New pony problems - is it too early to give up?!

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rachy01

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I have just bought my daughter her first pony nearly 2 weeks ago. He's a 13.2 Appaloosa x New forest age 7. He 's a real sweety on the ground, we have no problems catching him, leading him form the field or grooming him. He tacks up fine. We got him home and let him settle in to his new environment (he's kept at grass) and after a couple of days just led him up and down the road in his bridle - no problems. A couple of days after that my mum rode him in the same place we led him, again no problems - he is great with the traffic - my daughter even had a little ride on him while I led her. the next day my mum rode him again down the road. he was fine on the way out but when she turned him to come back he started rushing for home and she had to hold him quite hard. When she got level with the gate to the field there were a few cars passing so she tried to make him walk past until they had gone. He wouldn't, his nose went right up in the air so she had no control at all and he bolted across the road, very narrowly missing a car. He was fine once he got to the gate and calmy stood. We decided a martingale and a new bit were needed (the bit he had was a bit narrow we thought. We bought the new stuff and a couple of days later again we tacked him to try him inthe new bridle. No problems putting it on and then we walked him up and down the road in it for quite a while he was perfect. But as soon as I looked like getting on him he started backing up and really didn't want me to. I got on eventually and he went barmy and threw me off with rocking horse type bucking. I got on again - he stood still this time - but just started tearing about. I managed to stop him and calm him down and got off. As soon as I was off he was the same soft loving pony as he was. I'm at a loss what to do with him. I know we've only had him under 2 weeks but I am wondering if I've made a mistake. He was nothing like this when we tried him and the owner is quite suprised in the change. I don't want to put my daughter in him now. We don't have access to a school or field where we can lunge or ride (I rent his grazing and they won't let me ride in the field until they move to summer grazing in a few weeks). Do you think the bump with the car frightened him? Is he just needing more time to settle in? Help please as I'm so upset, especially if I have to tell my daughter I've made a mistake and he's got to go as she loves him so much already x
 
Do you turn round on the lane? That will not help with the bolting for home, two weeks isnt that long but just walking up and down a lane isnt that much exerise and with the grass coming through he is prob feeling it. Have have saddle, back and teeth checked? It sounds like pain related.

Xx
 
I'm not expert enough to offer much advice but 2 weeks isn't very long. You need to give more information about your levels of experience as riders and things like changes in tack/routine, to get useful help. It does sound as though you have a young, very fresh pony with lots of grass and not much work.
 
Please tell me that this is really a serious post. 2 weeks is nothing if you were saying this after 6 months or more , I would say you have a problem. Time and getting to know the pony and he you, is all the advice I can give you.
 
His previous owner had his teeth checked regularly and the saddle we have is the one they used - he was fine when we tried him and up until the incident with the car. I have a knowledgable friend coming to see him on tuesday and my riding instructor has said she'll offer advice, but everyone seems to have different ideas!
 
2 weeks is no time at all, I would rule out any pain issues first then maybe start hiring a local school where you could maybe lunge him first and then get on him and build up from there.

He is still young, in new surroundings and is probably just feeling very insecure. Once he has settled into a routine he should be much better
 
In the vast majority of cases when a horse is moved to a new home with a new rider they can beome very disorientated and also completely change in character.
(I alway like to ride a horse from it's old home to it's new home as this seems to help them cope much better - I know that in this day and age it is not so easy to do).
I always allow 2 full years for a new horse to settle down.
Always take a new horse on circular routes and avoid turning trghem round for home.
Get your new horse in a nice routine and he will settle down given time, patience and quiet handling.
 
Can you hire a school that you could trailer him to and then get a lesson on him from an experienced instructor? He sounds like he needs to do some work and you would be safer doing this in a school.
Also, I would get his back checked. Did adults ride him before or just children - maybe he is objecting the extra weight and is uncomfortable.
But it is very early days and he may just be testing you all :) Good luck. x
 
Echo bravo do you have children? Dont want to cause a disagreement but if i had bought this pony as a first pony for my child i would be horrified.
I would expect a first pony to move in and go to a pony club rally the next day if required, and all the ponies I have bought and or sold have fitted the bill in this regard.
Something bolting on the road and bucking off an adult is completely unacceptable in my book, after 2 weeks or 2 hours. Sorry.
 
