Miss sold a 'first pony' where do I stand?

[Gixxernic]

I will start by saying, sounds like he is frightened! But in no way am i saying he is treated roughly previously but this defiant behaviour sounds like he is in a routine of bad behaviour and needs a lot of work to change that, ive been in your position, i took the mare and was told her only vice is in winter she barges to get out the stable and into the field, what a load of codswallop !!! She reared everytime when leading her, she bit me and my son, she was 16.1 and an ish x tb, i think something had definitely happened to her in the loan home before I got her.... I persevered for 7 weeks until I eventually had enough, i did monty roberts join up with her and that really seemed to work but with her only for about 3 days then she was back to being bad, i xontacted the owner and asked her is if she wanted her back if not i was going to advertise her as a project for £500 . She said this was totally out of character. But i have had horses for 30 years and bought one from the meat man that was better behaved than her! So she went back , the first day she had her back the horse reared up and got her legs stuck through a metal gate..

This could be just testing you or just a routine of bad behaviour, but if you do lots of groundwork, try monty roberts technique and see how you go, getting the ponys trust is first and foremost, you might find it works and he settles down, chamomile is good for calming! And so is magnitude �� give him time to settle but please exhaust all options first

 

[Gixxernic]

Thre is an interesting post on the Tough Love thread about how a pony can be sold and the owner will then be on the phone for the next few weeks asking if they can return it! After the settling down period, the new owner generally says they will not part with the pony for anything as it is the best ever. That rung true with me because we have just gone through the same experience but with an owner who over estimated her abilities taking on a green 4yo. I doubt whether any money would buy that pony now. They are not washing machines nor refrigerators and I really don't understand why anyone would sell them with a guarantee!

I agree too my current boy took 4 weeks to settle and i wouldnt part with him for the world ❤️

 

[Gixxernic]

I really dont get the giving leeway for a few weeks (or even days) what happens if you want to go to a show or the pony goes to camp?
I always used to walk the ponies in traffic and lunge them with and without kids on board but that was to make sure the ponies did not produce any surprises.

Although i get what your saying, you wouldnt buy a new pony then next week take it showjumping, once the pony has its trust in you im sure things will settle 😁

 

[Tnavas]

At Pony CLub a couple of weeks ago one of our members trialed a new pony with her four year old daughter - a short while later the child and friend were towing the pony around the grounds, cuddling him, oiling his feet and generally having a great time - This is a first pony - what you have is not.

You have every right to expect the seller to refund your money and take the pony back before your child is hurt or traumatised for life!

Being on its toes in a new environment may happen but if you consider how often horses/ponies go to shows, overnight at some then there is no reason for any horse or pony not to accept its situation. Poor behaviour I would expect from a very young horse or one that has not often travelled away from home.

I hope that you can sort out this situation - Accept the old owners offer to come over and see what the problem is. Striking out is not acceptable at any age or under any condition with a handler of any ability.

 

[marmalade76]

Ponies are funny things, very different from horses and actually need quite a bit of skill to understand and deal with, especially when they are unsettled. Remember they are incredibly brave and when frightened it often comes out as aggression.

So true.

 

[Dizzle]

How big is he- I assume by bolting you mean running off but I would think most adults would be able to pin down most small first ponies! Is he welsh?

I can categorically state the only two equines to have ever floored me were 12hh Welsh ponies.

 

[fatpiggy]

I can categorically state the only two equines to have ever floored me were 12hh Welsh ponies.

Me too - a 12.2 went up on his back legs and I completely left the floor as well while holding his headcollar.

 

[fatpiggy]

OP, you don't say how old the pony is? My friend bought an 11hh Welsh A pony for her two boys. She was the sweetest most gentle pony and the kids could do absolutely anything with her. Her only problem was she was very prone to laminitis. I think she was about 14 when my friend bought her and she was absolutely a first pony and never put a foot wrong.

 

[ester]

Lol, obviously welshies are special cases

I don't expect we are going to get an update from the OP as it has been a while now.

 

[rachk89]

Although i get what your saying, you wouldnt buy a new pony then next week take it showjumping, once the pony has its trust in you im sure things will settle 😁

I know someone who did that. They bought a horse and the same weekend of that week took it to a competition. I mean it was a competition horse so it's used to that but still. This same girl was wanting to buy my horse originally but thankfully her mum said no. He is bigger than her new one, 6 years old and barely trained when I got him. You can imagine how that would have went if she had gotten him haha.

OP I think if you do put the pony back to the original owner you should just get your daughter lessons rather than a pony. She needs confidence and a pony that isn't a riding school pony is too much for her right now. Riding school ponies will be much safer for her. Any horse outside of riding schools are a lot different and can be more challenging she just needs to have fun right now.