New Pony - Update.

[Butterscotch]

This is an update to an earlier thread. Last night I posted the following on the end of original but a member kindly pointed out that it probably would not get seen now as the original thread was so old. Sorry if you've set your preferences to read new posts rather than new threads and get it twice.

One of the most accurate pieces of advice I was given before venturing down the pony acquisition path was "You WILL have teething problems".
Now I'm not sure how to differentiate between teething problems and plain old problems. Pony has been with us for a month now. We have arranged a weekly lesson for daughter on pony with a lovely teacher who comes to pony. First two lessons went well with teacher taking things very slowly and doing a lot of talking to daughter whilst holding on to bridle and mostly walking and a little bit of trot. (Daughter can walk, trot and canter and do small jumps during riding school lessons - sometimes her lessons there are with this same teacher)
Last Monday we went out for our usual hack around one of the fields. Daughter and pony were mostly walking with occasional short trot. On our way home elder daughter encouraged them to trot on again and pony burst into canter and little daughter could just not stop the apparently soft mouthed pony who was making for home. It ended with daughter falling off at the other end of the field. Now daughter has lost trust in riding pony. She got back on the next day and we led her for a short hack. We were looking forward to her lesson on pony the next day to discuss events with teacher.
Next morning we arrived to tack her up in time for lesson. Pony seemed restless, pony was not right. Teacher arrived saw pony and diagnosed colic. Called vet. Pony distressed. Teacher got in stable with pony and stopped her lying down and rearing up. Vet came, confirmed colic and gave her intravenous injection. After ruling out overdose of Panacur wormer that I had given her on the previous Saturday we worked out that colic due to me giving her a new section of paddock with a lot of clover. She had gorged it. Pain subsided but pony paced and tossed in stable very wound up. Vet said turn her out. Reduced the size of her grazing and put her back in paddock. She was not happy about this, raced about the place and jumped the fence (beautifully cleared). We put her back in her section and brought in brother's geldings to graze down the rest of her paddock and stop her jumping out of her section. This worked. She did a lot of flirting and winking with raised tail. She had not been so close to the geldings before now only an electric fence instead of wooden fence.
Thank goodness for teacher and timing, I would not have known when to call vet or what to do or what not to do.
Vet said don't ride her for a couple of days, so we just visited on Thursday and Friday. We were away on Saturday so that brings us up to today. We went to her today with intention of getting now reluctant daughter to go for short ride. Pony seemed quite relaxed in paddock but when led out she was not so. On the yard she was hard to groom - wouldn't keep still. Shook her back leg on picking it.
Scraped the ground with front leg. Pooed three times. We decided against tacking her up and put her back in paddock. Meanwhile I had changed the shape of her section and she trotted very fast and indignantly around it to examine her new space. My brother took out remaining gelding from the rest of her paddock as I wondered whether the close proximity of boy was making her 'marish' (whatever that means) or whether she was in season?
It is not just daughter that is losing confidence, I constantly recall the words of the vendor for reassurance - "never be afraid of her, she is all hot air". So cantering off, injured daughter, thinking I'd poisoned her with wormer, actually 'poisoning' her with clover, in season, tantrums, I still can't get the bit in easily - is everybody OK with this? We are all a bit tired at the moment and I find myself regretting that we didn't go for the lovable slug.
Does anyone have any insight? Please don't say this is all in week's pony owning. (Did I mention I got my toe trodden on...)

Today (Monday): Pony more like her old self, daughter rode her in walk whilst we held a rein. Pony did lean on me with her neck when leading her which was a bit a tiring. When back at the yard she relaxed and enjoyed sponge bath - had messy legs but has had no diarrhea as far as I know, do mares get discharge during season? Am wondering if all problems this week hormonal, even colic? But having had her for a month she should have been in season twice but we have only had problems once.
If we feel pony is exploiting our insecurities how do you actually assert authority and pull rank on her?

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Briefly... if you are happy with your instructors knowledge and expertise, ask her advise, she knows the situation and will see it a lot more clearly than us sitting out here in the ether!

Please bear in mind that a month is not long to settle into a new home, it can take a long long time, or she may be taking the mick. Your daughter coming off may have really frightened the pony, maybe no one has ever come off her before?

And if she leans her neck on you... give her a sharp poke with your knuckle/elbow, she is taking advantage!

 

[AmyMay]

I think you have bitten off more than you can chew. Sounds as if you may have a smashing little pony - ideal as a 2nd or 3rd ride. But not a first pony for very novice owners.

Never got to the bottom of whether she's kept on her own or not. But I would cut your losses and sell the little love.

Go back to having lessons at your local riding school - both you and daughter. She can do the riding and you can both do stable and horse management classes.

Sorry, but I think that the next time you post things will have got progressively worse, and you are in danger of absolutely battering your daughters confidence - and ruining what could be a very good pony to boot.

 

[eahotson]

Another option could be working livery at a GOOD riding school.She will be well looked after, worked regularly which will calm her down a lot and your daughter can have lessons on her or another steadier pony to begin with while she regains confidence.You will still be able to ride/handle the pony independently but with good advice/back up always available.

 

[Butterscotch]

Thanks for these comments and ideas.
Things went really well today. Pony back to sweet self. Looking forward to talking to teacher tomorrow. Has anyone experience of behaviour change and indeed colic in mare during her season? Have been looking at natural remedies available.
Regarding daughter's confidence I am thinking of asking around for an experienced young rider to get to know her and ride her to see if they find it easy to keep her under control in trot. Then we might be able to gage if she has any real potential as a first pony. If she appears easy to manage then this may boost daughter's confidence in her and if she is difficult then at least we would know more than we do now and would be able to confront the situation better informed. Does this seem a good idea?

 

[Jellicle]

just to answer - yes, flirting, winking, discharge and naughtiness can all be associated with being in season. She would go into season about once every three weeks or so in spring and summer, so that is about right. I haven't heard of colic being caused by being in season.

Another young rider sounds like a good idea, and definitely talk to your instructor. I would keep daughter on a lead rein for a while when on hacks as well.