Stupid little girl * Very long rant *

EgerdenFarmStud

EgerdenFarmStud

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There is a girl at local livery yard Oh teaches at ( and friend owns ) She is a really sweet young girl about 14 ish. She has this pony that she bought from a dealer last year, she is such a genuine little pony, jumps like 1.30m from nothing, on any old stride for her, is so totally honest for her.
Last school holidays I asked if she would work for me for a few days in exchange for lesson with Oh ( showjumper who teaches alot at the yard and charges £30 a lesson so quite a good deal really ) plus I would drive her to a show and help her, pprovide food every day, and take her to and from her pony too! All she has to do was muck out 4 and make a couple of haynets...Anyway, she did a good job, I was really pleased with her...Took her to a show - Well, she had been boasting ( as kids do ) all week about how she will do the 2'9 and the 3' class, fine by me - I was just being driver / groom. Got there, walked course - didn't bother walking any distances and when I asked if she thought she should have done she was like whats a distance, fine, doesn't really matter I suppose as long as they are both safe and have fun...Warmed pony up with her, baring in mind I was like 30 weeks pregnant at the time and a collecting ring is the last place I want to be...Tried to help[ her - chill pony out, keep her calm, talk to her, don't turn to fence until you are actually on the right leg...She says pony can't canter on the right leg on one rein ... it can't or YOU can't make her?? She went in the ring with poor pony having been screached around warm up and nearly killing other poor children. She gets to first fence...STOP, beatss the sh!t out of pony, pony runs off, does a few laps of arena then goes again, gets over first and 2nd fence, then stop again...Beats her again and storms out, jabbing pony in mouth and kicks her up guts to then tie her up at lorry not putting rug on her ( vvery cold day and clipped pony ) not undone girth or anything, just leaves her there panting like anything. She then storms upto non horsey parents and complains that pony is not good enough!!! Poor little thing, none of it was her fault, the child was socking her back teeth out every stride going up to that fence she thought pulling means stop... I tactfully told non horsey parents maybe bit should be changed from kimblewick to something softer so when she does pull it does not hurt poor pony causing her to stick head in the air and stop dead, but didn't want to say too much as OH was teachin her later that week and would assess her better then. Next day I said to little girl, so when would you like your lesson, to which her arrogant father replied, I'm sorry but she would not like a lesson from your Oh - she has an instructor that jumps foxhunters so I'd rather she stuck to the professionals...Now if he had bothered to look at any of the business cards in their tack room he would have seen that pics of Oh jumping were from 1. Hickstead speed derby and 2. Grand prix abroad!! Stupid man...Anyways, it suited us really as didn't really want said little girl telling anyone she was trained by OH - if you saw her you would understand why....Today I have seen that she is now gallpoing the poor little pony around the rock solid fields in a bloody 3 ring gag on the bottom ring and poor little thing is having her back teeth ripped out by it. The pony only needs a snaffle!

I feel so sorry for the poor little thing, and everyone has said that they think she should seek some advice from a professional as she is gonna kill herself or the pony soon.

I want to have a word with the parents as she just has no idea, she would gallop poor thing round the fields in the winter, then just tie her up outside blowing and sweating to get cold outside with no cool down or rug as she thought this was the best way for pony to get cool!!

Do you have to watch these poor ponies / horses getting treated this way and what do you do about it? I want to say something but think it could cause more problems...

SORRY for the pointless essay...Just feel soooooo sorry for the pony!

Pint of Vodka and XL bar of chocolate for any that have actually bothered to read this

xxx
 
I'm a bit confused as these incidents obvisously happened a few months ago from you saying about her having the pony clipped and galloping on hard ground in winter. Why have you now decided to post about it? It's been going on for months? What has she done today that has upset you even more?
 
