Snowy Celandine
Well-Known Member
Also posted this in Soapbox -
Quick history - I have a much loved 12 year old 13.3 hh pony. We do Prelim dressage, few pleasure rides, lessons, hacking out, showing, schooling etc. I have not outgrown her either height or ability wise. I love her and could never think of selling her. However, I rather greedily decided to get myself a second pony (younger, bigger, more suited to dressage) with the agreement that OH came out hacking with me so that he could have fun and help me exercise the second pony. He is too big to ride my first pony.
We've had the new pony a few weeks and he is a good boy but a bit backward thinking and has to be ridden forward from the leg quite positively when you first get on but he will then settle down to the task in hand. He is going nicely for me, although his canter needs a bit of work and my instructor says that he has the makings of a nice dressage horse. So what's the problem you may ask
It is this - OH is a complete beginner who can walk, trot and canter but has no idea about working the pony on a contact and doesn't have a terribly secure seat, although the new boy has put in a few small bucks and OH hasn't yet been unseated . Like I said, he is a beginner so it's only to be expected. However, he has decided that he wants to 'do dressage' too and hacking out is no longer enough.
So, do I let OH learn to ride on this pony or will it make it harder for me to turn him into my new dressage pony?
Quick history - I have a much loved 12 year old 13.3 hh pony. We do Prelim dressage, few pleasure rides, lessons, hacking out, showing, schooling etc. I have not outgrown her either height or ability wise. I love her and could never think of selling her. However, I rather greedily decided to get myself a second pony (younger, bigger, more suited to dressage) with the agreement that OH came out hacking with me so that he could have fun and help me exercise the second pony. He is too big to ride my first pony.
We've had the new pony a few weeks and he is a good boy but a bit backward thinking and has to be ridden forward from the leg quite positively when you first get on but he will then settle down to the task in hand. He is going nicely for me, although his canter needs a bit of work and my instructor says that he has the makings of a nice dressage horse. So what's the problem you may ask
It is this - OH is a complete beginner who can walk, trot and canter but has no idea about working the pony on a contact and doesn't have a terribly secure seat, although the new boy has put in a few small bucks and OH hasn't yet been unseated . Like I said, he is a beginner so it's only to be expected. However, he has decided that he wants to 'do dressage' too and hacking out is no longer enough.
So, do I let OH learn to ride on this pony or will it make it harder for me to turn him into my new dressage pony?
I tried buying a field locally but the price was so overinflated that I simply wouldn't pay that much. I'd never be able to sell it on again if I ever needed to!