Yes this is a serious post! I know that 2 weeks is really such a short space of time, but from what his previous owner told me about him and his personality I really didn't expect this type of problem. I guess I'm expecting too much too soon but I so wanted to get this right, especially for my daughter, and feel I've let her and the pony down somehow :-(
 
sorry you are having problems, however 2 weeks isnt very long . perhaps he doesnt feel confident out on his own at the moment, can you get someone else to ride next to him for a week or so? he may just need a little bit more work so you may need to re think where you keep him so you have somewhere safe to lunge and maybe have lessons...please dont give up yet, its always a learning curve when you get a new horse.....also have you changed his food at all or management as this can make a huge difference to temperament
 
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Sounds like he is confused and is testing you.
Can his old owner visit and ride him at yours?
He really needs more time...took mine two years and he still tries it on sometimes!
Maybe get a groundwork instructor out to assess him and give you some non ridden homework to help him trust you.
It sounds like he can't trust you at the moment
Good luck

Just a thought...seven is very young for a first pony, they are in the teenage naughty stage then. Seventeen may be a better age, a pony who has been around a bit!
 
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brighteyes said:
Exactly how experienced are you?
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Can you let us know what your experience is with horses ie is this the first horse you have ever owned?

Are you on a yard with help?

Private home?

How long if its your first horse have you been riding? & what riding have you done?

Just trying to help you. Need to give more information?

what do you want to do with this horse in the future?
 
{QUOTE=smiggy;10535730]Echo bravo do you have children? Dont want to cause a disagreement but if i had bought this pony as a first pony for my child i would be horrified.
I would expect a first pony to move in and go to a pony club rally the next day if required, and all the ponies I have bought and or sold have fitted the bill in this regard.
Something bolting on the road and bucking off an adult is completely unacceptable in my book, after 2 weeks or 2 hours. Sorry.[/QUOTE]


^^^^ This ^^^^

Totally agree. It is all very well to be suggesting giving a horse weeks and months to 'settle in' if you are an experienced, committed adult, but I would expect/want a pony I bought for my young child to walk straight off the ramp and settle right at home. Especially if I was not very experienced an owner myself. Ponies like this do exist, and IMHO, a pony that is napping and leaping in front of cars after 2 weeks is not going to be suitable long-term for a novice owner regardless of whether he is "fresh" or not being ridden strongly enough, or hacked up and down a lane or whatever.
 
I'm sorry but some of the reponses to this post have really annoyed me! This person has come on here for advice not to be abused and ridiculed by people! Yes, two week is a short time but as someone else has pointed out, a first pony should be able to cope with the move and the new riders and all the other things associated with it. Jesus, not all of us are perfect and know everything (OP, I'm not suggesting for a second you aren't but just trying to get the point across). If it was a pony for a child of mine, I would be worried too based on what has been said here!!!
 
I too agree 2 weeks is not long, & riding up & down a road may well be encouraging him to misbehave. Whether or not to persevere depends on how experienced you & your daughter are & her age. If she's a competent older child, & you're experienced, then I'd say definitely persevere. But if you're relatively novice, your daughters 5 & it was bought as a first pony, then definitely not.
 
As a parent I would be worried too! I regularily have sleepless nights about my son and his new pony, as my prime concern is my son's safety.

Touch wood our new pony hasn't caused us too many problems, but he is a lot more settled 6 weeks into ownership.

We have spent a lot of time doing ground work with him, grooming, lungeing and have now progressed to gentle hacks and short sessions in the school.

The only advice I can give is to take it easy, and maybe ask the previous owner to come and have a look. Also try and find out what is unsettling him - does he have company in the field? Could he be hacked out with a 'nanny'?

What is he being fed? Ours initially had some hard feed as looked a little poor, but have now cut that out completely and is only getting a slice of hay a day until more grass grows.

