Training a childs pony

Sol

Sol

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2009
Messages
4,133
Location
Shropshire, England.
Visit site
Maybe that should be retraining? Hmm.

My instructor is leaving soon (moving abroad) and has suggested that I could do some work with a friends/fellow liveries pony, lets call her M. The pony is for M's daughter (D for now) but D has had a few falls from the pony, who has taken off bucking, and has now lost confidence with him. She's ridden a few other ponies fine, but when put on her own pony again, tenses up and causes him to become tense too - constant downwards spiral!

So, pony is a very nice Sec B/C type gelding, who is VERY clever and well, doesn't like to give up without a fight. I think he's the sort that you have to earn his respect. I actually ended up doing join up with him the other week (he refused to be caught) and he'd show the signs he wanted to come in, then almost get angry at himself for giving in it seemed and go back to square one. It took maybe 30mins almost (or it seemed so) before he came to me and then he was lovely - and has been fab to catch ever since :p
Should also add that he's mostly good for an 'older' or more confident rider, but has done the same with the other girl who rides him, but being bigger & stronger, she's not got the same issue...

Anyway, to the point! I have a few ideas for how I'd go about working with him and obviously D as otherwise I think the problem would continue. But I'm wondering how other people would go about dealing with the issue, and if it compares to my plan! :) He really is a lovely pony, and not nasty either really, it would be sad to see them have to sell him (they really do love him but dont want to go much longer having a pony D wont ride obviously)

Thoughts? :)
 
Ponies are certainly not silly and he knows what he can and cannot getaway with.

I have had many ponies that behaved badly with their child owners because they could get away with it and if they did then I would get on them. I did not care how small they were if they had the energy to mess around then they could carry me. I would not pussy foot around with them either they were made to canter and I would keep them going until they were puffed out and then I would put the child back on and make them canter them some more.

I did get a very nice show pony on its way to the killers because it bucked when it cantered - they were not lying either! He dropped my niece so many times and then one day did it on the road. I was that mad I was straight on him and cantered him up the road with a very steep hill and then cantered him back down it. He would still try it on with my niece so I resorted to a 'war bridle' which is a piece of cord going under the top lip and then back up the front of the face under the browband and headpiece and fixing onto the front of the saddle so that when they go to put their head down they feel the string on their top lip. That stopped him.

Stop feeding him hard food, work him and work him hard. Make him realise that he has to earn his keep by being behaved. Get a bigger kid to ride him so he is better with the owner.
 
Wow! Remind me not to come back as a pony in Foxhunter49's care!
Personally I wouldn't canter anything on roads (concussion, plus potential for slipping, plus not that safe), I won't put heavy riders on small animals and I certainly wouldn't do the string on top lip thing, that is verging on cruel IMO.

You said that this pony was good for you to catch after some join up. Well, maybe a good place to start with D would be getting her to do some too. To start with you can stand right with her so she has literal 'back up' and then move on to her doing it by herself.

Obviously get back and saddle checked in case that is causing bucking and, as Foxhunter49 said, forage based diet and exercise.

If he is smart then keep the work very varied. In fact that should help D too... if she is focussing on e.g. picking balls off cones/putting them into buckets etc then she won't have as much brain left for tensing with and he won't have as much fir being naughty!
 
any child should know about the one rein stop or bend to a stop, pony can't buck if it is bent, I teach my kids this. Also helps if pony is going faster than they can handle (even if that is a trot), and with ponies that may rear.

does the pony only buck at the canter, can the child do a heap of work at the walk and trot, until she gets a bit more comfortable (in an arena)

can you work on trot to canter transitions ridden and on line, until every canter is nice

if these things are in place and then the child asks for a canter (once she is really comfortable at walk and trot) on a circle, but only for a few strides, then transition back to trot, ready one with rein should she need to bend pony to a stop, and repeat, lots of transitions, lots of circles and bends, not too many straight lines, none at a canter until child an pony are ok - always safety first

my ponies usually let me know before they buck, that this is what they intend to do, and a slight bend (or not so slight) to the inside will usually stop the buck before its starts

it really depends on how nasty the pony is being about it and how tmid the rider is

my sons pony can be a real monster sometimes, for a while I took him off it and gave him another pony to ride while his older brother rode the pony, eventually he got enough confidence to start working through the issues himself, (but an experienced instructor who knows how to sort out these kind of things can also help give the child some tips & tools and therefore confidence)
 
Last edited:
Good to hear I'm thinking on the right track then!!
My first step was to start with join up again - I'd try it, then as D to come and have a go (with me as back up). Then maybe another day let her try herself as long as she understands it :)
Then start some ground work with him, making sure he's polite, responsive & respectful. Then get D to come and 'help' me, until she's happy handling him herself (considered say a handy pony course that she could lead or long-rein him through, with help if need be)
One rein stop for definite!! This is fab, and have used it with my own horse :)
I think pony does need some schooling, mostly would want to get his trot and canter feeling very 'safe' - so steady & stoppable! So need to work on his balance. Would prefer to not get him too fit, but fitter and better behaved is I guess a bit better! And get him very quiet & obedient on the lunge (obeying voice commands) which would hopefully help D.
Lots of variation, and lots of fun little games & exercises to keep D's mind occupied as much as the ponys! :) Basically what I've done with my own horse, so shouldn't be too challenging.... hopefully! Thanks everyone :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top