Stubborn pony

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Hi . I have recently got my 8 yr old daughter a pony on full loan. I already have my own but he's a bit big for her.
This pony is brilliant out hacking and she's doing great handling him. But take him in an arena and he will literally not move at all for her. Starts spinning round ! He is 11 year old and has never done any schooling at all hardly. He will move when I run in front or the side of him or following another pony.
He is also overweight which we are working on.
And if an adult gets on he will listen ! But you have to keep on at him.
Do you think he would benefit from some proper schooling sessions with a light weight adult to show him what he's meant to be doing ?
Thanks

 

[AmyMay]

How long have you had him?

 

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About 10 month but have done mainly hacking.

 

[Parrotperson]

assuming there's nothing wrong with him (has he seen a vet?) then its a bit much to expect him to start proper schooling having only ever really hacked. He won't have the muscle apart from anything else

So yes get someone to school him who knows what they're doing but do it slowly and build up over time.

Your child may benefit from an instructor on the ground when she starts riding in the arena so any issue are easier to sort.

 

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I have the physio coming out to check his back and getting his saddle checked too. I think your totally right it's a lot to expect from him. When he hasn't done it for so long. He just goes so well for an adult.
But definitely going to get someone to school his slowly for a month then she can have lessons on him to keep up to it. If she has a lesson at the minute she ends up spending the half hour stood still.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[Parrotperson]

ok. that's a good start. If you still have problems though it may be better to get the vet out in case it's something else bothering him. Good luck.