Daughter lost confidence

shannonandtay

shannonandtay

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A few weeks ago our usually well behaved connie started bucking and spinning in canter in the school. I've had his saddle checked and it needed reflocking so assumed this was causing the issue. All went well for a couple of weeks then he started doing it again so this time I got the vet out who thought he had some pain on his right side lumbar and she advised getting the physio out. We done this and no major issues but a little bit of soreness and stiffness there so have been doing some exercises with him and he seems to be going well. The problem is my 12 year old daughter now doesn't want to canter him in the school even though he should be ok to do this now. I don't know how to help her get her confidence back as she seems worried he might buck and seems very tense when riding. I thought it might be better if I rode him but as I no longer ride regular anymore I must admit I'm worried myself. Sorry it's so long but anyone got any tips, he's always been such an angel I think she's had a bit of a shock.
 
Can you get an instructor in? I was like that but my instructor would tell me to get on with it and it was the best thing she could of done! Once I accomplished it once I was over it. I know if my mum had told me to do things on them I would of just said no I can't. It sounds harsh but worked with me. Even now when I get nervous my friend doesn't let me bail!
 
A good but sympathetic instructor who is also prepared to ride the pony herself.When your daughter sees him going safely for someone else it will help her to feel more confident.
 
Def get an instructor who will ride him but also don't be in any rush to get her into canter again. Just back off and let her walk and trot around and hopefully she will regain her confidence gradually.

Perhaps a few lessons for your daughter at a riding school might help too?

Best of luck
 
I agree it might help if your daughter sees someone else riding the pony too! My friend ride mine when I lost confidence at the beginning and I stood there thinking 'that's not that bad, I can do that!'
 
If she is happy to ride the pony in trot then just let her do that - eventually she will want to canter again. Just don't put the pressure on.

Having someone else do some schooling wouldn't hurt and your daughter can then see the pony going happily again.
 
Thanks for your replies, we moved yard about three months ago and had only just started with a new instructor when the problem started and she hasn't had a lesson recently as I wanted to get him sorted out first, but I will give her a call as she was very good with my daughter. I won't rush her while we are waiting for the lesson I know how it feels to lose confidence it's just such a shame to see her tense and worried when before she had been so trusting of him to try anything. I'm sure it'll pass in time. Thanks again.
 
Just give her time & a good instructor. I find the best way to get a child over a fear of canter is letting them firstly see the pony behaving regularly for someone else, & building their confidence in other ways. Depending on child & pony let her learn more in trot, whether that's transitions within the pace (gives child a sense of control) or learning new lateral movements (boosts their opinion of their own ability) or even just playing games or doing small jumps in a gradually faster trot. And when they do first canter, it can be almost accidental. Eg if you trot any faster he might put in a stride of canter before the fence, or if you don't concentrate you'll get a stride of canter instead of extension. Or even do it on the lunge with just 2 or 3 strides.
 
Sorry meant to say as I don't know everyone that well at this yard I havent got anyone else to ride him, but I can ask her instructor if she would ride him if she thinks its necessary.
 
I would suggest that mum needs some lessons on this horse and then to hack it our regularly for two hours per day to get the 'Fizz@ out of it. Sounds like it is developing in to a very naughty pony.

I bought a pony (14.3 cob) from a family who kept it in North London and who's daughters stopped riding it because it would buck when going from trot to canter or in canter. I would ride it out for an hour per day and much longer at weekends when I would hack it down to Hyde Park etc. The bucking stopped with hard work and I ended up with a lovely bombproof/spookproof cob that I also ended up hunting etc.

Ponies need hard work to keep them occupied anbd prevent them dreaming up mischief. They are clever animals.
 
OWLIE185 said:
I would suggest that mum needs some lessons on this horse and then to hack it our regularly for two hours per day to get the 'Fizz@ out of it. Sounds like it is developing in to a very naughty pony.

