First Ridden, First Pony Problems

[Maeby]

Hi All,

I'd love some advice from those with experience about our first pony. My daughter has been riding for 1 1/2 years and had a share pony for 4 months, we decided to buy a pony so we were able to do more riding and get involved with PC etc. Her share pony was a very willing 27 year old JA pony that built her confidence and got her jumping.

We bought our pony 2 1/2 weeks ago, a welsh sec B. He has done pony club, has good brakes and needs a bit of leg to get over jumps so all good, he was lovely when we tried him out, moving well and she popped some jumps on him so we were really pleased.

We have rented an amazing yard set up from our neighbours, it is on their property next to the house, has a stable block, sand school and paddocks. I hasn't been used for a few years so we are the only ones there, I knew we would be needing a companion but wanted to sort the riding pony out.

So! When the pony arrived, we put him in the stable for the night as it was late in the day and getting dark, the next day, my daughter rode him and he bucked her off. We put him in the field for the rest of the day so he could burn off any stress / excitement etc to try him again another day. Unfortunately this totally spooked my daughter so we did a few days on the lead rein. She then rode him off the lead rein but was nervous in trot and wouldn't attempt any more (he has a forward trot and it can get fast but he has good brakes and will slow or stop if asked). We decided he needed some time to settle in so wanted to take it slow, I invited a friends daughter who is a more confident rider to have a gentle ride on him to hopefully show my daughter that he was still okay but this really backfired! He had been wormed so was stabled for 48 hrs and it was in this time that she came. The pony was fine with my daughter who walked him about off the lead but when the friend got on, he bucked her off - it was a definite 'Get off', head down twist and canter, he almost trod on her but thankfully she was okay. Needless to say, this didn't help! Since then, my daughter is nervous of any slight movement he makes and worries that he will bolt and throw her off.

We have borrowed a small pony from a friend for a few months as a companion, our pony is pleased but there is now the dynamic of two who want to be together, we took our pony into the school today and the companion made a bit of a fuss but was okay as we put her in the stable. Our pony was a bit spicy as he knew she was there.

So my question is.... Do we carry on and hope we can settle him to be the pony we tried out or do I admit defeat and try another? I know first riddens are like gold dust and there is no perfect pony so would I just be swapping one issue for another? I am very green at all this and I'm sure there are plenty of things we have done not to help the situation but I'd love to know everyone's thoughts! Here are the things that could effect him:

He was in a filed with minimal grass and no hay with a few other ponies, he now has a field with lots of grass (I have to restrict the time by bringing him in and he is stabled at night) and was on his own until a few days ago
He came with a saddle that he was not wearing when we tried him out, we have a fitter coming this weekend to eliminate that

He has had a winter health MOT and all was fine.

Thanks for reading this far! I hope there is some advice out there! TIA

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The best advice I can give is don't let your daughter ride him straight from the stable. Ideally the pony would live out 24/7 but it sounds as if he would have too much grass. Can you set up a track round the field to keep him moving? Could he spend some time in the sand school with access to hay (maybe soaked) and/or straw. You really need to find ways to keep him out while not allowing him to eat too much. Ponies need to be encouraged to relax as much as possible.

 

[nagblagger]

Have you got any experienced help nearby. The pony has moved from a yard where he had turnout and company, to solitary confinement for 48hrs and initially no company, also he now is on decent grass with a saddle that may not fit him.
These can all be triggers for his behaviour that's why i think you need an experienced person or instructor who can help urgently, before the pony is ruined and your daughter has lost her nerve and enjoyment.
Sorry if i sound harsh, but i admire you for asking for advice so early into horse ownership so hopefully these things can be resolved quickly.

 

[splashgirl45]

Although the set up sounds lovely I think you would be better at a yard with other children there so your daughter can ride with someone rather than on her own. Also it would be good if there was a regular instructor there so she could have lessons. The pony has had a big upheaval to somewhere on his own (which is scarey) and people he doesn’t know and he needs his confidence building up to get him to how he was when you tried him . For those of us who have ridden for years that set up would be great but very lonely for a beginner. Sorry to be negative but I feel you should try a yard , at least for a while until you all get to know him.

