Getting a pony to be forwards - refuses to move with children.

[Charla]

A lady I know has recently asked me to help her with her pony. She has a 12.2hh NF mare, 8 years old that has been out on loan to various children for many years. It appears the pony has taken the mick out of children and got in to a habit of refusing to move when any small child is on her. She's had her teeth, back and saddle checked - all fine, it's not that.

As I'm a lightweight rider she asked me to get on the pony last night and see if I could get her moving in the school. It seems she is very stubborn. At first it took me some time to get her trotting forwards on command. And I just about managed to push a few strides of canter out of her on each rein, but my god was it hard work!! I was sweating buckets at the end!!

If she's given a smack with the whip she bucks which I can understand may scare a child. The pony is very very green to ride, probably because she's only ever had small children ride her.

The lady has asked me to school her so she will evetually be suitable for a child to compete on. My question is, what can I do to get the pony more forwards? And enjoying it more?
She's fine hacking out, I think because she enjoys that. I also jumped her last night, she jumped fine, but had no omph to the jump whatsoever.

I must say in the 40 minutes I rode her there was already a large improvement but has anyone any tips on getting stubborn lazy horses to be more forwards?

 

[Charla]

anyone?

 

[Damnation]

Ask with a squeeze with your leg. If nothing then give her a good smack on the bum! LOADS of transitions. I.e Trot, halt, walk, canter, trot, walk, trot. All in quick sucession. Also what is she like out hacking in canter if you have any bridlepaths to canter down? It may get her thinking more forwards. Trotting poles etc may help too.
I think you need to be stubborn and strict with this mare. Sounds harsh but she has probibily been pulled and kicked all over the shop by kids and is well and truly confused! I think she just needs clear signals to go forward!
Izzi

ETA: also to rule out if the mare is bored, try and do something different each time you ride.
I.e One day lunge, another day hack, another day school with trotting poles, another day jump etc. Give her as much variety as you can. These kiddies ponies unfortunately can be quite quick to go sour!

 

[catherine22]

I'd be interested to see the responses to this as I ride a very green 5 year old NF who hasn't really done much but we keep everything really interesting and exciting yet we still have no oomph and very little reaction to leg/ whip. taking her to a sponcered ride at the weekend see if that livens her up, next stop is spurs!

 

[Damnation]

Next step could be feed?
With enough exercise a good doer should be able to take small amounts of hard feed. I find Pasture mix very good for getting horse with no energy to go forwards but not too much oomph especially if you are schooling her for children

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Riden quite a few little ponies as I'm small and lightweight, would basically keep doin what you are doin, as she will get the idea! I know that you said that she bucks if hit, but as properly got used to doing with the kids as then they stop hitting, ponies are very clever, so allthough may sound mean as long as u can sit her bucks (little neck not always as easy as sounds) I woul give her a couple smacks when she bucks to teach her that isn't right (after checking nothing hurting her etc) could b worth using a longish whip so can flick her!

Would also suggest that when she is getting better put your strirrups up fairly short so that it is more a little kid length if that makes sense? And make sure that the first few kids who get on her are competent with the leg aid so that she realizes, they don't like to be nagged!

 

[Hobbitpony]

The lady has asked me to school her so she will evetually be suitable for a child to compete on.... She's fine hacking out, I think because she enjoys that. QUOTE]

Just my point of view but you are trying to make a competition pony out of a pony which obviously prefers to be a happy hacker. Maybe take a step back and ask if the pony is up for the job? Prehaps they would be better off just doing fun rides over the summer, hunt it next autumn and presuming its sane and sensible sell it on as a hack/hunting pony. I'm of the opinion that sometimes horses aren't wrong its that we are asking them to do the wrong job.