My daughter's pony has became very laid back and lazy.. would you be worried?

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echoe_babe1

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www.crave-miki.bebo.com
My daughter has a 13.1hh connemara x pony, 12 years old. Usually quite forward going, doesnt need much leg just a squeeze. For the last few weeks, since moving to a new yard, she has become so laid back being ridden my daughter can spend 2 laps of the arena kicking her trying to get her into trot (she wont use a whip, nervous at times). I cant figure out if she is just content now that I have a saddle that isnt moving up her neck like the last 2 (resulted in her sticking head down and getting my daughter off in canter), or if there is something wrong. She hasn't lost any weight, a good doo-er and round enough :) Full clip, just on plenty of haylage. Here is a photo, thanks, Miki

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...70354930.59612.100001815076812&type=3&theater
 
Are her feet warm, is she showing any signs of laminitis...?

An already over weight good doer on haylege and just after a yard move... this would be my very first concern . If she is tender she will be very unwilling to move forwards...
 
She is forward going enough on the lunge, isn't overweight just good size (see photo) but was overweight when we got her in June. I will check her feet in the next hour when i am up feeding her though just in case as its a good suggestion.
 
Depends. All of mine are backwards atm. All still have their character in there though. If one was too laidback or if their character was flat I'd be getting a vet out. I've done this in the past out of hours and all I could say was that she was out of character and something didn't feel right. Vets were ace and ran bloods straight off.
When moving my horses last autumn they all went like this, they were simply relaxed and not on edge as had been on last yard.

If you haven't had her for very long could it just be testing your daughter now? Or settled at new yard/saddle.

But being a pony, new move and haylage I'd certainly consider what buds mum has said. I occasionally ride a pony who will show no other signs than being very slow and placing feet carefully when ridden across tarmac deiveway. Lunge/hacking and no difference. No heat in hooves and no pulse until a couple of days after.

So all in all, yes I'd be worried until I'd ruled out medical problems.
 
and you do seem the opposite of what everyone else is having at the moment. Even my old mare was most definitely up for it hacking out this am and needed a little persuasion that we were going at my pace and not at her preferred option!
 
Is your daughter nervous riding at the new yard? Pony may be protecting her or stiffness caused by nerves may be preventing pony moving forward?

Just a thought as I can get this with my pony at shows when I'm nervous!
 
Hiya, thanks for the replies, no heat from hooves which is good. My daughter was nervous the first time or two being a new school but is great now. Do you know what, I will get a video of them tomorrow and Alex trying to get her into trot and keep her in trot, and you can see for yourself whether she has just clicked Alex is a bit soft or something else :)
 
That's good :)
Maybe your daughter needs a little encouragement to use her stick in an effective way, ie follow a process, squeeze (no reaction), squeeze firmer and small kick (no reaction), big pony club kick and tap behind leg with stick (hopefully appropriate reaction). If she sticks to riding like this she will schooling pony to hopefully respond to her first wee squeeze. Make sure is sitting tall, not hanging on to the reins (maybe a neck strap to hang on to whilst she practices her upwards transitions?)
I'm just rambaling really :D do feel free to ignore xx
 
I would give her a week and see if there's an improvement if not get vet out. Are you able to get a bigger rider on her to get her forward as they have longer legs? Could just be that pony is very happy and settled in new yard.

My horse is being sensible lately which has me very worried, getting vet out soon as it's totally out of character. And you'd think most people will be pleased their horse hacks out with all 4 feet on the ground. :p
 
I'd still keep an eye out for laminitis. My stepson's first pony got it in mid winter, we think the haylage brought it out, and the first symptom was considerably slowing down when ridden... There was no heat, she wasn't fat, and we'd already owned her 2yrs, so didn't suspect at all. Feel quite bad that we thought it was a bit of napping at first, and pushed her on.:(
 
Lolo said:
What bit is she in- is it a gag?
Click to expand...

Lolo, I was wondering that?? She is maybe just settled in the yard and if it is a gag you may be better going back to a snaffle?