 

[Patterdale]

It’s not a first ridden, send it back and get a better one. Anything that is bucking them off and meaning it is not going to be fun.

Was it a dealer or private sale?

 

[splashgirl45]

It’s not a first ridden, send it back and get a better one. Anything that is bucking them off and meaning it is not going to be fun.

Was it a dealer or private sale?

Give the pony a break , he has had his world turned upside down and has been given loads of grass which he is not used to and been kept on his own for a while, no wonder he is exploding

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Give the pony a break , he has had his world turned upside down and has been given loads of grass which he is not used to and been kept on his own for a while, no wonder he is exploding

With a saddle that probably doesn't fit.

 

[millikins]

I'd echo what others have said but also do you know how to long rein? If yes, get him working on long reins so your daughter isn't getting on a fresh pony, if you don't know, find an instructor to teach you, it's fun and you can take the edge off him. Good luck, I hope it works out o.k.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Honestly, you've continously set up this pony, and your daughter, for failure. Can't blame the pony, really.

 

[Patterdale]

Give the pony a break , he has had his world turned upside down and has been given loads of grass which he is not used to and been kept on his own for a while, no wonder he is exploding

Nope sorry, no proper first ridden pony would explode and be bucking kids off no matter how much upheaval.
Unsettled yes, explosive no.

He’s shown what he can do - your child is not going to enjoy a pony that behaves like this. A bad one costs as much to keep as a good one, and if you don’t send it back soon you’ll lose the very short window of time available.

A naughty pony, novice child, novice parents and isolated set up will not work. Sorry to be blunt but I’ve seen it too many times and it costs a lot in time, heartache and cash.

 

[Dexter]

Honestly, you've continously set up this pony, and your daughter, for failure. Can't blame the pony, really.

This sadly. Youve done pretty much everything you can to cause an issue without meaning to.

Find a friendly, helpful yard with other kids and get the pony moved there ASAP. Going it alone is lonely and miserable for a kid, more so when the pony isn't happy either. With the pony moved, the saddle sorted, more turnout and a better environment you should be able to turn things around.

 

[[153312]]

You have two options here: 1) write the pony off as not dobbin enough for your set up (as a first experience this doesn't sound fun so no one would blame you for taking that option); 2) give the pony a second chance in a setup more appropriate for their character. This would look like a livery yard with experienced help on hand should you need it, turnout at least daily with other ponies, and properly fitted tack. For the sake of your daughter's confidence it might be best if she did not ride for now at least and if/when pony is resettled have a competent small teen/adult bring the pony back into work before your daughter gets on again.

 

[smiggy]

Years ago, I bought my son a pony. He was from people we knew, had seen at pony club and was pretty much perfect. Once we got him home he was just horrid, nappy Bucky bitey. Just the change of yard upset him massively, and that was going from one yard to a very similar set up. As others say you have not only moved the pony but unwittingly really stacked the odds against the poor little chap.
a yard with other children, experienced help and a similar set up to what he is used to would def be a step in the right direction.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I feel for you, we bought a first ridden for our 7yr old a year ago, it was so hard finding one as so many were very definitely not first ridden ponies! People say anything to sell a horse, even to kids! And once they lose thier confidence it's a nightmare...one we tried bolted with my daughter and went over a jump set up in the arena as she couldn't stop him..and she fell off him, ever since she's reluctant to jump...over a year ago!

I would agree about moving yards if you can, it's not easy finding one with children...we've not been able to and we've really tried. We've settled on a really quiet yard with no other kids but the Owner is fantastic at looking after horses and ponies, we have our instructor out every week and we take pony out to local rallies, shows etc so she can ride with her friends. Friends box up to us and they hack out together too or we go to them. Have you considered doing similar?

