Advice Please

[EvietheElf]

Hello I am in need of some advice. My 6 year old niece's dad has got her a Shetland pony that to my knowledge has not been ridden in over a month and before that I'm not sure what work he has done, is there anything I can do with him to get him back in to work? I won't be able to ride him (I wish I could lol) and my niece is a complete novice she will hopefully be having some proper riding lessons but I'm going to have to teach her and her dad how to groom, tack up, handle and other basics.
Would you lovely people mind sharing your knowledge!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Are they keeping the pony at a livery yard with good support?
Ideally they need someone (a good but small rider) who is used to backing/schooling small ponies to bring the pony back into work.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Lessons on a school pony and then on her own (if he turns out to be suitable) would be wise.

Does your niece's Dad have any horsey experience?

 

[EvietheElf]

The pony is kept on a lady's land with her horse so no small rider sadly and her dad has no horsey experience I'm the only one in the family that as any experience with horses and ponies.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Can you help them find a good instructor who will come out to them? Also it should be possible to find someone who breaks/schools ponies who will come out to reback the pony.

Is the lady whose land the pony is on helpful?

I think that you will need to devote as much time as you can spare to training them up in horse management and encouraging them to get the right professional help. This situation has the potential to go horribly wrong, but with the right support it could work out.

 

[Gloi]

You could work the pony in long reins and see how much it knows and how it behaves in different situations.

 

[EvietheElf]

I will talk to her dad about getting someone in and im going to spent as much time as i can with my niece and her dad teaching them as much as I can. I haven't met the lady yet so I when I do I will ask if she would mind helping me at all and I will try long raining the pony in the mean time. Do you think lunging him would help as well. Thank you both!

 

[Palindrome]

yes, lunging could be good to check if he knows voice aid. Then perhaps long line and then lead rein if you see the pony is happy/settled being long lined.