Older rider - naughty pony

[MazzMac]

Hello all.. Hoping you can help me out.. I'm 60 years young and have been riding for many a year, but on and off, only as an adult and only lessons... I'm not a novice, but I'm certainly not experieced or hugely confident. And I'm a Big Nervous Nellie since a very bad fall a few years ago.
Last year I decided it was time to get back to riding and also learn to be around horses in a more holistic way and a friendly riding school very kindly taught me to groom, hoof pick, lead into and out of fields, basic safety, tacking up, etc etc.. really great for my confidence.
I then got the opportunity to livery share a cob which was ok at first, but I think he was too much horse for me at 5yrs, with little schooling and not much manners, but I persevered, had lessons on him but he leapfrogged in the arena, I went flying and broke my arm...confidence dented.
We parted company anyway as the owner changed yard, so just went back to weekly lessons on a school horse.

So, now comes my reason for the post; I now have a super little Fell Pony/Cob X to ride as much as I want belonging to a very knowlegeable, extermely helpful and generous horseowner, but who is a fearless rider who doesnt know the meaning of nervousness..!

This pony is 17, but very forward going, which I like, and a real trooper, fun to ride and willing when he's not being a pig..! true to breed, can be a tank, stubborn and grumpy. He's bolted (but IS pull-upable eventually!)with me a few times out on hacks when he spots a short cut home and even in the arena, gets nappy near the gate at times.

I've had time over the summer to do some groundwork and getting to know him, do a bit of schooling and had a few lessons on him, but I know I'm very inexperienced at all that and I really do worry about him taking off on me. He rides in a pelham and I only have a second rein when out hacking as a safety net, but I hate that I might pull him too much in the heat of the moment.

He's very smart and of course knws I'm nervous AND inexperienced. I'm mad about him, and I've even had a go at some simple low jumps which he loves and I never thought I'd ever do again..! I'd love to be able to handle him more confidently especially as I've signed up for a Level 1Trec event in a couple of weeks..EEEK..!!

How do I manage this little Imp..???

Thanks in advance...

 

[Booboos]

How helpful are your lessons? A good instructor should help guide you through sitting up and half-halting to regain control in case where the pony takes off, as well as how to ride forwards and positively when going past the gate. An instructor can give you a lesson on a hack as well to deal with issues that only arise there.

If he does play up and try to take off with you do take a pull on the second rein, that is what it's there for. It's better for him to realise that sort of behaviour will not be tolerated right at the start than to allow things to escalate.

 

[Barnacle]

I think knowing how to deal with those little issues comes with experience but you can also work on him from a behavioural standpoint instead of trying to deal with the outcome of the behaviour after the fact.

Particularly the tendency to tank off towards home (I wouldn't call that bolting) is a fairly typical thing horses will try on with people they feel might not be able to manage it... But there are many things you can do to discourage the habit. One is to never, ever go fast towards home. Canters should be reserved for when you are heading out and if there's a nice stretch on a circular route, go towards home in walk, turn around, canter back, and walk down again. It may feel silly but it will make a huge difference over time - provided everyone who rides him does this as well. If the horse does take off towards home, if you can, keep him going but turn away from the direction he wants to go in. Alternatively, stop, turn, and trot back the way you came. If every time the horse takes off towards home the outcome is that it gets forced to work and move away from where it wants to go, it'll eventually work out that it doesn't pay to tank off.

As for napping at the gate, free schooling in the school past the gate would fix this. It would also make him more sensitive to your voice commands which can be a huge help with a nappy horse that goes dead to the leg and plants. You may want to enlist some help (someone willing to do some running around) for your first session.

 

[applecart14]

One is to never, ever go fast towards home. Canters should be reserved for when you are heading out and if there's a nice stretch on a circular route, go towards home in walk, turn around, canter back, and walk down again. It may feel silly but it will make a huge difference over time - provided everyone who rides him does this as well. .

Very good advice!