He really sounds like he needs company, could you advertise for a livery or two to join you so the pony has company? I'd definitely agree about checking tack etc.

Don't forget a LOT of ponies are difficult in the winter, they get less exercise, sometimes less turnout and the temperatures can make them more of a challenge ? is he clipped? That can also make them fresh! He may well be a different pony come spring once he's in more work etc

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Nope sorry, no proper first ridden pony would explode and be bucking kids off no matter how much upheaval.
Unsettled yes, explosive no.

He’s shown what he can do - your child is not going to enjoy a pony that behaves like this. A bad one costs as much to keep as a good one, and if you don’t send it back soon you’ll lose the very short window of time available.

A naughty pony, novice child, novice parents and isolated set up will not work. Sorry to be blunt but I’ve seen it too many times and it costs a lot in time, heartache and cash.

Of course it can. My pony is 99% of the time a dope on a rope. She’d be an amazing first ridden if she wasn’t 14.1. But she still bucked snd span and threw me off when she (unbeknownst to me) had ulcers as she showed 0 other signs. It was that that made me book her in for a gastroscopy.

OP good idea to get the saddle checked. I wonder if the pony has put on a bit of weight from the change in grass and the saddle is maybe pinching.

How big is the pony? Is it worth putting word out for a lightweight adult that could do a bit of schooling?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would probably say it is settling in problems.
To start with I would have them in the same field but separate them, they can see and touch each other but not get too attached.
Other than that it is very early days for the pony to be expected to be uprooted from him home to somewhere completely different. It takes time for ponies to settle in, I am sure it is just teething problems.

 

[Gloi]

I had a pony at one time that only had to be put in a stable for one night to be a completely changed animal. He came out a fire breathing dragon.
However, confidence is fragile and probably best to swap for something quieter before your daughter loses hers completely.

 

[twiggy2]

Send the pony back whilst you sort out better facilities for both your daughter, a pony and yourself.
Very few ponies will settle to a new yard on their own, 2 ponies is often not much better.
Put the next pony in a bigger busier yard with experienced help, appropriate turnout, company and friends for your daughter to ride with.
Possibly put the next pony in part loan so it gets more work and stimulation.
Riding alone is not often very enjoyable for kids day in day out and it outs them off riding and ponies. Ragging about with friends and having all sorts of fun in a group is a much better way to spend your free time growing up

 

[honetpot]

It’s not a first ridden, send it back and get a better one. Anything that is bucking them off and meaning it is not going to be fun.

Was it a dealer or private sale?

I sort of agree with this. I have bought imperfect first ridden ponies, and none have ever bucked a child off straight away. I have one at the moment that will be foot perfect with an older children but put in an unsettling spook to slide a young child off. Sneaky.
If you can return it, I would try. If you are stuck with it, its no hard feed, more turn out and I would find someone local who shows small ridden ponies and send it to boot camp, this time of year there should be space. Get them to assess it, they will have loads of tack to try different saddles etc, and if it needs it a vet check. If it's fat it could have laminitis, or concussion laminitis depending on the ground, sometimes the feet are just painful, but if in both feet not enough to make them look lame.
My friend has had a seven year old pony as a DIY livery, hacks out, and has been well-behaved with a novice child, all summer. The wheels have come off because the loaner took the pony on its own for lessons with the child over Christmas in an indoor school, and the child has fallen off every time, because the pony was unsettled, and the child has lost their confidence, so the pony has gone back. It's easy to be wise after the event but ponies are herd animals, and the default setting is to want to get back to the herd, when they are stressed, and depending on their previous experience, a good buck leading to the child crying and the event stopping, is a result.
Owning ponies is character building, for both parent and child.

 

[Jules111]

The saddle pony arrived with being different from the one used when selling could be a huge factor here. Some sellers throw in tack as a good selling tactic, any old saddle hanging around given a wipe over and passed to new owners. When I bought my daughter's first pony "with tack" it was clear the saddle would never fit the pony properly and would likely cause a lot of discomfort and pain if we tried, like your experience the saddle used for selling was completely different. Our pony is a saint but would probably throw in a buck if he was hurting. This could well be the case with your pony. For somebody new to horses it's not easy to spot poorly fitting tack. Having a proper saddle check may give you some help.

