Children and ponies-Pony Club

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peaceandquiet1

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My seven year old daughter was at PC on Sunday. First rally of the year. I was stuck elsewhere with my other daughter whose pony was being difficult so the younger toddled off to her group and managed it all by herself. I was watching her and though she looked great, but I couldn't actually follow the lesson as I was not close enough.

Anway the elder one had a good time in the end when her pony settled but the seven year old was very disheartened. The instructor told her she went far too slowly and she had them all trying to canter without asking them first if they had cantered before, which mine hadn't. Her pony has a really bouncy canter and I thought she was fine just sorting out walk and trot.

Why do Pony Club intructors never seem to find the positives. Here is a slightly built seven year old competently managing her steady pony in a large open field on her own and doing all the exercises safely. What does it matter if she can't canter yet and why does she have to feel she has to go faster in trot when she is only getting started? I feel the instructor could have asked her what stage she was at, and the kids in her group should have been praised and encouraged for doing well at their level. Any one got any thoughts?
 
Hello,

It makes me really sad to hear things like this about children learning to ride. I am passionate about teaching children how to ride and handle ponies in a fun, safe and empathetic way. It can be very upsetting for a child to be pushed out of their comfort zone too fast and can of course make them feel very unsafe. This isn't good for either the child or the pony!

Love Lynn
 
To be fair, if I was an instructor I would assume that a 7yo could canter unless it was stated on a rally form that they couldn't... And if not, it is up to your daughter to say "I haven't done that"- at 7, I would also expect them to be able to do that. I don't see why learning to canter with an experienced person standing by is a major thing- everyone has to do it, and she's got the first 'scary' one out of the way. Onwards and upwards I say- next step jumping! Make it all really positive. If you agree that cantering is scary, it always will be- when I helped at mini camp a lot, if anything happened the instructor would instantly be making it into a positive thing, eg "Wow! You cantered and stayed on even though it was a bit bouncy? That's amazing- aren't you lucky to be able to go so much faster in races now!" and things like that... Got very irritating after a while, but the kids seemed to really adapt to her way of thinking... Even when one wayward pony deposited small child on the other side of a little crosspole, the kid was giggling about learning to fly in a few minutes.
 
I think this is the prob with some instructors, not just PC ones tbh. I have my instructor because I can beat myself up quite well when I mess up without someone I am paying helping out too!

Is there a minimum level that she is expected to be at for working in her group? If this doesn't include independant canter then the instructor should have spoken to the riders first, perhaps splitting into two groups? Perhaps the instructor had more of a 'lets all give it a go' approach that doesn't suit your daughter? Would she want to improve her canter at home or in PC lessons? I can't imagine it is easy teaching a group of younger riders, each with different levels of ability and confidence. Either way, a positive end to a lesson is really important no matter what has gone on, a 'lets build on this' and 'although this was difficult for you, xyz went really well'. No need to sugar coat it, everyone appreciates a boost, esp after a harder lesson!

If the instructor often works with your daughter would it be worth having a chat about if the group suits your daughter or if there are things you could work on at home that could help your daughter get on better in her lessons? Perhaps an idea of what is coming up so it can be tried at home would make her feel better about things rather than it being a suprise during the lesson?
 
A lot depends on the pony. Some have a nice canter and go into it easily but ours doesn't. There is no obvious assessment process at our Branch. I think kids should be allowed to learn at their own pace; there is plenty of time to canter and jump when she is ready. Thats the thing I don't like about Pony Club; the assumption that if you are a certain age you should be able to do this or that. What does it matter so long as the child is happy, progressing at her own pace, and safe. Incidentally none of the kids in the group had much success with the canter and according to my daughter one girl (not her) was "crying her head off." Totally agree that they do need pushed a little but not so much that they become demoralised. We know we need to look for a more able pony but we haven't seen one yet. This one I know I she can manage and it doesn't have any dirty tricks.
 
Lolo said:
To be fair, if I was an instructor I would assume that a 7yo could canter unless it was stated on a rally form that they couldn't... And if not, it is up to your daughter to say "I haven't done that"- at 7, I would also expect them to be able to do that. .
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At our PC, the groups are sorted according to age and ability, and unknowns are often grouped at a lower level than parents says initially or if on a different pony, and the groups are often re-shuffled a little on the day during warm up if someone is doing better/worse than expected - lets face it both ponies and riders can often have off days.

