New Pony

[Dolliememe]

My little 7 yr old recently got a new pony who is fab, well behaved good stable manners etc but my daughter has become really nervous riding him through no fault of the ponies. We used to loan a pony who she had bags of confidence, She spent every hour with her old pony even if she wasn't riding her she would be sat in the stable reading her stories. Does Anyone have any ideas for bonding and confidence giving games i could do to fetch her closer to her new pony. Thank you

 

[be positive]

If the pony is good on the lunge then you can do loads with your daughter, riding with no reins doing exercises while walking and trotting should help with confidence, off the lunge, use a lead if she needs support and set up some handy pony type obstacles, use your imagination it doesn't have to be by the book as long as whatever you do is safe and helps build confidence, the more interesting the exercise the less your daughter will be thinking about the pony as she will have to concentrate of what she is doing.
Rising trot, no reins trying to rub her tummy or pat her head can end up with giggles and totally forgetting what they were worried about, even at walk it can be a challenge to coordinate certain moves, Simple Simon says is useful, they love to catch out the caller and concentrate on that more than what the pony is doing.

It is probably not the pony just a fear of the unknown, given time as long as the pony is good she will come round and move on.

 

[showpony]

Hi OP - ah its probably because new pony just isn't the same as loan pony
I would get them doing loads of in hand stuff, leading in & out of small obstacle course ( weaving in & out of blocks, walk between a chute, up over trotting poles etc which once confident doing from the ground you can repeat with her in the saddle! )
Do you ride yourself??? If you have an arena could you give her a lead??
Also have her groom before every session so she is being as hands on with the pony as possible
If pony is really well behaved you could teach her how to lunge aswell - Mini who is 8 is learning to lunge her pony at the moment & working on just walk & trot lunging him and teaching him voice commands which she is putting in practice then in the saddle .