Could it be that your daughter is more relaxed and the pony isnt sensing any tension so is also relaxed?

They look like a very cute wee team and your daughter looks very happy on her:D
 
If pony had previously bad fitting saddle could be a sore back. My boy became really lazy, had back lady out and his muscles were in spasm from saddle used on him before i owned him. She said would defo have caused him to be lazier than normal x
 
Is that the new saddle in the photo? Is it just me or does it look slightly odd - as in the seat looks a bit long up the horses back (could just be the photo).
It also looks like it's restricting the shoulder slightly but I think that is definitely down to the photo (& saddle pad).

Hope horsey starts to improve soon :)
 
Hey, yep its a dutch gag, she can be very strong in canter and has stuck her head down and shot off, bucking a bit, getting Alex off. She rides her in a pretty loose rein though now. This was actually the first time in this new (old) saddle and since the others slid forward I sat it back like the others lol since it doesnt move I have moved it forward :) She isnt stiff or lame, shes grand with me on her after a few boots to get her responding initally. Maybe it is the fact that Alex is relaxed and letting her away with plodding. Didnt get riding today, snowing!! She has very good hands though, never pulled her in the mouth, and she used to use the whip every time its just recently Alex has decided she doesnt like using it!! Strange child, too soft!
 
The surface of the arena looks a little deep to me, when I've ridden on a deep surface before I've found that its a struggle to keep my horse going. Could just be the photo either?
 
echoe_babe1 said:
Hey, yep its a dutch gag, she can be very strong in canter and has stuck her head down and shot off, bucking a bit, getting Alex off. She rides her in a pretty loose rein though now. This was actually the first time in this new (old) saddle and since the others slid forward I sat it back like the others lol since it doesnt move I have moved it forward :) She isnt stiff or lame, shes grand with me on her after a few boots to get her responding initally. Maybe it is the fact that Alex is relaxed and letting her away with plodding. Didnt get riding today, snowing!! She has very good hands though, never pulled her in the mouth, and she used to use the whip every time its just recently Alex has decided she doesnt like using it!! Strange child, too soft!
Click to expand...

I would say, no matter how great the child, that a gag is a bloody big bit for a little pony with a little jockey on. Could you try something like the kimblewick, or a pelham? Same sort of oomph behind it, but considerably less sharp if she gets an accidental jag in the mouth. In my experience, gags can really make a pony back off your hand and become quite hard to get forwards.
 
After ruling out any health problems - does the pony go any better with another rider?

The pony may have just sussed your daughter out as a soft touch - get a more confident rider on her back and she may well become a different pony - if she does - your girl will have to be a little tougher with her beautiful pony :D
 
If you have done usual checks, teeth, worming, farrier feet etc do you think horse is testing your daughter? Perhaps a lesson with good RI etc to see if they can work it out. If a more experienced rider gets on is the horse the same? Horses do have off spells just like us. If your instinct thinks there is something else I bet you will be right even if its not obvious. Hope its just an off time. Usually hot weather is slow time. Um?
 
In foal, flip we got her in June and do you know what I sat feeling her tummy recently as I got a bit paranoid but there are no signs to be fair whatsoever.. or movement. I just took a notion, no milk in her teats mind you. I had a pony before who also went very laidback, sold her and about a month later found out there was a dead foal in her :S I only had her a month and a half or so, and so didnt have a clue. She actually lost weight with me. Maybe I will get her an ultrasound JUST in case as you never knew as the other pony proved!! She moves pretty fast with me on her. A qualified RI gave her a first lesson a week ago and thought Rosie was cracking. Had Alex ride with the reins a bit looser but other than asking why she was in a gag, didnt change the reins to a different ring. Alex has extremely quiet hands for an 8 year old :) (taught by the best ;) ) (horsey strict mums eek).
 
Great news, Alex carried the whip today and a simple touch on her neck here and there had Rosie moving a lot better. She was still rather relaxed, so it must just be down to knowing Alex is soft, but generally happy being ridden. Thank you everybody. :) Video I took is far too dark grr
 
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