and your child if it’s for them – will know if the pony you are viewing is the right one.
Some sellers will permit a trial period, though not all sellers wish to let their ponies go out on trial.
How much does a working hunter pony cost?
Budget is hugely personal and how much you can expect to pay is dependent on many different factors.
Every seller has a price in their mind, but a pony is only worth what someone is willing to pay. If you’re thinking of approaching the owners of a pony already proving itself on the circuit to ask to purchase the pony, expect to pay more.
An established pony in the current climate will be at least five figures.
If you don’t have the budget for your perfect pony, you need to decide whether you can wait to save up some more, or whether you can compromise and purchase, for example, a less established pony.
What happens when I’ve agreed on a sale?
When you have agreed on a sale, it is time to organise a pre-purchase vetting, something that is strongly recommended.
The vet will assess the pony with the specific job you want it for in mind, so it’s important to let the vet know prior to the vetting that they are intended as a working hunter pony.
If you tell the vet that you want the horse for the show ring, they should hopefully inform you of any blemishes or conformational faults that could impact its future career, even if they don’t impact its soundness or performance.
If the pony is for a child, then suitability and temperament should be taken into consideration by the vet.
Sam adds: “If you are spending a decent amount of money, I strongly recommend getting a vetting, ideally a five-stage vetting. An unbroken three-year-old could undergo a three-stage.”
Anything else?
Take your time. Just because you are keen to hit the ring or your child is suffering serious FOMO at the side of the ring, doesn’t mean that you should rush into any purchase. It’s best to be absolutely happy with your buy, even if that means exercising a little patience. The right pony is out there somewhere!
For more information, you can read H&H’s ultimate guide to buying a horse.
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.