Tips on backing/bringing on a pony for a small child please!

[maya2008]

Feral pony is currently at my friend’s yard to learn about people. She will be backed in the summer. So for now, we are entertaining her little self by taking her for in-hand walks to see the world, teaching her to long-rein and all about tack/rugs/farrier/being brushed/everything I can think of! We will practise loading and get used to the noise of clippers etc too while she is at my friend’s yard and we have the use of a stable.

So - I have six months or so to bombproof the little soul before she gets a child on her. She will then be a hacking pony for the following year. I am planning on taking her on all the routes we do in-hand then on long reins, and finally led from another pony so she really doesn’t care about anything before she has to do it all with a child attached.

What else should I do? Tips anyone? I have backed and ridden away plenty of ponies before, but they were all big enough for me to sit on, ‘tis a different world doing it all from the ground!

 

[twiggy2]

Biggest tip is to get rid of the time frame, the pony will be ready when it is ready.
Just get it out and about, teach it life is boring and predictable.

 

[tristar]

sounds a great plan, i always have my trusty standing mart, fitted loosely, [if needed] to hand, in case of to much enthusiasm, and perhaps grass reins might be thought, only if needed of course

 

[planete]

Get it really good with voice commands so that it will obey a supervising adult from a distance whether on a lead rein or off.

 

[stangs]

If you’ve got a big teddy bear, I’d let her carry it on her back a bit whilst long reining to get used to something strange and ungainly (not saying that your child’s like that!) being on top.

 

[maya2008]

If you’ve got a big teddy bear, I’d let her carry it on her back a bit whilst long reining to get used to something strange and ungainly (not saying that your child’s like that!) being on top.

Good idea! Good way to get rid of a couple of the enormous stuffed monstrosities that have accumulated in our house (courtesy of relatives) too!!!

 

[Snow Falcon]

Put a pair of boots in stirrups too when teddy on board.

 

[honetpot]

I find the ones that are good right from the start, are always basically well behaved. Plan every step, and try and predict in advance the problems. Keep the head collar on when tacking up, and tie the rope around the neck just in case when you go for a hack.
The ones, who always have a but,i n my experience, no matter how much work you put in to them, the hours hacking, will never change. The child may become a better rider, or you may try putting a better rider on it, but it will always look for the gap, the line of the least resistance, and go through it. For a smart pony,a quick spin, is the quickest way to dislodge a small rider.
I think the sooner you find out the better. If you can get an older, small rider to lean and get on it, just to get used to the weight and see if it puts in a buck, but not actually try and ride it properly, I would try the smaller child, so it knows exactly what level of work is required, which is really just walk and stop from the voice aids.

 

[paddi22]

yeah temperament seems to trump all the training in the world. I've had ones here broken exactly the same way, and some you could pop a child on from day one, and others would just find any chance for mischief. They either have an instinct to mind a jockey or they don't!

 

[maya2008]

So far she is very protective and caring towards my daughter and regards my son (9yo) as more of a mini adult. Good with traffic, responds very well to praise and encouragement and is intelligent enough to figure things out for herself. She has issues with adults outside of our immediate family (distrust, will occasionally kick/bite) but is trying her absolute hardest to please with us.

 

[HorseLover5810]

I second the big teddy idea, and also make sure to let the teddy fall off at w/t/c so she learns that if someone falls off it’s no big deal and to stop and wait.

 

[Mari]

sounds a great plan, i always have my trusty standing mart, fitted loosely, [if needed] to hand, in case of to much enthusiasm, and perhaps grass reins might be thought, only if needed of course

Please don’t use a standing martingale.

 

[tristar]

Please don’t use a standing martingale.

op is very experienced and i would trust her sense of judgement as to when and how to use any equipment, more than i would yours

perhaps you did not read the bit that says IF NEEDED

 

[Chuffy99]

Why so anti the standing martingale? Such a useful bit of kit. Correctly fitted absolutely no effect until needed and nothing on the mouth

 

[I'm Dun]

Kids ponies are born not made. Yes they can be polished up and/or wrecked, but they are either born to be a kids pony or you are constantly fighting against it.

 

[tristar]

Why so anti the standing martingale? Such a useful bit of kit. Correctly fitted absolutely no effect until needed and nothing on the mouth

passive, but can be life saving, personally i fit them very loose.