new pony after 4 yrs off

[katiehorse]

Ok I've had my own horses since the age of 16 and had to sell up when I was 27 and had my son. My son is now 4 and I've been sharing friends ponies over the last 3 yrs up until 2 weeks ago when I bought a 13hh 9 yr old gelding for me and my son to share. Sold as a good pony on lead rein and needs more experienced rider off lead rein. new pony came home 2 weeks ago. And he came in a bit that I did not recognise. After getting home I was told it was a Tom thumb and a harsh bit so was recommended to change it to hanging cheek which I did. I rode pony up and down farm track 4 days after having him and all was fine. My son had a sit on him to and led him round. Again all fine. Later that evening my friends daughter had a go down the field. Took him with another pony. Asked to canter he was reluctant so turned him round and asked again and he bolted and landed in a ditch. Both fine but obviously very scary. I now realise I should haven't put him in this situation so I'm currently taking him out around the farm in hand. I've also put him back in the Tom thumb as after speaking to previous owners he is controllable in this bit. They have tried other bits but too strong although he has never bolted. I'm getting his back and teeth checked in the next couple of weeks. I'm going to start lunging him and will get back on him in an enclosed space and just walk him round. I'm just now very nervous after seeing him bolt. I'm hoping it was just because everything and everyone is all new to him and obviously the bit wasn't strong enough to hold him. Had we have had the Tom thumb bit on we may have had more control. Just looking for some reassurance and any advice appreciated. All I want is a safe hacking pony for on a 500 acre farm.

 

[Barnacle]

To be honest I'd put him back in the hanging cheek and aim to increase his sensitivity. If you have a strong bit and he takes to bolting, you'll have a hell of a time stopping it... Your plan sounds sensible. I think lots of lunging with all his tack on in an enclosed space is advisable. Make him canter and see what sets him off - if anything. From the ground you have more control if he bolts as you don't need to worry about staying on! Make him work even more until he sees bolting as an obviously bad idea as it sounds like he did it to avoid doing what he was asked. Sounds like a fairly typical cheeky pony to me who perhaps has had a lot of children on his back and has learned some tricks. If he doesn't do anything after a few sessions, get on and just be sure to turn him if he bolts and then go right back to what you were asking him to do so he doesn't learn that bolting means he gets a break. If you do fall off, make sure you grab him right away and lunge him fast... It may make sense to keep a headcollar on him and have a leadrope or line near by so you can just lunge him on the rope if this does happen. It needs to happen immediately after any incident or he will get a rest and won't get the message! If it turns out he has a serious problem, lots of slow work on a loose rein in a light bit with lots of transitions from walk to halt using seat and a repeated half-halt... And then trot to walk to halt, again mostly using seat, would be a long term plan to increase his responsiveness to the bit.

 

[katiehorse]

I'm very reluctant to change the bit after what happened. I now don't want to change anything untill I am fully used to him and vice versa