Spookey pony

scrumpy27

scrumpy27

Member
Joined
28 September 2011
Messages
15
Visit site
Hi all, i am new today to this (and any for that matter) forum, but as i sit here abit battered and ego bruised i wondered if anyone can give me ideas! I bought a lovely pony last week, had a great week settling her in, shes only 5 and is very nosey and a bit spooked by everthing but not nasty in any way, until yesterday when i rode her in her field and unexpectantly she put her head down and bolted/bucked and generally jumped about until she managed to get me off her back, hence the bruises! she doesn't seem to relax at all and i haven't asked much of her, she has spooked sideways but yesterday she seemed intent on throwing me off! she is good on the ground alittle pushy and inconsiderate but i put that down to her age. When we got her she would leadrein round nicely with my daughter on but since yesterday she refuses to walk forward just pokes her nose down and forward and wont go forward, totally different to what we have seen for the last week. I hope someone can't help me out with ideas as to why this happened and where to go from here. Thanks.
 
hey i'm sure your pony will have a very goo reason for such a dramatic character change! that can't have been nice!
It sounds like it was an overly drmatic spook to me, i have a youngster myself and when he was younger he gat scared once and spun on his back end an trotted off down the road because he was spooked by some kids ( no where near as dramatic i know)
The good thing about your ponies age is that it shouldnt be a learned behaviour yet so you have a good chance of fixing it. It all starts with your ground work though before you even get on, i'd invest in a Monty Roberts headcollar and follow his ground work exercises they are fantastic! My lad is 17hh and im 5ft 6 but he is now very polite and easy to handle because of these training methods.
Have a look into what Monty Roberts does he has loads of spook busting ideas, one is long lining which is great for a young horse so they can learn that they can face spooky things themselves without having the security of someone by their head, your pony will be much happier and braver because of it.
hope this helps :)
 
Welcome! Has anything changed recently with the pony, a new saddle, new rider, is she in Season? Has she got others that she is trying to get to and get out of work for?

Do you have an Instructor that could help you on the ground as well as on board.
 
Hey, Is the saddle yours or did she come with it? First i'd be getting the fit of the saddle checked and having her back checked over- as the above reply she may well have tweaked something either doing the broncing or that caused the naughtiness.
Bear in mind tho' she is a baby who had her whole world turned upside down last week- new home, new owners new routine etc this is very unsettling for any horse.
A few months ago we moved yards and my daughters up til then angel of a 4yr old bucked her off and was just generally a real handful- he settled down but it took a few weeks.
Lessons off an instructor is also a really good idea. Dont be disheartened these things happen and you just need to rule out pain then take it slowly from there to gain each others trust.
Good luck xx
 
WOw! thanks everyone, made me feel a whole lot better. I have decided to give her time to settle in, lots of grooming and bonding, she is young so i am giving her the benifit of the doubt. Today i lead reined her around the field and then just walked down to where she spooked and she came down on her own accord for a fuss but she was wary! will definatlyget saddle and backed checked, it was same saddle she came with but different saddle pad so will leave her and try lunging at weekend.Lets hope it was an over dramatic spook, and i will try to remember her whole world has changed this week, she is a sweetie really, Thanks again
 
We got a pony recently and his saddle that he was apparently ridden in was such a bad fit it was unreal- really really obviously didn't fit!

I wonder sometimes if people sell a horse with tack but actually give that old saddle thats been sat in the tack room for years?

Just a thought- don't assume a saddle fits because it comes with a horse.

I Hope things go well for you and your pony Its so upsetting when there are problems x
 
Did you have the Pony vetted with bloods taken?

I would give the Pony some more time to settle, his very young and it can be very scary for them being in a new home. I would be tempted to leave him in the field only bring in for grooms and cuddles so you get a better bond with him. Start some groundwork next week with him. Then take it from there. If he is still not settled, I would look at tack first then maybe ask bloods to be looked at.

Where did you get him from?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top