Children's party

Frequently asked questions

Q. Your prices are a little higher than some of the others 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. Our ponies are the best in the business, well trained, safe and taken care of, and our handlers are top notch, and we are fully insured.

We are cheerful to be of service to you, and understand that it is a very special privilege for us to be part of your big day. You will not be disappointed when you have a Seattle Pony Party.

Q. I heard from a friend that her pony party ( not your company) was really disappointing, she said the ponies were skinny and dirty and the handler was rude and filthy. Is that common and how can I avoid that happening to me?

A. Well I'm sorry to hear that, I feel for your friend. Once the ponies are there you can't send them away and it can really impact your party. Not to mention no one wants to support someone that is not taking care of their ponies.

I do not think it is common to have rude handlers, but remember that some people decide to use their back yard ponies as a way to make money and they really are not business people, so they are not vested in getting or maintaining a good reputation.

It is a good idea to do a little research and ask questions, not all pony party businesses are the same by any means. How are  your phone questions handled, professionally and with care? Do you get a good feel from the people you are talking with?

Ask around as well, many people are happy to give a good referral to an event that they went to.

Q. Why do you always bring two ponies?

A. Ponies are herd animals and used to living in a group. They rely on each other like family. We have also found that many times  a child who is afraid of riding a pony might ride beside or with a friend, so two ponies are great! Either way you can't lose, more ponies, means more ride time!

Q. We heard you donate a percentage of your profits to children's charities in Washington State, why is that?

A. We feel that we are living our dream and we want to give back to others and share the wonders of life. We acknowledge that there are many children that have never had a birthday party let alone a Pony party and so we endeavor to make some small dreams into big realities.

When we donate our services to charity auctions around Washington we frequently give a two for one deal. When someone purchases a Seattle Pony Party at an auction, we donate a pony party to children who are less fortunate for free. Everyone wins in a big way and we get to see lots and lots of children's smiling faces.

By using Seattle Pony Party you are giving to other children as well, so we thank you deeply.

Q. Are your ponies full grown?

A. Yes, most of our ponies are over 6 years old, and ponies mature between 3 and 4.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 a gauge of measuring, it is approx. 4 inches) an pony is under 14.3 hands.

Q. I have a small yard, can I still have a Seattle Pony Party?
 
 
A. Yes, we only need a small yard, quiet street, cul-de-sac, parking lot or something similar. Our ponies are not hard on your lawn as they have small hooves and are barefoot.  
 
Q. How many ponies do you recommend for the number of kids I have?
 
A. We never do a party with only one pony, as both the kids and the ponies do better with a buddy so.. for up to 15 kids two ponies are sufficient, 16-25 kids, three ponies. If you have a bigger party than 20 kids and the duration will be more than 2 hours let us know and please consider our pony carousel. 
Basically we are happy to talk with you and work out the best plan for you party. We also have a family wagon for details click here.

Q. I saw a younger child leading a pony at an event, is that safe?

A. We have some very special ponies that are capable of being lead by smaller children or teenagers or other party goer's. We do not allow this with all our ponies just a select few.  These angel ponies are tried, true and have dispositions of gold. If you are interested in leading a pony at a party or letting a young one have that experience please let us know in advance so we can select one of those very special ponies. We also have brushing ponies that love to be groomed and touched all over.

Q. Are there any restrictions?
 
A. There are no age restrictions for our parties but there are weight restrictions that we must adhere to strictly for our ponies well being.
There is a weight limit of 85 lbs for most of the ponies, and we ask that you make party goer's or their parents aware of this.

We have the option of Holly the Draft horse for bigger kids and adult rides at parties at our location , click here for details.

 
Q. Are Perky Ponies safe for kids with disabilities?
 
A. Yes, our ponies are some of the safest in the industry with over 7 years of accident free parties. 
 

Q. How safe is a Seattle Pony Party?
 
We use quality well trained ponies with great dispositions that have an impeccable safety record, and a professional and well trained staff. We reserve the right to refuse service in the unlikely event that we become concerned about an unsafe situation or event, so we will 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 do not despair, we do the clean up after the ponies. Pony manure does make great compost so do not let it get away if you would like it for your flower beds.
 

Q. Do you use safety belts or other safety equipment?
 
A. Our safety equipment is our wonderful pony education briefing we give the kids and parents as we get the ponies ready, as well as our rock solid ponies and our great staff. We do not require helmets but you are more than welcome to acquire them and use them if you wish. We would never tie a child or anyone on a pony as we feel that is very dangerous. We will ask parents to walk with us with younger children.

Q. Someone once told me that Ponies that are used for parties and carousel's lead a sad life of over work. Is that true?

A. It is a sad truth that some people misuse their ponies. Their ponies are a means to an end and not part of the family. If the ponies look skinny, dull coated, depressed and make you feel sad when you see them, then chances are they are not doing well. If the saddles are in bad shape and everything seems dirty or in poor repair, the ponies may not be getting the attention they need either.

Select your companies with care.

Happily most people love their ponies and the ponies are doing great and you can feel fine about supporting the company's business.

Our  ponies are treated fabulously and fairly, they love what they do and are carefully selected concerning temperament. Not all ponies are cut out for the job of party pony. We select only those that thrive in this environment. You can read about our ponies in About us.

Our ponies get fed the best quality feed, get regular time off and pampering. Tanja, one of the owners, is an equine sports massage therapist and the ponies get massages during the week. Most people don't have it this good! Routine vet checks and attention to the ponies attitude makes all the difference and we want them to be happy and perky.

Q. Will you come to our town?

A. We are happy to bring our ponies to you at these locations and more, just ask.