teenagers!

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harrihjc

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my sister is 13, and recently her pony has become very arthritic, and is no longer rideable other than occasional hacking. The only thing she seems happy doing is riding and competing, but as she can no longer do this she has become VERY angry and very difficult. She despises my horse, and he's very much a one person horse anyway, so we can't share, but because of her attitude my parents are very reluctant to buy another, understandably! We have thought about loaning, but there just doesn't seem to be anything suitable available, and she insists that it just isn't the same (and I can see her point)

At the moment, it seems we just can't win with her, and I was wondering If anyone had any suggestions of what we could do. I was wondering about advertising to see if anyone had anything they needed a rider for, or competing etc in this area, do you think it's worth a try?

I suppose it must be difficult going from having your own pony to trying to find a ride of someone elses
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I'm kind of waffling now, but its getting so difficult and I hate seeing her so upset, was wondering if anyone had suggestions of some compromise or other
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thanks for reading
 

Theres always people about looking for someone to ride/compete their horses, advertise locally and you might just be surprised!

Ok its not the same as having your own to compete but theres a certain cost advantage and she will always have her pony to call her own. See how she gets on competing someone elses, if she can show your parents how mature she is towards it, They may be more obliged to buy another when the time is right.

Ive been competing other peoples for years and had lots of fun riding lots of different horses in all sorts of different events, I only recently brought my own because id been riding her for a while and the time was right.

Good luck!
 
Maybe she is being difficult cos she's worried about her pony? I know she's at a difficult age but could you and your mum try and sit and have a good talk with her. If she doesn't want to loan one it might be worth seeing if anyone locally wants a jockey for the summer shows. If you were nearer we hvae a 13hh that would love to be ridden! Sorry don't suppose I've helped much but hope you can sort something out.
 
thanks, thats really encouraging, I think I'll take an advert down to the local saddlery and see if anything comes up
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there is that, we've had her since I was 13 so she's a member of the family. I think she's very quick to dismiss possibilites too, she's only 5ft so can easily get away with riding 13.2's, but I think her (pleasant) friends have been perhaps a little unkind about it. Probably jealousy as her 13.2hh always beat their 16hh horses
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but she's at that age where peoples opinions really matter to her
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That sounds familiar. My daughter competed said 13hh till she was 14, caused chaos at pony club cos was in rides with friends on 16hh. She also used to beat the big uns , looked ridiculous in line ups. She moved from pony straight on to 15.2 which we still have now. Would your sister be able to cope if she moved onto a horse, it would perhaps save another change if she grows in the next year or so, and she might be happier than if her friends were looking down on her (literally!)
 
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I suppose it must be difficult going from having your own pony to trying to find a ride of someone elses

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Yes, but think what it would do for her riding to ride different horses/ponies! It would be a great ego-boost for her if she could 'ride anything' - I wonder if you suggest it to her like that she might find it a compliment and feel more positive about it?
 
my sister had a very nasty accident on a horse and ended up in hospital, really affected her confidence in horses, and if I'm anything to go by she won't grow much more (She hasn't grown since she was 11, and neither have I!). I think she would ride anything, but has never properly ridden a horse before, and I don't think she quite understands how much of a change it is from jumping ponies! I think she probably needs something about 14.2hh
 
I think she needs more confidence in her own ability, and I really hope we can find a ride for her. Her pony really is a VERY difficult ride and she rides her so quietly and is quite fearless on her. Also, the more different horses and ponies you ride the more you know what really suits you for when you do get your own.
 
I've taken the plunge, I've advertised begging for a horse/pony for her to ride! Fingers crossed for us everyone. I suppose we do have the advantage of having a private yard with stable, grazing and a school!
 
She sounds like just the rider we need for our girl! But there must be people in your area with similar difficult ponies so I hope you are lucky. Quiet, competent lightweight riders are like gold dust, you'll probably have people fighting over her!
 
taking her to ride a 13hh pony tonight that is desperate for a rider, I think she's really excited so I hope it works out. She's come to the conclusion that for the next 2 years she'd like to ride and compete other peoples horses as she thinks having her own would be too disruptive to her work (not that she ever does any work), so she wants to ride as many as possible and gain as much experience as she can. I'm really pleased
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Thats great news. I hope she likes the pony and it all works out for her. Sounds like she's got a sensible head on her young shoulders, my daughter found it quite hard during her GCSEs, a lot of the work with the horse was left to poor old Mum. And nothing has changed now she is at university, I just have to keep the horse fit as well as mucking out, lol!
 
she really liked the pony, could just get away with riding it as it really was a very fine little thing, but quite stunning! hopefully it will cheer her up
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