retraining a horse

[Ponywelshd]

So i’ve just started riding my pony under saddle again after two years off from him battling laminitis and he has finally had the all clear after successfully growing his hooves out and loosing over 100kg from his new monitored food management that we’ve been doing.

I want to start him from scratch; the riding i did on him before he was laminitic was when i was under the age of fifteen and i didn’t understand anything really about working him properly and although i did ride almost everyday, i started to have problems with him stopping at jumps, loosing that natural forwardness and i never understood how to correct it or why he was doing it in the first place- i had just come off riding school ponies when i bought him and he was young so i was just as green as he was.
Obviously i had lots of lessons but from different instructors who would contradict each other and confuse me.
He also started to adapt some naughty stable manners such as bucking out at me when he would see me entering his stable with tack. This didn’t happen all of the time (same with the riding issues) and sometimes he was an angel but now that i have the chance to start fresh and i’m a little older, i want to learn with him.

I want to do a lot of groundwork and also work under saddle. I’m very aware of taking things slowly and i’m only going to be doing things if he’s happy at doing it so this is going to be months of work. I’ve only been walking him under saddle for five days but i’m going to try and keep it at a mixture of groundwork and walking for the whole month and then start to move up gaits when i feel hes ready.

As both pony and rider before the laminitis were green, i’m not sure exactly where i should look for good groundwork exercises, some that i can do with him just at a walk or a trot to start with and then what sort of things i can do under saddle in walk that would help me build his top line back up? i know i sound silly for not really knowing where to start but i’m very determined and we’ve come so far with fighting the laminitis that i don’t want to just pick up from where i was last time i need to sort the issues out and i know that if i can train him then i’ll understand what is causing him to react in certain ways and situations and i want to be a better rider and owner for him, and maybe one day we can get out competing again so i need to do this the right way?

so my question is if anyone can recommend any books or resources i can use for retraining a pony? or any tips? maybe an idea of a weekly schedule that i can stick to that would benefit him? i’d really appreciate it. i’m going to contact an instructor that i took him to a few times and was very good and get some help from her too but if you have any tips for me please let me know. As cheesy as it sounds, i do love this horse more than anything and i wouldn’t be this annoying if i wasn’t utterly serious about it?

 

[Rumtytum]

Not going to offer any advice, just wanted to say the love you have for your pony and your wish to do the best for him shines through every word. He’s a truly lucky boy and I wish you both the very best.
And of course you must keep us updated with posts and photos ?.

 

[smolmaus]

. i’m going to contact an instructor that i took him to a few times and was very good and get some help from her too

You've already given yourself the best advice! Nobody on here can do better than someone qualified on the ground who knows both of you.

You have a lovely attitude. If you focus on taking things at his pace and his happiness you can't go too far wrong. What a relief it will be for him to have lost all the extra baggage and get going again with healthy feet!

 

[Peglo]

I bought a book that was really good and informative from a suggestion from someone else here. 55 corrective exercises for horses.

and completely agree with @Rumtytum

 

[Bluewaves]

I would love to find something similar to you. I've started following NoBackNoHorse on facebook and while it is so informative and I am trying the groundwork exercises there, I feel i need a more basic approach to manners on the ground that isn't me being too forceful or too soft whenever my boy doesn't want do something im asking. I'm never sure it's because he doesn't want to or because im asking wrong, or he doesn't understand.

 

[Ponywelshd]

Not going to offer any advice, just wanted to say the love you have for your pony and your wish to do the best for him shines through every word. He’s a truly lucky boy and I wish you both the very best.
And of course you must keep us updated with posts and photos ?.

thank you so much that means a lot to hear!! i’ll definitely update with some photos ???

 

[Ponywelshd]

You've already given yourself the best advice! Nobody on here can do better than someone qualified on the ground who knows both of you.

You have a lovely attitude. If you focus on taking things at his pace and his happiness you can't go too far wrong. What a relief it will be for him to have lost all the extra baggage and get going again with healthy feet!

thank you!! he’s definitely strutting his stuff now that he’s all slim hahaha!! can’t wait to get back to work with him so thank you for the support!!??

 

[Abacus]

Well done for starting right this time and seeking help. Definitely pick an instructor, you don’t have to stay with the same one forever as different people are great at different stages, but one at a time for now. Plenty of time spent on the basics will never be wasted even when you’re keen to move on to the more fun parts. But of course keep it fun with hacking, poles, tiny jumps and whatever you both enjoy. Personally even with babies I like to do a little schooling each week with focus on something (walk to trot transitions, or moving off your leg) - maybe 2 sessions. Also hack, play with little jumps and so on, so it’s not hard work every day. I like short schooling sessions, even the fit strong horses do from 30 to 40 mins and if starting from scratch I’d do at most 20, adding in a walk up the lane as a warm up and cool down.

