Riding Issues - Help Needed

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MyLuckyStar

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Hi

A friend of mine has just brought her daughter a pony (13.2 Welsh x Arab mare, 9 years old).

She was fine when they tried her but the woman who owned her seemd to handle her rather than letter my friends daughter handle her.

She's now been at our yard for 3 weeks and has been ridden a couple of times. The first time she was ridden in the menage she started rearing (small ones) if she didn't want to do something but we got her out of that and got someone else to ride her last week to see if it was the pony or the way the girl was riding her.

On Sunday we were all hacking out together - the young girl got on the mare and the mare proceeded to then walk off, when the girl tried to stop her she started to rear then would march off again. We think it was because as soon as she went to walk off the girl tensed, shortened her reins and leant forward causing the pony to then start rearing. So my boyfriend got on her and the pony went to walk off once, he turned her round and brought her back on the yard where she stood with no rein contact.

Also when we got back to the yard we all turned in to the gate way and the pony carted the girl up the other lane in walk. The girl just sat there leaning forward and shortened her reins but didn't try and turn her back.

The girl said that she couldn't turn her back as she was just pulling against her.

Also, when handling she plants and will be stubborn but as soon as a confident adult handles her she's fine.

Is there anything anyone can suggest or anyone whos had experience of this.

They are going to get the back man and saddle fitter out to her.
 
pony and this girl don't sound suited tbh. if the girl cannot ride well enough, the pony will just take the pee. You need to get riding lessons for them asap.
 
shysmum said:
pony and this girl don't sound suited tbh. if the girl cannot ride well enough, the pony will just take the pee. You need to get riding lessons for them asap.
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I've suggested them having lessons but they can't afford to do so until after Xmas I don't think.


She had one of ours on part loan for a month or so before buying this mare but he was a lot different - older, more laid back, responsive etc.
 
Sounds like the pony is too hot for the girls ability. Plus, she's not getting anything like enough work from what you've said.

If it's within a month try and get the seller to take her back, then find the child a normal first pony she can get her confidence on.

I'd put money on the child losing her nerve in the next two weeks otherwise...
 
Agree, pony doesn't sound suitable for that child. I'd get a decent instructor, to see if with help they will be a good match, or if it would be better to find something more suitable.
 
Lessons; lessons; lessons. The child should not be pulling, shortening or leaning forwards. Until she can ride well enough not to do this she really shouldn't have a pony. Not the pony's fault, she's just expressing her opinion on the bad riding.
 
Polotash said:
Sounds like the pony is too hot for the girls ability. Plus, she's not getting anything like enough work from what you've said.

If it's within a month try and get the seller to take her back, then find the child a normal first pony she can get her confidence on.

I'd put money on the child losing her nerve in the next two weeks otherwise...
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She was brought off a dealer (not known at the time) so I doubt she will take her back.

The child is starting to loose her nerve, we've suggested the lessons as it's not the pony been dangerous etc like people have tried to say its the young girl not riding her properly.

She's been worked about twice a week due to the dark nights which is what all the horses on our yard get as we have no menage on site
 
If parents can't afford lessons & a pony for a clearly inexperienced child, & by the sounds of it don't have the experience to help themselves, then sorry but they shouldn't have bought her one. Continued sharing & regular lessons would have been better. Poor little girl, gets a pony, & then will either end up with confidence shattered, or parting with it if parents can't or won't pay for help.
 
By the sounds of it the girl needs a bit more experience for this pony, and id agree with the others in saying she could do with lessons. I know myself though that money can be tight when owning a horse!
Have you asked a more experienced rider from around the yard? Some people like taking on challenges like this and might be willing to offer a hand in teaching it to behave. Never mind the height!
My horse was a nightmare when i first got her and the last thing i wanted to hear was that she was too much for me, theres no need for people to be so harsh on this! It just takes time and perseverence, but if you could see if someone would help you things might start to look brighter. Hope this helped:)
 
poppywalker said:
By the sounds of it the girl needs a bit more experience for this pony, and id agree with the others in saying she could do with lessons. I know myself though that money can be tight when owning a horse!
Have you asked a more experienced rider from around the yard? Some people like taking on challenges like this and might be willing to offer a hand in teaching it to behave. Never mind the height!
My horse was a nightmare when i first got her and the last thing i wanted to hear was that she was too much for me, theres no need for people to be so harsh on this! It just takes time and perseverence, but if you could see if someone would help you things might start to look brighter. Hope this helped:)
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Thanks, my boyfriends rode her a couple of times and she's been fine, it's just when someone young gets on her though he can't ride her very often as he's 6ft 1 and she's 13.2 plus we have 5 of our own to sort.

We are on a small farm and most people are older, work full time and have their own horses to sort so don't have time to ride her plus there's no one small enough really
 
There's a big difference between making an informed decision as an adult to persevere with a horse that is too much at that time. And a little girl with her very first pony. Kids confidence can be made or broken very quickly by the wrong pony. Nothing pony has done makes me think that with a more experienced child, it would be a problem. But it can be schooled & ridden by someone else as much as you like, that won't stop the kid tensing up & pulling its mouth. I'm sure they can find a rider for free, but free lessons for the kid will be much harder.
 
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