Gutted - really disappointing first day with new pony

[Caznay]

We've had him since last Sunday and I hacked him out on Wednesday when he was fine - a little spooky but that is to be expected, he's only 6.

Daughter rode him today, she was so looking forward to it and he behaved really badly She's an anxious rider anyway although very competent, he was leased as a perfect first pony for a nervous older child. First he bucked during a canter, which freaked her out. Then she rode hiim again and cantered and he was fine. Then this afternoon she was showing me and he just stopped stock still refused to move from the gate. We led him away in the end but he wouldn't go for her at all, she was squeezing and kicking and in the end he went from standing still to plunging forward and running back tothe gate. He just seemed unrideable Rang his owner (he is on loan) and she said had never been like this before (I like and trust her on this) and maybe it was the tack as the saddle was a bit narrow for him.

I am happy to buy new tack IF i know this is the problem - can'ta fford to spend money on a new saddle for him if he is still so difficult.

Feel so upset and disappointed, he seemed like a lovely boy.

 

[D66]

Riding lessons from a good instructor - quick, before your daughter loses confidence. (from experience)
You could also ask the owner to come and show how to do it, she'll know how far he can be pushed and may be able to tell if it's the saddle or naughtiness.

 

[Merry Crisis]

Ponies are not machines, they have to have confidence from the rider, I dont think your pony is getting the help he needs. If you cant afford a saddle that fits him, perhaps ballet lessons would be more suitable for your child.

 

[angelish]

hi
can you borrow his origional tack ?
it does sound like the saddle may be pinching him ,i do understand you don't want to spend money on tack if its not the right pony but you are going to spoil the pony and ruin your daughters confedence if you continue to use him with a saddle that doesn't fit

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Did the saddle come with him, or is it a saddle that you happened to have?
If it is your saddle there is your answer, I suspect.
I second asking the owner to come and show your daughter how to do it, if this behaviour doesn't have a physical cause.

 

[toppy72]

Get some lessons and give it a bit more time, the best ponies are often just that because they are so bright and therefore he may be trying it on a bit!!

Both of the ponies we have had for the children have been a little surprising when we have got them home but after a bit of settling in they have been all that we were hoping for and more good luck.

 

[FMM]

sounds like he is taking the piss and unless you get an intructor out quickly, your daughter will probably not want to ride him any more. I would do nothing until you either get the owner to come over and help, or get an instructor to help.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Its not unusual for a pony to be like this with a new home and owner. Its a time when they need to take their confidence from the handler/rider while they are getting used to a strange routine and getting to know the other horses.
Get as much support and advice as you can from the owner and find a symapthetic RI while you get over the bumpy first days.

 

[mulledwhine]

sounds like a minor night mare

our pony also puts in a buck when asked for canter, have got no answers I am afraid, we are currently working on that our selves, as to the going to the gate, after speaking to a few pony club mums, this seems to be a common problem for lead rein ponies, or ponies that are used to being lead rein.

We knew ours did this when we got him, and the only thing that seems to work, is that no one stands near the gate, I do not know why, but as long as the gate is left clear we have no problems!!!!

As has been said , maybe get an instructor in, or as we have done get a bigger ridder to come and get him to canter, and push him forward, i am sure with our pony that it is just excitement and has become a habit.

Good luck

 

[HappyNeds]

Both our boys were completely nuts for the first couple of weeks we had them, even to the point of being very dangerous. However, we learnt this hard lesson from our first boy, and when we got our second we had an instructor round to ride him first and then I got on after. Within a couple of weeks he had settled down. From our experience I would say to get someone round who isn't emotionally involved, and can confidently ride him first, then give you/your daughter a lesson after.

 

[Spring Feather]

Sorry to break it to you (as others have) but this is not an unusual situation. First port of call for me would be to have the owner come over and settle the pony in his new home. If she rides him a few times then that should help the situation. Then as others have said get an instructor out for your daughter and teach her how to ride this pony.

