RainbowDash
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'm at a bit of a low at the moment. I brought my first pony this January and he's proving to not be as advertised. I have managed to contact a previous owner and my suspicions seem to be correct. I don't want to get rid of him because I can see a lot of potential but just don't have the knowledge to help him out.
My boy is a 14/15 year old Welsh Section C cross he was sold as a good novice pony, good in traffic, shoe, clip, above all safe. I done the usual checks, had my instructor ride him and he seemed fine.
I moved him to a new yard (January 2012) which is in a country park that lots of other people enjoy (walkers, cyclists etc) which he is settling into really well and gets on with his field mates and the staff (he's full livery) have had no problems with him. He's great in the stable, on the ground, with small kids etc. When there's nothing to spook him he's really great to ride, responsive, nicely forward going and a really rapid trot when asked.
But, out on hacks alone he can be very spooky and I suspect that he may have only been broken 2.5 years ago and hasn't been shown everything, not been worked in a school etc,
So far his list of spooks are squirrels, birds, plastic bags, puddles, reflections on bike helmets, push bikes, dogs, prams, machinery and list ever mounting.
He's fine in company but I don't always have that option.
To cut a long story short - can anyone offer advice on ways of desensitising him, training I can do etc? I have limited access to the schools on weekends so much of his training needs to be done out and about.
Many thanks
I'm at a bit of a low at the moment. I brought my first pony this January and he's proving to not be as advertised. I have managed to contact a previous owner and my suspicions seem to be correct. I don't want to get rid of him because I can see a lot of potential but just don't have the knowledge to help him out.
My boy is a 14/15 year old Welsh Section C cross he was sold as a good novice pony, good in traffic, shoe, clip, above all safe. I done the usual checks, had my instructor ride him and he seemed fine.
I moved him to a new yard (January 2012) which is in a country park that lots of other people enjoy (walkers, cyclists etc) which he is settling into really well and gets on with his field mates and the staff (he's full livery) have had no problems with him. He's great in the stable, on the ground, with small kids etc. When there's nothing to spook him he's really great to ride, responsive, nicely forward going and a really rapid trot when asked.
But, out on hacks alone he can be very spooky and I suspect that he may have only been broken 2.5 years ago and hasn't been shown everything, not been worked in a school etc,
So far his list of spooks are squirrels, birds, plastic bags, puddles, reflections on bike helmets, push bikes, dogs, prams, machinery and list ever mounting.
He's fine in company but I don't always have that option.
To cut a long story short - can anyone offer advice on ways of desensitising him, training I can do etc? I have limited access to the schools on weekends so much of his training needs to be done out and about.
Many thanks
