new pony, how long before daughter rides

If you go to a competition you get on it straight out the lorry.

If pony is settled maybe lunge it and see if it still looks settled then have a little ride. I wouldn't ask too much though.

People will disagree with me but it has always worked for me. If pony has been ridden in previous home it will understand working better than it will understand moving house so may even help it to settle, putting it back in it's comfort zone.
 
Provided the pony is settled and you go everything slowly I dont see why not. How about a short hack on lead rein to make sure everything is fine.

Im impatient as well and didnt wait long to ride mine, but again he was sane and sensible!
 
cai said:
If you go to a competition you get on it straight out the lorry.

If pony is settled maybe lunge it and see if it still looks settled then have a little ride. I wouldn't ask too much though.
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Totally agree here, you would of rode it when you went to see it and if you go a comp you ride it 10 mins later.
 
personally I always ride within a day or two. I find it helps horses settle as being ridden is normal everyday stuff so they know things haven't changed that much
 
I was posting something very similar to you a week ago - I guess it depends on the pony's character / experience.

Mine is a Pony Club old-hand, so he is used to going to different places. Gave him a day to settle in and then went for a little hack the next day with a sensible companion. In the week since, we have hacked alone and in company with no problems.
 
Thanks for all yuor reples, we tried it, and he was a different pony , very keen and excited, so I am going to take him for a walk over the next couple of days to getr used to all the new sights and sounds before we go for it big time :)
 
Can you lunge him at all - sounds like he might benefit from a bit more exercise than just walking. I wouldn't give him any hard feed at the moment either - it is easy for young riders to lose their confidence if new pony is a bit over fresh. Is he turned out with other horses/ponies?
 
TGM said:
Can you lunge him at all - sounds like he might benefit from a bit more exercise than just walking. I wouldn't give him any hard feed at the moment either - it is easy for young riders to lose their confidence if new pony is a bit over fresh. Is he turned out with other horses/ponies?
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I have been thinking about lunging him, but it seems to be all the exciting sights and sounds that he is not used to that is over exciting him, but will deffinatly try lunging tomorrow. Although his last home said it it took him about a week before he calmed down.

He does not have any company, as my TB has recently died and we were taken with pony as he is not particualry bothered about horsey fiends, he was on his own at his other home, although was able to see other horses, but could not care less, and even here seems perfectly happy with his own company as long as there is lots to see, which there is :)

I was thinking about cutting out hard feed, as he gets a large bale of haylage in his stable at night and atm, before he eats it all, the grass he is on has not been grazed for years, but he has been used to a couple of handfuls so did not want to stop that all at once.

Having read this reply back I know I sound like I am full of but but but, but LOL, I have only had him just over a day and am desperate to get it right.

I have owned horses all my life but all of a sudden I seem to have forgotten everything. I think my last boy spoilt me :)
 
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we always asked the previous owners what the pony would prefer.

both times said ride day after we got them home, if the previous owner of your pony said give it a week, maybe you try that?

also until you are settled with the pony i would cut out all hard feed as it sounds like the pony has plenty of forage to eat!
 
The way I see it is that when you go to a show, your horse comes straight out of the lorry into a new place and you ride him straight away. No reason why your daughter can't ride him as soon as possible, especially as you say he is seems to have settled in already. I got my new one on Friday and rode her for the first time on Saturday. :)
 
ummmmmm sorry i may get shouted down here but personally i would let pony settle in - how long depends but i would spend first week at least spending time on floor getting to know pony and letting pony getting to know the new sights sounds smells of new home - i always think why rush - get your daughter grooming , grazing in hand etc and building that bond but hey thats just me lol :)
 
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