 

[debsg]

If the owner thought the saddle was too narrow, why would she either a) supply a saddle that doesn't fit, or b) if saddle is yours, and she knew it was narrow, why let you use it??
Get a saddle fitter to check the saddle, rule out any physical issues, then get owner to ride the pony in front of you, in your school, or get a good instructor to help you xx
Good luck xx

 

[Caznay]

Thanks. I will get the owner over. My daughter is a good, sensitive rider (I know all mums think that but she really is!), she is 12 and has ridden all her life but lost confidence a couple of years ago after a bad x country fall.

The owner supplied the saddle but to be fair she did tell me that it wasn't very good, I just thought it might do for a month or so while we got settled.

I am also going to get daughter's riding instructor over to see him.

 

[smiggy]

if the pony was being ridden regularly in previous home then its odd they didnt have a saddle that fitted, even if they could only lend it to you for a few weeks
Napping to the gate doesnt really sound like a saddle issue, much more like pony taking the mick.
instructor is a great idea, esp one small enough to ride
good luck

 

[Moomin1]

Ponies are not machines, they have to have confidence from the rider, I dont think your pony is getting the help he needs. If you cant afford a saddle that fits him, perhaps ballet lessons would be more suitable for your child.

That's a bit harsh, not very helpful and to be honest rude!!! Even confident riders can get edgy on a new horse when they misbehave, and this girl is only 12years old for goodness sake so just because she has lost some confidence does not mean she shouldn't be riding this pony! Not all ponies HAVE to have confidence from the rider! And by the looks of things it's more about the OP not wanting to fork out for a new saddle IF that is not the cause for the behaviour. Not all of us have the money THERE AND THEN to fork out for a new saddle - it may take a month or so to save up, in which case IF it is the saddle that is causing discomfort then the pony shouldn't be ridden in this time.

OP, I would hang in there and get some lessons for your daughter on this pony. I had problems with my horse for a good 6months after I got her - nothing major but at times I was edgy and she frightened me a bit! It's all about getting used to each other and getting to know their little quirks/ways of going - and they do tend to test their new owners too!! I would certainly get a saddle fitter out if you can to have a look at your daughter sitting on the pony. It may be that the previous rider was a different size/weight/position, and that the already 'not ideal' fitting saddle didn't cause problems then but now is doing due to the change in these factors.

It's very very early days for the pony in it's new home and I remember how mine was the first time I took her out for a hack - I had to get off her and walk her home because she was going mental! I wondered what on earth I had bought and got seriously worried - she was nothing like what I had tried before I bought her and I started doubting her old owner! But she kept on insisting that she will calm down and she did eventually - and now my horse is back to the one that I originally tried!!!

I hope you get things sorted anyway, it's nerve wracking with a new horse, and I can imagine much more so when it's your child on board!!

 

[mulledwhine]

Well put moomin1, I too thought was a harsh comment. My daughter is 5 and was sent over her ponies head with his bucking, she is onto it now thought the upside of his new behaviour is that we found a curve in her spine... Every cloud and all that!!!

 

[beehorses]

sounds like he is taking the piss and unless you get an intructor out quickly, your daughter will probably not want to ride him any more. I would do nothing until you either get the owner to come over and help, or get an instructor to help.

Would totaly agree with this and have seen it happen more than once before get an instructor or the owner to help out.

 

[Merry Crisis]

That's a bit harsh, not very helpful and to be honest rude!!! Even confident riders can get edgy on a new horse when they misbehave, and this girl is only 12years old for goodness sake so just because she has lost some confidence does not mean she shouldn't be riding this pony! Not all ponies HAVE to have confidence from the rider! And by the looks of things it's more about the OP not wanting to fork out for a new saddle IF that is not the cause for the behaviour. Not all of us have the money THERE AND THEN to fork out for a new saddle - it may take a month or so to save up, in which case IF it is the saddle that is causing discomfort then the pony shouldn't be ridden in this time.

OP, I would hang in there and get some lessons for your daughter on this pony. I had problems with my horse for a good 6months after I got her - nothing major but at times I was edgy and she frightened me a bit! It's all about getting used to each other and getting to know their little quirks/ways of going - and they do tend to test their new owners too!! I would certainly get a saddle fitter out if you can to have a look at your daughter sitting on the pony. It may be that the previous rider was a different size/weight/position, and that the already 'not ideal' fitting saddle didn't cause problems then but now is doing due to the change in these factors.

