New pony issues

[Bobbypony1]

Hi, we have recently bought a 14.1 Cob type pony for our daughter, she had been getting on great with him but recently he has started napping a bit towards the gate of the field where she rides him, not bolting or anything just turning towards gate after being ridden for about 10 minutes (he is saying in his own mind he has enough!) we don’t have an arena and she is just not strong enough to stop him. He is in an ordinary snaffle bit. Then yesterday evening she brought him to her local riding school and he started stretching down and pulling the reins out of her hands! I think she is maybe got bit nervous and is leaning on reins she needs to ride him on more forward. I wonder should I try a bit with full cheeks or daisy reins or something. I don’t want it to become a habit! He is probably just testing us too?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

There would be no harm in swapping to a full cheek snaffle with the same mouthpiece as the one she is currently in (as long as she likes that one).

However, unless your child is a tiny tot or horrendously overhorsed, I would not go down the daisy rein route. I would get her some lessons with a good instructor. The pony will be doing this because she can and your daughter needs to learn to ride her better. Sorry if that sounds harsh but ultimately that is the best solution.

 

[Bobbypony1]

There would be no harm in swapping to a full cheek snaffle with the same mouthpiece as the one she is currently in (as long as she likes that one).

However, unless your child is a tiny tot or horrendously overhorsed, I would not go down the daisy rein route. I would get her some lessons with a good instructor. The pony will be doing this because she can and your daughter needs to learn to ride her better. Sorry if that sounds harsh but ultimately that is the best solution.

 

[Bobbypony1]

No not harsh at all! I think when she was riding him more forward and more confident we didn’t have any problems now he is‘trying it on a bit’ with her and she is bit disheartened so yes will stick with lessons- one this evening and maybe try another snaffle with full cheeks. I tried him in a Waterford full cheek bit but was told he didn’t need it that it was bit harsh? I didn’t think so?

 

[1523679]

This must be quite a worrying situation for you and your daughter.

It sounds like the pony has sussed you out much faster than you have sussed him out. He probably has much more experience of being ridden than your daughter has of riding, and he’s making the most of that difference.

You could just put him in more and more aggressive bits until discomfort deters him from taking advantage. However, you will risk both ruining the pony and getting an extreme - possibly dangerous - reaction from him.

I’d think that lessons are the best answer. Ask your instructor if they recommend changing bits.

Good luck! I hope you’ll get some helpful advice both from folk on here and from your instructor.

 

[Bobbypony1]

This must be quite a worrying situation for you and your daughter.

It sounds like the pony has sussed you out much faster than you have sussed him out. He probably has much more experience of being ridden than your daughter has of riding, and he’s making the most of that difference.

You could just put him in more and more aggressive bits until discomfort deters him from taking advantage. However, you will risk both ruining the pony and getting an extreme - possibly dangerous - reaction from him.

I’d think that lessons are the best answer. Ask your instructor if they recommend changing bits.

Good luck! I hope you’ll get some helpful advice both from folk on here and from your instructor.

This must be quite a worrying situation for you and your daughter.

It sounds like the pony has sussed you out much faster than you have sussed him out. He probably has much more experience of being ridden than your daughter has of riding, and he’s making the most of that difference.

You could just put him in more and more aggressive bits until discomfort deters him from taking advantage. However, you will risk both ruining the pony and getting an extreme - possibly dangerous - reaction from him.

I’d think that lessons are the best answer. Ask your instructor if they recommend changing bits.

Good luck! I hope you’ll get some helpful advice both from folk on here and from your instructor.

 

[honetpot]

His he bored?
Not many children have the strength for a pony, or the physical coordination, so depending on the training of the pony you have to a degree learn to avoid situations where the pony says no, I would rather not do this.
You may think it's safer to ride in the field, but for ponies fields are for eating, sleeping and pooping in, and what is the point of wandering around in it, doing none of those things.
As a parent with a pony you spend a lot of time walking, and supervising, I suggest you get a good pair of shoes and start walking out on hacks, with the child or if you are lucky some experienced adult riding. When my children were younger I was the leading the way, and the brake in front, so nothing shot past me.
Things to keep a pony sweet.

