Last week’s court case involving a fraudulent sale of a pony has thrown the spotlight on the sometimes shady world of horse dealing.

While tales of dishonesty can crop up in all walks of life, it was shocking to see former international show jumper Michael Kearins fined €11,000 for selling a pony to a family, then sending them a completely different animal.

This week we asked The Irish Pony Club (IPC) what advice it would give to parents who might be considering buying a pony for their child.

Here is what Tony Ennis, training chair with the IPC had to say on the topic.

“Buy from a reliable source,” says Tony. Whether this is someone you know already or someone you know has a good reputation it is a good idea to ask around and make sure they are an honest seller.

“Plan ahead, know what you are looking for in terms of height, temperament, what you would like the pony to do in the future. It is important to buy a pony that suits your child.

“Go and see the pony. Have a ride and watch someone else ride it. It is important not to buy a pony unseen, especially when buying for a child.

“In an ideal world you would see the pony two or three times and also see it at an independent venue away from home. The pony may be as good as gold at home where they are used to their surroundings. It can be a completely different story when they are in a new place. If your child is in any way nervous at shows, you don’t want a nervous pony too.

“Make sure the pony has a passport and is microchipped” this is the most reliable way to ensure you are not being sold a pony under false pretences. The microchip number and passport won’t lie.

“Sometimes loaning a pony can work out well – as long as both parties are on the same page.”

Tony advises drawing up a simple loan agreement that is agreeable to both parties.

This can include the duration of the loan, how much notice each party will need to give if they want to give/take the pony back and who is in charge of farrier and vet costs for the duration of the loan.

Once you have done all of the above, the final and most important step is to “go ahead and vet the pony”, says Tony.

Use a vet that you trust – one that is not the same as the one the seller uses.