My First Experience Riding at Shawnee National Forest in So. Illinois. When I was a kid, my mom bought me a pony. Not knowing any better, she bought me a four-year-old so we could grow up together. Now, we know better. Ponies are notorious for being difficult and not so kid-friendly. And you never buy a young horse for a kid – you buy a kid an old brokey broke horse that doesn’t have any fire left!