Best of luck. Can’t wait to hear how you get on.

 

[Ratface]

Good luck, and well done for sticking with your pony and being so diligent in meeting his health needs.
Taking things slowly for both of you, and not doing too much too soon will be helpful.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions and have the confidence to say that you don't understand if you don't when you get an answer.
Please keep us all updated with regular posts and pictures.

 

[Tarragon]

What a lovely positive post! I think you are going to enjoy your new experience.

Yes, find the instructor that is the best match for you now, and get going.

I have had to do something similar this year. My main riding pony had to be retired due to lameness a year ago, so I got myself an un-backed green pony to work with.
I have backed ponies before, but I was of the mindset that once the pony accepted tack and rider and was hacking out, my job was done. I had many happy hours riding my hacking pony, but probably couldn't do a simple dressage test because I had missed out all the actual schooling! This time, I was determined to do it properly, and I enlisted the help of an instructor who was a friend who had similar views, and I have spent the summer applying the classical French training of Philippe Karl to my wild and woolly Exmoor Pony, and have done hardly any riding, but all the in-hand work is now beginning to really pay off dividends and when I do start riding, it will be a whole new ball game for me. I am surprised how rewarding it is to really work at the in-hand training; I hardly missed the riding! And for someone who is a professional happy hacker, who loves long distance rides and endurance riding, that is really saying something.

 

[Cortez]

"Training the Young Horse" By Reiner and Ingrid Klimke" is a good book, as is another with a similar title by Werner Storl (sorry, can't find my copy to check just at the mo). However, you can't train a horse from books (or the internet....), so a really good professional instructor is vital if you want to progress both the horse's training and your own. "Learning together" is a recipe for disaster IMO, since neither one of you (horse or human) knows what you're doing. Good luck!

 

[Carrottom]

Lots of good advice already, I would like to add that some of the problems you were having before may have been due to undiagnosed hoof pain.

 

[Nasicus]

"Training the Young Horse" By Reiner and Ingrid Klimke" is a good book

Is that 'Basic Training of the Young Horse' or another one by Reiner? I have that one, but always looking to add to my bookshelf!

 

[Cortez]

Is that 'Basic Training of the Young Horse' or another one by Reiner? I have that one, but always looking to add to my bookshelf!

Basic Training, yes. There are several books by Ingrid, and a cavaletti one by Reiner Klimke.

 

[Ponywelshd]

Well done for starting right this time and seeking help. Definitely pick an instructor, you don’t have to stay with the same one forever as different people are great at different stages, but one at a time for now. Plenty of time spent on the basics will never be wasted even when you’re keen to move on to the more fun parts. But of course keep it fun with hacking, poles, tiny jumps and whatever you both enjoy. Personally even with babies I like to do a little schooling each week with focus on something (walk to trot transitions, or moving off your leg) - maybe 2 sessions. Also hack, play with little jumps and so on, so it’s not hard work every day. I like short schooling sessions, even the fit strong horses do from 30 to 40 mins and if starting from scratch I’d do at most 20, adding in a walk up the lane as a warm up and cool down.

Best of luck. Can’t wait to hear how you get on.

amazing advice thank you so much!! i’ll be sure to update with some progress once i have my plan written down and put into action!! ?

 

[Ponywelshd]

Good luck, and well done for sticking with your pony and being so diligent in meeting his health needs.
Taking things slowly for both of you, and not doing too much too soon will be helpful.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions and have the confidence to say that you don't understand if you don't when you get an answer.
Please keep us all updated with regular posts and pictures.

thank you for this, i definitely agree with you on taking it slowly and i’m honestly quite enjoying just walking at the minute anyway- after two years of doing nothing and now being able to even sit on him feels like such a privilege so i am excited to just tread delicately and it will make the most difference in the end if i spend a lot of time on the basics!! thank you so much for the support!?

 

[Ponywelshd]

What a lovely positive post! I think you are going to enjoy your new experience.

Yes, find the instructor that is the best match for you now, and get going.

I have had to do something similar this year. My main riding pony had to be retired due to lameness a year ago, so I got myself an un-backed green pony to work with.
I have backed ponies before, but I was of the mindset that once the pony accepted tack and rider and was hacking out, my job was done. I had many happy hours riding my hacking pony, but probably couldn't do a simple dressage test because I had missed out all the actual schooling! This time, I was determined to do it properly, and I enlisted the help of an instructor who was a friend who had similar views, and I have spent the summer applying the classical French training of Philippe Karl to my wild and woolly Exmoor Pony, and have done hardly any riding, but all the in-hand work is now beginning to really pay off dividends and when I do start riding, it will be a whole new ball game for me. I am surprised how rewarding it is to really work at the in-hand training; I hardly missed the riding! And for someone who is a professional happy hacker, who loves long distance rides and endurance riding, that is really saying something.

wow this is really interesting! i have to say i’ve not done much dressage but i’ve just had a bit of a research on philippe karl and that seems like a really effective approach to training- can i ask where you found resources on his training techniques especially the in-hand ones? or how i could look into that more? thank you for this !!?

