First Ridden, First Pony Problems

[Maeby]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies, I don’t at all have a problem with anyone suggesting I have some things wrong, I wouldn’t post on a forum if that was the case as that would be naive

I have spent the day trying to get to the actual root of the problem. I do have experienced people around me, but as we can see, there are many different opinions and this can be overwhelming.
Sadly today, I was able to find a few previous owners through the power of Facebook and his green passport- it appears that he has a history of bucking and has been sold on numerous times because of this. He was sold to me as a first ridden which he certainly is not. He got the measure of my daughter quite quickly and has found that bucking really will get him out of working here. A very experienced lady told me today that a first ridden does not need settling in and should be able to be ridden straight out the trailer, unfortunately these types are very hard to find as they are so good. We will be returning this pony to the dealer as he needs a home where the rider is confident enough to ride out the bucks and get him on the right path.
Thanks for the advice, I will look for a yard that has other ponies, hopefully I will be able to find a suitable friend for my daughter to really get going on. BW x

 

[Maeby]

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.

He came from a dealer and has been with her a month or so. It seems he’s had a few owners in the last few years with a few different environments, I’ve found out today that he is a historical bucker, hence the multiple homes. I hate to do it to him again but we are not the right people for him

 

[Maeby]

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

Not at all…

 

[Maeby]

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.

Thank you,

 

[Maeby]

Thank you,

Thank you,

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.

I worked at a riding stables as a teenager, had a my own share pony and did my BHS at college so I’m not a total novice, however I’m not experienced in owning a pony. We all have to start somewhere and riding school ponies are never the same anyway. The pony is 12 years old and was sold as first ridden but sadly he is not, it seems this is fairly common unfortunately. He will be returned and the search will continue. Thanks for your help x

 

[Baywonder]

@Maeby I am sorry this has happened to you.

First of all, I would like to say well done for embracing the entire situation, and accepting the advice given to you by many experienced members on here. All too often, a new owner asks about a problem on this forum, and then are unhappy when they don't get the answers they 'want' to hear. Owning horses (and ponies) is a continuous learning process, and you have absolutely 100% done the right thing asking for help.

I also think you are doing the right thing returning the pony. Your daughter's confidence seems very fragile, and it wouldn't take much more to shatter it completely.

I do wonder if any investigations have been made by previous owners into what is actually causing this poor pony to buck. The usual route would be teeth, back and saddle checks, along with a full vet work-up, including x-rays. The outcome of the latter could ultimately result in retirement or PTS.

Thank you for the update - and good luck. X

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thank you for the update I hope you soon find a more suitable pony for your daughter.

 

[Patterdale]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies, I don’t at all have a problem with anyone suggesting I have some things wrong, I wouldn’t post on a forum if that was the case as that would be naive

I have spent the day trying to get to the actual root of the problem. I do have experienced people around me, but as we can see, there are many different opinions and this can be overwhelming.
Sadly today, I was able to find a few previous owners through the power of Facebook and his green passport- it appears that he has a history of bucking and has been sold on numerous times because of this. He was sold to me as a first ridden which he certainly is not. He got the measure of my daughter quite quickly and has found that bucking really will get him out of working here. A very experienced lady told me today that a first ridden does not need settling in and should be able to be ridden straight out the trailer, unfortunately these types are very hard to find as they are so good. We will be returning this pony to the dealer as he needs a home where the rider is confident enough to ride out the bucks and get him on the right path.
Thanks for the advice, I will look for a yard that has other ponies, hopefully I will be able to find a suitable friend for my daughter to really get going on. BW x

Exactly as suspected.
I have good first ponies for my children, none were easy to find but ALL could be moved to a new home, stabled overnight then ridden without bucking the child off. This is always learned behaviour, and whatever mistakes may have been made, this is not a first ridden.

A good first ridden knows it’s job well enough to be forgiving of a few novice errors (which everyone on this forum has made at some time or another).

I’m glad to hear you’re sending this pony back. Good luck with the next one ?

