Schooling a first ridden

[SammyCob]

We are rescuing a little section A with a great temperament. My 11 year old daughter wants to school it for her 4 year old brother. The pony is older but been left for years. Her ponies have all been pretty much made when we got them. Can anyone recommend any resources for a training regime for her to follow that is fun and means it’s done properly? Thanks.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

A well known female Devon Event rider not a million years from me in the East of the County was heard to say (re. riding-on a youngster) that what is needful and effective is to "concentrate on getting the horse to go forward to start with and worry about the rest later". Wise words! Simple but profound.

A lot of people worry about "lateral" work, going in a correct outline, etc etc., but as I was riding-on a just backed 4yo (cob) at the time, what she said made perfect sense. Sometimes you just need to concentrate on one thing - for a period, and for as long as is needed - rather than throwing everything you have at the situation and thereby over-complicating it.

I did this with my little coblet and now have a really nice responsive ride of 7yo; oh and we didn't even get into canter under saddle before she was 6!! Physically she just wasn't ready for it - a lot of natives and cobs need time to figure out what they're supposed to do with their bodies when they get a rider up top and too many are rushed into the school too quickly when they can't deal with it IMO. Time is of the essence.

Good luck with yours!!

 

[Wishfilly]

If she has never schooled a pony before, I'd strongly suggest getting an instructor you like and trust to help.

It is likely to be a really great learning experience for your daughter and very rewarding BUT it can also be easy to mess up. Experienced help from the start will help you get the timing right and produce the sort of pony you want.

I'd also add that producing a child's pony is a bit different to producing a pony for an adult rider!

 

[be positive]

If she has never schooled a pony before, I'd strongly suggest getting an instructor you like and trust to help.

It is likely to be a really great learning experience for your daughter and very rewarding BUT it can also be easy to mess up. Experienced help from the start will help you get the timing right and produce the sort of pony you want.

I'd also add that producing a child's pony is a bit different to producing a pony for an adult rider!

I agree it is very different so the instructor needs to bear in mind the rider that will be taking over and possibly be involved with both, also get the groundwork really well established, having voice aids to rely on can be a huge benefit when a young child is on board, especially a good 'woah'

 

[B.D.2000]

As mentioned above, I would recommend finding a good, BHS approved (if possible), coach to help your daughter out.

In terms of a training regime, here's what I'd recommend:

Get your daughter doing lots of groundwork with the pony. They can establish a bond as well as getting the pony to follow queues from someone and learn to trust humans, with her being a rescue this is especially crucial.

Your daughter can do some quarter control with the pony, this gets the pony to learn how to deal with pressure as well as your daughter getting the ponies feet moving, earning the role as herd leader. As the ponies quarters move around, once the head has dropped, your daughter should release the pressure, standing still with the pony. Thus becoming a resting place, like how horses in the wild would do with each other.

Lunging over trotting and/or raised poles. This is another way of getting the pony to move their feet, as well as a great way for the pony to build muscle and fitness ready for ridden work.

Your daughter could also do some desensitising, e.g. using a flag and tarpaulin, both on the body and to walk onto.

Setting up a maze with 6 poles would also be brilliant. This not only gets your daughter to ask the pony to put it's feet exactly where your daughter wants them to be, but it also can improve the ponies core stability, help to build muscles equally on each side and encourages the extension and flexion of limbs. Make sure your daughter gets the pony to bend correctly when doing this exercise.

Your daughter asking the pony to back up on the ground is also for establishing leadership, earning trust and building muscle. Whilst backing up, the ponies hind leg will come underneath it and it's core muscles will engage. Your daughter can begin with 2 or 3 steps, then increase the number as the pony becomes more confident, building up to 20 if possible.

Transitions when on the ground or ridden is also brilliant. This can help the pony become more balance and carry weight on the hindquarters, not on the forehand, thus preventing the pony from leaning down on a young persons hands whilst being ridden, as well as being more healthy. Transitions are also great for getting the pony to listen to the rider/handler. Voice aids can be added, which would be great for helping the pony be safer whilst being ridden by a young child. I would recommend getting the pony used to your voice with the aids as well.

Additionally, your daughter and you could take the pony on walks in hand as well as ridden. This can help with the bonding process. Whilst being in potentially scary surroundings and going on an adventure, you and your daughter can gain the ponies trust from taking the pony on a fun adventure and seeing different sights, giving it mental stimulation. By overcoming little challenges for the pony, it will establish the role of herd leader by getting the pony to take on fears, kind of like the leading mare in the wild showing the herd where food and water resources are.

Hope I've helped in some way. Enjoy your new pony!

Also, try googling horse agility for some inspiration for things to do.

 

[MummyEms]

Lots of hacking.
Ensure her pressure and release are SPOT on so the pony learns clearly that doing the right thing is best every time.
So when pony walking forward no fiddling no nagging with hands nor legs. Basically get off the ponies case unless you are asking pony to do something (ie, turn, stop, go etc)

First riddens (my daughter and I have been training them for 5 years now) need black and white basic training. Reward any try. Don't punish but re ask consistently then praise lavishly.

Lots of desensitisation with EVERYTHING. Only remove the pressure when pony is calm and accepting. Example make scrunchy paper noise , if pony acts concerned continue until pony less concerned then immediately stop. The stop is the release ie the reward for not acting scared. Loads of this.

Kelly marks has a great book called perfect manners which will help.