We need brakes on our new pony, any suggestions???

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Lou23

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Hi,

We have got a new pony who we have had for 5 weeks.

She is lovely but is turning out to be very forward going.

When we tried her she was very good and easy to stop but since having her she is getting faster and faster.
My daughter finds it difficult to do a nice working trot as the pony gradually goes faster and faster we have tried half halts, lots of transitions and slowing down the rising which my daughter finds very difficult.
We also have a problem in canter as she just canters round and round in circles and my daughter ends up having to turn her in a tight circle to stop. The pony doesn't seem to get faster in canter but can be a bit rushed.
When we go out to shows she is still a bit rushed but easier to handle.
I feel the pony wants to get on with the job as quickly as possible so she can get back out to her friends in the field, as she is also keen walking back to the field. This pony is very well schooled and feel she testing us a bit.
When we got her she was ridden is a hanging cheek french link, which we thought she felt dead in the mouth so have tried her in a loose ring snaffle, which she went slightly better in but still have the above problems, she also has a flash noseband. We generally do dressage so the bit has to be
dressage legal.

Would be grateful if any of you has any suggestions to help us.

Thank you for reading as a bit on the long side
 
If pony is testing you then put in a stronger bit until she has realised that your daughter is in control. FWIW we used a happy mouth hanging cheek snaffle and the same mouthpiece but as a pelham for occasions where the pony might be a bit strong. As she's less strong at shows the dressage legal bit should be ok then.


The other thing would be if she has had a change of lifestyle. Was she used to hacking out and now spends most of her working time in the school?
 
IMO 5 weeks in't long, so I would suggest doing lots more school work. My daughters pony is exactly the same.

I actually got on him and schooled him with a good instructor. lots of cirlcle work, half halting the outside rein only.
Took a good four months, but turned out to be fantastic. We can now ride him with the lightest contact, and he listens to both seat and voice aids

Sounds like he doesn't like the bit to me. Try a Myler comfort snaffle, mine love them.
 
All of the above and also get her back, teeth and saddle checked, some ponies are just really forward going and testing but other do it out of pain.
 
Teeth were checked when she was vetted and she has a new saddle which was checked last night. Had back person check her routinely 11/2 weeks ago.

The problem with doing the transitions is she fine moving up a gear but difficult to slow down. She does go out for hacks as well.
If i was to use a stronger bit, what would you suggest as i don't know much about bits.
Hopefully YO is going to school her today and see what she thinks.
Oh i had put her magnesium to help her settle in a bit but not sure if it makes much difference. Our fields are low in magnesium.
 
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All of the above and also get her back, teeth and saddle checked, some ponies are just really forward going and testing but other do it out of pain.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly what I was going to say - may be a pain issues or is just a whizzy pony!
 
I should think probably the pony just want to rush, but to sort it out I would rather get it listening to the rider rather than changing the bit. You say you daughter finds it very difficult to slow the rising- Is this just because she hasn't had much practise at doing it, or because the pony plainly ignores her. I expect that the pony will slow the rhythm with persistant slow rising. The pony may well try to walk rather than trot slowly, as it will find it hard but if you keep working on it it will come.

TBH if the pony is very strong, or you feel a stronger bit would help I'd use a kimblewick as the normal bit, and then try a mullen mouth, or if you can find one a very small port like the kimblewick, eggbut snaffle for dressage as the mouth peice is similar.

Putting a stonger bit in will probably make the pony take shorter stides in its rushed rythm rather than slow the rhythm from previous experience.
 
Our other pony is not forward going at all and she has had to learn how to ride him to get him moving forward. She is a very quiet rider and i think she struggles to slow the rising trot as we have never had to do it. We are currently having lessons every week but the last two occasions in the school the pony has done the above, she not being nasty and i don't worry that the pony will be naughty.
I don't really want to use a stronger bit but wondered if it would help for a couple of weeks so the pony learns that she can control her and then go back to a Snaffle.

The pony is 14.1hh, fine build and my daughter is a bit on the small side on her and only weighs 4 stone.

My daughter really likes this pony and i worry she will lose her confidence as they have gelled really well.
 
My daughter has had 3 forward going ponies and all of which used a snaffle at home and a stronger bit for competitions and hacking when she first had them, not sure the stronger bit made much difference to the ponies, but it did give her confidence, I used to tell her dont worry you will be able to stop him/ her in this! Not sure how old your daughter is mine is now 14 and had her first pony at 7 (she was 27 and hunted in a gag!). Just make sure that they dont get into the I'll pull at you and you pull back at me routine, what happens when she goes faster and instead of trying to pull her up your daughter drops the contact? It does take time to settle in with a new pony especially if it is a different type to her last one. Can you get YO or someone to school her once a week, was she used to a bigger heavier rider? Dont worry though its sounds like they just need a bit of help, sounds a nice pony.
 
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