I bought a pony (14.3 cob) from a family who kept it in North London and who's daughters stopped riding it because it would buck when going from trot to canter or in canter. I would ride it out for an hour per day and much longer at weekends when I would hack it down to Hyde Park etc. The bucking stopped with hard work and I ended up with a lovely bombproof/spookproof cob that I also ended up hunting etc.

Ponies need hard work to keep them occupied anbd prevent them dreaming up mischief. They are clever animals.
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PLease read the OP's posts properly - the pony had a saddle problem followed by soreness - it's not being naughty, underworked or overfed but reacting to pain.
 
Little legs, thanks that sounds like a good idea make it fun and hopefully she will forget the fear I noticed last night that she was so tense that he became very tense as well.

Owlie, I was thinking the same I need to do more riding and less mucking out lol I did ride him the other day and although that was just in walk and trot and even though my ridings a bit rusty he did go better and listened more than he has been for my daughter lately. Just wanted to say how lucky you were hacking out in hyde park, beautiful place.
 
Tnavas said:
PLease read the OP's posts properly - the pony had a saddle problem followed by soreness - it's not being naughty, underworked or overfed but reacting to pain.
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Thanks yes I think definitely a reaction to pain and maybe that's a fear he has at the moment. I have had the saddler out again this week just to double check everything and all seems good now. He generally has a very quiet and willing nature.
 
Not yet, but when she's more relaxed & almost ready to think about canter, finding a child to canter pony in front of her might help too. Not some child who is an amazingly experienced rider coming to ride it cos she's not as good. Just one of similar ability but more confident, preferably riding another safe pony & get them to play gymkhana games together or pretend shows, then stage a 'why don't you swop ponies for 5 mins' scenario, if other child then does a few strides of canter on daughters pony it may well reassure her. Especially done regularly by a child she knows is on her level. Actually, you don't even need two ponies, they could take it in turns on yours.
 
Shannonandtay. We used to have mums lessons at the yard and all the mums would have a riding lesson together once a week riding the kids ponies. This went on for years and years and when the kids went off to Uni/College etc. the mums kept the ponies going on for ever more. All great fun! We even went on holidays with the ponies! Hacking on Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park were also great fun. Many of the ponies were still going on happily in to their late 20's with the mums (now grandparents) still riding them. (The mums instructress (who also taught us stable management) is now a seriously good dressage rider riding at an extremely high level). The ponies probably gave the mums more fun than the kids. Happy days!
 
Tnavas said:
If she is happy to ride the pony in trot then just let her do that - eventually she will want to canter again. Just don't put the pressure on.

Having someone else do some schooling wouldn't hurt and your daughter can then see the pony going happily again.
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This- As the proud mother of a 12 year old girl and a spinning connie I can promise confidence wise it wont do her any good to have some random instructor force her to canter and to be honest you cant swear pony wont spin or buck again then she will loose all confidence.
let her ride however she is happy and if that means weeks of going no faster than a trot (or even walk- we did) so be it.
The getting a more experienced rider in is a fab idea not only will it show her that pony can canter and behave but will nip in the bud any problems before they get out of hand (this is one I should have done sooner)
Good luck x
 
poiuytrewq said:
This- As the proud mother of a 12 year old girl and a spinning connie I can promise confidence wise it wont do her any good to have some random instructor force her to canter and to be honest you cant swear pony wont spin or buck again then she will loose all confidence.
let her ride however she is happy and if that means weeks of going no faster than a trot (or even walk- we did) so be it.
The getting a more experienced rider in is a fab idea not only will it show her that pony can canter and behave but will nip in the bud any problems before they get out of hand (this is one I should have done sooner)
Good luck x
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I see we have had the same problem lol, for some reason when it's my daughter and my pony I can't seem to think clearly, but great advise from everyone I feel much more positive, and of course no need to rush and make things worse for both of them.

Owlie185 I love the mums riding idea that sounds great, I fully intend to keep him for myself if daughter ever moves onto horses or boyfriends :D
 
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