New sharers, advice please?

Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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I have just got a lovely new sharer for my pony, she is a 10 year old girl fresh out of riding school so very novicey but the pony really looks after her and they (her mum is helping as the girl struggles with some things, like the saddle) are very keen to learn. The girl is quite quiet and not very confident yet but is getting there as each day passes.
The question I have is this, whilst the pony is generally a total sweetheart the spring grass is (hopefully!) just around the corner and like most horses my pony can be a bit of an arse for a few weeks. Should I just warn the sharers that he may be a bit fresh (he can be spooky, and being a cob he can also be quite strong), or give them a couple of weeks off (unpaid) until the pony settles down again? I will be working him quite hard on my days anyway as I need him fit and he is the type who needs a lot of work to keep his weight down. They ride Fridays and Saturdays and I can work him the other 4/5 days which may help with the freshness?

What do you think I should do?
 
Hi,

I've got a cob too so looking forward (!!) to the Spring Grass! I'd be honest with them and give them the choice.

They might find after a week they want a few weeks off, or they might find they cope well.

T x
 
I'm just not sure they will be able to understand what I mean when I say "he's a bit fresh and on his toes" and I really see her coming off him - she's never had a fall and I don't want to put her off!
 
No she needs to experience what he's like all the time not just the good days. Maybe she could come up and not ride and watch you or your there when she does ride.
 
showpony said:
Possibly ask the mum to lunge before daughter rides ?
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Not an option I'm afraid, mum hasn't been near a horse since childhood, and again was at a riding school. They are completely novice. They can now tack up competently and rug/groom etc as I have been there with them for the last couple of weeks but now I'm 'turning them loose', so to speak. My YO has kindly agreed to keep half an eye on them and I will soon be available on their days if they need me to come up and help.

ETA: I'm on part livery so there are no stable duties involved.
 
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You could teach mum to lunge?
Broke_But_Happy said:
Not an option I'm afraid, mum hasn't been near a horse since childhood, and again was at a riding school. They are completely novice. They can now tack up competently and rug/groom etc as I have been there with them for the last couple of weeks but now I'm 'turning them loose', so to speak. My YO has kindly agreed to keep half an eye on them and I will soon be available on their days if they need me to come up and help.

ETA: I'm on part livery so there are no stable duties involved.
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Had similar problems, 11 year old riding school sharer, novice mum, easy pony but with her quirks when she wanted to. I would tell them he might be a bit full of beans and when you sense he's getting a bit full of it then hop on pony before the sharer, let her see what he does and then let her get on with you there. Or you could start by lunging her on him yourself (while teaching the mum). If shes happy and capable on him then let her ride first. Then you can move on to letting them ride without you there. Obviously you want them to be able to cope with him on their own but it might help for you to just show them and teach them what they need to do. It'll take them some time to get the hang of having a pony outside of lessons and it'll give them (and him) a comfort blanket if youthere at the start. If you don't tell her he might be tricky then you're letting yourself in for problems if he does misbehave and throw her
 
