When did your kiddies go onto there 2nd ponies from First Riddens?

[zoelouisem]

As title really. When did they go off there first ridden kick alongs to a more forward slightly wizzier type??
How did you define they were ready and how old and how long had they been riding?
I think im there with mine but its a real hard and big decision??

 

[Dubsie]

All depends on the child IMO. Mine didn't exactly have a first ridden, her first non riding school pony just a quirky unschooled, very forward going and rather naughty SecA, she was 9 and had no choice in the matter as it was local and cheap to ride! Taught her heaps though.

Similarly at 10 when her legs knocked down any jump over 2ft 3 (not the pony's legs) she went on to a very 'young' although he was 6 14h '2nd' pony and again has had to learn a lot. I'd only describe him as a 2nd pony for a confident teenager now, 2 years on, and even so in the worng hands (someone too cautious, unconfident or a poor rider) he will make mincemeat of them.

I don't think my daughter would have gained anything from a kick along or even a ready schooled push button wizzy fast pony, she isn't the sort, she enjoys the challenge and loves schooling and getting improvement, even at RS where she was from 7 she was always put on the tricker ponies or the ones that bucked or mis behaved as she was actually good with them and didn't panic as some kids but followed the instructors directions as to how to ride them to best advantage. Even now she prefers to have lessons and to school, rather than as some kids she knows who all they do is just belt about and jump a lot of jumps when they ride.

I don't think there is any right or wrong age to move up it's just when the time seems right, and only you really will know if you feel she's ready for more of a challenge. In our case we had to move on as daugter was getting so disappointed on jumping faults that were her feet! If you think she is ready then maybe time to start looking / putting feelers out for a pony she could inherit from someone who has outgrown it. I will warn you though that even when her feet reach the ground on current pony she'll want to keep riding it! (She rode the Sec A for the owner at Christmas and was most disapointed that pony behaved angelically and was gutted she didn't buck at all!)

 

[Littlelegs]

Did at 6 last year strictly speaking. But not followed the usual lr, first ridden pattern. Rode aged shettie up until 2 then rode a forward but saintly ex show pony till she was 4, then rode a true first ridden for a year, followed by riding a shetland who could shift, but also be relied on to stop to eat at the end of every canter. Has also been on my 14.2 from being a baby who is an angel, but forwards. So she's got very little experience of being on a kick along type, & is used to that forward feeling. We've had hers since a yearling, daughter started riding her as a rising 4 yr old last spring. I've been lucky tho in always having access to a range of ponies, so she's never had to go through the sudden change scenario.

 

[zoelouisem]

Thanks for your replies, i really think she is ready i was just worried because of her age, shes just about to turn 8.
i love her current pony hes a lovely little thing and safe as house will do a bit of everything at a very steady pace and nothing to challenging. Hes taken her off a lead rein completly off jumping courses XC started her off at PC and has taken her from a very nervous little girl to the bravest rider, but he has his limits. She not outgrown his height more his abilities
My daughter has done so well with him but is getting a little fustrated she rides different alot more forward going ponies at my work and on the yard and loves to fly round and jump bigger on them. She has also recently been schooling to little green ponies who are a bit challenging (one throwing some hefty bucks) and shes enjoyed the challenge.
I think i will start putting the feelers our as such and spread the word at PC and see what happens we are in no massive rush.
Thankyou.