 

[Patterdale]

I would like to say well done for embracing the entire situation, and accepting the advice given to you by many experienced members on here. All too often, a new owner asks about a problem on this forum, and then are unhappy when they don't get the answers they 'want' to hear.

Worth mentioning that many of the people who’ve posted are NOT very experienced with first ponies, or indeed any ponies in some cases. These kind of threads do tend to bring out a very ‘holier than thou’ attitude in some posters, who don’t actually always give good advice and apparently never make mistakes themselves, but enjoy sticking the boot in when others get it wrong.

OP didn’t really do much wrong here.

It is not the OP’s fault that her child got bucked off, and saying that to any parent just isn’t very nice. The pony bucked because (as suspected) it was a known bucker and not a first ridden.

Everyone was novicey at some point, and some always will be. But every time they get pointed at and blamed for every failing, makes it less likely they’ll ask for help in future.

 

[ycbm]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies, I don’t at all have a problem with anyone suggesting I have some things wrong, I wouldn’t post on a forum if that was the case as that would be naive

I have spent the day trying to get to the actual root of the problem. I do have experienced people around me, but as we can see, there are many different opinions and this can be overwhelming.
Sadly today, I was able to find a few previous owners through the power of Facebook and his green passport- it appears that he has a history of bucking and has been sold on numerous times because of this. He was sold to me as a first ridden which he certainly is not. He got the measure of my daughter quite quickly and has found that bucking really will get him out of working here. A very experienced lady told me today that a first ridden does not need settling in and should be able to be ridden straight out the trailer, unfortunately these types are very hard to find as they are so good. We will be returning this pony to the dealer as he needs a home where the rider is confident enough to ride out the bucks and get him on the right path.
Thanks for the advice, I will look for a yard that has other ponies, hopefully I will be able to find a suitable friend for my daughter to really get going on. BW x

Well that certainly changes things!

I hope you find the right pony and I hope somebody manages to sort out whatever issues this pony has. That certainly isn't your job, though.
.

 

[nagblagger]

Thank you for your update and well done for investigating his history and making the decision that is right for your daughter. Good luck in you pony searching - maybe you should start a new pony hunting thread, there are many people on here that love an excuse to go horse shopping.

 

[Baywonder]

Thank you for your update and well done for investigating his history and making the decision that is right for your daughter. Good luck in you pony searching - maybe you should start a new pony hunting thread, there are many people on here that love an excuse to go horse shopping.

.....with obligatory photos of course ?

 

[Maeby]

Thanks all, it’s definitely an eye opener. I’ve learned a lot in these three weeks! It’s really sad that he hasn’t worked out for us but his history has now shown me that this is an ongoing problem and judging by the way he bucks, it is learned behaviour rather than pain. I’ll pass on the thoughts about getting him checked out though. If someone could sort this out, he’d be a great little pony, I’m just definitely not that someone. So the hunt continues! If we can’t find anything, we’ll have to carry on sharing and get the skill level up so she can ride these more forward ponies. I’d rather take it slow than balls it all up for her. Thanks again

 

[nutjob]

OP if you are buying from a dealer you will find out a lot from the dodgy dealer facebook page. You can post anonymously if you wish and ask for information about the dealer before buying another pony, some people prefer to pm rather than post openly. It's a good idea to double check even if the dealer seems reputable. It's also a good place to go if you have problems getting your money back when you return this pony. Good luck, it's not your fault a dealer sold you an inappropriate pony.

 

[splashgirl45]

Thanks for the update , shame you have had such a bad experience but hopefully you will find a saint of a pony for your daughter and you can enjoy pony ownership. Usually these saintly ponies go by word of mouth and don’t get advertised as they are so sought after (quite rightly). Might be worth putting the word out to the vets you will be using and farriers and also local pony clubs or riding clubs to see if someone has a good pony , sometimes they won’t sell but will loan to a good home so that may work very well. Good luck

 

[smiggy]

Sorry I assumed when you said he had done pony club that you had bought him privately .
yes if from a dealer then return, he isn’t your problem to sort
next time I second the suggestion to check out the dodgy dealer pages on Facebook.
id also really really hesitate to buy this kind of pony from a dealer. There’s such a market for safe kind ponies, they are like gold dust so good ones go straight from home to home and wouldn’t see a dealers yard.
have you made contact with your local pony club? Put an advert on your local riding club page ?

