Oh what to do - kids and ponies...

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toffeeyummy

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My daughter is 9. She has this pony who is basically a bit of a sh**t. But she loves him. Generally he's good, but then he'll decide he's done enough for the day and buck her off. But she loves him. He will shy and spook at things and makes her fall off, but trot round a clear round like butter wouldn't melt and so she loves him. He refuses to canter, he pulls faces and nips. But she loves him.
I'm sure she'd have so much more fun on a 'cuddly' pony that actually doesn't take the p*ss out of her or her lovely quiet riding? What to do?! Parents please tell me!!!
 
If he's not affecting her confidence then let her keep him, she'll be a better rider at the end of it because they'll come a time when he won't get her off and she'll become the boss. :)
 
Thank you, think I just need reassurance that I'm not doing the wrong thing letting her keep riding him. It does knock her confidence some days but gets back on and off she goes again :)
 
You are doing fine :)
When she starts looking a bit long on him then if you can afford a 2nd pony, then start looking about for a loaner who can/will do a bit more for her - and then let her ride them alternately so she gets the feel of how one can go a little better than the family thug :D (I love thugs as per yours who is a good-as-gold & a monster:D)
 
He is a thug. We have a bit of a love/hate relationship! She does ride my 15.2 now and then just walking round the field, I actually feel safer when she's on her!
The thing is as well I know she'll just start to master the pony as she's out growing him but luckily she's of the tall but very slim build so will just have hanging legs ;)
 
I agree. My pony as a kid was a ***** to start with but by the time I was 11/12 I could have rode a wild mustang and the pony turned out to be my life until I was 30.
My daughter has had ups & downs with her pony, literally and the first thing I taught her was the 'one rein stop technique'. There were times I got on the pony just so I knew it was taking the mick out of her riding ability. I also put my older niece on her who would stand for no nonsense. Now they have a mutual respect for each other and a deep love.
 
I agree to some extent, but only in the case of a confident child does this kind of pony make the rider. It can ruin the confidence of a more nervous child. My stepson had a pony on loan that had him on the ground so much that he was on the verge of giving up. We swopped him for a safe cob that did so much better for him, and his confidence grew again.

Personally I had a git of a pony that I had to get to grips with, my parents said if that one went I wasn't getting another. Yes I did get there, in fact he taught me more than any instructor I've ever met, but he also left me with doubts coming to a fence that I'd never have known if I'd had a more honest pony..

If I had the option of a difficult pony or an easier, more generous pony, I would always choose a more generous one, especially when they're tiny.

That said, all ponies grow halos as the child is about to grow out of them!
 
The ponies that stand out from my childhood and give me the best memories are the little shits!

It doesn't sound like he is being deliberately dangerous, he's just your typical cheeky pony who knows what he can get away with. Bet you any money the day he doesn't chuck your daughter off will be the day he gives up and does what she tells him :p
 
My son's pony is similiar but he adores it too.

It has a wicked buck and can lack 'manners' but also has many good points, being a very sensible hack and having a scopey jump. He does everything with it including PC and hunting and it always brings him home safely.

At our PC rally yesterday the pony was very 'hot' and the instructor commented on how sympathetically and quietly my son rode it, and was not phased in the slightest when it threw in the odd buck - that made me very proud especially as he is only 10yrs old and only been riding for a year!

If the pony affected my son's confidence, then I would sell it on for something quieter, but it is not and is teaching him loads.
 
I'm reassured by this.My youngest is 7 and very confident,and will ride anything,despite having a run of buckers who dumped her.She has a very sweet,but green pony on loan whom she absolutely adores,and I have a feeling that she'll have plenty of ups and downs with him.Hopefully,if she can ride him,she'll be able to manage anything in future.

My 9 year old has knobberpony, who will run backwards,refuse,kick out if smacked,and will nip given half a chance,but she loves riding he.She is very confident at coping with anything knobberpony flings at her,but doesn't like riding whizzier ponies.

I'm hoping that it is true that difficult ponies make better riders,as that is all I can afford.
 
If its not affecting her confidence, leave her to it. Just before she was 6, my daughter decided she wanted us to keep the rising 4yr old I'd bought out of sympathy as a yearling. We had a fr on loan who was a saint, but she wanted the unbroken pony. At 11.1 & fine she's the only one who's rode it. Pony is naturally very fizzy, she's every inch the opinionated mare, had usual youngster issues. She's the type that has to be kept occupied & thinking, or she'd be off like a rocket. Sharp doesn't begin to go there. Doesn't rear/buck/spook, but to daughters amusement (& I suspect encouragement) does a lovely launch from her hind legs, from halt to gallop. She's also capable of turning on a sixpence, whatever the pace. But, daughter adores her, & says she isn't ever naughty, she just sometimes forgets to be good. God help anyone who says that pony is less than perfect in her presence. She's now just turned 8, & I have to admit, they're a perfect match. Both are as opinionated, speedy & mischievous as each other. She has a bum like glue, she's a rider, not a passenger at all, & has bags of confidence, nothing phases her. And although pony will always be a whizzy second pony, she's done a cracking job of schooling her, so its boosted her confidence in her ability too, if she wouldn't give up on her, I doubt anything will put her off. Early on I used to try bribing her with more suitable ponies but she wouldn't give in, & with hindsight I'm so glad. Only thing I will say is she also had my schoolmistress 14.2 to ride, not for confidence boosts, but so her own progress wasn't slowed. I think if the child is happy & safe, leave them to it. My schoolmistress is my former less than perfect childhood pony, she's good as gold now, but we were the making of each other, she's been a massive influence on my life, horsey & otherwise. And I suspect the reason I've always been confident.
A perfect pony is one thats perfect for your child, even if they aren't anybody else's idea of perfect.
 
My daughter used to ride a SecA that had been on loan to 2 girls who just let her do what she wanted, so she chucked them off (buck or swerve left and drop shoulder) and ate the grass. She used to have my daughter off regularly but she persevered, we had help with a good instructor and a Daisy rein, and the pony ended up good as gold, and they had great fun together for a few months till she really was truly outgrown. Pony has not forgotten how to behave with daughter when she is riodden every now and then - much to daughter's disgust as she thinks little pony bucks are cute!
 
Thanks for all your thoughts. It does dent her confidence but she is so adamant that he's not going. When I mentioned going to look at other ponies she looked at me in such horror, as if I'd completely betrayed her pony and then burst into tears. I think we will just have to persevere. She attends pony club, loves it he's one of the naughty pony but she always says she has a brilliant time. Looks like I'm stuck with the little ****** then :-/
 
It is also a matter of safety imo - my son's pony knows not to 'cross the line' however carried away he gets (!).

However if I felt he was capable of hurting my child then it would be gone, however attached my son was too it, end of.
 
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