It's very very early days for the pony in it's new home and I remember how mine was the first time I took her out for a hack - I had to get off her and walk her home because she was going mental! I wondered what on earth I had bought and got seriously worried - she was nothing like what I had tried before I bought her and I started doubting her old owner! But she kept on insisting that she will calm down and she did eventually - and now my horse is back to the one that I originally tried!!!

I hope you get things sorted anyway, it's nerve wracking with a new horse, and I can imagine much more so when it's your child on board!!

No not rude at all, just the facts. Poor pony will get a dreadful reputation due to novice child, novice mother. What does this woman expect? I really am thinking ballet shoes, sorry.

 

[Echo Bravo]

To be honest I don't think Merry Crisis was being rude, as she stated ponies are not machines and if the child is nervous, it would pick up from that and she should riding out with company until she and pony get use to each other and a badly fitting saddle doesn't help at all.

 

[luckyoldme]

i think some of the really experienced people on here forget what its like to be new to it. (im the same with new drivers!) Most of these people would be able to get on your pony confidently and the pony would know better than to try it on with them.
Your pony will be unsettled and unsure in his new surroundings . he needs time to settle and time for your daughter to gain her confidence with him. Loads of ground work will build up a bond for them. ive told my horses story on here before ... he was a total nightmare. With hindsight i can see quite a lot of his bad behaviour was my own fault.
He is a total darling now but at first i hated him!
A new saddle is a must though.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

the best money that anyone with a new pony/horse can spend is 2 to 3 lessons/per week, with a good instructor , for the first 3 weeks until a partnership is developed. (can be half hour lessons just to instill confidence and manners) sounds like this pony is used to more work.(and maybe less in the bucket!) good luck, do involve the owner as this is a loan pony.

 

[Honey08]

To be honest I don't think Merry Crisis was being rude, as she stated ponies are not machines and if the child is nervous, it would pick up from that and she should riding out with company until she and pony get use to each other and a badly fitting saddle doesn't help at all.

Some of what she said makes sense, but the way that it was written and the complete lack of tact made it rude.

I think that a six year old is not a good idea with a nervous rider. The fact that you hacked the horse out without problems also hints at the fact that it is rider nerves. I would definately have your instructor out to give them a lesson. It could be nipped in the bud easily, or it could turn out to be the wrong pony. Doesn't mean you or the child are not capable - just not with the right horse. Get as much help as you can and give it a few weeks to settle. Fingers crossed for you.x

 

[Moomin1]

No not rude at all, just the facts. Poor pony will get a dreadful reputation due to novice child, novice mother. What does this woman expect? I really am thinking ballet shoes, sorry.

I fully agree with the fact that horses do pick up on nerves, and that riding out with company until they get used to each other is a very sensible suggestion.

In what way does the mother sound novicey? She merely has put that she is disappointed at what happened!!! There are many instances when I got and still do get disappointed/nervy/disheartened when my horse misbehaves and I have over twenty years experience with horses, a degree in Equine Science and also they form part of my career in a massive way. The poor girl is 12 years old and has had a nasty fall - can you not remember what it's like at that age? My first pony was horrendous when I got him - I was terrified of him and got chucked off/run away with/bitten/trodden on/squashed and I was only 9 years old!! I had him for ten years until he died aged 40 years so given that I probably would have been classed as a 'novice' who would give my pony a bad reputation and spoil him as a pony he did pretty well didn't he?!!! We ended up competing until he was 38 and qualifying for Ponies UK despite him being a heinz type with no breeding! PEOPLE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE AND LEARN/GAIN CONFIDENCE/LOSE CONFIDENCE/GET HELP/LESSONS/FALL OFF IN ORDER TO BECOME THE EXPERIENCED RIDER!! Get real Merry Crisis!

 

[mulledwhine]

Again I agree, my lovely pony, who is a gent,, is getting a little reputation, as he gets soo excited.