I also agree that moving to a place with no other ponies may well have affected him. Most pony's would struggle with this, it will likely make pony more stressed to leave companion, pair bonding is always a risk with two (this is the reason i've ended up with 5 ). It will take some work to build his confidence again. If moving to a livery set up isn't an option you could look for help from an instructor and also maybe somebody more experienced with horses who provides mobile livery services, both can advise on improving your routines and helping both ponies to settle.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think I would consider moving to a nice livery yard with other kids get the saddle checked if no good get a different one then get a good instructor to help you, I think once your on a yard with the pony in a routine with back up and help from the yard the pony will settle much better.

 

[fetlock]

It would have been better to have let him settle in at the new place for a few days before riding him but, for me, alarm bells are still ringing that he reacted as he did as soon as he was ridden.
A first ridden pony should be able to cope with an overnight stay in a strange stable without bucking its rider off the next morning.

 

[Equi]

Perhaps neither you or your daughter are ready for a pony.

I do agree with those saying that an older wiser pony should not have been quite so dramatic after only one day. I’d be worried about it.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would give the pony another chance, a night by himself in an unfamiliar stable followed by having a poorly fitting saddle could easily cause even a saintly pony to buck. He needs a range of checks, some time off to recover, probably a new saddle and a good instructor to help your daughter.

 

[ycbm]

If I didn't want to return the pony then my plan might be to move the pony to livery where she can play ponies with other children, change the saddle whether the other one fits or not, get the pony successfully ridden in the new stables by other children, and tell your daughter that the saddle didn't fit and that's why the pony was naughty, in order to restore her confidence.
.

 

[Upthecreek]

How old is the pony and how old is your daughter? From your description the pony does not sound like a true first ridden. That said the pony’s whole world has changed moving to a different home and you have not really set him and your daughter up for success by completely changing his management. Keeping him on his own at the start when he was used to living in a herd was a big mistake and that alone could explain his change in behaviour.

A child’s confidence is very fragile and it will take lots and lots of positive experiences with the pony for your daughter to feel truly comfortable with him. I would seriously consider returning the pony if you can and try to find one that is currently living in a very similar environment to the home you can offer. If you are inexperienced I’d also echo what others have said - you’d be better off at a livery yard where staff are on hand to help and advise you and where your daughter is able to have lessons and play ponies with other children.

 

[moosea]

I think you should contact the seller and ask their advice and let them know you are having problems.

Then I'd move the pony to a yard for, say 2 months, where there are other ponies and restricted grazing.
I'd have the saddle checked and make sure the pony was worked before child sat on it.
I would be keeping previous owner aware that if the pony hasn't settled within that period and with a routine that was close to the old routine that I'd be wanting to return it.

 

[maya2008]

If it was a private sale and you feel out of your depth, they might well have the pony back if they have space. Genuine first ponies will have been well loved and most owners would be horrified to know that the pony was struggling so much (and to be honest had been set up, albeit unintentionally, to fail so badly) in its next home.

If you do this or send to sales livery and sell on, then your lesson learned from this is to have a couple of shetlands or liveries as companions FIRST so the pony comes into a happy environment that is not going to cause problems. Also to be honest with sellers about lifestyle for the pony - turnout, amount ridden each week etc.

I would 100% get the saddle checked before panicking too much though!

 

[nagblagger]

I am slightly concerned that Maeby hasn't been on the forum since posting this thread. Hope everything is ok as, if I had a problem, I would be reading and responding as necessary.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am slightly concerned that Maeby hasn't been on the forum since posting this thread. Hope everything is ok as, if I had a problem, I would be reading and responding as necessary.

OP probably doesn't like the fact that so many posters have pointed out that this poir pony was set up to fail.