Children and ponies issue

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YummyHorses

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My daughter is a competent rider, seems to have developed a very nice natural seat with good balance and soft hands. She has only been riding for about a year and has a lovely first/second pony that is more than doing his job.

However, being that first/second pony he does need a good amount of leg or should I say kick in order to keep him forward going. Once he gets going he is fine but it is noticeable that her seat has started to suffer a little.

I have the option of another pony - a 13.2h who is dressage trained and looks fab. I am not sure she is ready for the step up but at the same time I do not want her seat to suffer. Others have said that its a good idea to move her up as she would progress faster and learn more from a schoolmaster. However I am a little concerned about the extra cost, time, energy, money - all that good stuff.

She could continue to ride both ponies - one more for hacking and generally having fun and then the new pony for more schooling and competition work.

What do you think? Should I just keep her going on her existing pony for another year and have fun or be more concerned about developing her seat etc.

Ta.
 
It depends on what you - and she - want to achieve. There is no right or wrong answer.

You haven't given her age or the height of current pony. But from my experience I'd say stick to current pony until she finds she wants to do more with him than he can give. The step up to 2nd pony - espeically if it is a competition pony - can be a surprise. Even the slowest plod can be made more responsive with good schooling - although there is a limit.

One of the things that bothered me with my daughter on her 1st was the "flappy leg" thing - he's a perfect 1st pony but does need some leg! Once onto her 2nd pony (5 years after 1st) the flappy leg absolutely disappeared. But re-appears when she is back on 1st boy. It isn't her seat suffering - it is just what is needed to keep that one going.

The 2nd pony can be a jarring experience - especially if there is a good relationship with 1st Pony. Might there be an option to take a ride on a more experienced pony? Between 1st and 2nd we had a number of competition rides on others to gain experience.

Don't over estimate the additional time keeping 2 involves either!
 
Sorry my daughter is 10 and she is riding a 12.2h currently.

I am reassured by your comment on the flappy leg thing - as that's exactly what worries me. When I suggest she 'squeezes the toothpaste out of the tube with her legs' she just laughs as he doesn't move!! Give him a good ole wallop and he responds. He is getting better. He might improve with a whip but I am not keen on kids with whips.

So difficult - you want to do your best for your kids and give them all the chances that you can - sometimes you might just try and bit too hard.

Will continue to think. She certainly has not got everything from her current pony - he still has plenty to give.
 
Being involved with both Pony Club and a local riding school I see loads of children put off by being speedily upgraded as their parents want them to. Also nowadays everyone wants to be on a bigger pony than they need - is that a carry on from all horses having to be about 18hh nowadays!?
So thats the negative, on the positive my parents bought me a 13.2 when I was still on my 12.2 and I kept both for the summer. I rode both every day but used the 12.2 for hacking out and fun stuff and the 13.2 for PC and so on. I loved it and it did me good. So theres the positive!
I would let her carry a stick, long enough that she doesn't need to take her hands off the reins. A squeeze, then a small kick then a whack, he must learn to respect the leg.
Good luck and I hope that doesn't sound too bossy and/or rude, it is not meant to.
 
My daughter had her first pony when she was 9/10 rather like yours, after a year her instructer said to get her something else as it was holding her back. We then bought, which could have proved a disaster, a 4 yr old (the roan in my sig)they just clicked when she tried her. They went from strength to strength and proved a pretty formidable partnership over the next 3 yrs. You know your daughter and if she has the confidence to move up a level, if you feel it could knock it stay where you are for a bit longer.
I'm not sure i would keep both pony's its alot of pressure keeping 2 going and it could turn out that one of the ponys will take preference but i suppose that could lead to making the decision to sell easier.
 
I would leave her on the first pony. After riding a year she has an awful lot she can still learn on him. And agree with others, its very easy to shatter their confidence at the first to second pony stage if they aren't ready. Clodaghs squeeze, kick, whack method works, as will letting him hack in large fast groups with lots of cantering & galloping. Why not make the most of his quiet temperament & work on her position with lots of no stirrups/bareback riding & jumping.
 
I agree with the general opinion on here. It won't do her seat any harm staying on the first pony, just teach her to be an effective rider rather than one that sits prettily not doing much...

My stepson was on a whizzy first pony, so didn't really flap. When he was outgrowing her we were offered a larger pony on loan that had done a lot of jumping. It seemed too good to refuse, so we took it. The pony was just that bit too good for him, and he used to fall off regularly. At his first show he knocked himself out! He was getting to the point where I felt he would give up riding full stop. A little pony a friend had bought from the auctions came up for sale cheap. He was an honest little gypsy cob that would toddle round clear round etc. We sent the flash jumping pony back and bought the cob. He was on that pony for three years, gained his confidence and won hoardes of trophies - they beat the previous flash pony regularly!

