Kids ponies and pushy parents...

[Holly Hocks]

Why do I feel so annoyed by this?
I was recently at a village show - quite a big one, and was watching the childrens' games....there were a number of children on ponies riding with huge pelhams and gags in their pony's mouths, pulling them about really hard, and then wondering why the ponies wouldn't go forwards when their head was tucked into their chest......does no-one teach their children to ride properly any more? You don't see the ponies doing the games at Olympia with bits big enough to stop a Suffolk Punch with.
And what is is with pushy parents? Shouting and screaming and swearing at their children because they didn't win the bl00dy sack race. I thought riding was supposed to be fun for children at that age, not a chore......anyway it's been playing on my mind and had to let it out.....sorry.

 

[horsecrazy25]

People think that they are so cool with massive bits in their ponies mouths and making their ponies gallop flat out!! and well for some of the parents they should be ashamed treating kids like they do!!. Like you said a day out at a show should be fun for everyone!!!

 

[Honey08]

In proper mounted games they have to be in a snaffle. (pony club).

 

[WoopsiiD]

Oh don't!!!
When bubs was going to shows it was drummed into her that it was supposed to be fun and no one cared if she didn't get a rosette. (Have to add that the shows we went to were fantastic in the fact that they ensured anyone under 5 got a rosette at the end just for entering and the judges were fantastic with the littlies and made it fun)
I have often been sat at the side of the ring watching other small humans getting verbally abused! It was quite sad to watch little humans almost in tears in the show ring.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I'm so glad other people have seen it too.....I have only done unaffiliated dressage so I had never seen anything like this. I was really shocked. The best parents were those who probably weren't that horsey, so they were just proud of their child - and they probably hadn't even heard of a gag or a pelham. It was the horsey Mums who were the worst. No wonder the children grow up unable to string a sentence together without the f*** word!

 

[Sol]

Seen it all the time, not just with ponies! At alton towers the other month while I was sat around waiting for friend, I was passed by a frustrated mother with a little boy in tow, crying his eyes out, mother ranting 'why on earth are you crying?! Would I take you on something scary? WOULD I take you on a ride that was scary? NO! Now get on that ride because it is not scary....' it went on. I was mortified! Is this honestly how parents persuade their children to erm, have fun!?
Madness....
Have to wonder why the parents don't just do it themselves? :/

 

[SusieT]

only because the ponies at olympia are only allowed in a snaffle! (which has pros and cons!)

 

[Lila]

We got a kid on our yard whose dad thinks he knows everything. Pony doesnt go well for kid but its all because she wont listen to anyone. But now her dad has told everyone hes going to start riding the pony to "get it going" (hes around 15+stone and pony is 13.2) Everyone told him not to do it but he thinks hes the best rider going. Its finally taken the riding instructor (the only person he kind of listens to) to tell him he's far to big for pony and shouldnt be riding it.

Actually think this is totally off topic but posted anyway

 

[Honey08]

When my son started riding we did a year of leadrein. I have never been in a more competetive class than the lead rein games! Shocking! Ponies being dragged along with kids clinging to the saddle for dear life! I couldn't wait to get him off the leadrein!!

 

[eahotson]

I have seen children beaten for mistakes in the ring!Apparently their ponies were very expensive so thats alright then.I grew up in a seaside town and quite often heard Mum saying to some child 'You just start and enjoy yourself or I will give you a d*mn good hiding!'

 

[Onyxia]

I'm so glad other people have seen it too.....I have only done unaffiliated dressage so I had never seen anything like this. I was really shocked. The best parents were those who probably weren't that horsey, so they were just proud of their child - and they probably hadn't even heard of a gag or a pelham. It was the horsey Mums who were the worst. No wonder the children grow up unable to string a sentence together without the f*** word!

While I may be guilty of making a sailor blush from time to time,there are still those of us who don't swear in front of our children-self controll is highly underrated

The obcessive,controlling PC mum is IMO not found that often(shows aside,as they get a whole countys worth in one spot ).
Most want our children to enjoy riding and being around horses,do not put pressure on and are over the moon at what they learn without moaning about what they do not get so easily.
I do know one mother who is driling her 5 year old on points of the horse though-made me :s I think I will stick with making a game out of it alll for a long time yet thanks,since mine is the one who WANTS to go and WANTS to learn

 

[Onyxia]

I am guilty of that In my defense,son is only,5 gets distracted easily and because he does not know the RI very well can ignore her.
Mum telling him to listen to his messages and his concentration is back where it should be,and I am back to my book

 

[Sayra]

my friend has turned into one of these!

We used to take her wee boy to shows on my pony and he would be shocking but I was happy if he got over 1 jump so was she. Everyone looked at us like we were mad "well done that was fantastic, it doesnt matter if you didnt actually get OVER any jumps...at least you didnt fall off" etc etc.

Now he does BSJA and all the wee soul gets is "why did you stop at that jump?" "why did he run out" "you should have known that was going to happen" "I told you to watch jump number 5" it makes me so mad and when I tell her she is doing it I can tell taht she doesnt think she is as bad as i say.

Wee boy has now gone and done some unaff at local shows and gets good results, always placed.

"why can you jump fine here but not when in matters?!

erm, maybe cause at unaff there is not pressure on him and if you stopped telling him that he "had to win" and "why arent you winning, you should be, weve spent x amount on lessons/pony/entries" then maybe he could relax enough to ride better?!

Sorry, rant over!