Jaffa
Well-Known Member
Long story short, horses are my hobby and she has always been around them. Any interest from her was driven by her, she asked to start riding lessons 2 years ago, I let her have the odd one to see if she liked it, she did but as any 8yr old can be she was a bit fickle.
She stopped going but after a break asked to go again, so every week (sometimes fortnightly) except a 5 week break over the Christmas period she had a group lesson.
During this time we acquired a pony, she was green and last year did some out of character things but they disappeared as soon as they arrived.
With the nice weather returning I noticed at lessons she was just following the leader and spent a lot of time day dreaming - I think she prefers the seaside donkey type ride. Decided it was a waste of money to pay out for more lessons (£35 a go!) as after a year she will not let go of the monkey strap at a trot, she drops the reins completely and just let's someone leading do the work, suggestions to get her off lead are met with a 'No, I'm too scared. '
She's a Very risk averse kid who does get nervous riding, fine.
Pony is absolutely fine on a LR, but I started to make a note of when she was actively asking to ride - it's been 3 times since March. Rest of the time has been me suggesting it, even then she'll get up but get bored and want to go run around the field instead.
So after a chat with her I said pony needs to be doing something as she is expensive to keep, if she doesn't want to ride it's cool. Tears and promises to ride more often were forthcoming to keep her.
Went to field this morning, no interest from the child. Zilch. She ran off to go look at something else whilst I fed pony. 🙄
So now I'm thinking it's not much point keeping her, child will devour all pony books, magazines, horse games (Star Stable anyone?) but the real life one.... Hmm.
To make it fair I'm giving it a month. If she asks to ride for than 3 times that's enough interest for me. But would I be mean to call it a day at the end of June in time for school holidays and just sell her if child doesn't ask to ride?
She stopped going but after a break asked to go again, so every week (sometimes fortnightly) except a 5 week break over the Christmas period she had a group lesson.
During this time we acquired a pony, she was green and last year did some out of character things but they disappeared as soon as they arrived.
With the nice weather returning I noticed at lessons she was just following the leader and spent a lot of time day dreaming - I think she prefers the seaside donkey type ride. Decided it was a waste of money to pay out for more lessons (£35 a go!) as after a year she will not let go of the monkey strap at a trot, she drops the reins completely and just let's someone leading do the work, suggestions to get her off lead are met with a 'No, I'm too scared. '
She's a Very risk averse kid who does get nervous riding, fine.
Pony is absolutely fine on a LR, but I started to make a note of when she was actively asking to ride - it's been 3 times since March. Rest of the time has been me suggesting it, even then she'll get up but get bored and want to go run around the field instead.
So after a chat with her I said pony needs to be doing something as she is expensive to keep, if she doesn't want to ride it's cool. Tears and promises to ride more often were forthcoming to keep her.
Went to field this morning, no interest from the child. Zilch. She ran off to go look at something else whilst I fed pony. 🙄
So now I'm thinking it's not much point keeping her, child will devour all pony books, magazines, horse games (Star Stable anyone?) but the real life one.... Hmm.
To make it fair I'm giving it a month. If she asks to ride for than 3 times that's enough interest for me. But would I be mean to call it a day at the end of June in time for school holidays and just sell her if child doesn't ask to ride?