He used to flap his leg a bit on the cob, but has gone onto my husband's hunter now at the age of 14, and his leg has grown longer and stronger, and suddenly managed to stop flapping!

Perhaps have both ponies for a bit? Definately go and try the other pony, see how she looks, but don't over horse her. Its a recipe for disaster 90% of the time... Unless she is aimed at team GB juniors, fun is the main thing when they are that young...
 
I'd keep with the pony she;s got. As she becomes a better and stronger rider, her aids will become more refined, and the pony more responsive.

Nothing wrong with a little kick around - especially one that gives confidence to a new rider.
 
Another thought is maybe find her a few rides? There are a lot of ponies who are fab on lr, but very nippy off, & the owners are often looking for an older child to hack it & go for a blast to keep it calm for a tiny. That way she'd get the experience of forward types but still have hers for safety. And it comes in handy to have the contacts, my daughter will never be short of a pony to ride. There's always small ponies needing riding!
 
I agree about letting her carry a stick to back up her leg. I'd rather see a child squeeze then back it up with a little tap than be kicking along constantly.

Our new pony was very dead to the leg and I have done this and she is light as a feather off the leg now and it was a rapid transformation. Obviously she would need your guidance.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I agree about letting her carry a stick to back up her leg. I'd rather see a child squeeze then back it up with a little tap than be kicking along constantly.

Our new pony was very dead to the leg and I have done this and she is light as a feather off the leg now and it was a rapid transformation. Obviously she would need your guidance.
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We have exactly the same problem with our 13.2, he is a gorgeous pony for a child to have but lazy! Her seat would disintegrate with the flapping trying to get him to step up a gear but now she carries a long schooling whip and gives him a tap up. I prefer a tap to a whip than a pony constantly getting pony club kicks!
 
i have used this approach quite a few times, i pop the kid on the lunge and use the lunge whip to back up the leg, not in the case of hitting the pony but as a way of supporting the upward transition. normally do this a few times then occasionally when things start to slip. also lunge lessons are very good for the seat etc
 
Lots of good ideas thanks everyone.

She will ride tonight and I will give her a little whip to use. He can be a little sod that's my only concern - isn't forward going and then is more than happy to put head between legs and bum in air. Thankfully I can see it coming and my daughter can now feel it coming. I think he just gets fed up and doesn't want to do any more and decides to throw her off. And nope he isn't overworked just has a bit of an attitude. Typical pony!!

Finally, I have just reached that place where after many, many years hard slog I have the facilities and the where with all to have the horses at home that I want to give her as much as I can to progress. Totally agree that I need to think whether I am trying to hard and that my daughter needs to be fully on board. Need to make sure its not a case of parent living the dream through the child!

I have the option of going to see the pony in a week so might do that. See how she gets on, feels about it. Keep thinking in the meantime. I just don't want to mislead any one - my daughter or the person I am purchasing from.

Thanks again, really appreciate your views.
 
I will disagree with some of the others and say that my children have benefitted from moving up a level in pony while some other children stay on ones who no longer have anything educational to offer.

B had a saintly lead rein pony from 3-6yo. The pony would go off the lead rein but only if the leader stayed beside him otherwise he would follow. I could have spend months trying to persuade this older pony to change his ways but instead flew the length of the country and bought a proven M&M first ridden pony who has manners but also gears. He has taken B from the lead rein to multiple dressage wins and showing championships over a 3 year period and B has had a ball, developing his riding when some of his PC friends have become frustrated as their ability has gone beyond their ponies. We have done just the same thing recently and bought a schoolmaster 12.2hh JA pony for 8yo B. In the 6 weeks we have had him B has been transformed from a child who was anxious to jump to one who is jumping confidently and has to be held back from attempting things beyond his experience.