 

[dottylottie]

i don’t know whereabouts you are, but jane garnett - parys horses has an amazing reputation for kids ponies! i’ve not purchased from her myself, but a quick search on the dodgy dealers page brings up literally hundreds of brilliant reviews - i have also spoken to her myself and she’s very happy to help and can source you something if she doesn’t currently have what you’re looking for.

she has a facebook page and website, but she’s in wales which might be too far dependent on where you are.

 

[Maeby]

Sorry I assumed when you said he had done pony club that you had bought him privately .
yes if from a dealer then return, he isn’t your problem to sort
next time I second the suggestion to check out the dodgy dealer pages on Facebook.
id also really really hesitate to buy this kind of pony from a dealer. There’s such a market for safe kind ponies, they are like gold dust so good ones go straight from home to home and wouldn’t see a dealers yard.
have you made contact with your local pony club? Put an advert on your local riding club page ?

Yes this all makes total sense, I chose a dealer as I knew there would be the option to return which made me feel more confident, however, as I have been told by another dealer I know today, all ponies that come through dealers have a thing that needs sorting, that's why they are there. I've asked my local pony club to keep an eye out as well as any of the trades that I have used - I'm not going to rush this as it's a total headache to fix if it goes wrong!

 

[Snow Falcon]

Sorry to hear of your experience. Sadly first ponies are rarely advertised as they tend to go by word of mouth in the pc world. Those that are I would urge caution and do lots of digging prior to viewing as children's confidence is a fragile thing.

I've sold 2 of my sons outgrown ponies. The 1st one we bought as a lead rein pony who became his first ridden, except that she wasn't really one. She could be a cheeky one in the school, previously a riding school pony who had a few tricks up her sleeve. I was completely honest about her behaviour when people rang. She was with us for 5 years, we still miss her. You can always check the passport for previous homes too, this works if people have actually transferred it. A registered pony is a bit easier with show results/google search.

I wish you all the best finding a suitable pony for your daughter.

 

[[153312]]

I have been told by another dealer I know today, all ponies that come through dealers have a thing that needs sorting, that's why they are there.

that's not necessarily true - sometimes people just need a quick sale.

Also, regardless of dealer or private sale, you are still covered by the sale of goods act and can return the animal if not as described/fit for intended purpose.

 

[Maeby]

that's not necessarily true - sometimes people just need a quick sale.

Also, regardless of dealer or private sale, you are still covered by the sale of goods act and can return the animal if not as described/fit for intended purpose.

That is good to know!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Word of mouth is the best way to find a 1st pony. The really good ones teach many children to ride over their lifetime & when a child gets too big the pony often changes hands without being advertised. Join your local Pony Club (you don't need to already own a pony), put a wanted ad. in your local feed & tack stores, ask your vet if they know anyone who's child has outgrown a quiet pony, ask yards if you can put an ad. above the kettle in the brew room.

 

[Bobthecob15]

These ponies are like gold dust, I honestly

Word of mouth is the best way to find a 1st pony. The really good ones teach many children to ride over their lifetime & when a child gets too big the pony often changes hands without being advertised. Join your local Pony Club (you don't need to already own a pony), put a wanted ad. in your local feed & tack stores, ask your vet if they know anyone who's child has outgrown a quiet pony, ask yards if you can put an ad. above the kettle in the brew room.

Absolutely this, they are rarely advertised! Word of mouth is the best way so get bugging all your horsey contacts!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That is good to know!

You can return to a dealer if not fit for purpose but it is much harder to return to a private home; you would have to prove that the vendor lied about the pony.

