children's ponies and bitting

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parsley

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I was just browsing small ponies (OH would probably divorce me but theres no harm in looking for my youngest!)
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and saw this

My first thought was that the pony looked sharp and had a continental gag in with the reins on the bottom ring. But I am wondering how many parents do this to ensure that the child can stop the pony if there is a problem? The child is very tiny and maybe its better to have a stronger bit as a safeguard? (I stil think roundings might be better)
 
it's only in a two ring...similar to a wilkie, which IMO is a handy bit to have in your box if your child is still a little weak in the arm/leg strength department.

better the pony is easier to hold/stop than to frighten the child!!
 
Yes it is a two ring isn't it! I'm going blind in my old age. I think you are probably right - the pony is only 12 h so the child must be tiny! The price is very cheap - it includes all the tack and rugs.


keep repeating - no pony for the daughter......
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I have to admit to having used two-ring with reins on bottom only, but only for extra brakes! And the rings were quite small, so not too much leverage.

Pony was too sharp (strangely enough a welsh b!) and I got fed up picking child off back pole of oxer when he'd got too strong, carted her and then ducked out, little b...d... He is older now and goes in a hanging snaffle.

But I hate to see reins on bottom of 3-ring, think that should be banned as the pressure must be awful on the pony's mouth. Tried to reason with a teenager at a local show about hauling on the bottom rein only, but was like talking to a brick wall.
 
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similar to a wilkie, which IMO is a handy bit to have in your box if your child is still a little weak in the arm/leg strength department.

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totally agree - it's such a useful bit to have around
 
Echo above!!!Looking at photo of pony it looks like it could be a handful and rider looks a little over ponied really,could just be the picture!!!Mostly kids ponies good in all aspects but usually have a discipline where they bit strong,easier to bit up than kiddy struggle and heave on mouths!!
 
How old is your little one? I said I would never get my daughter a pony until she was old enough to look after one, I thought about 8 was right.

Then a local riding school closed down, I ended up buying one and getting his best friend free. Daughter was 4 at the time!!!!

Don't look, you will find something you like!
 
Shell be 6 soon. She loves riding but I know that ponies don't cost a lot less than horses (the same as far as livery is concerned) - so OH not really keen and if she has one I'll have less time for my horse - me being selfish
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I keep thinking that if she doesn't ride for ages she will forget about is
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BUT - I would also love her to enjoy riding so I keep having a little look
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Maybe it could be worse - I could go the two pony route:
Timmy
and his best friend Polly as I couldn't let them be parted.

(Just showed OH Timmy and he said "loads of vets bills"
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)
 
Aaaah! Well, it's always nice to have a spare for a friend...

Always found that my pones hardly ever need the vet, tough little blighters, being native types. And only have front shoes, and about half the amount of rugs the horses need of course (although half of many is still a few!)

Go on, you know you want to.
 
i find this thread interesting, my 6 yr old niece comes up to my yard to ride my YM's shetland and has occasional lessons at a riding school. I have just joined her up to pony club as she has free use of shetland.

i often find my self browsing lead reins and first riddens, and anything not in a snaffle really puts me off to be honest.

i am hoping to buy / loan her a pony when she grows out of the shetland but will have to see - like someone above said, selfish as it sounds it does intrude on your time - my sister is ok around horses and can ride but she's quite rusty so i have to be there to supervise!
 
Bloody hell, a flash, a gag, a martingale...does this thing ever stop, or do you have to put a 17 stone man on it for it to actually stop?

Personally, if the kid needs that many gadgets to keep control (and admittedly, she is VERY weeny), perhaps she should have had a smaller and quieter pony in the first place.
 
I think the martingale might be a good idea - I used one with my son's pony while his hands weren't that steady as it can help stop them accidently jabbing them in the mouth quite so hard and I wonder if the flash just comes with the bridle - it seems to be more and more difficult to buy a bridle without one now.

Or it might be a speedy pony!
 
In the case of that pony - I would say a big NO. Looks too sharp & if the owner thinks that's a suitable picture to sell a child's pony then you have to wonder about their judgement.
BUT although I have the ultimate quiet schoolmaster at present (too big for you tho'), I do put a 2 ring gag in his mouth for HT & hunting as he's a cob & it does help the rider to not have to fight a strong neck, even if it is just keeping pony between hand & leg. So I wouldn't neccesarily discount a pony for not always being a snaffle mouth. I think people are overly concerned about it tbh.
Shadow in THE bit!!


Another total schoolmaster in THE bit:
 
i think being in anything stronger than a snaffle for things like hunting is a good idea if anything, in exciting situations ponies are nearly always stronger. that kind of thing wouldnt put me off at all. but a pony (who doesnt look cobby or strong in the heavy strength sense i.e. theres not a great deal to him) who is in a gag all the time would make me a little wary.

my niece has ridden my 13.1 in a hanging cheek bcos pony is far too strong for her (she is in a 3 ring for fast work and thats with my weight on board!) http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/vicki1986/willow/abi2.jpg
but as you can see, she hasnt really got size on her side and the pony is quite large for her!! http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/vicki1986/willow/abi3.jpg

but the shetland she rides on the lead rein in a straight bar rubber snaffle. shes on the lead rein so doesnt need anything else.

i often see some really tiny kids ponies in flash or grackles, martingales, gags etc - a far cry from when i was little all the ponies were in cavvessons and snaffles. and if you couldnt stop it was your fault for not riding properly - hence i got tanked off with ALOT !!

however i would agree best the children can stop the pony than disappearing off into the distance at speed! without hauling at the reins too much.

i do notice that a lot of snaffle mouthed ponies are often more expensive although difficult to compare too accurately
 
in the pictures that pony looks very sharp and highly strung however it could be the pics

I sold my 12hh 4yo snaffle mouth loverly ickle thing really for £750 including all her tack and i had bearly any interest ended up selling her through a wanted out but then again she did have sweet itch which could have put alot of people off

to OP I would be naughty and just come home with a small pony and hide it for a while
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That is a terrible photo to use to sell a small pony for a child with. Perhaps they just think all those "gadgets" look cool, a bit like go faster stripes on a car.

My childrens ponies wear cavesson nosebands and snaffles for "everyday", one needs to be geared up a bit with a grakle and gag and a martingale when doing fast work as he gets excited and strong (and I struggle to control him when he gets like that so they don't stand much chance). I just feel that for plodding about and PC they should have the minimum necessary tack on, but maybe I'm the odd one because my ponies aren't covered in every extra bit of tack possible.

Sorry, bit of a pet hate of mine...
 
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