Testing .. Early days

[_jac_]

Hi. We have had bracken 2 weeks now and suspect she is settling in and finding her feet.

She is 9 years old, and 13.1hh and is my daughters.

She has become increasingly strong over the last few days, and gets faster and faster. Charlotte is having real trouble keeping a steady pace, in the school keeping a steady canter is proving very difficult and when she gets quicker throws in an exited buck, Charlotte sits them well and has always stayed seated but I just need to have some pointers on how to keep the excitement down.

She is quite strong, daughter weighs about 5 and a half stone and is 5 ft tall and nearly 13, so plenty of leg around her but not much weight. Currently in a snaffle and running martingale. Saddle has been checked, and recently seen dentist.

Previous home said she bucked often as a 5 yr old when they first had her but in time it happened less and less.

Should we be looking at a stronger bit? Or as I suspect is this just a testing time and if so is it just a case of being consistant with her and keep trying to steady her?

She loves jumping but again is rushing at them and charly is feeling a little out of control.

The bucks are not bothering me as much as the battle over pace if I am honest.

All advice welcomed x

 

[florayG]

What are you feeding? I would hope nothing more than hay/grass and a supplement. If you're giving any hard feed, stop that and save the money!
No, a stronger bit won't work and will just spoil your daughter's 'hands' and the pony's mouth.
I would suggest that you revert to slow work only for a while, not doing anything that excites the pony, when you ask for canter let the pony canter only a few strides then ask for walk. Bracken needs to learn that pulling and charging off isn't what is wanted in her new home. She is testing to see what you will accept and what you want. Make haste slowly I think, a slow start now will pay dividends in the future.

 

[_jac_]

Thank you. I definitely feel she is over excited so shall keep every thing calm and lots of transition work and see how we go she is a great pony and very much worth the time and patience

No hard feed at all, she is a little overweight and will live happily on grass, not that we have much!

 

[oldie48]

Well a bit of a different opinion here and it's difficult without knowing the pony but with my daughter, although a very confident rider I thought it best for her to have control. I would put a pony who was trying it on, in a stronger bit, better for daughter to use a strong bit less than a mild bit more, if you see what I mean. We had a lovely connie who was very strong to start with, we put her in a pelham and a bungy for a month, just to keep daughter and pony in a safe place. yes, we were careful about what she did with the pony. she had lots of lessons and we avoided anything too exciting but once daughter felt she had the pony in control and the pony understood she couldn't just tank off, we were able to do more interesting stuff for both horse and rider. totally agree however, on the feed stuff!

 

[_jac_]

Thanks taking all opinions on board.

Lessons are booked but instructor is on holiday at moment although getting advice from more experienced people on yard too. She is on full loan And her owners are in touch and are coming to see her on Wednesday so we will hopefully get some helpful tips from them too

 

[_jac_]

A quick update brackens owners came and were shocked at just how naughty she was being. They suggested a change of noseband.

We have put a grackle on. Done loads of school work, transitions and it is working. Still early days but she seems to have really settled in the last week, Charlotte can now get a beautifully calm collected canter in a 20m circle, where as before it was rushed, unbalanced and with bucks on every stride.

A lot more smiles now, bracken and charly seem to be understanding each other and actually having some fun

 

[_jac_]

Having fun

 

[Micky]

Great that bracken is settling in, you could give her a handful of spillers lite balancer to make sure shes getting all the vits n mins she needs whilst being ridden by your daughter and she won't put on weight with it

 

[_jac_]

Thanks I will take a look at it

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Great that bracken is settling in, you could give her a handful of spillers lite balancer to make sure shes getting all the vits n mins she needs whilst being ridden by your daughter and she won't put on weight with it

I wouldn't bother. It is calories that she doesn't need.

Good to hear that your daughter now has more control and the pony is settling down, OP.

 

[Micky]

If she is in reasonably good work, she will need the extras that LITE balancer can give her..good horse management, they do not get enough from grass or hay alone

 

[_jac_]

Just an update. Bracken has been with us 4 months now.

Charly has been to a few small comps and got a 10th in their first mini hunter trial and some clear rounds at clear round jumping. She is a great pony, can be challenging but has taught charly so much.

Onwards and upwards

 

[hnmisty]

Aaw, great to see they're getting on so well together!