Hells Bells
Well-Known Member
Saw a pony this morning having a lesson with a young looking woman in a field where I was collecting some haynets, and have come away just feeling a little bit sorry for the pony and rider...
Pony was about 14hh I would say, and seemed to have all manners of contraptions attached to it. It was wearing a dutch gag with the reins attached to the lowest ring, what looked to be grass reins attached to its second ring, a running martingale and a flash on. Rider was clearly very novicey and was only just mastering trot, and hanging on to the pony's mouth. Meanwhile the instructor was yelling at the woman not to yank on its mouth so hard cos she would be hurting the pony... at which point I did wonder then why not also help the pony and either put the rein on a gentler ring or put a softer bit in, or allow the woman to hold the saddle with one hand?
Pony to me looked very well behaved all things considered and I just felt a bit sad for both pony and rider really. No real reason for this thread, just felt like i needed to air it. I'm fully aware that I don't know the pony or how it behaves, and as such cannot make a claim to...it just seems a bit much to me? If pony is requiring that kind of tack, would it also be kinder for the rider to be placed on something a little more suitable to their requirements?
One question though...the pony had a headcollar on under its bridle as well...can anyone tell me why this is done? This probably makes me sound very ill-informed, but I've not really encountered this being done before? Is it to with being able to catch/hold pony? thanks!
Pony was about 14hh I would say, and seemed to have all manners of contraptions attached to it. It was wearing a dutch gag with the reins attached to the lowest ring, what looked to be grass reins attached to its second ring, a running martingale and a flash on. Rider was clearly very novicey and was only just mastering trot, and hanging on to the pony's mouth. Meanwhile the instructor was yelling at the woman not to yank on its mouth so hard cos she would be hurting the pony... at which point I did wonder then why not also help the pony and either put the rein on a gentler ring or put a softer bit in, or allow the woman to hold the saddle with one hand?
Pony to me looked very well behaved all things considered and I just felt a bit sad for both pony and rider really. No real reason for this thread, just felt like i needed to air it. I'm fully aware that I don't know the pony or how it behaves, and as such cannot make a claim to...it just seems a bit much to me? If pony is requiring that kind of tack, would it also be kinder for the rider to be placed on something a little more suitable to their requirements?
One question though...the pony had a headcollar on under its bridle as well...can anyone tell me why this is done? This probably makes me sound very ill-informed, but I've not really encountered this being done before? Is it to with being able to catch/hold pony? thanks!