Children's Party Frequently Asked Questions
Questions Regarding the Ponys
Q. Your prices are a little higher than some I have seen, why is that?
A. We are a professional business, not a backyard hobby, and we pride ourselves on clear communication and follow through. We arrive early for your party ready to make it an occasion to remember. We are fully insured.
Our ponies are the best in the business, well trained, safe and gentle, and beautifully cared for.
Our handlers are top notch, cheerful and experienced, and they love both children and ponies.
We are happy to be of service to you, and understand that we are privileged to be part of your big day. You will not be disappointed when you have a Sunny Slope Farm Party.
Q. We heard you donate a percentage of your profits back to the community?
A. We firmly believe in giving back to our community. We donate 10% of all our gross revenues back into the community. Some of the organizations that we donate to are the SPCA, Project Purr, Mare Rescue, local schools, and more. In addition, we offer reduced rates to local community fundraisers such as church and school events for local causes, and local people. By using Sunny Slope Farms Pony Party's you are giving to animals and children in need, so we thank you deeply.
Q. Are your ponies full grown?
A. Yes! All our ponies and miniature horses are full grown, although Love Bug has a little ways to grow. The word 'pony' refers to their size not their age. A 'horse' is simply an equine that stands over 14.3 hands (a hand is approx. 4 inches), while a 'pony' is an equine under 14.3 hands and a miniature horse is under 10 hands.
Q. How is a horse or pony measured?
A. A horse or pony is measured by hands. A hand is 4 inches. An average size pony is 12 hands, which equals 48" or 4' tall at the withers. (The withers are the middle point on a horse or pony where their neck and back meet.
Q. I have a small yard, can I still have a Sunny Slope Farm Pony Party?
A. Yes, our ponies need only a small yard, quiet street, cul-de-sac, parking lot or something similar.
Our ponies are easy on your lawn as they have small hooves and are not shoed. If you can walk on your grass without squishing, our ponies probably can too. 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.
Q. How many ponies do you recommend for the number of kids I have?
A. We recommend at least one pony for the first 15 kids. For 15-21 kids two ponies are enough, and for 22-28 kids three ponies. Presently, we can offer up to 3 to 4 ponies depending on weight limits.
Q. Are there any age restrictions?
A. There are no age restrictions for our parties but in order for a child to be hand lead on the pony, they must be able to sit up on their own and safely follow directions to stay seated. Mom, Dad, or another adult may need to help support the young rider in addition to us if needed. But there are weight limits that protect our ponies' health. Our smaller pony carry weight limits ranging from 40 lbs to 100 lbs. Our larger ponies can carry up to 140 pounds but our larger ponies are only available on our farm.
Q. What are the weight limits of the ponys?
A. The weight limit of our ponys are as follows;
- Velvet 40 pounds
- Cricket 40 pounds (still in training)
- Bubbles 60 pounds
- Teddy 70 pounds (still in training)
- Flicka 100 pounds
- Frodo 140 pounds (available only on the farm)
- Bella 120 pounds (available only for pictures on the farm)
Q. Are your Ponies safe for our kids, especially kids with disabilities?
A. Yes, our ponies have an excellent safety record. We use well-trained ponies with great dispositions, and have competent, professional staff. 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. 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.
Q. Are ponies dirty... and well, what happens with the poop.
A. Our ponies are well groomed, clean, vaccinated, healthy and ready to bring your children great pleasure. 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.
Q. Do you use safety belts or other safety equipment?
A. Our main safety equipment is our rock solid ponies and great staff. We do require riding helmets which we provide. We also set up an enclosed corral that the children are led around in. We never tie anyone on a pony as we feel that is very dangerous. We do ask parents to walk along side younger children as they ride.
Q. Someone once told me that party ponies lead a sad life of over-work.
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. If the saddles are in bad shape the ponies may not be getting enough attention either.
Happily most people love their ponies well. At Sunny Slope Farms Pony Party's we select our ponies carefully for health and temperament, then we treat them with the respect and firm love due to their independent-child like minds (think teen-agers).
Our ponies eat the best quality feed and get plenty of days off. In addition they are fed a plethora of supplements from probiotics to freshly ground flax seed daily. Also, all our ponies are loved on by our children so their riding time goes much beyond just pony parties. Our ponies are taken high up in the mountains for trails, camping in the forest, and walks near the coast. Finally, when it comes to the pony parties, they don't work more than four hours a day, and then only with breaks. Most people don't have it this good!
You can read about our Ponies. Attitude makes all the difference, and we want our ponies to be happy and perky.
