Tense, rushing pony - any suggestions? (Warning, a long one!)

[Acolyte]

My friend has asked me to work with her 11.2hh pony to try and re-train it to become a childs pony eventually - this was after the pony stood straight up with a 16 year old girl on board, she fell off backwards, and it fell over onto her. The girl fractured 2 vertebrae in her back, but thankfully has made an 100% recovery and is fine.

The pony is only 4 and has had a pretty rough deal in life - it has already been used in a riding school, even though my friend has owned it for about a year

It has been ridden by a variety of nervous kids more recently, and basically it has never been taught any manners/parameters of behaviour

After a few blips (the first time I rode it, it stood straight up with me too. Oddly it has never done that again...) I am now getting on quite well with the pony, but I cannot persuade it to relax when we hack. As soon as we get onto the common he wants to canter (which is what all the kids did with him), and he wants to go flat out not at a reasonable speed. Stopping him is no problem as he is so small, so I have been doing loads of transitions, circles, etc etc - but has anyone any experience of this situation, and any tips on how I could calm him down? Would be interested on any ideas, thanks

(Incidentally I am only 5'2" and 9-9.5 stone, so hopefully not too heavy for him...?)

 

[Shilasdair]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing - also do lots of lunging in walk on big circles, over poles to make him think and flex...with side reins on too to encourage him to go into a contact nicely.
Lots of walk transitions on the common - and be careful you don't tense up too...try to keep relaxing the rein (easy to say, hard to do). And if you are going to trot or canter much, always do it in different places so he can't anticipate.
Lucky pony to have you guys

S