Spencer93 said:
Had similar problems, 11 year old riding school sharer, novice mum, easy pony but with her quirks when she wanted to. I would tell them he might be a bit full of beans and when you sense he's getting a bit full of it then hop on pony before the sharer, let her see what he does and then let her get on with you there. Or you could start by lunging her on him yourself (while teaching the mum). If shes happy and capable on him then let her ride first. Then you can move on to letting them ride without you there. Obviously you want them to be able to cope with him on their own but it might help for you to just show them and teach them what they need to do. It'll take them some time to get the hang of having a pony outside of lessons and it'll give them (and him) a comfort blanket if youthere at the start. If you don't tell her he might be tricky then you're letting yourself in for problems if he does misbehave and throw her
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Thanks :) I have been there with them for a few days now, and they have gone from not knowing how to take off/put on a rug, let alone tack up on day one, to doing the lot themselves on day 2. I made it very clear that at some point she is going to come off him, and they are well aware that no horse is 100% and seem very switched on and serious about the whole thing. If the child was the confident type I wouldn't be as hesitant about it, however she isn't confident and she knows that mum stopped riding because of an accident. She's a cracking kid and I just don't want her to be put off, she's quiet with naturally good hands and seat and could be a lovely rider in time.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
Thanks :) I have been there with them for a few days now, and they have gone from not knowing how to take off/put on a rug, let alone tack up on day one, to doing the lot themselves on day 2. I made it very clear that at some point she is going to come off him, and they are well aware that no horse is 100% and seem very switched on and serious about the whole thing. If the child was the confident type I wouldn't be as hesitant about it, however she isn't confident and she knows that mum stopped riding because of an accident. She's a cracking kid and I just don't want her to be put off, she's quiet with naturally good hands and seat and could be a lovely rider in time.
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The girl who loaned mine fell off the first time she rode my mare :) Pony just dropped out through her shoulder in canter and off she went. And this girl was not a quiet type, over confident and definitely not a natural, she thought she knew it all but boy did she cry after that fall. She had been on 'pony club' at the riding school we were stabled at, which was supposed to teach you all about looking after a pony but she didn't have a clue. When she tried her I gave her the bridle to put on and she had no idea. Took me 3 months to teach her the correct way to pick out feet. But she stuck with it and after loaning for 2 years and becoming a good friend, she bought my girl and they had a great time together before I bought her back. Kids of that age do bounce back. It sounds like the people you have got are great so stick with it! I'm guessing as a kid you must have had your fair share of falls and difficult ponies. That's the way kids learn. As long as you are there and give them all the support you can then I see no reason why you'll have any problems. Personally I think its great to give riding school kids an experience of 'real' ponies. Maybe he'll be a bit tricky for a while but I reckon she'll learn a lot with you and your boy and you'll be glad of that.
 
I did, but then I was a ballsy kid who would sit on anything. She isn't :/ I will have a chat with them closer to the time, it may be that the she (the 10 year old) will pick riding up just as quickly as the grooming/tacking up, in which case it may no longer be an issue. Bear in mind when I say 'riding school novice' I mean walk and trot only, she had her first ever canter 2 days ago, with me at the end of the lunge line.
 
They do pick it up so fast. As long as you're there and giving them support then it should work out fine. If you were expecting them just to get on with it on their own then it might well be over-horsing her. I guess as long as you're happy to be a part time teacher for 6 months or so to get her to a standard you are happy to be riding your boy?
 
They have the offer of fortnightly lessons with my YO who is an AI and very good, and will see how they feel as to whether they want to take her up on it just yet. I think she is happy just pootling about at the moment, she just wants a pony, any pony, bless her! And currently I am happy with them, hence them now being on their own as pony is really looking after her and I have been stepping back slowly. As time goes on and she wants to move up to the next level then she may take the lessons up.
 
Some kids bounce back after a fall some don't
You have a month or so before you have to worry so I would wait and decide nearer the time
Explain it's like having too many sweets and getting ADHD

You may decide its best for her not to even see how cheeky he can be during the transition (if it's really jykle and Hyde) However you would need to tell them in case he has more spring in his step
 
Sounds just like the boy I have on full loan, he's the first pony I'd ever ridden, and until recently the only (been riding ayear and a half now)

I had a bit of a shock last spring when he suddenly got very jolly and started to buck a fair bit, but I genuinely believe it teaches you more. Luckily I managed to stay on (his owners fore-warned me about his springtime energy boosts so they were expected!) but it still shook me up- having said that, I'm no child

I would give them the choice, as mother and child not just the mother. Although yes, she could get hurt, unfortunately horse riding makes that inevitable. So why not now rather than later?
 
I would wait until nearer the time and then have a chat with them both together. Give them some options and be around a bit more. Your boy might actually be better for a child or she might have improved a lot by then, but you can always take the edge off him first for those few weeks.
 
Nothing constructive to add - other than you sound like a fantastic person to share with! it's great you've given them this opportunity as many would dismiss because of age/experience.

I'd imagine her confidence will come on leaps and bounds in the next couple of weeks so I would wait until nearer the time.
 
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