4 year old NF

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laurynbilly

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Hello all, I've just taken on a 4 year old (only just- 31st march) 14.2hh new forest pony.
Prior to me he'd been backed and had some schooling but seeing as he is only 4 it can not have been much. When he was sold to the place I got him from he was ridden by a few different novice teenage girls who weren't strong enough riders to teach him more than bad habits :-/
I've now got him and I do enjoy a challenge so none of this is a huge issue so but im hoping for some other opinions and input to help me alonf the way :-)

-He has a few directional issues, sometimes he will refuse to turn in the school and will side step with his neck bent until we are completely off course.
-He naps and just spins around and try's to run back the way we came and when I kick and cluck him on he will start to turn his neck in again and side step.
-I was told he'd yet to be cantered and so on a hack the other day once warmed up and in a nice safe flat field I managed to get 3 good paced rhythmical canters from him however on the forth attempted he stopped stock still and bucked me off!

So lovely forum-ers can you offer me any advice on this little guy?

Thank you!
 
Im sure others will be along with better advice than i can offer but stick with him!
When i got my NF he was 4 and could be an absolute terror but he became my best friend! A little sod to the end but it a cute way! I lost him 2 weeks ago and i miss him like i would my right arm!
 
Long-reining is great for teaching direction. I also find that it's quite difficult for them to nap and spin on long-reins. I've got a NFx who will be 4 next month. I've had her since she was two and a half, so she's been quite easy, but she still has attitude, although I like that about her. I would go back to basics and do the groundwork first again. Good luck!
 
Back to basics for you and this pony.

"-He has a few directional issues, sometimes he will refuse to turn in the school and will side step with his neck bent until we are completely off course.

Because you describe his neck is bent, to me, you are asking for flexion rather than for a turn. Either teach him on the ground how to read the bit, or give him a clear opening rein at halt and then at walk. Both ways. Keep the outside rein closed whichever direction, to minimise confusion.

-He naps and just spins around and try's to run back the way we came and when I kick and cluck him on he will start to turn his neck in again and side step.

He's very confused. It's not his fault. Go back to basics with the teaching of the rein aids. Again, either in hand or ridden at halt first.

-I was told he'd yet to be cantered and so on a hack the other day once warmed up and in a nice safe flat field I managed to get 3 good paced rhythmical canters from him however on the forth attempted he stopped stock still and bucked me off!

You are asking way too much too soon. He is seriously unbalanced and unfit for canter from the words you have used here. Until you have the rein aids and leg aids established at halt, walk and trot, attempting canter will sour this pony because he is neither equipped enough mentally nor fit enough physically to carry you safely.

Perhaps, my advice should be, to send him away to be done properly as he sounds like a confused little thing and unless you go back to basics and be consistent, I can;t imagine him ever "getting" it.
 
Thanks for your reply, I agree with the going back to basics. I have had him for one week and basically spent the week figuring out 'what' he has and what he doesn't and my above report is just a summary of my findings.
I do not feel I need to send him away as he is not a problem horse, he is just a little confused and has yet to have any proper schooling.

I plan on taking him back to absolute basics as if to assume he was a blank canvas and completely unschooled and I'd hoped to get maybe a few other opinions on him just in case anyone else has dealt with a similar case.

Thank you for your reply
 
I think tallyho's reply was spot on from your OP, it did not say you had only had him a week you seem to have done a fair amount in that time, sending something away for professional schooling does not mean it is seen as a "problem" pony just trying to get the basics established before it becomes one.

If you can do the work correctly yourself that is fine, my experience with NF ponies, I have schooled several over the years, is that they are usually very bright, learn quickly if they understand what is required, get bored just as quickly and like to be kept occupied in their brains otherwise they can think up things all on their own that might not be what you had in mind. They are fab ponies that are often undervalued for their abilities, most jump exceptionally well and are very bold and clever in general.
 
Thank you for your input everyone. I would really like to do this myself.. Do you think forgetting about riding him for now and schooling him from the ground is the way forward?
He is young and I don't want to ruin him
 
laurynbilly said:
Thank you for your input everyone. I would really like to do this myself.. Do you think forgetting about riding him for now and schooling him from the ground is the way forward?
He is young and I don't want to ruin him
Click to expand...

