Daft question about little ponies

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weebarney

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Nearly made an impulse buy yesterday, saw advert for 10 hand, 2 year old section a on dragon driving for 200 quid, why did I want it? Cos it was already broke to ride and drive, was kept tethered and on the photo had someone sitting on it with their feet down past it's knees. Anyway when I rang it was sold but what I wasn't sure is how do you back small ponies? Do you use small adults or children ? What sort of weight can you put on them? I never had anything so small.
 
My friend used to ride my old pony and she looked ridiculous as she was really tall but only 13 and wouldn't have weighed more than your average 5/6 year old as she was very skinny. I think although balance can be an issue so long as the person doesn't weigh lots/is a good balanced rider I don't see a problem. I would never put a small kid, no matter how experianced, on a pony being backed so a confident/light teenager/adult is ideal.
My pony was happy being lightly schooled and hacked in walk and trot with my friend but she never cantered/jumped him or worked him til he was sweaty (which says a lot as he was a very fluffy pony who sweated up on the lunge)
 
Depends what sort of jockey you can get hold of, I find small lightweight confident teenagers with adult assistance are quite good but, decent ones are hard to find. I do prefer using teenagers for ponies that will eventually going to be for children as they treat them more like kids ponies.
I tend to do the ground work first lunging long reining ect. Them use teenager to back then as soon as the pony is safe I've got a very brave 8 year old daughter who will get on. But I do continue the long reining for a decent length of time to get the basic flat work. I find with this method you can get the pony what I call kiddie bombproofed as well as it having a nice flat work.
If an adult does all the riding I find sometimes when you first introduce a child to the equation it sets you back a little, but that's just with past experience.
 
We have just started a Section A using 2 little jockeys, one who has never ridden before, she just followed instruction to the letter with no rein contact at all, using her legs, seat and voice - nothing complicated by doing things different to what she knew because she knew absolutely nothing and it worked brilliantly. Then came in the jockey who could ride and would be on him in the ring. We had all the ground work in place before either jockey got anywhere near him and he was foot perfect throughout.
 
Either a small teen or experienced child. I've used my daughter since she was 5, however at that age they had to have excellent groundwork & temperaments, & it was more the case she was sat on while an adult worked the pony from the ground. Ime the closer in size & style of riding the backing jockey is to the intended future rider the better it is.
 
I'm hoping to find a brave gullible and small local child with a head like a bullet to back my Welshie

No....in all seriousness a friend's competent lightweight 13 year old is going to back him for me lol

Then I need to find that gullible child to bring him on :D
 
And in all seriousness.... £200 is a lot at the moment for a Welshy. Having been to the sales recently we have 6 in the field from weanlings - 2yo's and collectively they cost less than that :eek: and we know they've not been messed around with / half broken by a nitwit (not least because they're a little wild currently :o)
 
I break my shetlands in - in 5ft4" and weigh just under 10st. I dont really bother with lunging and long lining I just tack up and hop on. Usually they are so confuses they just do what they are told. If they get the idea and then think they can be naughty they get told to do something else twice as confusing. I rally them around like games ponies but equally school them to be push button rides. In the end I let kids get on them to show them but I do grudge giving up my toys :(

I have never once had problem with any pony backed this way and neither have any kids that have ridden them.
 
EKW said:
I break my shetlands in - in 5ft4" and weigh just under 10st. I dont really bother with lunging and long lining I just tack up and hop on. Usually they are so confuses they just do what they are told. If they get the idea and then think they can be naughty they get told to do something else twice as confusing. I rally them around like games ponies but equally school them to be push button rides. In the end I let kids get on them to show them but I do grudge giving up my toys :(

I have never once had problem with any pony backed this way and neither have any kids that have ridden them.
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EKW There's was you telling me that my 5 yr old would be good to clip, you were comparing him to a Shetland :p:D

Sounds a lot of money for a welsh, I had a couple of children and a light weight rider help break in our pony, then I realised he was strong enough to hold me at 13hh and I'm 5'5 about 10 stone so then complete the rest. He was a fab pony, safe on the road and great to gallop flat out. I always felt really wild on him. It not on my own.
 
EKW said:
Wallykissmas - Oh no I don't clip my shetlands! Perish the thought! I clip out over 200 race horses a season lol! Mostly without any form of sedation!
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Our Shetland would stand without a head collar to commit the sin of clipping her, she was in full time work was my excuses .

You were right thought he was perfect to be clipped :)
 
I am going to do the majority using long reins on a circle and straight. My neighbour is about 7stone or maybe less so I reckon she can help too. My daughter will be 5 by then so she will be able to ride her as well. Can't wait :)

Also a section A from top lines and extremely well handled and not much more than 200...
 
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