Pony bolted pulling tyre - will she ever drive? Absolutely gutted.

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Charmin

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No words can explain how gutted I currently am.

Been breaking pony to drive since Christmas. Everything has been going swimmingly, she's been pulling a tyre since early March and we were planning to put her to in two weeks.

However today my mum took her out with dad there, going down the track past the fields pulling tyre. She's done this many times before and has always been fine, so there was no reason for worry.

Suddenly she reared up and refused to walk on, she was told firmly to walk in but she whipped around and bolted, mum had to let go. Then (as she had blinkers on) she didn't see the corner of a fence and went through it, tyre got stuck and she was brought to a halt where she allowed herself to be caught.

Pony is okay, some small scratches. Mum is really shaken up. The thing is, this is my pony of a lifetime (we bred her ourselves) and driving was how mum was going to keep her in work and fit whilst I was at uni. We can't justify having such a talented pony doing nothing for 3 years!

So, is there anyone who's recovered from something like this? Mum is really shaken up and wants to give up and sell everything. But we've come so far and she's been so good up until now that I'm hesitant to. Is it worth continuing or is it a lost cause? Will she always remember this? Where do we go from here?

Thanks :o
 
She got somethnig wrong once!? Take a step back, perhaps your mum wasn't concentrating (no harm in that, I rarely do) and something spooked the pony.
Could you not send her to a professional to break? As there were two people there could one not have walked to her head and led her past the stopping point?
 
I know nothing about teaching a horse to drive but, like with teaching them to be ridden, I think many people have moments like this. I don't know if you have done this before so know what you're doing but it could still be worth having someone else to help maybe. I wouldn't dwell on what happened. Obviously something worried her but you need to put it behind you, maybe take her back a few steps?
 
Theres a video on y tube that shows pony being re educated for same problem. the guy that is re educating had him walking in and over tyres.:)
I absolutely sympathise as I have young horse that was allowed to run and he thinks its right way of going,hes now off being backed professionally.
 
Without sounding mean, I think you're all being a bit dramatic about this incident. These things happen and I am sure you can overcome it :-)
 
one of our young horses once bolted in the park but it was a one off, he never did it again. if I remember right it was a group of strange horses that spooked him. Lots of horses have an off day, put it behind you.
 
Thanks for your replies.

Have shown mum them. The thing is she says she has lost her confidence and doesn't want to risk her whipping around and bolting in carriage. She's wirrued about her doing it on hacks and running into a car or something! Pony when younger used to plant on hacks, but never spun around, just stood there idly. She's overcome this and hacks around the industrial estate by herself without batting an eyelid. When I'm there pony is fab, but I'm quite confident with her and have produced her from a baby so know when to just tell her to get on with it and stop being stupid.

Dad is new to horses and was a little slow to react, also the rear scared him and he just wasn't quick enough to her head.

We've been having lessons off a professional, pulling the tyre is now routine and we're confident doing it. Apparently the horses were all out (the track is a fenced off path running between the two fields) and she stopped, not wanting to leave them. They were all galloping around as well which probably didn't help!

I'm unsure how to progress. I know pony isn't malicious and will probably forgive and forget, and will be okay to put to carriage. However mum would have to be confident enough to take her on the roads without me there.
 
Can you not go back a few steps and remove the blinkers so that the pony can see what it's pulling. Maybe it will be reassured? Youngsters do have the occasional moments but it doesn't mean that it is setting a precedent for the future.

I reckon it is your mum that needs to go back a few steps rather than the pony.... I had a nasty accident last year and when I started riding again, I had my husband leading me... then I progressed to unclipping for short periods and then longer and longer. It was all about me not the pony who was as good as gold.....
 
I know when horses do unexpected things to their normal behaviour then it can shock you and knock your confidence however they are not machines and as animal with a brain to think for themselves they will spook, bolt, bite kick etc etc...they might only ever do it once in their lives but there is no such thing as a 100% horse.
If your mum allows this one bad thing in an otherwise good pony put her off then maybe it's best done now before a carriage was introduced.
Hopefully you can put it own to a incident that you can learn from and have another go?
Perhaps you could get some professional help to help your mum build her confidence back up otherwise maybe suggest in hand showing whilst your at uni?
 
It sounds like your mum isn't confident and your dad is a beginner. I think with this situation it would be better to have only you or a professional breaking the pony to drive, while your mum and dad have some lessons, instead of trying to teach the pony when they themselves are unsure. I don't think this incident will have upset the pony too much but I wouldn't think it would be wise to risk it happening too frequently
 
Get the pony away to a professional to get the job done then get your mum there To have lessons on an older pony and then with your young one.
 
I had a professional break my pony to drive even though I had the pony for years and he had hunted, PC and was excellent in traffic. He did really well and was doing cone work when he left but I was never really confident driving him and decided rather than mess him up I would leave it.
Its such a different discipline, you wouldn't put a novice rider on a newly broken pony. The pony won't know its being wasted if this doesn't work out.
 
One mistake will not undo all your good work - just take it back a step and move on from there.

I broke my (unbroken) shettie to drive and in a moment of carelessness (my fault) he bogged off round the field with the empty trap that eventually tipped over. I just took him back a few stages and built back up and he never put a foot wrong again.

However, if your mum is nervous, she won't give the pony the certainty he needs - I am fairly relaxed and confidence giving, in general.
 
I would really recommend getting professional help, especially if Mum has lost confidence. I can recommend a really good person if you PM me. He has really helped with one of the ponies I drive and is soooooo patient with them.
It does however depend on what part of the country you are of course.
 
I have a friend whose dad takes on unbroken baby ponies and problem horses for rideing. However, He breaks all of them to drive first and I mean all breeds, including pure Arabs!

He is very old fashioned in his ways and suprising with his problem solving, but he's a professional, knows his stuff, is über confident and the man I'd go too if I wanted a horse broken and schooled to a high degree.

Don't give up, but maybe seek other advice from an old pro.

Good luck.
 
Thanks all.

We've been having help off a pro, however she's an older lady wanting a quieter life and I think has no time for those who may be a little more difficult. She's come out and we've had lessons, mum and dad were fine, pony has done the track several times. It just so happened that today was doomsday, when I wasn't there! Typical :o

We're North Wales/Cheshire if anybody knows anyone around here? Finding them seems to be like gold dust!

Mum's been having lessons on an older pro shetland, however I think it was just the shock of today. Ruby on the ground's pretty solid to handle, so when she has a sharp moment it's a shock to the system. I've suggested trying pony again and she's a bit all over the place so I might leave it and try again later.
 
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