Backing a lead rein pony advice

[Melandmary]

Back in December I got a 12 year old companion pony from a "rescue" charity. I thought she would benefit from having a job to do so set about the backing process. She had very little handling as had been a brood mare all her life. It took a long while to get her sorted with a saddle but in the last few months she has been wearing her tack, going out in hand for hacks and done a little long reining and been lent over. Due to her small size 12h I am too heavy to sit on her but have enlisted some help with a lighter rider at 8.5 stone. I am still unsure if this is too heavy although the pony is a cob and just wondered at what point do people put their child jockeys on. The first time Mary was sat on she was fine but the second time she got a fright from a noise behind the trees ( arena runs behind neighbours gardens so is quite noisy) and she bucked her rider off. Obviously I plan to continue with her training, have booked more sessions and will assess whether it was the noise or something else that caused her to do that but I was wondering how other people managed to complete the process when the pony should only really be carrying the weight of a tiny person or child. Any advice would be gratefully received as this is the first attempt at backing for me.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

A cobby 12hh pony should easily carry 8.5st. My sister had a 12hh welsh and we both rode him jumped him and hunted him. I was about 8.5st and my sister up to a stone heavier. He was finally put down at 30 due to cushings.

 

[southerncomfort]

Did the charity say that she's ok to be ridden?

I was just thinking that a lot ponies rehomed as companions aren't physically capable of carrying a rider for one reason or another, or too mentally screwed up.

 

[catembi]

I weigh around/just under 8 st & backed my 12 hh Dartmoor when I had nothing else to ride. I used her as my main horse for a bit, taking her to dr & polework clinics, taught her to jump etc. Only stopped when she went symptomatic for PSSM. She had no trouble carrying me.

 

[Melandmary]

Thanks for the replies, the weight issue makes me feel better that I am not over burdening her ?. @southern comfort she has no health issues, she has never been handled much, certainly not been ridden before and the charity are aware I am backing her. I have had her teeth checked and been building her fitness in hand. Paddle saddle fitted by a HM fitter. If she does buck again I will get her back checked but the rider did get back on and walked round the arena before ending it on a positive note. She is usually an unflappable little pony with traffic out hacking. I have since walked her round the arena a few times and she is still concerned about the scary monster in that corner where she reacted.

 

[Dasher66]

It’s possible that she became a brood mare because she had acquired a habit of ditching small children.
i hope it’s not the case here.

 

[Melandmary]

No, she was rescued from gypsies as an 8 year old. Was in foal, with a yearling at foot. Somewhat of a local group of ponies that had been in the field for many years. I would not be trying to back a pony that I had been advised as being unsuitable for being ridden. Once I had dealt with her seperation anxiety issues ( by getting a 3rd companion) she actually loves to be out and about.