Promoting confidence with child rider

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Cassy

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My grandaughter is nearly 8 years old and started riding 3 years ago. She began with an old pony on loan who was pretty laid back and with him graduated to riding at walk and trot off the lead rein. Last year we bought a little Section A for her which had taken her previous child from lead rein to riding at all 3 paces and doing some small show jumps. The problem seems to be lack of confidence to take control of the pony and ride without instruction. The pony doesn't do anything wrong but can be a bit speedy. We have a school to ride in and just want some advice on how we can encourage the rider to be more assertive. Also there is the problem of canter. The pony is not brilliant on the lunge so not sure how we should introduce canter. Any advice greatly appreciated.
 
Improve the pony on the lunge without the rider then progress from there. Lunge with two reins if necessary. Work on her riding without reins and without stirrups to increase her balance and confidence. Most of all keep it fun. If the pony is too speedy get some lessons on one that is not. The right pony is the key really. The wrong pony can still work but needs a lot more effort from the encourager. Also does it ride and lead. That is a nice way to improve the child's stamina and balance while keeping things under control. It's easy to teach them if it doesn't do it, as long as you have a suitable lead horse.
 
As said improve the pony on lunge. If the rider is not happy to control, they are not ready for canter, so get them to the point of controlling the pony in walk and trot and actively wanting to go faster. I think a lot of training is "its time to go to the next step so DO it" rather than "you are ready for the next step"

There is no rush. They will get there, if they want. Maybe they don't want to. Not everyone wants to school...my friends kid hates riding, but loves to go on a trek at walk.
 
I agree with the above suggestions re taking control but an 8yo is awfully young to be able to ride "without instruction". How about learning the Intro tests and riding them without being called as a first step?
 
Yes I agree about that. My nearly 8yr old is really confident and competent and jumping 90cms but still needs constant reminders about flipping everything!
 
How about playing games in the school - steering in and out of cones, between parallel poles, picking things up and putting them somewhere else, she'll take control without realising it - and it stays fun!
 
to grow confidence between my novice pony and her 7 year old rider the instructor drafted in her older (very experienced) daughter and a friend to ride in the school at the same time so the child and pony followed them with no prompting from the instructor, she got her first canter right that way and with three of them in there it was quite relaxed

A sort of a lesson with no instruction if you like

It was a huge success and we have done another session similar since. The little girl unconsciously learns from the actions of the others, is thinking more independantly and it makes it fun
 
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes I agree perhaps she is not ready for canter yet. I think it is a problem when you have a lone child rider as they have no other children to spur them on. I have poles, cones, beanbags and flags which I made but havent used as our one and only attempt at gymkhana games ended in tears as the pony was off like sh** of a shovel every time the whistle went. She is obviously a pony who has been there, done it and got the t-shirt!
 
Do you have transport? Could she join the Pony Club so she meets other children? My son has gained so much confidence and made good friends through joining. We are also very lucky that all our riding can be done on the forest so he can canter alongside me (and overtake me on my pony!).
 
WelshD said:
to grow confidence between my novice pony and her 7 year old rider the instructor drafted in her older (very experienced) daughter and a friend to ride in the school at the same time so the child and pony followed them with no prompting from the instructor, she got her first canter right that way and with three of them in there it was quite relaxed

A sort of a lesson with no instruction if you like

It was a huge success and we have done another session similar since. The little girl unconsciously learns from the actions of the others, is thinking more independantly and it makes it fun
Click to expand...

This is something I do with my daughter when she's having an off day with her pony. He can be a real shetland sometimes and it can take a toll on her confidence so I throw her behind anyone who is riding at the time and she follows them. She thinks its great. The next time out with him she's forgotten the bad time and only remembers the good part of the ride.

I also found that her confidence with cantering went through the roof once we started doing some while in the woods. Luckily her pony is small enough for me to run with while she canters. After a few outings in the woods cantering she was all gungho about doing it in the school.
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
Do you have transport? Could she join the Pony Club so she meets other children? My son has gained so much confidence and made good friends through joining. We are also very lucky that all our riding can be done on the forest so he can canter alongside me (and overtake me on my pony!).
Click to expand...

Second the Pony Club idea, I've seen them go off to Pony Camp like frightened chickens and come back over flowing with confidence plus they get to meet up with children/ponies they know at pony club meets during the holidays and have so much fun
 
There's a good book called "teaching children to ride" which has some fun non-gymkhana games types ideas - fun is the key :)
 
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