Daughter lost confidence

R

Roxryan

New User
Joined
28 May 2024
Messages
4
Visit site
Hi - I’m looking for a bit of advice….

So, we bought our gorgeous girl in April for my daughter…what we didn’t know at the time is that she had a tooth that had a crack across from one side to the other - my daughter who had been having lessons and loving life - had two bad falls after she was thrown.

Vet came out - we found out her tooth was giving her horrendous pain - had it removed and she’s never chucked a buck since. To be honest she’s a different pony.

My daughter however still hasn’t got her confidence back and whilst a lot better (at one point she wouldn’t go into her stable and was panicking at every twitch the pony made )

They have bonded so well but it’s that - going into the school she won’t even walk her in.

My sons riding her - she doesn’t step a foot wrong.

I’m just struggling to get my daughter back - personally I’m not the most clued up and I’m inexperienced with ponies. My mum rode and had them and it skipped a generation with me.

The pony is more attached to me than anyone else and I adore the bones off her - I just want my daughter to enjoy her

Sorry for the ramble….any advice or tips
 
Would your daughter ride another pony, or is she scared off riding.
Could you get a lesson on another bombproof pony to build her confidence up?
 
What I did when I had that level of fear was lead line lessons. I was on my horse when the accident happened and starting from literally square one on her helped a lot. I had to swallow my ego and I was an adult on my one and only horse.

I was back WTC and doing cavaletti in a field within 6 months. That time frame includes coming back from extensive knee surgery after the accident that crushed my confidence.

If your daughter has the level of fear I had I would suggest another horse unless she is determined to ride that pony.
 
This has happened to us, mine was fine to ride other ponies, it was her's that gave her a bad experience and she ended up not wanting to sit on her in the end.

She didn't have any physical issue, she was just too much for my daughter (needed very regular work as a competition pony it turned out). So we sold her to a more experienced home, had lots of lessons on riding school ponies again.... and then got another. The change in her confidence was amazing. Sometimes it's the pony unfortunately and no matter what you do the confidence is gone.

Saying that though confidence is such a tricky thing, even now, almost 10 months after having this pony mine still has wobbles if the pony (who is usually angelic) has a bad day...I think winter is so much harder in summer as they are just more on their toes in general. I feel for you it's so difficult.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top