Ideas please!

Django Pony

Django Pony

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Hi all,
I've been playing pony-cupid! There's a little 11.3hh pony at our yard called Misty who was rescued by the yard owner. His real owner hasn't been to see him for 6 years!!! :eek: He's very well looked after and wants for nothing, but doesn't get any real time spent on him. I know of a girl who's pony mad and suggested she comes up to give him some TLC. It's been a good match so far, she loves him to bits and he's loving the attention. :D
I need some ideas of stuff she can do with him as (a) she can't ride him as she's too big, (b) he hasn't done any "work" for years so is very unfit (c) his feet are not in great condition due to severe laminitis before the yard owner had him and (d) as I've mentioned, he's very prone to laminitis so can't have treats or be grazed in hand etc.
So far she's been:
  • grooming
  • plaiting
  • taking for walks
  • generally bonding with him
Do any of you have any ideas of stuff she can do with him?
Thanks
 
What a lovely idea!

How about stretching exercises, making him stretch between his front legs, sideways to his tail, going a little further each time.

What about teaching him some tricks, counting is fairly easy. He will have to have a little reward though. Say one polo for being good.

Do not feed carrots or apples as they are full of sugar and awful for lamintics as I have found out to my cost.

Hope you get some other ideas!
 
She could do some ground work with him, build up on the walks she's been doing? A bit of extra movement and exercise will do his feet and body good.

Lunging, long lining? Take it slowly and build his fitness. Pole work.

'Handy pony' type stuff from the ground - tackling 'mazes' made from poles, weaving in and out of cones, stepping on scary things like plastic bags?

In hand showing for next summer?

How about clicker? Clicker is great fun and bound only by your imagination but is reward based - however if he gets any form of bucket feed (?) you can just use part of that and not have to add treats on top. My share horse gets Lo Cal as his reward (poor hard done by boy LOL).
 
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Thanks guys, I like the idea of teaching him some tricks!
Only slight problem is his "owner" has said no treats, (a) because of his laminitis and (b) because he used to nip and bite when he was given treats by his previous owner. He's allowed a small treat when he is turned out and that's all!
 
Clicker will nip nipping in the bud! My previous horse would have killed you for a treat (literally!). Clicker training was a real turning point for him - he stopped and thought about what he needed to do for the reward - no more mugging! I would not give a laminitic extra 'treats' either so agree on that one but is he not having any bucket feed that could be used as a reward?
 
i like to do dressage tests with my horse on the ground. i ride her and could do it on her but its a bit of extra bonding. i ask her to leg yeild and turn on the forhand (which she does with me on her) while im at her side. i do it with a lunge line as a lead so i can back of a bit and just let her go with me. so the girl could get hold of some dressage tests and walk them out with him and you could mark them for a bit of fun after lots of practice.
 
madeleine1 said:
i like to do dressage tests with my horse on the ground. i ride her and could do it on her but its a bit of extra bonding. i ask her to leg yeild and turn on the forhand (which she does with me on her) while im at her side. i do it with a lunge line as a lead so i can back of a bit and just let her go with me. so the girl could get hold of some dressage tests and walk them out with him and you could mark them for a bit of fun after lots of practice.
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Oooh, that's a good idea!!! Thanks!
 
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