What Would You Do?

[claireelizabeth]

I brought a pony for my 6 year old a couple of months ago. He is 7, 11.2 Welsh. He is a lovely boy, good out hacking and leading from my horse. He has lovely paces and I think he'll do well showing.

The only issue is he is not as far along in his schooling as I thought. I knew he'd been turned away over the winter and could see his basic schooling was there but he needs more work than I first thought, he doesn't work well in the school, he doesn't like poles, jumping is reluctant (although he prefers jumps to poles on the ground) he is scared of any new equipment put out in the school. He will get there but needs time and work with a more experienced rider.

My little one is coming on well and enjoying riding, she rode a friends pony and was cantering around and loving it, she also wants to do games but the new pony won't go near the equipment. I'm also worried about her taking him to mini camp in the indoor school and all the different things he'll encounter there.

I don't want to put my Daughter off riding with a pony that isn't right and although she likes the new pony and has had some nice hacks with him I'm wondering if I should consider selling him on in favour of an old school master who can teach her the ropes.

I'm kicking myself really for a bad decision for her and the pony. I have considered keeping him for a year and getting out to some shows and seeing how it goes. He's not dangerous and he's not bucked or took off with her (although I can't say I trust him 100% off lead). My Daughter is a bit further along than I gave her credit for, I was thinking she's be on the lead rein this year which he is fine for but really she is at the First Ridden stage if she had a quiet enough pony.

What are you thoughts please, I want to do the right thing for child and pony (sorry bit of a long post!)

 

[Sheri]

is he stabled at night? you could try leaving bits of equiptment in the stable with him (clearly nothing he can hurt himself on) or out in his field so he can get used to it?

Put his bucket of feed ontop of a jump block and stuff like that

you've only had him a couple of moths so don't forget hes still getting to trust you, do some schooling with him while she is out on hacks. Maybe take him to a show and not enter anything (I did this with my youngster)just so he can absorb the atmosphere.

Worth a go before you think of parting with him

If you do decide to sell up you could always offer a swap, someone may have an older pony that is slowing down and want a new challenge

 

[claireelizabeth]

Thanks, we've been putting flags in the field and equipment out in the yard at dinner time trying to get him used to different things. He's a stubborn little thing though!

My heart does say to give him a bit longer, I think he will get there it's just whether that's the right thing to do taking into account his little rider who could be off learning to ride but is spending more time watching her sister getting him to wak over a pole at the moment.