Really an unfair tag, I am not a novice, have had equines since I was 3, have ridden all sorts of idiots, broken and brougt on lovely sane ponies ad horses!!!

Am I stuck with this one... Yes, should I give up... NO, he is just feeling well, and wanting to kick his heels up, no malous, just feeling well xx

Keep at it and all will come right, at least that is what I tell my self x

 

[maresmaid]

First thing I would do is make sure he has a saddle that fits - get it checked by a proper saddle fitter, you can't expect the horse to behave perfectly if he is in discomfort and it won't do your daughter any good trying to ride something that is behaving like this if she's nervous - personally I think you can't afford NOT to get the saddle sorted out, if the saddle is pinching this behavior may not get any better and may become a habit that's hard to break.

Having established that there is no physical problem, your daughter needs lessons to help her to handle the horse. If he is only 6 he is still young and has a lot to learn, if he suddenly finds he can do what he likes with his new rider he may start doing just that simmply because he can.

Please remember that he is adjusting to a big change in his life - new home, new people, different handling - it will take a while for him to learn he can trust you, and the first steps to gaining that trust are making sure he is comfortable (saddle) and is happy to follow your lead (handling) and has a predictable routine to make him feel secure.

 

[Tnavas]

Ponies are not machines, they have to have confidence from the rider, I dont think your pony is getting the help he needs. If you cant afford a saddle that fits him, perhaps ballet lessons would be more suitable for your child.

That comment is totally uncalled for - this is a new pony, they've only owned him for a few day, they are more than happy to replace saddle IF this is the cause of the pony misbehaving.

Suggest you READ PROPERLY before hitting submit.

And now having read your other comments I would like to add that you are extremely rude, ignorant and totally lacking in tact!

We have at some time in our lives had the mick taken out of us by a horse or pony, its fine if you are a bold rider but not so much fun when you are nervous. And very dissapointing when it is your new pony. Not surprising that the mother is asking for some e-support from us.

So Merrycrisis if you cannot make a positive, supportive comment then just don't respond to the thread. Everyone else has managed to be supportive - take a leaf out of their book.

 

[Shilasdair]

Hmmmm
Lots of youngsters buck into canter. They want to bring the strike-off leg forward, under them, but haven't learnt to flex the joint, so buck. This raises their hind end and lets them bring the leg forward straight.
If you ignore it, they soon learn.
S

 

[Merry Crisis]

That comment is totally uncalled for - this is a new pony, they've only owned him for a few day, they are more than happy to replace saddle IF this is the cause of the pony misbehaving.

Suggest you READ PROPERLY before hitting submit.

And now having read your other comments I would like to add that you are extremely rude, ignorant and totally lacking in tact!

We have at some time in our lives had the mick taken out of us by a horse or pony, its fine if you are a bold rider but not so much fun when you are nervous. And very dissapointing when it is your new pony. Not surprising that the mother is asking for some e-support from us.

So Merrycrisis if you cannot make a positive, supportive comment then just don't respond to the thread. Everyone else has managed to be supportive - take a leaf out of their book.

I read it PROPERLY, thankyou.

 

[zoelouisem]

In my experience novice spooky ponies 6 year old ponies dont make good confidence givers for a nervous riders. Although i know there are exceptions to the rules!!!

Do get an instructor out or as i often do with my daughters pony confident teenagers are great for sorting out a cheeky pony.

I do agree the saddle needs sorting although if its the one the owner has been usuing i susupect its just taking the pee out of your daughter.

Try and get to the bottem of it asap or yourll probaly end up with a daughter not wanting to ride. You may find you need an experienced schoolmaster for her for a few years to get her confidence then try a greener pony.

Also has she tried pony club? Can really reccomend it the kids love it and really helps there confidence as they really bounce of eachother!!!

 

[ClassicG&T]

Get lessons and maybe the owner/older rider to ride it a few times, let it settle in new home and learn how things are done. it takes time to bulid up a bond and learn the ins and outs of the pony.
When i first got mine i had to get my mam to lead me everywhere as i was teriffied! a few years down the line and we are as thick as theives me and him