The value of a schoolmaster pony at the next stage up cannot be underestimated IMO so I would jump at the chance if finances and time allow and your daughter is keen. Schoolmaster ponies are like gold dust and finding one is almost a full time job. If one has come your way grab him or her with both hands.
 
hollyandivy123 said:
i have used this approach quite a few times, i pop the kid on the lunge and use the lunge whip to back up the leg, not in the case of hitting the pony but as a way of supporting the upward transition. normally do this a few times then occasionally when things start to slip. also lunge lessons are very good for the seat etc
Click to expand...

done this too with daughters small pony, she finds it a help as she can concentrate on her position and leave the 'driving' to me;) we often did a little warm up on the lunge and then she'd take him off on her own and he'd be listening and responding a lot better:)
 
It's difficult without knowing your child, but I tend to agree with Measles. My son is 11. He started with an ancient skinny 11.2, went on to a younger forward going rounder 11.2, which he loved, then onto an even younger but very quiet 13.1. This pony needed coaxing, kicking and generally badgering into doing anything unless you put a bigger rider on him, and it messed up my son's seat and his confidence in himself. Last year I had the chance to buy an older 14.1 schoolmaster. We went through all the pros and cons of getting a whizzy, bigger pony, and then decided not to pass up the chance and that at least he would potentially get a few years out of him.

My son has not looked back, his riding has progressed no end, he is jumping far more confidently, his seat has recovered, and he is now riding one of my 16.1 horses at home and getting a far better tune out of him than I do!:o

Obviously not all children benefit from being moved up to another pony, but many do, and the danger is that kids who stick with the one pony for too many years get left behind and find the transition to large pony/small horse is too great for them.
 
I think though there is a difference between a child like ops who's been riding a year, & one with a lifetime of riding when it comes to confidence though. By the sounds of it, measles & rowreaches children, like mine, had been riding more than a year before making the move to a whizzy type. Mine only ever regularly rode less forward types as a tiny with me giving voice commands so she's never done the kick along type, her first ridden loan was a star. However she wouldn't have the confidence & ability she does if I had stuck her on current pony too soon. I suppose it depends on the pony though, my 14.2 is forwards & responsive. But is fine with a nervous novice child as well as good for confident experienced kids. However whilst from what measles posted her son would no doubt enjoy my 7yr olds pony, the majority of kids her age would have their confidence shattered.
 
Little legs - I would completely agree with you if the pony is whizzy but unless I've missed it the OP has described the potential new pony as a schoolmaster. B's two step up ponies are far from whizzy and I'd be totally against something too much so. There is a huge gap between responsive and polite - as B's ponies are - and the bouncy, whizzy type so my pov is based on the former being a good bet for the OP's daughter. If I've got it wrong and the pony is sharp then I would approach it with caution.
 
Yes sorry whizzy was the wrong word to use, and I totally appreciate that OPs daughter has only been riding a year, but I still think it depends on the child (and we don't know her :)), and the OP seems to have the knowledge, time and facilities to potentially make it work for them. I've seen lots of children put off by how much effort it takes to get their ponies going (I was nearly one of them!) and it can be very surprising how a child will gel with a forward going pony when a sensible adult thinks it may be a step too far :D
 
Fair enough measles, I see where your coming from. I was thinking more along the lines of a less stable lower leg resulting in pony shooting off accidently. Ours isn't a loon at all, even galloping in a group I have no concern over her being able to stop first without difficulty. But I know just the way she moves (forwards rather than dawdle) could worry some, even in walk & trot, in a 'oh no its going to run off way'. Whereas mine would wait for a precise correct aid before responding, & adjusts herself to the rider. So as you say, I suppose it depends on the pony.
 
Potential pony has been described as a schoolmistress - been told the sort that doesn't do anything wrong (not bolt, run off, buck, kick etc) but would probably spook if a pheasant flew out.

Our current pony would not do a thing if a pheasant flew out but can and has taken off down the long side kicking and bucking. He is an absolute angel most of the time - just sometimes he is a complete sod.

This has had an impact on my daughters confidence, understandably. So do I risk upping her to a larger pony but one that she trusts or continue with current pony.

I must say that when he has gone to kick and buck (and its not too bad, don't get me wrong) she has sensed it and has started to shout at him very loudly and whilst I don't like it she did give him a sock in the mouth the other day when he went to buck after a little jump. You could see that he was shocked and interestingly enough he didn't try it on again!

Maybe this in itself will up her confidence and stop the little sausage from doing it.
 
If its a true schoolmistress & its only size that bothers you, I'd go & look. My full up 14.2 has been a confidence giver for loads of young children, despite being forwards she's as safe as a first pony, & has done everything from nanny novices round their first course to giving nervous kids their first canter. Despite her size my child's been jumping & cantering her since she was 5/6. Only problem with a 13.2 is that she may find herself against older kids for a short time because of height restrictions, but tbh given the long term confidence benefits its not the end of the world. Plus entirely different swopping from a cheeky pony than if her current pony was the safe as houses type.
 
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