Pony planting when being led

[I don’t like mondays]

We’ve had my daughters pony a good few months and he’s a super. chap. My daughter (10) insists on doing everything herself, however she’s not the most firm/assertive handler ? (drives me mad!! She won’t let me tell her how to do things or help)

Our pony has started planting when walking onto the yard (in hand), he also planted today coming back from a hack (when my daughter was leading him back to the yard). He just refuses to move for her. He didn’t plant when being ridden on the hack today and is happy/forward when ridden in the school too. Also on the yard he prefers to stand on the grass rather than the concrete of the tie up area. My question is, could this planting be pain related? He’s not a particularly cheeky pony in general which is making me think he could be trying to tell us something? Equally my daughter isn’t the most firm handler!! She’s totally confident with him but won’t be assertive

We’ve got the dentist and saddle fitter in the new year, plus I’m keeping an eye on his hocks (he’s 20 and some days looks stiff at the start of a ride but eases up)

if it’s a handling issue, I’m thinking of getting my daughter to watch some TRT videos to learn basic groundwork (because she won’t listen to me!)
thanks

 

[AmyMay]

Get a little vet check on him.

But does he move for you?

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Get a little vet check on him.

But does he move for you?

He’s a bit reluctant with me but does move
ETA I only get to lead him once he’s planted and my daughter can’t move him. I think I’ll try bringing him onto the yard once she’s back at school. Also will get vet to have a look ?

 

[splashgirl45]

someone i knew was determined to ride her pony without shoes, he started napping and she got people to chase him etc.....she had got his shoes taken off as soon as she got him and kept riding even though his feet had worn down alot. eventually she got the farrier and as soon as he had shoes on he went back to bein g the pony she tried. yours sounds like he may have sore feet or maybe starting laminitis so i would get the vet to check him over especially as he prefers to stand on the softer ground

 

[Equi]

Is the entrance to the yard stony? What is the pony fed? Has he a history or of laminitis or other hoove issues? Shod or bare?

 

[I don’t like mondays]

someone i knew was determined to ride her pony without shoes, he started napping and she got people to chase him etc.....she had got his shoes taken off as soon as she got him and kept riding even though his feet had worn down alot. eventually she got the farrier and as soon as he had shoes on he went back to bein g the pony she tried. yours sounds like he may have sore feet or maybe starting laminitis so i would get the vet to check him over especially as he prefers to stand on the softer ground

Thanks Splash girl. I’d hate him to be in pain and trying to tell us by occasionally planting. I was wondering about Lami- he doesn’t have a pulse or hot hooves so nothing obvious so probably worth seeing if the vet can find anything (this could explain the shortened gait when he’s warming up which I assumed was hocks/age). Good point about shoes, he’s only got fronts on at the moment so was planning on getting his backs out back on this week, hopefully they could help (or rule that out if it doesn’t)

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Is the entrance to the yard stony? What is the pony fed? Has he a history or of laminitis or other hoove issues? Shod or bare?

No history of lami or weight issues. He has fronts on, took his backs off a few months back. The planting had happened the past few weeks. He’s fed non molassed chaff, blue chip senior bal, half a cup of linseed.
The hacking is stony but entrance to yard isn’t

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It honestly sounds tome as if you both need to be more assertifve.What do you mean, she won't let you? She's 10,tell her what you are going to do, don't ask her! She and the pony and their safety is your responsibility because she isn't old enough to be responsible for either of them, so you have to be.

However a vet check would be a good idea to rule out any pain,especially as youknow his hocks could be dodgy.

 

[Equi]

No history of lami or weight issues. He has fronts on, took his backs off a few months back. The planting had happened the past few weeks. He’s fed non molassed chaff, blue chip senior bal, half a cup of linseed.
The hacking is stony but entrance to yard isn’t

With it being so wet lately i wouldn't be surprised if his back feet are a bit soft now and feeling the bareness. The hocks could also be an issue and if he has a lack of support at the back this could make it worse. Have the vet and farrier both check him out. Vet first though.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

It honestly sounds tome as if you both need to be more assertifve.What do you mean, she won't let you? She's 10,tell her what you are going to do, don't ask her! She and the pony and their safety is your responsibility because she isn't old enough to be responsible for either of them, so you have to be.

However a vet check would be a good idea to rule out any pain,especially as youknow his hocks could be dodgy.

