Temperament questions come first
The only temperament that matters is the one the pony shows with a child on board, so ask who has actually ridden it: children of what age and standard, in what settings — arena, hacking out, shows, pony club rallies? Ask how it behaves alone and in company, whether it naps towards the gate or other ponies, what it does when it is startled, and whether it speeds up coming home. A pony that is saintly with a confident teenager may be far too sharp for a nervous seven-year-old, so press for specifics about child riders rather than accepting 'bombproof' at face value.
Ground manners and daily handling
Your child will spend more time handling the pony than riding it, so ask how it is to catch in the field, lead, groom, tack up, load and have its feet picked out. Ask directly about biting, kicking, barging through gates and pulling away when tied. Watch the seller's own children or helpers handle it if you can, and have your child lead and groom it during the viewing, with the seller close by. Manners that an adult can overpower can be genuinely unsafe for a small handler.
Soundness and pony-specific health
Ask whether the pony has ever had laminitis — native ponies and good doers are prone to it, and a past episode changes how it must be managed on grass for life. Ask about sweet itch, coughs, lumps, past injuries and whether it has ever been lame, plus when teeth, vaccinations and worming were last done. Treat the stated age as a claim to verify: a vet can age a pony by its teeth at a pre-purchase exam, and an honest seller will welcome that check rather than resist it.
The viewing: watch first, then your child rides
Ask the seller to ride the pony before your child gets on, and watch it caught, tacked up and warmed up from the start — a pony presented already ridden may be hiding freshness. Then let your child ride in an enclosed space, at the paces they actually ride at, including steering, stopping and a small jump if they jump. If possible, visit twice, at different times of day, and ask whether a short trial at your yard is possible.
An outgrown pony or an offloaded problem?
Ask why the pony is for sale and how long the seller has owned it. The best child's ponies change hands because a rider has outgrown them, often through pony club networks where everyone knows the pony's history — ask for the instructor's or branch's honest view. Short ownership, a vague history and pressure to decide quickly are warnings. When you buy, KinsLe's Transferrable Profiles let the seller pass the pony's profile to you with its health history, feeding routine and quirks recorded, so your child starts with the full picture from day one.