OMG, obviously she is the nightmare rider from hell...
Poor, poor pony...
Good thing she didn't have lessons at your yard then, I can just imagine what it would do :O
This is the rider I'd hate to be... well done for holding your tongue and not saying something completely acid, which I would have probably done!
I've never seen someone treat a pony like that thank god, the worst I've seen is people jabbing their horses in the mouth whilst booting them.
I'd say something gentle, but before you do, assess what people they are (not very pleasant by the sound of it) as they could twist your words.
I hope for the pony's sake she gets a tough instructor that'll kick some sense into her!
At the age of 14 she should know not to treat her pony like that :(
x
 
dieseldog said:
I'm a bit confused as these incidents obvisously happened a few months ago from you saying about her having the pony clipped and galloping on hard ground in winter. Why have you now decided to post about it? It's been going on for months? What has she done today that has upset you even more?
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I think today was ragging round over hard ground in the gag that's done it...the rest is everythingelse that's ahppened around it building up to today I guess, last straw thing before a major rant??
 
WHAT A BRAT!!!!!

Is the pony kept on your yard? Maybe the YM should say something to her about her horsemanagement skills? Or lack of.
 
Binky01 said:
I think today was ragging round over hard ground in the gag that's done it...the rest is everythingelse that's ahppened around it building up to today I guess, last straw thing before a major rant??
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I was struggling to read the wall of text and missed the today bit - that explains it :o
 
It's not an easy situation to be in, but one that does need to be dealt with before injury occurs in either rider, pony or someone else!

It's unclear from your post as to whether you have actually spoke to the girl herself? Could you maybe point out what she should be doing to cool down her pony, a hint that galloping on hard ground might damage her ponys legs ect? You never know, she may actually listen if she knows shes damaging her pony.
 
dieseldog said:
I'm a bit confused as these incidents obvisously happened a few months ago from you saying about her having the pony clipped and galloping on hard ground in winter. Why have you now decided to post about it? It's been going on for months? What has she done today that has upset you even more?
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Yes it has been going on for a couple of months, everyone has tried to tactfully say something...It's made me feel even more sorry for the poor pony today as I have just seen videos and photo's on facebook of the poor little thing being cantered along gravel bridleway in 3 ring getting teeth pulled to bits and then being jumped over a fence in the menage at about 1.30 with groundline the wrong side of fence!

She has tipped the pony up a few times where she goes so fast and at such strange angles ( jump off turns apparently ) never once has she has pony's back or anything for that matter hecked after one of her falls.!

Just really upsetting that poor little thing still keeps going after such grief from stupid pilot!
 
ever the silver lining hunter... she is 14. that's still quite young. and if her parents aren't horsey, they might not have enough knowledge to keep her grounded.

if she's having lessons, that's a good thing surely? her instructor will be able to tell her the pony is over-bitted and she's riding like a twit?


could you have a quiet word with her parents? could you give her a few lessons (i understand why you don't want OH to give her lessons)

xxx
 
Benji1 said:
It's not an easy situation to be in, but one that does need to be dealt with before injury occurs in either rider, pony or someone else!

It's unclear from your post as to whether you have actually spoke to the girl herself? Could you maybe point out what she should be doing to cool down her pony, a hint that galloping on hard ground might damage her ponys legs ect? You never know, she may actually listen if she knows shes damaging her pony.
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I wish it was that easy...At least 4 others on the yard plus me have tried to explain in a sort of 'oh poor pony, she'll get cold standing out there ' type of way, or ' If she is really puffing like that, she shouldn't really have her dinner yet, do you want me to feed her later if you have to go ' type of way...She is either REALLY thick and doesn't get it or actually doesn't care...

Is this common on livery yards?? I haven't really had anything to do with them for years as keep ours at home now, and when I was at a yard I was a kid...If I had treated my pony like that my mum would have kicked me in the guts and made me run round a field naked to then stand outside for a while!
 
I don't think, personally, there's a lot to be done as sad as it is :( Other than having words with the parents and y/o to take action against anyway, but then you don'twant to implicate yourself in all of that with your business. Not worth risking it over one girl sadly.

Me personally however...would quite happily take more obvious action to show her her ways tbh ifshe was my daughter doing that. She wants to canter over gravel, she can take her shoes off and run across it herself before she takes her pony over it. Likewise consequence for everything else too!

