Fun in the school - any advice would be great!

[Pixie88]

Hi All

I would love a little bit of advice as I am not completely sure I am going about doing this in the right way. So some pointers would be fab! I do intend to start having lessons with Dan, but I need to chill him out in the school before I start them.

Some of you may know I brought Dan about a month ago and he has been fantastic, he is forward, he is fizzy, but he is great fun and an absolute sweetheart. He has gone from staying at home with just the horses on the yard to a busy livery yard and took it all in his stride. Took him out on an 11 mile sponsored ride 2 weeks after getting him and he didn’t put a hoof wrong. I have been riding in the fields and hacking out (introduced him to heavy traffic, he is used to very sleepy country side traffic where if he sees a car on a 10 mile ride it would be a shock) and he has been excellent. He did have a mild breakdown at a huge tractor with a huge trailer coming towards him (never seen one go so fast) with a very noisy load in the back. He just started shaking and had a dance on the spot then calmed and walked on. Encountered it again the next day and the response was the same, but less shaking. So hopefully we will get passed this fear (motorbikes, lorry’s and other traffic no problem!!!)

So yesterday I took him into the school for the first time…. And the fun began!

As soon as we got in the school he was literally bouncing on the spot, we then started cantering sideways and on the spot when I asked him to walk. So after about 7 minutes of this I managed to get him into a trot (we couldn’t master walk at the point). I started trotting him in circles to keep him slow and to attempt to get him listening to me. He is trotting with him head up (like he is approaching a jump) and hollowing out completely. He is also bending to the left if he is on the right rein and vice versa. After about 15 minutes of riding I did manage to get a steady trot on both reins with him slightly relaxed. I then managed to get him to walk around the school calmly and ended riding in the school on that note so that it ended well. He had worked himself into a sweat and he is by no means an unfit pony! He didn’t break a sweat after the 11 mile ride!!

I then took him to the field and had a walk then trot around and the trot was lovely, collected and just generally a nice ride! We had a nice collected canter and then I did let him go along the uphill long side so he could release some energy which he seemed to enjoy. So I know he can do it, it just seems to be in the school.

I have since discovered that the only thing he did in the school was go in and be cantered around it and jumped or they would just gallop in it.
So I now know why he does it and I plan to take him in the school daily (even if it is just 5/10 minutes) at a walk just to make him realize the school doesn’t mean gallop! Then slowly work this up to include trotting and when we can walk and trot somewhat calmly I plan to start my lessons on him. He is a very intelligent pony and at some point has been schooled very well.

He has had his teeth & back checked. He is in a plain Cavesson Bridle with a loose ring snaffle and copper lozenge. (14.2 Welsh/Arab if you want to know)

Sorry for the long post and if you are still reading this thank you!!!!

 

[siennamum]

might also be worth lunging him the school, just to persuade him it really is boring. he sounds lovely tho, you must be thrilled with him.

 

[be positive]

I think you have the right approach, you know why he behaved the way he did as he associates going in the school with being whizzed about and probably gets stressed by the thought, great that he is fine on grass as that is usually where these issues show up.
I would go in as much as you can, in hand as well as ridden and just let him unwind and totally chill, maybe after a hack or some exercise in the field, take as long as it takes to get him walking on a long rein then gradually start to pick him up and do a few movements always being ready to put him back down onto a long rein, then repeat in trot, it may take weeks, it may take months, if you are lucky it may only take a few sessions once he relaxes and realises you just want him to go steadily.

 

[Teasel]

With one I had a while ago that associated the school with less than pleasant stuff, I started off by just riding into the school after a hack, giving her a pat, and just getting off and leading her out and back to her stable. Once she relaxed with that I gradually increased what I did in there until eventually she was happy to just go in there and school. It actually didn't take that long in this particular case - just about 3 weeks. Good Luck!

 

[Pixie88]

might also be worth lunging him the school, just to persuade him it really is boring. he sounds lovely tho, you must be thrilled with him.

He has been lunged in the school, and walked in hand around it he is as calm as a cucumber when doing that. Sorry I forgot to mention I had done that in the post. The week he arrived I spent the whole time doing ground work and didn't get on until his back and teeth had been done. I am thrilled with him. He never used to let his old owner catch him, they would spend 15 minutes with him cantering in circles. Yesterday he whinnied to me and cantered to the gate to meet me!!!

I think you have the right approach, you know why he behaved the way he did as he associates going in the school with being whizzed about and probably gets stressed by the thought, great that he is fine on grass as that is usually where these issues show up.
I would go in as much as you can, in hand as well as ridden and just let him unwind and totally chill, maybe after a hack or some exercise in the field, take as long as it takes to get him walking on a long rein then gradually start to pick him up and do a few movements always being ready to put him back down onto a long rein, then repeat in trot, it may take weeks, it may take months, if you are lucky it may only take a few sessions once he relaxes and realises you just want him to go steadily.

Excellent that is exactly what I had in mind, I don't actually think he will take to long he is so bright and keen to work. He just wants to please. He was so confused when I didn't just let him go. He is fantastic on grass when we were out on the fun ride I let him go (my first gallop on him) and as soon as I asked him to pull up he did.

With one I had a while ago that associated the school with less than pleasant stuff, I started off by just riding into the school after a hack, giving her a pat, and just getting off and leading her out and back to her stable. Once she relaxed with that I gradually increased what I did in there until eventually she was happy to just go in there and school. It actually didn't take that long in this particular case - just about 3 weeks. Good Luck!

Oh I am so glad you have done it! He has no realised he does have to stand at the mounting block for me to get on. We do still have the odd time where he gets far to excited when other horses move and follows the second my bum is in the saddle. But after 3 weeks 90% of the time he stands patiently for me to get on. I do still have to walk around for a minute or two before I can redo his girth (although he has now stopped blowing out when I do it up so is not as bad as it was). I think his life was being dragged in and jumped on and just rushed about!

Thank you all for the advice!!

 

[be positive]

He sounds lovely and as if he is really responding to your quiet approach after being stressed out rushing everywhere, the previous owners probably found him strong and wondered why, he should thrive with you and be great fun.

 

[Pixie88]

Some pics if you would like to see them.

This is him now ^^

This is when I got him (below)

 

[BethH]

Very sweet - lovely gentle eye, think you've picked a lovely person, I hope you both live happily ever after!