Recommendations for a beginner

[Tak]

My daughter is ready to try her hand on a custom. She has a nice yet simple concept. I'm wondering if there are certain baits easier to work with? You need a tool for re-hairing, right? No sculpting on this one. Is there a glue that holds best? I appreciate any advice or pointers.

[CottonTALE]

I'd reccomend looking out at thrift stores and such for bait ponies to work with/practice on. Also, Look up any ponies you may find before you work! you may find some treasures.

[archidraca]

Loctite GO2 glue (it's a gel) is the one I like best. Fakies with soft bodies or G3s will be your best bet. You can even purchase a blank Project pony cheaply from Hasbro itself. Actually cheaper there than on Amazon for a wonder.    Otherwise, thrift stores and yard sales and such.

This is the tool that I use but this one is also adequate.

Decent Halloween wigs (not the super cheap ones) can be used for practice rehairing without looking poor or buying specific hair.

And always remember to have fun! 

[kaoskat]

I actually would recommend a fakie to start. The hair comes out much easier typically. G3s can actually be a royal nightmare for getting the hair out of. The best are probably the DG babies. They are just so stinking cute and they are really easy to work with and come in SO many colors. No you don't need a tool to rehair. In fact, I'd suggest the knot method for the first until she's sure she enjoys it. That way you haven't spent money on a useless tool to lay around the house unused. Glue for? Hair? Resealing the head? For hair I tend to use tacky glue. It's thick so it doesn't run out of plug holes and it holds well. For reattaching heads or gluing things to my pony, I tend to use super glue.

[Leave a Whisper]

I'd recommend a fakie to start or a pony with molded hair, because its easier to paint a pony's hair.

 If she doesn't want a molded hair pony, then I  suggest looking for a bait/fakie with the hair color she wants. Or a white hair pony can have their hair dyed.

Acrylic paint can be had for cheap anywhere. There's also paint markers you can use to draw the symbol over the paint if she's painting it a different color.

[Tak]

Glue for rhinestones. Which she already had in her art supplies. 
Thank you all for the help.   

[brighteyes]

You can also get a customizable pony from Hasbro Toy Shop: http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/brands/top-sellers-htsus-brands-topsellers/my-little-pony-htsus-brands-topsellers-mylittlepony/-987920220  It's all white so she can paint the eyes and symbols and dye the hair and put on glitter or rhinestones or whatever.  I got one for my own daughter when she was maybe seven and she had a blast decorating it.

[Twizel]

I started with G3, but I've found G1 easiest to work with. As for general advice, I'd say - test everything first, but try anything, no matter how odd.

[Starfall]

G1s from years 1-3 are easy. Later ponies often had thicker hair, and therefore there are more, and more delicate hair holes.

Find one with an even looking distribution of holes, and stretch them out with a doll needle.