But I'm just lovely and have empathy like that....:p
 
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Maybe you could write a short note to her parents explaining it if you don't want a face to face confrontation?

I've had similar experiences with riding schools and young girls with ponys on loan, some of the things i saw back in those days, just weren't nice!
 
Heres hoping the ponys tolerance level runs out and dumps her - hard - She sounds like a completely spoilt madam, I would be thoroughly ashamed if my dauter behaved like that.
 
So I thought she worked for you a few months back, and was then to have lessons off your oh in return-how come these are so far apart??
And surely she wasn't a better rider when you originally saw her or what's changed?
 
I would leave her to learn her lesson, but hope that is it rider that breaks her legs and not pony. Then she will have time to sit and have a good long think about her behaviour.

But she does sound like a lot of spoilt teenagers with ponies that I have encountered. Wants a push button ride that will have a fancy bit so she can look more skilled than she actually is (all this craze with having a horse with an 'issue' etc)
 
She had just moved to the yard a few months back, seemed a really lovely kid who loved her pony at the beginning - I hadn't really had much to do with her...She only did a few days for me in the holidays as being heavilly preggers I wanted all the help I could get...

She does have an 'instructor' who was the one who told her to change the bit to the gag and advises to practise her ' jump off turns ' - Instructor is actually just someone that charges her to mess about in the school for an hour I think, nobody in the area has ever heard of hr which says alot.

I think I will try and say to the parents again in a tactful way that maybe child and pony would have a great time at pony club or something, that way they can't argue about the poor management / riding when they are told by local pc too!

I definately do not want to get involved with either me or Oh teaching her - for 1 I'm not qualified or insured and it would be just my luck that I try to help her one day and she'll fall off and break her back or something! and for 2. it's just not worth the hassle!

Thanks for advice - and listening.....

x
 
I didn't ride anything that wasn't in a snaffle at that age... and I was perfectly happy with that!
 
That's awful! Poor pony! :( Is this pony kept at your yard? If yes you should definitely have a word with her. You could try having a word with her parents although from what you've said it doesn't sound like they will take any notice. If I was you, I would have a word with the girl herself, be blunt and short but not insulting and explain exactly why she shouldn't do the things she is doing. I'm amazed the pony still carries on and tries for her - some ponies really are too honest for their own good. People like that don't deserve to own ponies! :mad:
 
Sorry to say it but yet this is quite common on livery yards... not everywhere, but at every place I've been to theres always one girl (or boy) that pushes their pony too far, jumps too high, races too often etc etc. Sad but true :(
And wishfulthinker is right, lots of people want horses with an 'issue' that they can sort out to show their brilliant riding skills. Personally, I'd be happy with something that I can have fun on and can trust to get me through a dressage test or around a course!
x
 
SJ_Superstars said:
That's awful! Poor pony! :( Is this pony kept at your yard? If yes you should definitely have a word with her. You could try having a word with her parents although from what you've said it doesn't sound like they will take any notice. If I was you, I would have a word with the girl herself, be blunt and short but not insulting and explain exactly why she shouldn't do the things she is doing. I'm amazed the pony still carries on and tries for her - some ponies really are too honest for their own good. People like that don't deserve to own ponies! :mad:
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No she's not at my yard...If she was we wouldn't be having this conversation as it would not be happening. She is at a livery yard that belongs to a friend of mine, oh teaches there alot and all liveries are friends of mine so I'm there alot, but YO is quite shy and polite and would rather say nothing than cause a row

xx
 
Your friend, the YM needs to say something. If someone was to report the girl to the RSPCA (not that it really is a case of that), she would get done too. Although it might be a DIY yard, she also has duty of care over all the horses there.

If she's too shy to say something, help her write a letter. I would be telling her if the pony continues to be treated this way she will have to leave the yard. Who needs a livery like that?
 
Unfortunately there was a lot of this on a large livery yard I used to be on, wasnt a lot you could do if neither the child or the parent wanted to know what you were saying. A polite but firm word with the parents would be a way to go and suggest that they would prefer keeping their daughter in check rather than end up paying a huge vets bill or for a new pony.
 