The one thing that also occured to me is he resenting 'adult weight's' on his back? I know he is a native 13.2hh, but our chap who is a welsh part bred, does struggle a little with my weight (10.5 stone), so make sure I take it gently if I am riding him.

Good luck and have every sympathy x
 
My first reaction is 2 weeks with no exercise and spring grass growing = fresh, pony.
My second reaction is - a first pony bolting and bucking = I don't think so.

It depends on how much you like the pony. See if you can take it for a long ride two days running and then see how it behaves. How much exercise was it getting before you bought it.

I think you need to get back to the previous owner quickly and find out exactly how much work it was doing and who was riding it. If you keep it too long and it still has problems then it wouldn't be easy to send back. Unless you are too heavy for it (and at 13.2 you shouldn't be) or the saddle is uncomfortable, I don't think a pony sold for a first child's pony should buck.
 
I have bought a few and sold a couple of childrens ponies over the years and I would not expect this behavoir from a childs pony and certainly if it bolted with and adult I would be seriously worried. Ring the old owners and see if they will have it back or at least come out and see how it behaves.
Yes its spring and it could be feeling a bit fresh, most of the ponies at early PC rallies put in an odd buck but most hang on to their basic manners. If the pony is like this after two weeks if its just a management handleing issue there time to put it right before the habit gets ingrained and the old owner you would think would have a vested interest in making sure the pony has a settled home.
If they will not help and there is no one who is experienced enough to help get rid quick before your child gets hurt.
To those who think a pony has time to settle, yes I'm a horrible person who takes them to shows/rallies days after I've bought them. You do not expect perfection but you expect basic mannners. You often have to pay a lot of money for a good ordinary childs pony and unless you have the time and the experience to educate one your self you are payiny for the manners it should have.
 
smiggy said:
if i had bought this pony as a first pony for my child i would be horrified. I would expect a first pony to move in and go to a pony club rally the next day if required. Something bolting on the road and bucking off an adult is completely unacceptable in my book, after 2 weeks or 2 hours. Sorry.
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Abslolutely this ^
 
rachy01 said:
Yes this is a serious post! I know that 2 weeks is really such a short space of time, but from what his previous owner told me about him and his personality I really didn't expect this type of problem. I guess I'm expecting too much too soon but I so wanted to get this right, especially for my daughter, and feel I've let her and the pony down somehow :-(
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Hello!

Did you Buy Pony with tack or did you buy new tack? IF new tack- have you (And I Hate To ASK!) Double checked that EVERYTHING is fitting correctly? Saddler in to check new saddle- bridle is OK and You bought same bit that pony wore in previous home?
Did You travel Pony home or did someone else travel pony home?
Have You changed Ponies feed?
Is there a chance that spring grass is now starting to kick in?
(Again- hate to ask) Have you lead pony up and down road a good few times AND past gate so that lane and gateway are nothing special?
Has Pony developed (very quickly) a New Field Friend that Pony does not want to leave?


xXx
 
honetpot said:
To those who think a pony has time to settle, yes I'm a horrible person who takes them to shows/rallies days after I've bought them. You do not expect perfection but you expect basic mannners. You often have to pay a lot of money for a good ordinary childs pony and unless you have the time and the experience to educate one your self you are payiny for the manners it should have.
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Completely agree with you!
 
Echo Bravo said:
Lord it's like taking a 4 year old child to school on their first day and expect them to understand all the rules and abide with them.:(:(:(:(
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No it's not! Not with a first pony for a child. It's like taking someone to a dinner party with your friends who they have never met and them knowing to eat with knife and fork and not their fingers. Ok, so the conversation may not be all that good and they may put their foot in it occationally but they know the basics of what is expected and they know to "use their p's and q's" as my mother would say!
 
Echo bravo- entirely agree if its been sold for a more experienced rider. But if its been sold as a first pony, it is more akin to a teacher, who would be expected to understand & abide all the rules on their first day at a new school.
 
Then I would say the ponies have had lobotomies or you are prepared to pay thousands per pony,seems most of the top riders have had some naughty pony in their lifes that have helped make them the rider they are today.
 
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