If you're new to Wizard101, you will find lots of great information in the Player Guide at http://www.wizard101.com/guide
You equip your pet the same way you equip a hat or a wand, you select it in your backpack and then click the Equip hand icon. Keep in mind, you cannot equip an egg, you must wait for an egg to hatch before it becomes a pet you can equip.
If you want the prize, you have to build the ladder rung by rung. There are no shortcuts.