Do not do the same thing every day, in the same place, vary the work.
Lots of hacking, it can be just around a housing estate ,its all experience.
Always try and come back slower than you went out, in a paddock never more than walk to the gate. If you have finished, stand in get off in the middle of the paddock, run up your stirrups, and walk to the gate.
Do not practice failure, if some things not working out, leave it and work on something else. Come back to it another way.
Do not get the pony fit by lunging, it's already got more stamina than the child.
I find a three/four day week works if you haven't got a lot of time. Three days of slow long work, say three hour hacks followed by a half hour lesson and half hour hack. They do not get too fit, but fit enough to do a bit of extra work.

You can not make any equine do anything with physical strength, I have seen people who have competed at international level fail thinking this. Putting more gadgets on a pony is often a temporary fix, and it will find a way to get out of doing it eventually. So while you band aid is working you have to work on the underlying issue. I do not know what sort of livery yard you are on, but you need to find someone who has experience with children and ponies, to give you basic advice and avoid the pitfalls, an instructor is good but will only be there while they are teaching.
All of us that have ridden as children, or have had children have problems at some time, there is usually a solution, and if you can find the right person to give you advice you will be half way there.

 

[Bobbypony1]

Thank you hopefully lessons will sort it! He is too clever a pony! He is 13 and probably knows all the tricks of the trade! I just want to do things right cause he is lovely mannered pony snd my daughter is delighted with him. Just to nip this in the bud now and the will have a great time together!

 

[Bobbypony1]

His he bored?
Not many children have the strength for a pony, or the physical coordination, so depending on the training of the pony you have to a degree learn to avoid situations where the pony says no, I would rather not do this.
You may think it's safer to ride in the field, but for ponies fields are for eating, sleeping and pooping in, and what is the point of wandering around in it, doing none of those things.
As a parent with a pony you spend a lot of time walking, and supervising, I suggest you get a good pair of shoes and start walking out on hacks, with the child or if you are lucky some experienced adult riding. When my children were younger I was the leading the way, and the brake in front, so nothing shot past me.
Things to keep a pony sweet.

Do not do the same thing every day, in the same place, vary the work.
Lots of hacking, it can be just around a housing estate ,its all experience.
Always try and come back slower than you went out, in a paddock never more than walk to the gate. If you have finished, stand in get off in the middle of the paddock, run up your stirrups, and walk to the gate.
Do not practice failure, if some things not working out, leave it and work on something else. Come back to it another way.
Do not get the pony fit by lunging, it's already got more stamina than the child.
I find a three/four day week works if you haven't got a lot of time. Three days of slow long work, say three hour hacks followed by a half hour lesson and half hour hack. They do not get too fit, but fit enough to do a bit of extra work.

You can not make any equine do anything with physical strength, I have seen people who have competed at international level fail thinking this. Putting more gadgets on a pony is often a temporary fix, and it will find a way to get out of doing it eventually. So while you band aid is working you have to work on the underlying issue. I do not know what sort of livery yard you are on, but you need to find someone who has experience with children and ponies, to give you basic advice and avoid the pitfalls, an instructor is good but will only be there while they are teaching.
All of us that have ridden as children, or have had children have problems at some time, there is usually a solution, and if you can find the right person to give you advice you will be half way there.

great advice thank you, and we will definitely do more hacking as he is very well mannered on the roads, we will keep working on him, it’s early days and we have to get to know him better! Lessons and variety are key I think..

 

[Manda_D]

Things I was taught many years ago served me well when my lad was a youngster...
a) keep their mind ticking with transitions
b) if he does turn for home just make him think you mean for him to do it by creating a circle back the way you actually want to go. Eventually he will give up with perseverance.
c) vary the location of each ride (if possible) and/or swap between being on the lunge with & without a rider

Best of luck, would be good to hear how you get on

 

[maya2008]

These are the ponies who create the best riders - if you get the lessons to go with them! I must have spent a small fortune on lessons to help my son learn to ride well enough to master our Shetland - but it worked!