 

[Birker2020]

OP if you are buying from a dealer you will find out a lot from the dodgy dealer facebook page. You can post anonymously if you wish and ask for information about the dealer before buying another pony, some people prefer to pm rather than post openly. It's a good idea to double check even if the dealer seems reputable. It's also a good place to go if you have problems getting your money back when you return this pony. Good luck, it's not your fault a dealer sold you an inappropriate pony.

Also you can look in the search engine on the dodgy dealer page for a persons name or business name which is helpful.
I know its not your fault OP but I can't help but feel incredibly sorry for this pony. I think its awful that people can just pass a horse or pony on that has issues without getting to the root cause. Its so sad.

 

[ycbm]

Also, regardless of dealer or private sale, you are still covered by the sale of goods act and can return the animal if not as described/fit for intended purpose.

Sorry but that's not true. The only time you have a legal right to be compensated on a private sale is of you can prove that the seller lied to you.

The horse can be completely not as described but if the seller genuinely didn't know and was a private seller then you have no legal comeback. Likewise, if it normally bucks like stink when it sees a tractor/pig/crisp packet and you didn't ask and they didn't say, no comeback even if they knew.

Caveat emptor still applies on private sales.


ETA which is why when buying from a dealer you need to be absolutely clear whether the dealer owns the horse or is simply taking commission from a private seller.
.

 

[HashRouge]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies, I don’t at all have a problem with anyone suggesting I have some things wrong, I wouldn’t post on a forum if that was the case as that would be naive

I have spent the day trying to get to the actual root of the problem. I do have experienced people around me, but as we can see, there are many different opinions and this can be overwhelming.
Sadly today, I was able to find a few previous owners through the power of Facebook and his green passport- it appears that he has a history of bucking and has been sold on numerous times because of this. He was sold to me as a first ridden which he certainly is not. He got the measure of my daughter quite quickly and has found that bucking really will get him out of working here. A very experienced lady told me today that a first ridden does not need settling in and should be able to be ridden straight out the trailer, unfortunately these types are very hard to find as they are so good. We will be returning this pony to the dealer as he needs a home where the rider is confident enough to ride out the bucks and get him on the right path.
Thanks for the advice, I will look for a yard that has other ponies, hopefully I will be able to find a suitable friend for my daughter to really get going on. BW x

I'm glad to hear that, and good luck in your quest for the perfect first ridden pony

It sounds like you are re-thinking the idea of the private yard set up? I have to say it sounds lovely, but it can be quite difficult if you are just wanting to keep, say, two ponies together as they seem more likely to develop separation anxiety than if they're in a small herd. Obviously a true first ridden will cope with pretty much anything, but equally no point creating problems where there is no need for them. If you start off on a "proper" livery yard you might find that you meet other liveries with similar age children who, further down the line, would be up for moving to your neighbour's yard with you.

 

[Flyermc]

Ive sent you a message

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Exactly as suspected.
I have good first ponies for my children, none were easy to find but ALL could be moved to a new home, stabled overnight then ridden without bucking the child off. This is always learned behaviour, and whatever mistakes may have been made, this is not a first ridden.

A good first ridden knows it’s job well enough to be forgiving of a few novice errors (which everyone on this forum has made at some time or another).

I’m glad to hear you’re sending this pony back. Good luck with the next one ?

Bucking is not always learned behaviour. It can be, and most usually is, a reaction to pain.

Sorry to hear about the history of the pony OP. I hope you have better luck going forward. Definitely try your local pony club, the best ponies seem to go via word of mouth.

 

[[153312]]

Sorry but that's not true. The only time you have a legal right to be compensated on a private sale is of you can prove that the seller lied to you.

The horse can be completely not as described but if the seller genuinely didn't know and was a private seller then you have no legal comeback. Likewise, if it normally bucks like stink when it sees a tractor/pig/crisp packet and you didn't ask and they didn't say, no comeback even if they knew.

Caveat emptor still applies on private sales.


ETA which is why when buying from a dealer you need to be absolutely clear whether the dealer owns the horse or is simply taking commission from a private seller.
.

Oh, wow, ok I did not know that, thank you for clarifying things for me on that front. So, in English law - caveat emptor takes precedent effectively?