Behaviour Correction with Aids

[MosMum]

Ok, have a friend with a 20 yr old pony her daughter rides. Daughter is very capable, does jumping, sensible and doesn't take nonsense...

Lately the pony has been stopping dead and dropping her head, but not bucking. The daughter fell off when this happened yesterday and went to A&E with broken arm.

Obviously the pony needs some work doing, tack is fine, vet can't find anything so we're down to behavioural.

What are thoughts on aids for preventing behaviours? I am MORE inclined to believe that aids only work as long as the horse is wearing them

(http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/Productdetail.asp?ProductCode=35301)

Like a dog with a barking coller it only works if they dog knows he's wearing it and learns not to bark... when wearing th coller only.

Personally I am much more about going back to basics earning respect and confidence.

Other side of the fence is if the pony wears it long enough she will get out of the habbit and it will stop happening whether she wears the aid or not.

Discuss.

 

[gingerthing]

Ok, so pony is 20 years old, has it always been jumping? how much jumping a week/competitions does pony do? Assuming teeth/back/tack/ everthing ok and pony isnt displaying any other schooling vices. Perhaps the pony is going a little sour? maybe try varying the ponies work and taking it away from jumping for a while and see if this makes a difference

 

[gingerthing]

and as for aids/gadgets to prevent certain behaviours ie a buckstop, I personally believe that horses dont display behaviours without a deeper reason for it. Thats my opinion

 

[Natch]

and as for aids/gadgets to prevent certain behaviours ie a buckstop, I personally believe that horses dont display behaviours without a deeper reason for it. Thats my opinion

I'm inclined to agree with this, expecially if its a 20 year old pony who has only just started doing it. Perhaps the rider has picked up a few bad habits (maybe she holds onto its mouth or accidentally loses balance, socking it in the mouth in the process, for example).

If it could be to do with the rider, I'd suggest finding an instructor who will help them to ride from the leg & seat, rather than hands

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

Ditto those two ^^

Has the saddle been checked? Little Lad put in stops (right on the last stride!). He had a look of almost fear/panic on his face. Turns out that the points of the tree on his saddle were digging in behind his shoulder on landing . He knew there was going to be pain after the jump, so therefore he quite rightly didn't want to do it. As he was a hard to fit shape and his response was so ingrained - he kept stopping even when he had a saddle that was totally correct for him - so we think it had been going on for years, and was probably the reason I found him in a field, for sale, very fat, very unfit and very unloved.

 

[*hic*]

I'm inclined to agree with this, expecially if its a 20 year old pony who has only just started doing it. Perhaps the rider has picked up a few bad habits (maybe she holds onto its mouth or accidentally loses balance, socking it in the mouth in the process, for example).

If it could be to do with the rider, I'd suggest finding an instructor who will help them to ride from the leg & seat, rather than hands

THIS!! My perfect child's pony recently started snatching the reins out of her rider's hands. I was horrified to hear of it but even more horrified when I saw it. Yes she knows better and shouldn't be behaving like that with a child on top but when the child is trotting by swinging up and down on the end of the reins and thumping back into the saddle IMHO the pony can be forgiven for giving strong signals that all is not well. Luckily I was told before the pony decided that she just wasn't going to tolerate the rider any more. Parents have now been persuaded that their child does need lessons and the instructor has improved her no end - and the pony is now happy again!

The simplest thing to check is the rider and IMHO that's what I'd be doing first.

 

[MosMum]

Thanks guys.

They have had this pony for several years, at a guess say 6 years. She's been jumping since they've had her, but not showing, only jumping small jumps at home for fun. The refusals are both in the school and out hacking, the broken arm took place out hacking in the woods. She was riding with company so I would be a little slow to think it was barn rush (what you call going sour). She also lives out.

I agree re aids but did tell owner that at 13.00 I didn't reckon it could do any harm to try an aid. I agree re: getting a schooler in, there is one who is based at the yard (she does therapy with my son).