 

[Tarragon]

Honestly, PK isn't for everyone, so I suggest you have a look at the Legerete UK | Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté (UK) website, perhaps go to a couple of clinics, speak to your local trainer, and take it from there. I do tend to mix and match any ideas and concepts to suit me and my ponies, but I have found this this method seems to be the one I am most in tune with. As an adult riding ponies, I found that I struggled to find trainers who took me seriously (I was neither a child on a pony or an adult on a horse) and it was my PK trainer who saw past that! It has taken me a very long time to really start to appreciate what it is all about, and I needed a few light bulb moments along the way, but yes, go for it.
I want to be the one who turns up at a dressage competition, to be mentally dismissed by all as my stocky little brown pony does not fit the normal idea of a dressage horse (and to be honest, I will really struggle to look like a dressage rider!) but then WOW them all in the arena.

What I think I look like


What I actually look like

 

[Rumtytum]

Honestly, PK isn't for everyone, so I suggest you have a look at the Legerete UK | Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté (UK) website, perhaps go to a couple of clinics, speak to your local trainer, and take it from there. I do tend to mix and match any ideas and concepts to suit me and my ponies, but I have found this this method seems to be the one I am most in tune with. As an adult riding ponies, I found that I struggled to find trainers who took me seriously (I was neither a child on a pony or an adult on a horse) and it was my PK trainer who saw past that! It has taken me a very long time to really start to appreciate what it is all about, and I needed a few light bulb moments along the way, but yes, go for it.
I want to be the one who turns up at a dressage competition, to be mentally dismissed by all as my stocky little brown pony does not fit the normal idea of a dressage horse (and to be honest, I will really struggle to look like a dressage rider!) but then WOW them all in the arena.

What I think I look like
View attachment 101695

What I actually look like
View attachment 101696

??? I know exactly how you feel!

 

[Arzada]

I want to be the one who turns up at a dressage competition, to be mentally dismissed by all as my stocky little brown pony does not fit the normal idea of a dressage horse (and to be honest, I will really struggle to look like a dressage rider!) but then WOW them all in the arena.

That would be great - I hope you succeed (perhaps a change of clothes?!)

What I actually look like

Without doubt I prefer your look

 

[Cortez]

I'm not sure quite why you'd want to look like the first picture.......

 

[Tarragon]

I'm not sure quite why you'd want to look like the first picture.......

Elegant rider on an elegant horse, with the horse going in (what I think) is a lovely elegant and soft way....
Whereas you have nearly 60-year-old with grey curls sticking out from under the hat and little brown pony with short legs and no neck.
The only thing I can change and improve is the way the horse is working!

 

[Cortez]

Elegant rider on an elegant horse, with the horse going in (what I think) is a lovely elegant and soft way....
Whereas you have nearly 60-year-old with grey curls sticking out from under the hat and little brown pony with short legs and no neck.
The only thing I can change and improve is the way the horse is working!

Well, we'll have to disagree about the rider on the 1st horse, other than she's a pretty girl, the riding isn't particularly elegant at all. You sit OK, and the pony is cute, and at least you're not holding your hands a yard apart. PK is an interesting man (I have met him several times, but declined to ride with him), with interesting theories, expressed in an obfuscating way, IMO. He tends to have a lot of young acolytes hanging on his every/many (prolix) words.

 

[Ponywelshd]

Honestly, PK isn't for everyone, so I suggest you have a look at the Legerete UK | Philippe Karl's School of Légèreté (UK) website, perhaps go to a couple of clinics, speak to your local trainer, and take it from there. I do tend to mix and match any ideas and concepts to suit me and my ponies, but I have found this this method seems to be the one I am most in tune with. As an adult riding ponies, I found that I struggled to find trainers who took me seriously (I was neither a child on a pony or an adult on a horse) and it was my PK trainer who saw past that! It has taken me a very long time to really start to appreciate what it is all about, and I needed a few light bulb moments along the way, but yes, go for it.
I want to be the one who turns up at a dressage competition, to be mentally dismissed by all as my stocky little brown pony does not fit the normal idea of a dressage horse (and to be honest, I will really struggle to look like a dressage rider!) but then WOW them all in the arena.

What I think I look like
View attachment 101695

What I actually look like
View attachment 101696

wow that’s amazing thank you so much!! i totally understand that, my boy is 14hh and i’m now 19 so most of my friends have moved on to horses but i am not too fussed as i’m lightweight on him and would never sell him!! i’ll definitely have a look at the legerete clinics as that sounds great so thank you! btw your pony is so cute!!