Help please, friend's pony gone baaad!

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Solstar

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Any suggestions/advice/thoughts you can give me would be great!
I'm going to ride my friends pony tomorrow, as she's being having a bit of difficulty with him, and i like riding naughty horses.
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She went away to college the year before last, and took the pony with her. As she didn't like the college's facilities, she found a nice livery yard just a few miles up the road.
Anyway, she's being having trouble with the pony. I haven't seen the pony in over a year, but he's about 14.1hh, nearly 15, and i think is a Welsh Cob. She has had him for about 7 years.
Apparently, he is absolutely fine to deal with on the ground, but when you get on him he turns into a monster. He's galloped off with her, and has started bucking and napping.
He's also messing about on the lunge.
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He has had all the back, teeth and tack checks done and seems to be just being a pratt.
She is riding him in a Pelham, which i have explained to her will lower his head, etc, but cant hold him at all in a snaffle. She also will not carry a whip, and i think she's maybe lost a bit of confidence with him, but i don't know if she has fallen off.
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He is only fed on HiFi and pony nuts, and was never a wizzy type before.
I have said that i will take a bag of 'goodies' up- i.e a pair of spurs, a few different bits and a schooling whip. Of course, just because I'm taking them doesn't mean I'll be using them.
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I think it's him being naughty, and my friend is not enforcing what she is asking him.

Sorry, it's turned to be a right essay, (cake for everyone!) but anything you have to say it would be appreciated.

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Sounds odd that after 7 years of harmony it's all gone a bit pants?????

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I agree, has he been checked by a vet?
 
I know, thats what i don't get with them- I'm thinking that now she's at college she's wanting to try different things with him (always just been a happy hacker) and he just doesn't want to do it.
the vet had checked him last month, when he did his vaccs, and couldn't find anything.

Oh, forgot to say before- he goes on the horsewalker for 20mins everyday- could he be getting too fit from that?
 
Well if it is any consolation my Welsh D can be an argumentative little sod when asked to do things 'he does not feel like'! And this will result in bucking and running off episodes. I have to say though that when I tried my lad in a pelham it made him worse because he was backing off from it which made him tuck his head further into his chest and made it easier for the bucking to happen! I think that assuming you have deffinately ruled out any physical or pain related problem that may be he needs a firm but fair telling of what the rules are...this is what I had to do with my boy. I got a good rider in that was used to problem ponies and she sat it out with him...just beware that it can lead to a big battle if they are stronged willed! My boy improved day on day after his little session and has been great ever since, some 4 years on...and no whip was used on him at all and not since either!
 
pottamus, that sounds really encouraging, thankyou.
She insisted on using a Pelham when he was strong a couple of years ago- saying that she thought it looked better.
Im going to visit her all day and don't have to be back to get mine in- YM doing it- so we could have a battle on our hands!
 
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