Any experiences with retraining polo ponies?

abi31

abi31

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As per title really. I've been given a little polo pony to work on over the Summer and was wondering what experiences people have had with retraining them into a nice little riding club type (she was P/Exed into the comp yard I livery on). She is a super little Argentinian mare who tries her heart out. She has a very high head carriage and looks for the rein as guidance on her neck from her playing days. My question is really should I:
a) begin by working her long and low and slowly bring her into the bridle
b) do the 'this is my frame work into me' thing
c) other ideas

I have tried both so far. In option A she began by softening very nicely in walk and for short stints in trot. A bit more in our second session but then in the third session she didn't want to know so I tried option B and after initially rushing through the loose contact and realising there was no 'fight' (strong word as I am honestly very soft with my hands!!) she slowed and started to stretch.

Ok, that was lengthy but hopefully not too many of you are hanging your heads in shame right now. She is such a great mare and loves her work. She takes me straight round to the school each time so she's definitely enjoying the change. Any help or advice gratefully received.
 
Others will probably hugely disagree with this but I would go with some draw reins in this instance. They will offer her an idea of what you want and help with her confidence into the contact. She sounds lovely and quite typical, they are so generous in nature and sometimes just get confused as short reins, inverted frame and whizzing along will be her default. I would keep sessions short, start off with showing her what you want and don't forget her lateral softness, small amount of lateral bends (sort of practice softening) in halt will help her as well. They are such brave and forgiving ponies latterly I have developed a real soft spot for them.
 
I'm not sure draw reins will make any difference, she will be well use to these as standard match tack and will encourage her to go the way she has always gone!
Long and low is good :-)
 
Worked brilliantly with with one recently retrained combined with lateral softening, only for a couple of weeks. No way this one would have understood long and low straight off.
 
lannerch said:
Not over night but in my experience things done properly reep the best results .
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Thankyou both. She does soften and relax for short periods to the hand and shows some lovely roundness. I think draw reins would be too much for her but understand where you are coming from. I was very impressed that she gave me long and low after only the third session so maybe it needs to be a good deal of long and low with me interspersing the contact. She gives beautifully in the walk and for short periods in the trot. Canter will definitely be long and low for a few weeks. She is so comical as she has learnt already that when I breathe out I'm asking for a halt but has such good hearing it is more of an emergency stop!! My dad is coming down in a few days to film us working which will give me a much better idea of how she is going. If I'm feeling brave I will post it so you guys can give me some help.
A tiny (really rather large) bit of me wants to buy her as a second horse, I think she's such great fun.
 
Maybe agree to differ then lannerch as I wasn't suggesting not doing it properly. OP in a very similar situation we found the above approach helpful, said pony now happily competing successfully at dressage (scoring 70%+), works well across her back and relaxed. Just needed a bit of confidence and guidance as was pretty alien to her initially to be asked to work in that way.
 
abi31 said:
A tiny (really rather large) bit of me wants to buy her as a second horse, I think she's such great fun.
Click to expand...

No problem. I would likewise be tempted lots of fun and so flipping generous!! Good luck hope all goes well.
 
just needed a bit of confidence and guidance as was pretty alien to her initially to be asked to work in that way.[/QUOTE]

She is definitely looking for the guidance and when she understands tries her best to deliver. It's a big change from my 17.2hh ISH to then pop on a 15hh polo pony. Keeps me on my toes!
 
Hey, I've got a re-trained polo mare. She's now 11 & can & does everything :D
It's not easy to re-trained them to the more dressage way of going, mine isn't very submissive so this didn't help! She was bred & broke in Argentina & has a lot of scars to prove it :(!
Anyway, I use draw reins with we even now, she really likes them, as they give her security & when I use them less rare now, I take them off & then do a little more so she the realises that that is the way to go not seeing stars!
Keep practicing & the get the hang of it, they make great horses as there so brave!
If you want to know anything else or any tips as I have a lot!! let me know :)
 
I love polo ponies they are so handy, and great tryers good luck with yours op would live to see some photos , will take me back to my youth
 
Thanks Ilvpippa. She's very brave, she snorts at things but doesn't spook or refuse to go forward and from what I can tell she's got a cracking jump in her as the YO popped her over a few fences when she first arrived. I'll definitely be back for more advice.xx
 
Mine has a great jump, she's always been high on life, never naughty just excited! they are great. Mine hunts as well :D
 
You would be best to work her in different frames- try to do too much long and low or up on the bit and you will just tire her muscles. Also, most horses wont genuinely stretch to the contact until they have worked 'on the bit' for a few mins first
 
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