Definitely yes.
Also NF are slow growers, at just turned four he still has a lot of maturing to do.

Just as an aside, perhaps I've been away from ponies/horses too long, but nothing was ever backed except racehorses before 4yo, years ago.
We used to look askance and mumble under our breathe if anybody had said they backed at three.

Seems crazy to me. Horses/ponies are living much longer through better care/diet yet backing is happening earlier.:confused:
 
Well the same had occurred to me tbh I thought it was a no go to back anything prior to 4yo due to bone/ligament/tendon maturation on a physical level... Like I say I don't feel he's had alot of schooling at all and so going back to basics shouldn't be to difficult as he can't have had too much to undo by now
 
laurynbilly said:
Thank you for your input everyone. I would really like to do this myself.. Do you think forgetting about riding him for now and schooling him from the ground is the way forward?
He is young and I don't want to ruin him
Click to expand...

I think starting as if you were just backing him would be a good call. Have a strict plan ready and be methodical about it in order to "reprogramme" him so to speak.

I would even go as far back as lunging with a cavesson so he can get used to voice commands and getting him fit. Then after 3 weeks introduce your long reins and keep up the voice commands to begin with before progressing to a bit. This will soften his mouth again and start on the ground with teaching him what a bit does.

Whomever did it first off, did a rough job and it's up to you now to turn him into a calm riding pony.
 
I hope we are lucky to have found each other :-) I think he has potential and is far from a list cause :-) he has a very well known daddy so could go far :-) x
 
:D Hi guys - interesting thread (I took on a completely unhandled nearly 4 Forest bred pony 6 months ago after cruelly losing my 14.2 NF jumping machine at just 10 - broke my heart but needed a project) This is him learning to long rein


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We must have marched all over our local area - even out onto the open Forest and I'm now enjoying the benefits! He hacks out on own, in company, bold in front and happy to be behind. Last week we did his first ridden show and he was such a star


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Anyway, I hope your boy brings you as much fun and satisfaction as he has - definitely advise starting right back at the beginning and giving him as much time as he needs. Good luck - NF's are terrific jumping/competition ponies plus fantastic hacking friends:D
 
:) Thanks for the compliments (I have to say he's a bit gorgeous - and boy does he know it!) Having said that he's been Mr Sensible from the word go - so chilled on his 2 outings we hardly knew he was in the trailer and politely interested in all the new stuff he was being asked to do. He has a 'busy' brain the sort who enjoys learning just for fun. Breeding - by Brookshill Brumby & the last foal from Royal Oak Amanda who is now 24! The breeders are lovely people who like to keep in touch with how he is doing. Full name "Fritham Ultra Special"

OP, I think you have a much harder (but so rewarding) job to do - your baby has already been messed about with and sounds confused/scared. So I would go right back & and in effect re-break him. Good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy relearning it together:)
 
I have 2 by Buckland Dragonslayer and they have both been very slow to mature physically. Both grew 2-3inches between 4 and 6 years.
I have a rising 5 mare that I only very lightly backed at the end of last year, only walked and trotted her under saddle because I could see there was a lot of growing yet to happen, despite being one of the sharpest and most intelligent NF ponies I've ever had. We just did lots of groundwork to keep her mature mind occupied whilst her immature body caught up.

I would completely restart him and take your time.
 
Wow! That's awesome that I've come across someone not only with NF experience but with NF from the same father! :-) thank you for replying :-) I will definitely be starting from scratch with him
 
OD- your boy is gorgeous, his dam is a super old fashioned NF mare. Used to see her regularly as one of my stallions is out of a mare over on Mill Lawn, Burley.
 
I hate to say this but anything that has only been ridden by teenagers makes me think its not really brokenand not taught proper aids. I would diffenately treat it as unbroken and spend six weeks at least doing tha basics, boring but worth it the long run.
NF are very talanted and extreemly clever, my favorite large breed. Once you get them on side they will do anything for you and are such fun.
 
Exactly what I thought honetpop, for one week I have given him the benefit of the doubt but I think it's clear to see he needs starting from square one.
 
My new forest is now rising 8 and been with me for just over a year. I have had exactly the same as you, and had to go back to basics. Its just starting to click with him, although he can still act like a baby at times. Worth taking time with this breed cos when they get it right they can be awesome. No rush as they take quite a while to mature
 
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