When I say “she won’t let me” it’s a bit tongue in cheek tbh. A bit like why people don’t teach their kids to drive (or teach them to ride as they get older). It’s not a safety issue at this stage- the pony is planting (in a safe enclosed area not a road, he’s not spinning or rearing, he stands there and looks like he could fall asleep). I want her to learn to do things herself (but equally if it’s not safe or not working I do step in).

just wanted to get an idea of whether this type of behaviour could well be pain in peoples experience because my gut says it is. I’m now paranoid about behaviour= pain because my late horse was in pain (I tried to always listen to him) but I carry that guilt with me

 

[I don’t like mondays]

With it being so wet lately i wouldn't be surprised if his back feet are a bit soft now and feeling the bareness. The hocks could also be an issue and if he has a lack of support at the back this could make it worse. Have the vet and farrier both check him out. Vet first though.

That’s a very good point, thank you. The farrier is due tomorrow anyway so I’ll ask him to check (plus we were planning on getting the shoes put back on so will def do that), then I’ll book the vet

 

[Equi]

That’s a very good point, thank you. The farrier is due tomorrow anyway so I’ll ask him to check (plus we were planning on getting the shoes put back on so will def do that), then I’ll book the vet

Let the farrier tell you if the hooves are softer than they would like and that they would like to shoe which you can relay to the vet, but i wouldn't put the shoes on until the vet has seen the hocks. The shoes could mask pain in a trot up slightly, or the hocks could be very sore when getting shod and waiting until they are medicated (if thats needed) will make the pony more comfortable to shoe (and the farrier safer)

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I'm not sure why the hind shoes were removed and fronts left on, but I must say that when I went barefoot after a lifetime of shoeing, I fed extra minerals with sugar beet pulp, and it was a giod twelve months before I felt the barefoot was working, I spent a lot of time on management including road work and allowing him to pick his own route on trails.
Regular exercise on good tarmac is the best thing.
If the field is wet the hooves may be soft, also laminitis can occur at any time of year.
I might try a change of exercise and stabling for a week to see if this makes a difference. Leading out in hand has to be better than riding if he is sore.
It depends on your farrier, but he should know if the horse is not sound, and the reason for it, I think shoeing might be indicated.

 

[Marigold4]

Try a pair of hoofboots and see if they help?

 

[Highmileagecob]

Have you got a small enclosed paddock where you and your daughter could practice 'Join Up' and work on some basic ground work to get to know the pony better? One trick to stop the planting behaviour is to push the pony at the shoulder to ask for a step sideways, then immediately ask to walk on. Do not face the pony, face in direction of travel. if pony is constantly trying to walk on the verge, or on soft ground, then this could be a clue that something is amiss, but if all vet and farrier checks come back negative, it is likely that this is challenging behaviour; your pony knows that he is bigger and stronger, and may progress to being hard to catch when turned out. This is something I have noticed with several new owner/horse combinations. Until the pair have bonded, the pony will challenge until he is confident that you are in charge. Good luck, I hope the pair of them are best friends soon!

 

[Prancerpoos]

I suspect he may be trying it on because he can and because he has a lot more experience of children than your daughter has with ponies .

Perhaps you could handle him on your own for a few days, without your daughter anywhere near, and see if he still exhibits the planting? If it is just with her then, as above, you need to sort to out soon or it will likely grow into other 'bad' behaviour.

 

[Apizz2019]

We’ve had my daughters pony a good few months and he’s a super. chap. My daughter (10) insists on doing everything herself, however she’s not the most firm/assertive handler ? (drives me mad!! She won’t let me tell her how to do things or help)

Our pony has started planting when walking onto the yard (in hand), he also planted today coming back from a hack (when my daughter was leading him back to the yard). He just refuses to move for her. He didn’t plant when being ridden on the hack today and is happy/forward when ridden in the school too. Also on the yard he prefers to stand on the grass rather than the concrete of the tie up area. My question is, could this planting be pain related? He’s not a particularly cheeky pony in general which is making me think he could be trying to tell us something? Equally my daughter isn’t the most firm handler!! She’s totally confident with him but won’t be assertive

We’ve got the dentist and saddle fitter in the new year, plus I’m keeping an eye on his hocks (he’s 20 and some days looks stiff at the start of a ride but eases up)

if it’s a handling issue, I’m thinking of getting my daughter to watch some TRT videos to learn basic groundwork (because she won’t listen to me!)
thanks

Our pony started planting with my daughter. Sounded very similar to yours. Preferred soft ground to stoney/gravelly/hard ground. No outward signs of anything else... Until the perfect weather storm, fertilised fields and super fuel hay, then we had laminitis. Thankfully very mild as I spotted the change in gait immediately.

Subsequently tested for EMS and PPID and he was EMS positive.

Looking back, the signs had been there for some time, subtle signs, but they were there and I missed them.

Your pony may be trying to dominate your daughter, establish which of them is boss, but horses do not set about to try it on as such, not as much as we like to think, although I'm sure many will disagree with me.

Most of what they do is very much in the moment, so if me, I'd be asking the vet to take a look, just to rule out pain or anything rumbling away.

Good luck!