Introducing Child to Pony!!

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Roisin_M

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Hello,

After a bit of advice, I have a son who is coming up to a year old (Jan 27th) and I would really reallly REALLY love it if he ends up being horsey like me, although I know I can't force him, and I'm just thinking when is best to introduce him? I don't want to scare him, but I also don't want to leave it too long. Any advice/experiences needed. The pony, btw, is a 18yo shetland and he was a riding school pony for 10 years and although he is a nipper he is pretty bombproof with children, although he hasn't been ridden for about 5 years now! So far Joshua has met the horses when being held by me, but so far I haven't sat him on anything. Should I just plonk him on the pony and go from there? And for no reason whatsoever, here is a picture of Josh & Noxy Nunu the pony!

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both of them are lovely, I don't have children but I would wait until he is a bit older.. as the pony hasn't been ridden for a long time he could be a bit jumpy so I would find a small rider to sit on him first just to make sure he is ok. my friend put her small son on my horse (who I thought would be fine) but she bucked him off, luckily my friend was on one side and I was on the other so we both grabbed him before he fell. a very scary moment and I can only assume she wasn't used to pressure from his legs that high up her sides, she had never bucked before or since!!!!!!! so my advice is be very careful...
 
"plonk him on the pony and go from there?"

Yes pretty much :) My youngest sat on a horse when he was about a year old, I think the first time we were grooming and he just literally sat on top for 10 seconds with me holding him and then we did it again, then we walked around the yard, then down the drive, then down the lane and now 8 years later he is out hunting on his own!

Cute boy and pony btw
 
Eeek just read SplashGirl's post! Perhaps lunge the Shetland or take him for a walk in hand yourself before you plonk your precious baby on his back.
 
Ohhh lovely, nice baby too! There you go Roisin that is the way to start.

To be honest I should be actively discouraging you all, its cost me a fortune over the years!!
 
Thanks everyone, tbh the pony has had long breaks from being ridden in the past and always been fine but I will get my mum(who is tiny) to ride him first just to make sure! I need to buy him a saddle too!
 
I'll tell you how not to do it.

My grandfather was a stable lad before the first world war, and rode for many years at the estate where he worked (I have the pictures of him hunting).

I was born and brought up in London, but used to stay with my grandparents in the Highlands of Scotland every summer.

At the age of around five, my grandfather gave me a few handfuls of oats and told me we were off to see some horses, to choose one for my sister to borrow for the summer. We arrived at a large field apparently full of huge horses and my grandfather started to walk amongst them chatting to me and them and telling me to give them some oats. Needless to say I was soon the centre of attention and when I retreated fast, towards some nearby trees, the herd followed.

It was fifteen years before I was cajoled by my (then) new wife to consider horse riding as a pleasant hobby, all of those years I was seriously scared of horses.

My poor granddad would have been horrified if he had realised how those horses scared me; being a horseman from his childhood and so familiar with horses and their behaviour , he had no concept of what it was like to meet these massive animals that I thought were trying to eat me.

So, don't do that, go and introduce him to your pony, and others now and I'm sure that he will end up enjoying horses and riding as much as we all do.
 
mine had a sit on at 16 weeks and has ‘sat’ on on a couple more occasions since, I envisaged by now he might be on the leadrein.. however at 2 1/2 he has no interest in ponies whatsoever. I have no intention of trying to foster an interest either. Id rather it was something he really wanted and asked for and in turn would appreciate more at a later date. The last time I put him on he wasn’t keen and wanted off after about 5 seconds. I asked him on one more occasion if he would like a little go and he said most emphatically, no!.. the ponies are all ‘Mummy’s’ and he shows no interest in them at all. I have a Highland and 5 Shetlands, all at home outside his bedroom window. I will wait for him to ask and really want it before I put him on again and if he never wants to ride then that’s ok, it just means more pony time for me :D .
 
Last week I went on the Tube, met a lady [wellies and casual clothing] we chatted [me smart, red patent joddie boots], she was born in Chile, and could ride before she could walk. WARNING ........................ she is still addicted!!!!!
I love meeting proper horsey people ...........................GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
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My grandson, now 4 yrs old, has been around my large horses since birth, parked up in his pram for mucking out, hand holding, meet and greet over a gate when walking, progressing to grooming from the knees down to sitting on them, 'helping' to lead in from the field, loves making up feeds, my horses are very good, just tall, Charlie's first sit on was on my 16 2 hh WB mare, he 'rode her in from the field holding onto her rug, Charlie knew he was to sit on the hay bale or stand outside the gate if asked, it became his norm, but always be aware of safety, I once went into the barn where the teenage grandkids were preparing for a ride, two loose horses, two tied up and a 3yr old standing on a grooming box 'helping', pointed out it wasn;t the safest place for Charlie to be, put loose horses in stables and removed Charlie to the safe side of the gate, just be sensible and don't force it
 
I will certainly keep him safe, aside from the Shetland we have two veteran mares at home, both very uninterested in Joshua which at the moment I'm very appreciative of. I'm going to do as advised, take it slow and see how things progress, I will be mildly disappointed if he doesn't enjoy it like I do but I know the worst thing I could do would be to force it. Thanks for all the advice! Joshua is very very chilled, he always has been, so I'm hoping that that aspect of his personality will help with the introductions.
 
My two sons have been around my ponies all their lives. William is now 7 and has his own pony. He loved just being around them for the first few years and helping out with chores. It wasn't until he was 4 when he wanted to start riding. It is much better for the child to lead towards wanting to be involved than pressurizing them. George, who is 5, isn't as interested but will want to ride occasionally.
 
my son ( also Josh) had his first pony at 18 mths! prior to that was sat on my mare or my sisters. I never forced the issue and he rode for as long or short as he wanted and never in cold wet weather. He still rides at 24 and works with horses, but in my experience the way to keep boys going is not to expect them to be interested in any looking after/grooming etc that girls seem to love. he would make feeds, fill nets. I was involved in running a yard and those boys made to help in all ways soon stopped riding, also those who only got to ride in the school when young. but beware, every thing clothing wise costs more for boys! and we went through ponies to horse quickly cos he wouldn't stop growing and now 6ft 3 and last horse was 17.3!
 
Aside from obviously bot scaring them to death or keeping them up the yard too long getting cold or bored I think they either will get into horses or they won't and nothing you do will make a jot of difference.

My friends three boys all rode her little Shetland and none of them ride now, they went onto bikes and other hobbies and are in their late 20's now. (she still has Shetland at 30yrs). There is a lady on our yard with a 7 year old boy that she persuades to ride a pony and takes to PC but he doesn't really like it and whines all the time. He won't even go off the lead rein and has been around ponies since birth. Really she would be better getting one for herself and enjoying it but I suspect husband is more tolerant if it involves the boy. It won't be long though before he refuses to do it at all I suspect. I feel sorry for both as neither really enjoy it.

My American nephew was also brought up with horses and he was taught that it was part of the way they lived so he had to somewhat get on with it. He went through uninterested phases but ultimately would ride and was very successful at PC Tetrathlon which gave him a focus and encompassed other sports he was interested in.
 
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