What to do with a 3 (nearly 4) year old?

[Saxon_Jasmine]

I have recently taken on a lovely 12hh welsh sec a gelding. He is 3 years old (nearly 4) and has been lunged, bitted and lightly backed by his owner. He has been sat on by her children but not properly ridden.

I was just wondering what people's opinions are on where to go from there?

So far I have done lots of general handling, grooming, leading in hand (walk and trot), etc. I have lunged him in walk and trot and free schooled him in walk, trot and canter. His tack arrived yesterday so I had a pootle round the menage on him for 5mins, we did halt, walk on and a small trot.

I'd like to free jump him at some point and it would be great to hack him out with my mare when he's ready.

(I know he's a little rotund; we're working on that so no comments please)

2 piccys

 

[Enfys]

Pretty

Drive/Long rein him, all ponies, in my opinion, should be broken to cart

Traffic proofing?
Bomb (well, you know what I mean) proofing, he has got to be used to pretty much everything if he is going to be a childs pony. Has he been to a show? Take him, all good experience.

Make yourself a jumping lane if you can, it won't hurt him to pop a few jumps or learn about trotting poles. I like my horses to figure poles, then jumps, out for themselves without a rider, that way they can get themselves out of a pickle without being hampered by a jockey on top.

I'd be bringing him on lightly now if he were mine. There is no reason at all why he can't learn to lead from your mare now, just in fields until he understands, then light hacks if all goes well, it will do him the world of good.

Have fun

 

[night_mare]

Lovely looking pony. Long reining would be good in the school, out on the roads, round the yard, etc. Also gentle hacks with another horse or 2 and some light school work in walk, trot should be fine but keep the sessions short and give him a week or two off regularly to give him time to chill as well.