PNew Pony

[Bobthecob15]

If she just rushed off when the foot was in the stirrup, I wouldn't describe that as an explosion at all. For now, I'd probably just ensure you are holding her when your daughter gets on.

It could be settling in and testing the boundaries, it could be hunger if the grass isn't very good, it could be the lack of turnout. It could be the move has stressed her and given her ulcers. It could be another health issue in play. It can take a long time for ponies to settle in new homes.

I am very unconvinced by the lunging every time someone is getting on- if you're doing it for long enough to really take the edge off her, it's very likely it will be making her fitter too- a bit of a vicious cycle. Could an experienced child or lightweight person ride her and see if she actually does anything when they get straight on?

I would try to keep her work varied and interesting.

I agree with this but also understand how hard it is if you’ve not got someone else who can get on first, have been in this situation! Definitely recommend keeping work varied and interesting, ponies are devils for misbehaving when they get bored!

 

[Wishfilly]

I agree with this but also understand how hard it is if you’ve not got someone else who can get on first, have been in this situation! Definitely recommend keeping work varied and interesting, ponies are devils for misbehaving when they get bored!

Yes, I agree it can be hard to find a small brave rider! Maybe the instructor friend knows someone?

 

[Quigleyandme]

You seem knowledgeable and very caring. I’m glad you’re getting the saddle checked again. Cobs can be tricky to fit and it could just be the saddle needs some adjustment or a different girthing arrangement. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[Newpony2023]

If she just rushed off when the foot was in the stirrup, I wouldn't describe that as an explosion at all. For now, I'd probably just ensure you are holding her when your daughter gets on.

It could be settling in and testing the boundaries, it could be hunger if the grass isn't very good, it could be the lack of turnout. It could be the move has stressed her and given her ulcers. It could be another health issue in play. It can take a long time for ponies to settle in new homes.

I am very unconvinced by the lunging every time someone is getting on- if you're doing it for long enough to really take the edge off her, it's very likely it will be making her fitter too- a bit of a vicious cycle. Could an experienced child or lightweight person ride her and see if she actually does anything when they get straight on?

I would try to keep her work varied and interesting.

Yes and we are looking at all the above too.

So she is lunged to knock the little edge over her. However an older more competent child has been riding her for 1st half of lesson and then my daughter for the second. This is working well too and we continue to do this. Just while more daughter gets a little more educated.

Thank you again for you advice.

 

[Newpony2023]

You seem knowledgeable and very caring. I’m glad you’re getting the saddle checked again. Cobs can be tricky to fit and it could just be the saddle needs some adjustment or a different girthing arrangement. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Thank you.

We are trying everything cos she is a cracking pony, just something not suiting her at the moment and we are trying to eliminate each thing and see what works best.

All trial and error but we will get there

Thank you

 

[Highmileagecob]

Is it possible to do some ground work in the school, with your daughter leading her? Nothing complicated, just walking from A to B, walking round in a circle, walk up the school and back again with plenty of encouragement and neck rubs for the pony when it comes right. Just to build that friendship bond, and get that ears forward smug pony expression when they know you are pleased with them. Maybe ten minutes at the end of a lesson just to change the tempo. I don't know how old your daughter is, but can she take on board the importance of staying calm and trying not to let her heart rate rise?

 

[Newpony2023]

Is it possible to do some ground work in the school, with your daughter leading her? Nothing complicated, just walking from A to B, walking round in a circle, walk up the school and back again with plenty of encouragement and neck rubs for the pony when it comes right. Just to build that friendship bond, and get that ears forward smug pony expression when they know you are pleased with them. Maybe ten minutes at the end of a lesson just to change the tempo. I don't know how old your daughter is, but can she take on board the importance of staying calm and trying not to let her heart rate rise?

Thank you for this.

My daughter does a lot of ground work with her and few weeks ago did her first in hand show at our livery yard. The pony was amazing! My daughter is only 10, but is very good with her. She has a good understanding and is gentle and calm. She never pins ears whilst working or whilst in hand. Generally just through moodiness in stable.

The turn out definitely is making a difference for sure. I have contacted previous owner to look at what her days pretty much looked like previously, I’m aware we are entering winter now so things likely to change and I get that.

Will keep you posted and hopefully things become better as we start to get things right for her.

Thanks again

 

[Newpony2023]

Thank you for this.

My daughter does a lot of ground work with her and few weeks ago did her first in hand show at our livery yard. The pony was amazing! My daughter is only 10, but is very good with her. She has a good understanding and is gentle and calm. She never pins ears whilst working or whilst in hand. Generally just through moodiness in stable.

The turn out definitely is making a difference for sure. I have contacted previous owner to look at what her days pretty much looked like previously, I’m aware we are entering winter now so things likely to change and I get that.

Will keep you posted and hopefully things become better as we start to get things right for her.

Thanks again

Some photos of them a few weeks ago at their first show.

Pony was an absolute saint. Absolutely brilliant. Couldn’t fault her at all.

 

[AmyMay]

Some photos of them a few weeks ago at their first show.

Pony was an absolute saint. Absolutely brilliant. Couldn’t fault her at all.

She is absolutely gorgeous

 

[Newpony2023]

She is absolutely gorgeous

She really is. Absolutely cracking little pony, just gotta things right for her

 

[Wishfilly]

Yes and we are looking at all the above too.

