tobiano1984
Well-Known Member
I've just acquired 2 new ponies, bit of an impulse buy but I couldn't resist them! I usually buy in a couple of youngsters a year to break and sell, but these two are different in that they're already broken and are a bit difficult. I'm not new to this but it's always interesting to get some external input and hear other people's ideas, so feel free to pitch in!
One is a 14.2 8 year old gelding, not sure what breed but looks like native x wb or tb. He's competed up to 1m unaffiliated, but was too much for his young rider. Then went to a 'showjumper' who's taken him round 1.20/1.30 tracks and wanted to sell him for £15k as a Europeans pony (I'm not up with the SJ speak so sorry if this makes no sense). After intensive training and viewings where he was jumped and jumped for ages every day the poor guy unsurprisingly decided enough was enough and overcooked. Apparently he got very excited in the school and wanted to canter and if not allowed to do so he'd buck/jump around. So he's been out in the field for about 6 weeks, I've just got him and he'll be out in the field til after Xmas, then my rough plan is to get his teeth and back done, rule out any physical problems and then do a bit of groundwork, get him out hacking quietly until I feel he's ready to go back in the school. Then will focus on flatwork before reintroducing jumping, maybe over small XC so less pressure. My instructor thinks he'd make an FEI event pony if correctly rewired! He's a nice pony, a bit bolshy and wary but not mental at all.
The other is a 15.1 5yo coloured Irish cob. He was broken in Ireland, then came over here and was schooled, XC'd and SJ'd by nervous kids, and then went out on trial before being sent back because they couldn't get on him. Then the seller found that everytime they got on him he rodeo'd. He's been turned away for a couple of months, and is now out in my field with the above pony. Seems like a sweet pony but has a wary look in his eye and I think he's been handled roughly. Again I will get the physical stuff checked and I think treat this one as a re-back, start from the beginning and see how we get on. I'll do a lot of groundwork/trust building/bombproofing to get his confidence up.
I think both just need a reset, neither is beyond help. Thoughts? Excuse the essays, but I've found HHO-ers a great sounding board for past horses so would love to hear of similar experiences and advice! Particularly in relation to fixing buckers and calming down over-jumped ponies..
One is a 14.2 8 year old gelding, not sure what breed but looks like native x wb or tb. He's competed up to 1m unaffiliated, but was too much for his young rider. Then went to a 'showjumper' who's taken him round 1.20/1.30 tracks and wanted to sell him for £15k as a Europeans pony (I'm not up with the SJ speak so sorry if this makes no sense). After intensive training and viewings where he was jumped and jumped for ages every day the poor guy unsurprisingly decided enough was enough and overcooked. Apparently he got very excited in the school and wanted to canter and if not allowed to do so he'd buck/jump around. So he's been out in the field for about 6 weeks, I've just got him and he'll be out in the field til after Xmas, then my rough plan is to get his teeth and back done, rule out any physical problems and then do a bit of groundwork, get him out hacking quietly until I feel he's ready to go back in the school. Then will focus on flatwork before reintroducing jumping, maybe over small XC so less pressure. My instructor thinks he'd make an FEI event pony if correctly rewired! He's a nice pony, a bit bolshy and wary but not mental at all.
The other is a 15.1 5yo coloured Irish cob. He was broken in Ireland, then came over here and was schooled, XC'd and SJ'd by nervous kids, and then went out on trial before being sent back because they couldn't get on him. Then the seller found that everytime they got on him he rodeo'd. He's been turned away for a couple of months, and is now out in my field with the above pony. Seems like a sweet pony but has a wary look in his eye and I think he's been handled roughly. Again I will get the physical stuff checked and I think treat this one as a re-back, start from the beginning and see how we get on. I'll do a lot of groundwork/trust building/bombproofing to get his confidence up.
I think both just need a reset, neither is beyond help. Thoughts? Excuse the essays, but I've found HHO-ers a great sounding board for past horses so would love to hear of similar experiences and advice! Particularly in relation to fixing buckers and calming down over-jumped ponies..