What to do? (Long)

[Clodagh]

I have decided to sell Small Pony. Small Boy is ready for a first ridden now and SP hasn't a clue off the lead rein and doesn't know how to canter. I have been putting the word out a bit. But, yesterday we had a rally and he was great! Jumped really well, gave all the other pones a lead through the water and up and down the steps, was generally an angel. Small Boy also had a ride on another pony, it isn't for sale, but he had a canter on it - his first without being bucked off! You run next to it, say canter and it does...say trot and it does...WOW! If it was for sale I imagine it would be over £3000 which is a little bit more ((gulp)) than I was planning on spending. I need to sort something out because Small Boys friends have all moved up this year and we haven't as they now all have first riddens.

So...(this is long, sorry).

What are the chances of SP learning to do that?

Pluses of SP:
Great to do anything with (load, shoe, clip, catch etc).
Leads off a horse on hacks
Pops a small jump happily, good at ditches, water etc.

Minuses of SP:
Spooky on his RH side (but Small Boy is so used to that its not too big a deal).
Will not move off the LR (makes like a rock)
Cannot canter - just trots faster and faster and if you really go super duper fast, does one stride and bucks.
I COULD send him away to be schooled, but would it really make a huge difference? Opinions please! I weigh about 10 stone - what if I got on him?

He is 11.1 chunky wledsh A, will fit Small Boy size wise for two years yet. (SB is 6)

 

[reynold]

get it schooled - the canter bit could easily be sorted and otherwise sounds brilliant and does lots of things that are harder to teach to do - like ditches and water

10 stone too heavy tbh and also you'd teach to go from adult leg aids rather than kids leg aids

is there a bright kid at the PC that could teach it for you and doesn't mind bucks - a lightweight 11 or 12 yr old that knows what they are doing ?

I know one but we're 3 hrs from you easily so too far away.

keep the pony and sort out the canter

 

[browbrow]

Get one of the older kids to sort him out -

Keep the pony

Dont ride him - I think ten stone would be a bit too much for a 11h sec a -

 

[dwi]

I would keep the pony and give it a try at having it reschooled. Could you find a competent small adult to see if they can get him to canter. I suspect he's just got out of the habit of cantering. He sounds like he's got alot of other good points about him

 

[Agent XXX999]

I would sell up...by the time you have got it schooled and invested the £££££ you may as well invest in another...or you could loan him out until you have another small child for him!

TBH kids are fickle and get over the 'loss' of a horse very quickly...especially when said horse is replaced by a better (no offence) model!

IMHO you can get hold of safe first ponies for £1400 ish, might be a bit older but will have got the T shirt..

 

[gemmaw]

i personally dont think 10 stone is too heavy, as long as its not for hours of riding or for the whole of his future. I'd get on him and school him yourself, give him a try and see how it goes, if he wont do it at least you've given it a try. If you sell him and buy something that isnt as quiet to handle/ride as him you might kick yourself for not trying!!??!!

 

[Agent XXX999]

ETS...Section A's were bred for shepherds to ride, so I dont think 10 st is too much, I weigh the same and get paid to school a 13.1 sec b - have had no problems!

 

[colleenmurtagh1]

I would personally get some child to get him going , We have a section a , my son is also 6 and he got him cantering for the first time last saturday ( it was childs first time cantering also ) ... Sort out pony and then sell .

 

[Clodagh]

Really sorry for not replying to all your points sooner - laid low with mega headache.
The vote seems mainly to be keep...but a bit to sell. (Rather like my thoughts).
There is a girl who advertises locally that she schools, might see if I can get some refs for her. I could give it a week of schooling and see if any progress was made, I should think that would only cost about £100?? If he didn't improve much I could cut my losses and he he improved it would be worth it.
Thanks a lot