Nappy stubborn pony in the arena

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I have posted before about my daughters stubborn pony ! He is absolutly great hacking ! But soon as we take him in an arena he just trys to follow me and won't listen to her at all just plants or tries to get to me. I have tried stepping out of Arena but he just comes to the gate. If I walk at the side of him or put her on lead rein he's fine.
I have tried riding him in there and he is fine for me. I just have to be firm with him.
Hes 12 year old and not done much schooling at all . Am I fighting a losing battle or does anyone think with consistency he will get there.
A young girl has asked if she can loan him in the week. So thinking this might help get his fitness up.
Thanks for reading xx

 

[seriously festive equine]

I have had this problem time and time again particularly with welshies! Persistence is key. It took me a week's worth of 45 minute sessions before the pony finally gave in. With persistence and perseverance (and a strong leg!) He will get better....just DONT LET HIM WIN! I have been in an arena for only 10 minutes when the pony does a perfect lap of the arena in walk and trot...I have always ended it there. End on a high note! Good luck!

 

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Thankyou so much. I feel like we are really letting him win. And don't bother going in then for a while. The thing is he will go round great for me but not my 8 year old daughter. So should I take him in more when she's at school maybe? We don't have an Arena but hire the one over the road from us X

 

[CobsaGooden]

Will he lunge with her riding him? Might be a way to at least get him moving forwards and doing something?

 

[seriously festive equine]

Definitely needs to be ridden in arena more I think

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

How did it go with getting someone schooling him and the lessons for your daughter? (Seemed to be the plan from previous thread)

 

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How did it go with getting someone schooling him and the lessons for your daughter? (Seemed to be the plan from previous thread)

Well it didn't really. Lessons are a battle he just plants. She loves hacking so we gave up as it was just becoming nit enjoyable for her and knocked her confidence a bit in arena ,we just hacked especially as the weather got bad. I was going to pay for some proper schooling sessions for him but money was a bit tight.
It's my own fault we need to be more consistent and keep taking him in. X
It's my own fault I need to be more consistent and get him in there more. Xx

 

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Definitely needs to be ridden in arena more I think

I agree he doesn't exactly know what is asked of him and he's unfit. My daughter is only 8. I need to get him in there more. X

 

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Will he lunge with her riding him? Might be a way to at least get him moving forwards and doing something?

I thought this today. He has never even been lunged before but its worth a try x

 

[Dave's Mam]

Is a lightweight adult rider to do some schooling a possibility?

 

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Is a lightweight adult rider to do some schooling a possibility?

Hi I have ridden him a couple of times in the Arena and he's always ok for me doesn't nap or anything but I am very firm with him. I could maybe do it more often.
I have a young girl (13) who has asked if she can ride him in the week. So would be interesting to see if he goes for her x

 

[Dave's Mam]

Hi I have ridden him a couple of times in the Arena and he's always ok for me doesn't nap or anything but I am very firm with him. I could maybe do it more often.
I have a young girl (13) who has asked if she can ride him in the week. So would be interesting to see if he goes for her x

The solution might be right there.

 

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Hopefully. Just as soon as my 8 year old is on him in Arena he changes and just naps constantly and trys to follow me.
But suppose if he's more used to riding in there he might get better. I hope so anyway. X

 

[planete]

Try and get him super obedient to voice commands by lunging him so that you can be in control from the ground when a child is riding. Once he will walk on, trot, canter, slow down or speed up and stop from your voice add the rider and back up the rider's aids with your voice whenever necessary until it becomes redundant.

 

[seriously festive equine]

Good luck! Keep us posted

 

[Goldie's mum]

You don't say what height he is but if he's big enough for an adult to ride is he just too big for an 8 year old to get her legs in the right place?
I'd get her lessons on a different pony & just keep hacking on him, until she grows & gets stronger. (I'd stop the lessons for her on him just now, they'll just be reinforcing his planting habit until something changes.)
Meantime I agree he needs schooling by someone else until he's less of a trial of strength. What had he done before you got him? Has he ever been properly schooled? How fit is he?

 

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Hes a 12.3 mini cob. And she's a tall 8 year old. I think your right about the hacking and lessons. He's very chunky so can take a light weight adult.
Hes literally just done hacking. A tiny bit of schooling when he was younger.
We love him and want it to work. He's 12 years old.
We don't care about him being a school master. Just want him to listen. She would love to do little local shows just walk and trot without a leader. X

 

[Andie02]

2nd what Planete said re the lungeing. Also do plenty of schooling with your stirrups pulled up short, no more than 2 holes longer than the 8 yr old's stirrup length. It could be that the pony is evading the shorter legs. I had this problem with a young pony of mine many years ago, schooling with shorter length stirrups cracked the problem, + perseverance and being firm.

 

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Ohh that's a really good idea about the stirrups i never thought of that I will look ridiculous because I am tall but if it solves the problem it's worth a try !
He is such a stubborn bugger x

 

[Equi]

Horses are very clever at working out who can and can not ride them. My boy is a turbo for a decent rider, and I can plop anybody’s granny on him cause he will then become a shadow and won’t leave your side. The first few weeks I had him he was horrifically nappy and clingy to instructor but as my confidence in him grew (I.e I realised that being firmer with him wasn’t going to cause an explosion) he gave up and now I never have that issue. He will however instantly revert back to a shadow if a less confident/able rider is on him…so until your daughter learns to be firmer you’ll probably always have the issue even if he is being ridden by someone else ok. It will just take time and your daughter to grow a little.