From what you have said, I'm guessing the girl and her parents are all about looking flash and showing off. I doubt they care very much about the pony and its welfare. I would suggest for the poor pony's sake that someone, probably most appropriately the YO, says something or writes a letter. In fact, having something in writing is a good idea as it provides evidence, should it reach the RSPCA stage, that theses people had been advised that what the girl is doing is wrong.
How about appealing to their pocket - this pony will be worth very little in resale if it breaks down or turns sour. Vets fees are also expensive. They may care more for the financial loss than the pony. Most parents also care about ther child's safety, so it may be worth pointing out that she is putting herself at significant risk.
It's always difficult in these situations as no-one wants to be seen as interfering and not many of us like confrontation, but at the end of the day the poor pony can't speak up for itself. I child protection there's a policy entitled 'It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright'. I think that should apply to animals too. I do, however, realise it's not always straightforward.
 
Thank you all for all your advice. I feel much better to know that I am not just going over the top and being a hormonal mess! Will have a think about how to say it, but either yo or myself will be having words, like you've all said...It's better to pee them off now than to let either of them get hurt.

thanks again

xxx
 
Poor poor pony, sounds like an honest wee thing too, doesn't deserve that sort of treatment.
What is it with people like that, I understand that she is young and has a lot to learn, but surely she should understand that the pony is not a machine and has nerve endings and can feel pain and also emotional distress just like us.
Why do people think it is acceptable to treat horses like that.
I would take a bit and put it in the crook of her arm to let her feel what the action is in the ponys mouth. I would def speak to the parents too, gently as you say because if you get into a row with them they won't take anything you say on board.
Good luck with this, it would be good to know how you get on, it is is a difficult situation. I hope you can do something before this wee pony is wrecked completely.
 
Kids like that make me really cross.
I got my previous pony when i was 13. Having ridden for a long time and worked at riding stables and ridden for other people for years to get the experience to show my parents i could do it. That pony was treated with the utmost respect and care.
I didnt have horsey parents as such. But if i had done anything like this girl has the pony would have been taken away from me and that would have been that.
He would never be blowing after a ride i always made sure that he had walked the last mile home so that he was sufficiently cooled down.
If he was wet he was always put in a sweat rug and monitored untill was dry and was either rugged or turned out.
He was never hooned around on hard ground (as much as he thought he should gallop in any open space at any time of the year!)
He came in a dutch gag and was strong. He had obviously been hauled around alot as his mouth was a bit deaddend so rather then do the classic "put him in a dutch gag on the bottom ring because it looks fashinable" he went into a happy mouth snaffle.
What was the point if fighting him with a harch bit if he would just pull against it anyway.

Before i got my new horse in march i had been looking to loan a horse. One of the ones i was in conversation about was a horse that in the photos was ridden in a dutch gag on the bottom ring. I questioned it and was given the response "im afraid thats down to my daughter....she wanted to ride xxxx in the same bit as all of her friends, its the same with the grackle noseband".......WHY DONT THESE PARENTS DO SOMETHING.....
.......kids should bloomin well have to earn their ponys....and prove that they can care for them with respect and maturity.

Sorry rant over!!
 
I would definately try to get her to go to Pony Club, sell it that she will be on all the teams and able to jump the big fences etc., etc.
Trouble is she is right and everyone else in the world is wrong. Its the new money syndrome. Poor ponio.
 
UGH, what a brat. I see ones like her all the time at shows, beating the pony when its their **** riding that's really the problem.
You say your friend owns the livery yard where she keeps the pony. Could she say something, like she expects the horses housed on her property to be properly cooled down and fields are off limits for riding when hard due to safety etc. Seems to me she might be the only one in any position to challenge the kid. But by the sound of the stupid parents they'd just move the pony to another yard rather than listen to any advice.
I wish I could think of more useful advice, I feel your pain, its awful watching a nice pony be badly treated and blamed by a **** rider.
 
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