So she is lunged to knock the little edge over her. However an older more competent child has been riding her for 1st half of lesson and then my daughter for the second. This is working well too and we continue to do this. Just while more daughter gets a little more educated.

Thank you again for you advice.

She looks like a lovely pony, and I can understand wanting to be cautious if she is forward. However, I also think it would be really good if your daughter could try riding him from the start of the lesson.

I have a lovely cob cross who is a very "busy" type- when you get on he just wants to get going! However, there is no malice in him at all, he just wants to walk around and start doing his job! However, he is also very sensitive to mood, and (I know some people will think this is anthropomorphising) but he does also pick up on it when people are tense or don't trust him.

I would ask the older child- if they are willing, to get on and not "ride" too hard to see what your pony does. If your daughter is able to get on the pony and just have a nice chilled session, maybe solely in walk, I do think that could help change the associations he currently has with the school.

Are they able to hack with you on foot? Lots of walk hacking could also be great for building the partnership.

 

[Newpony2023]

She looks like a lovely pony, and I can understand wanting to be cautious if she is forward. However, I also think it would be really good if your daughter could try riding him from the start of the lesson.

I have a lovely cob cross who is a very "busy" type- when you get on he just wants to get going! However, there is no malice in him at all, he just wants to walk around and start doing his job! However, he is also very sensitive to mood, and (I know some people will think this is anthropomorphising) but he does also pick up on it when people are tense or don't trust him.

I would ask the older child- if they are willing, to get on and not "ride" too hard to see what your pony does. If your daughter is able to get on the pony and just have a nice chilled session, maybe solely in walk, I do think that could help change the associations he currently has with the school.

Are they able to hack with you on foot? Lots of walk hacking could also be great for building the partnership.

Brilliant thank you very much for that again.

So we have done this, getting her to walk, which she finds hard. She just wants to get going, however nothing nasty or with malice like you said.

She’s been out much more last couple days and been so much better. Today been a bad one where we are and no one turned out. But when we went back up this afternoon, we put her out on a large L shape field for a run around whilst we mucked out. She had a great time and was caught easily come in and was spot on.

Just trying to get the balance right.

Thanks again for your advice

 

[Wishfilly]

Brilliant thank you very much for that again.

So we have done this, getting her to walk, which she finds hard. She just wants to get going, however nothing nasty or with malice like you said.

She’s been out much more last couple days and been so much better. Today been a bad one where we are and no one turned out. But when we went back up this afternoon, we put her out on a large L shape field for a run around whilst we mucked out. She had a great time and was caught easily come in and was spot on.

Just trying to get the balance right.

Thanks again for your advice

No problem at all! I may be wrong but she sounds in many ways like my boy!

In retrospect, he took a long time to settle with me, but he had also moved at least 5 times by the time I got him and he was 7. We are now 3 years down the line and he is much happier and relaxed and therefore much easier in a lot of ways. The first time I took him hacking with another horse, he literally jogged the whole way around the block, purely through tension- it is a work in progress to try and teach him to relax and some days is better than others.

When I first got him, he behaved in ways you might describe as "bolshy" but in retrospect I think were fuelled by tension/anxiety. Even now if there is something he is not happy with, he will go "through" his handler to get away.

He does still like to get going relatively quickly- he is never going to be a horse who will stand around waiting for ages, particularly if he is being ridden on his own. If I walk him around, and do a quick trot in the school, he will normally settle nicely now BUT I accept this is very easy for me to say as an adult with a reasonable amount of experience riding forward ponies, even if I am very much not the bravest.

I would do all the standard checks, but I think given time and horsey company and just time to get to know you guys, you will probably find she relaxes and accepts your boundaries.

I also do get the difficulty of not wanting to damage your daughter's confidence at this stage!

 

[Newpony2023]

No problem at all! I may be wrong but she sounds in many ways like my boy!

In retrospect, he took a long time to settle with me, but he had also moved at least 5 times by the time I got him and he was 7. We are now 3 years down the line and he is much happier and relaxed and therefore much easier in a lot of ways. The first time I took him hacking with another horse, he literally jogged the whole way around the block, purely through tension- it is a work in progress to try and teach him to relax and some days is better than others.

When I first got him, he behaved in ways you might describe as "bolshy" but in retrospect I think were fuelled by tension/anxiety. Even now if there is something he is not happy with, he will go "through" his handler to get away.

He does still like to get going relatively quickly- he is never going to be a horse who will stand around waiting for ages, particularly if he is being ridden on his own. If I walk him around, and do a quick trot in the school, he will normally settle nicely now BUT I accept this is very easy for me to say as an adult with a reasonable amount of experience riding forward ponies, even if I am very much not the bravest.

I would do all the standard checks, but I think given time and horsey company and just time to get to know you guys, you will probably find she relaxes and accepts your boundaries.

I also do get the difficulty of not wanting to damage your daughter's confidence at this stage!

Thanks again

Yep I do think she will come round as we progress further forward getting to know one and other.

To be fair my daughter is more confident riding her, than I am watching. I’m way more cautious cos it’s my little girl. But we will get there

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Lovely looking pony!
Rather than you lunging the pony before your daughter gets on, could your daughter do some in-hand work with her, just to establish in both their minds that daughter is in charge?

 

[Newpony2023]

Lovely looking pony!
Rather than you lunging the pony before your daughter gets on, could your daughter do some in-hand work with her, just to establish in both their minds that daughter is in charge?

Something willing to try for sure.