However I would expect ANY instructor (PC or otherwise) to allow enough time before the start to talk to all those in their group that they do not know previously to find out their/their pony's capabilities. Most riding schools I know insist on private assesment lessons before joing a group, and I'd expect some sort of assesment for PC.

This sussing out certainly happens at our PC - the instructors do spend time talking to the kids about what they can do etc, they do this while doing the tack and turnout check before mounting (and we have to turn up early to allow time for this, ready to start riding at the requisite time), but if not, I do agree that daughter should speak up if she felt uncomfortable doing anything - however IME the instructors at our PC do check that all members of the group are happy with any change of level or speed or raised heights of poles etc (although as a concession to my nervous nellie of a daughter they do often tell her 'it's about 2ft 9' as she has a mental block about 3ft+ even though she is far more than capable!)

My OH took daughter to a SJ training session with an instructor she'd not had before, and he was very impressed to find she didn't need to probe far to suss daughter was quite competent and capabale b ut suffers so much from nerves she often allows run outs, and in the lesson she had the pair of them popping over everything with loads of confidence (He normally just drives her for shows and get mightily p'd off to find daughter gets 3 refusals and eliminated, when he knows it's just nerves!)

I would certainly constructively criticise this lack of care to the instructor/organisers as it is something that could potentially be a H&S issue.
 
I bet ur daughter was thoroughly disheartened! I am a secretary of a PC branch & our Instructors always ask the children beforehand if they are able/willing to canter in the lower age/ability groups. We have a separate group for those younger riders off lead rein who have an instructor who is very patient with them. All children in each ability group are assessed so that they can be moved around to suit their ability. I have a shy daughter who at that age wouldn't tell an instructor that she couldn't canter. I find that a quiet word with someone (dc, secretary etc) might help her to feel at ease for her next rally. I know that I would certainly have a chat with the instructor before next time. Has your daughter been a member long? & also would she have the same instructor everytime or does it vary? We have found the younger children are more comfortable with the same one throughout the year. I know each branch operates differently , we only have 6 rallies a year & these are for all members. xx
 
Thanks for that. There is no consistency with which instructors you get though this one has taught my daughter last year. We don't have enough rallies for them to have any real effect. I think seven is quite young to "stand up" to an instructor and there is also the desire to keep up with peers. I am pleased that she got a few steps of canter but had the intructress asked the children beforehand she would have realised that this was a big deal for my daughter and maybe some praise for trying would have been forthcoming. My elder daughter is 11 and she needs pushed a bit more because she is perfectly capable just nervous and the instructor in her group was great and got her and her new pony sorted out and going well.
 
Yea I think a lot of praise for her would have done her the world of good! I think I'd have a whisper in the instructors ear before the start of instruction at the next rally just to say she's a little wary of cantering & will need some help & encouragement. Hopefully that's not going to make a big deal of it, but will make the instructor aware without your daughter having to say something in the lesson. I bet then it will be no time until she's blasting all over!! Enjoy your PC year! xx
 
tinap555 said:
I bet ur daughter was thoroughly disheartened! I am a secretary of a PC branch & our Instructors always ask the children beforehand if they are able/willing to canter in the lower age/ability groups. We have a separate group for those younger riders off lead rein who have an instructor who is very patient with them. All children in each ability group are assessed so that they can be moved around to suit their ability. I have a shy daughter who at that age wouldn't tell an instructor that she couldn't canter. I find that a quiet word with someone (dc, secretary etc) might help her to feel at ease for her next rally. I know that I would certainly have a chat with the instructor before next time. Has your daughter been a member long? & also would she have the same instructor everytime or does it vary? We have found the younger children are more comfortable with the same one throughout the year. I know each branch operates differently , we only have 6 rallies a year & these are for all members. xx
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I'm an occasional PC instructor, and my step son does pony club, and I agree with the above.

Sometimes the first rally of the season is a bit trial and error while we sort out which kids go in which group. Personally when I'm teaching a group of 7yr olds I would do less with them rather than more! I wouldn't expect a 7yr old to tell me, I would ask! It seems a shame that they don't stay with the same instructor for the year, as much more can be gained from that.

See how it goes next time, and then perhaps have a quiet word with the DC/chief instructor - let them know that the child is coming home downhearted and a bit put off. If nobody pays any attention, then seek out another branch - there are usually plenty around. Hope it doesn't come to that!
 
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