Extra breaks for nervous kiddy

R2R

R2R

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In an aid to help the mega nervous kiddy on my yard, we have got him a loan pony. Pony is forward going, but safe - has come from a novice home with novice rider and whilst forward (as in not kick along) has been there, done it, got the t shirt - does not do a thing other than is forward going!!!
He is fairly nervous on hacks, and whilst has listened to us when we tell him to walk said pony on a loose rein, does feel like he needs a bit more of an anchor in case anything happens.

Pony is currently ridden in eggbut snaffle, we put a flash on yesterday but he actually doesnt need one.

As I am useless at bitting (I eather ride in a loose ring or a pelham...) can someone advise me of something that will give the kiddie extra breaks but not be too sharp for the pony.

Thx
 
If the pony is forward going but safe then I wouldn't put anything stronger in its mouth!! With a nervous child and a stronger bit you will ruin the poor ponies mouth! I would either lead the pony until the child has more confidence or work in a school with them until the child is confident enough to hack on a looser rein.

Sorry but thats my opinion. You see far too many ponies being ridden in bits that are too strong and then when the pony stops going forward..lets put spurs on the kids.
 
I know, thats what I want to avoid. I just want him to have the confidence he will be able to stop.
 
We have one who does need those extra brakes but he's a real old hand with small kiddies and will sod off if the mood takes him. He was in an eggbutt which worked fine if she hauled on his mouth. I hated seeing that and wanted her to learn (from the beginning) to use softer hands so i changed his bit. I put him in a wilkie (from Fylde, google them) which has done the job fine. Strangely our younger (novice) pony is stronger and more foward going but better ridden in a small rubber bradoon. It's down to trial and error I'm afraid.

As Sashpip said, if they're hanging onto the mouth then a stronger bit could just cause more problems. You need to work on the kid;s confidence in the school first. Teaching the kid to walk so theycan feel the pony's mouth oh so softly, and even giving said kid a 'Jesus Christ' strap (a bit of baler twine going from d ring to d ring across the pommel for them to grab). neckstraps are rarely any use.
Do lots of school stuff, cones, stopping, starting, games, round the world, working without reins (on the lunge if need be) so the child learns to trust the pony.
My daughter trusts her younger pony so so much that even though we all know he'll sod off if he wants to she can ride him along with her hands on the buckle. But that took months of confidence building on her older pony first. Because she is more relaxed with him he's quite chilled plodding down the road with her. THAT'S the key to successfully teaching a child to ride.
Also have the pony's teeth checked incase there's any pain which is making his bit less effective.
 
If it is purely emergency breaks he needs why not pop the pony in a dutch gag with the rein on the snaffle ring and a second rein on the bottom/middle ring that is knotted and not held but with the knowledge that he can pick it up if he needs to.

It wouldn't be any different to a hanging cheek snaffle when ridden just on the top rein and if he ever needed to use the extra breaks wouldn't be soooo severe as to cause an unwanted reaction.

In the meantime concentrate on getting him to understand that he doesn't need a strong bit to stop. Do some school exercises to encourage him to stop with his seat and body. For example get him to ride trot to walk transitions by slowing the rise whilst riding on a long rein. Maybe try some work without reins on the lunge too.

This is all about his confidence and not at all about his brakes by the sounds of things.
 
Katt, you hit the nail on the head - it is all about his confidence. He is fine in the school, he is 14 so compitent enough to stop pony BUT I think he would feel a million times better if we gave him a handbrake as well as a foot break when hacking, so to speak.

I might try the gag idea - I will make it clear that it is an emergency breaking system only!
 
Completely agree with you! Please don't ruin the ponys mouth with a stronger bit with insensitive hands. If the child is not confident on the loan pony you have, get him a plod.
 
This is about the child not the pony. Assume pony does stop when asked in current bit? If so, agree with the majority - don't change the bit, take off the flash if the pony doesn't need it, but work on the child. Put him on the lead rein while out, give him a neck strap and/or a handle, lots of confidence building in the school and wait.

If he spends enough time in the saddle with positive experiences, the confidence will come. I do think time in the saddle is important. There is a nervous child on our yard, pony is pretty safe and quiet, but she only rides once a week, so it is going to take a very long time....
 
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