Some fresh ideas PLEASE!!!!

[sparkeypony]

Hi new to the forum game, but after yet another frustrating evening for my daughter and pony and me, thought i would try and get some fresh brains on the problem. Please forgive any spelling boobs as typing throught the tears.

Daughter 13 very sweet ( i know she's mine but she really is)
Pony 13.1 welsh c 15yrs chestnut mare

When purchased 2 years ago was really not a suitable childs pony been owned by teenagers for years, galloped madly about 1 or twice a week and if she lloked fat then was starved for a day or so!!! Not a pleasant life.

We had her on loan and then bought her. She has really been fabulous always a bit lazy and not always 100% on the road or in the woods but hey they aren't all perfect. Daughter loves her soooo much. However whilst schoolig she is just so slow and unresponsve, we have tried transistions, poles jumps(brightens up just before and after thenback to slow) schooling whip, 2 schooling whips one each side!, spurs, baling twine flapping tied to end of said schooling whip(s),

Unfortunately Daughter now has awful habit of nagging said love of her life and sometines her whole body moves litterally for her head to her toes with the effort!!! hours of me saying now leave her alone and 1 big kick then leave her, me chasing her growling (that works but we cant do that constantly)

I just don't know what else to try - High energy feed!! cattleprod - carrot dangled in front?

When i ride her she is fine until she's had enough of what ever im doing and then its like riding a lump of stone and nothing and i mean nothing can make her move (oh except for the spinning and bucking that can accompany these moments)

She has lessons twice a week she hacks out she jumps she rides bareback - they do games but only if the pony decides that tonight is the night for being compliant.

Any new ideas would welcom, I just don't want her to get so disheartened tht she doesn't want to ride.

Thanks

 

[showjumpingfilly]

Have you had her checked for any physical discomfort? Saddle, back, teeth etc.

 

[sparkeypony]

Hi, no vet gave her, her annual quick weight teeth etc check in may when he gave her jabs. Scared the poo out of my hubby by telling him i would getting the vet to do a full check next week. His reply seriously this close to christmas!! I can see a spell of overtime for me over the next month lol x

 

[SophieLouBee]

When purchased 2 years ago was really not a suitable childs pony been owned by teenagers for years, galloped madly about 1 or twice a week and if she lloked fat then was starved for a day or so!!! Not a pleasant life.

However whilst schoolig she is just so slow and unresponsve, we have tried transistions, poles jumps(brightens up just before and after thenback to slow) schooling whip, 2 schooling whips one each side!, spurs, baling twine flapping tied to end of said schooling whip(s),

When i ride her she is fine until she's had enough of what ever im doing and then its like riding a lump of stone and nothing and i mean nothing can make her move (oh except for the spinning and bucking that can accompany these moments)

She's trying to tell you something. Perhaps after years of being ragged about by hooligans, at 15, she's had quite enough and would prefer a quieter life?

It might not be a long term thing, she might just need the winter off to doss in the field and have some time to herself, or it might be that your daughter does need something a little more willing, and your pone would be best suited to a novice child who isn't so ambitious.

Sorry to be all doom and gloom!

 

[millikins]

If your daughter is fairly confident (and it sounds like she is), take the pony (drag)hunting, get them both enjoying going forward, our rather stuffy pony really "discovered" herself and is wonderful

 

[sparkeypony]

Hi Def not suitable for novice uncatchable in the field unles by me or 1 other lady - daughter ok most days. Lead rein maybe but would bite leader!! Bless daughter really not that ambitious - asking for 30 mins of reasonable work that doesnt require sweat running off her chin isn't too much and 15 is really too early to retire she'd end up stiff and or lami.

thanks for your thoughts tho x

 

[sparkeypony]

If your daughter is fairly confident (and it sounds like she is), take the pony (drag)hunting, get them both enjoying going forward, our rather stuffy pony really "discovered" herself and is wonderful

Ooo now that sounds like a new idea!! Will get vet to do full check over first or we could at least hire a box and take a friend and pone to a xcountry schooling theres one not far away for £5 and hour.

Good thinking new this was a good idea
xx

 

[SophieLouBee]

Hi Def not suitable for novice uncatchable in the field unles by me or 1 other lady - daughter ok most days. Lead rein maybe but would bite leader!! Bless daughter really not that ambitious - asking for 30 mins of reasonable work that doesnt require sweat running off her chin isn't too much and 15 is really too early to retire she'd end up stiff and or lami.

thanks for your thoughts tho x

Ah, she's a typical chestnut mare then . By no means does she need to retire, but if a pony is sour to work, then they just won't do it. As others have said, it goes two ways, give them a break, or take them and pep them up hunting or something. As you said she'd been galloped non-stop by previous people I'd go with a break, but who knows, she may have loved the galloping! Try both?!

You should't be upset because of it though, and your daughter should enjoy it, as you say not be sweating lol! Has she ridden anything else, what does she think about it?

 

[sparkeypony]

Bless her as i said right at the start she really is a sweetheart, she thinks maybe it's her and maybe Petra is bored of her or of work or maybe shes tired. She never looses her temper (unlike her mother!!!)

Tonight i left after finishing my boy off and went bak at 7 as she hadn't come home (we only live 2 mins form the yard) and found her sitting on the floor reading her a book as she thought it may cheer them both up. This little pony will never leave us even if she is a horror!!

Well we'' try the pepping up first the a break if it doesn't work. She's little scared of my boy bit of a ruffian with a neck like a wrestler!! could ask around about something well behaved and forward tho.

Thanx xx

 

[traceyann]

Be warned my stuffy can be lazy and normally very well behaved cob i took drag hunting for the same reason my god it was like a racehorse on speed with no brain brakes or fear except for the rider me! but he really enjoyed himself i went in a loose ring snaffle big mistake a gag woundnt have stopped him I turned many shades of green that day glad i did it would i do again hell no not with him.

 

[muffinmunsh]

I was just about to post a warning lol
Mine hoes like that if you only take him out hacking somewhere new ... Never mind hunting!

 

[Ali27]

Google " Nupafeed Staying Power" - it is brilliant stuff but quite expensive but read the reviews on it!
X country schooling with a group, fun rides, hunting all help to give my mare her spark back.
Is you mare overweight, clipped? My mare can be a bit lazy if she puts on weight and hairy, so in winter she is fully clipped and kept at her perfect weight!

 

[sparkeypony]

HA ha I'd never attempt hunting or drag hunting woth my cob for those exact reasons not sure i'd ever recover!!! Never thought of clipping her as she doesn't sweat very often for obvious reasons (that would require some effort on her part!!!)

Gonna call the vet and read that review. will keep you updated. Keep the ideas coming tho thanx

 

[TGM]

It is not clear from your post whether she has always been so lazy since you had her, or whether it is a recent development. If recent, I would definitely go down the vet check route, especially as at her age things like low-grade arthritis are quite common. Often it is not enough to make them actually look lame, but enough to make them a reluctant to work.

 

[Dangerous Brian]

I too have welsh sec C who sounds just like yours, I can sympathise with the fustration of dealing with a stubborn welshie.

My pony recently got worse so we got the vet involved and it turned out he had bad gastric ulcers. He's just started his treatment and is already a lot more forward and happy in his work. Her history of being starved is a risk factor for ulcers so it would be worth getting her scoped to see if she has them.

If you want to know anything further PM me.