Would you let a 10 years old break in a pony?

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BuzzyBee13

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Hii, sorry it might be quite long but...

My 6 years old niece lost her beloved shetland pony (PTS) a couple of weeks ago and was devasted so I told my sister that she could have my unbroken 12hh 5 years old gelding if she just wanted a pony she could cuddle/play with because he has such a good temperament. The only reason that he is unbroken is because he is a very lightweight build so i have never had a jockey small enough to break him however now my sister has asked if she can use my 10 years old niece to break him in. I said yes if she thought it was safe etc but I did explain that I didnt think it was a fantastic idea because her 10 years old likes to get on and do things and she is not one for waiting about. So ofcourse if I get my niece to break him I will be on the ground because I have years of experience of breaking them. So what do you guys think? Would you let a quite competentant 10 years old break in a very good show pony (winner in-hand at cheshire show!) or should I send him off to be proffesianly schooled if anyone has a light enough rider because I reckon he could only hold 7.5 stone max.

Thanks in advance :) x
 
Yes, 10 is quite young.
I started backing horses around age 11/12, so I was pretty young too, I had the courage back then which I no longer have.
Its a hard one to call, I wanted to do the work with our horses and just naturally got on doing it without much thought, I think I probably worried my parents sick sometimes!
I did have one fairly horrible accident backing a section D mare, I was about 11/12, it was just one of those things. I went to mount, something spooked her and she took off, I landed on the JCB claw, it all happened very quick.
Other than that there were no other such scares.
 
I think ultimately it is, of course, up to you but there is a ten year old on our yard that I would trust 100% to do the job. She is very patient though and actually really enjoys working on youngsters. Only ten year old I've ever met that likes schooling babies but she's got a real knack. We always joke that we're going to sell her as a work rider.

If it was me and I could keep a close eye on everything myself I'd be willing to give it a go. After all if it starts going awry you could always look for a breaking yard. You'll know better than anyone if it is going the way it should as you know the pony and the child

Good luck
 
If you or an adult are supervising at all times and are on hand to help out then i'm sure she would be fine.
She's small and light enough and if you think the pony is ready to start work then it might be better then sending the pony away.
You could always try it and if no joy you still have the option to send it away to be professionally Broken In. I'm sure you trying to break him in wouldn't affect him being a show pony.
You say you have experience with breaking in and your niece is competent, so give it a go and see how you get on.
Your niece will probably outgrow him quite quickly with her only being 10...if not in weight then in height so do it sooner rather than later.
:D
 
Light rider here with small pony obsession would happily help ;) haha
I've helped back ponies since I was about 10, always enjoyed it and still do. Was very must a case though of just doing exactly as I was told so I didn't make mistakes, being very cautious. I didn't mind all that though and enjoyed seeing the ponies progress. If the child isn't going to be too fond of that sort of thing, it might be harder to convince them that it's all got to be done quite slowly! Can't see much harm in giving it a go though as other people have said??
 
When i was 10 i had to totally re-train a pony, yes not backing but it was pretty much like that, except with the added issue of him being terrified, so maybe even more difficult...
I was VERY quiet rider, and took hours doing it, so if she is a good little rider, confident and would give the pony a good start then i see why not...
No harm in trying, see what happens...!
 
I backed my first one about that age, but quite honestly it was done through ignorance with no-one to guide or advise me except the farmer who had driven a milk cart!
I would not encourage anyone so young to take on a young horse without some adult and preferably expert help, supervison and guidance. If you are very lucky, you will get away with murder if the horse's temprement is angelic - but you can also be heading for diaster!
 
I backed a riding pony my mum bought for me at the age of 8! She wouldnt of allowed me to do it unless she thought i was good enough to cope with her. Shes now 18 :) IMO as long as you think its ok then go for it!
 
I can see her being used as a jockey, but if you want to produce a show pony then surely she would need to be quite expert to "break" the pony herself? I guess it depends on what you mean she would actually do. (And the insurance situation should she have an accident and be injured.
I've really gone off this "breaking horses" phrase, "starting" them sounds so much nicer and hopefully is more accurate.
 
Hmm i wouldn't... you could get an older child/teen who was 7.5 stone which would be safer.... not saying the 10 year old isn't up to it... just that personally don't think its a great idea...
 
I supose it would depend on what you mean by break in, if you mean do the whole job from start to finish then, in your position i would'nt, but if you mean that you would do all the work, but only use her to back the pony, and school it under your supervision , then maybe i would.
 
If you've done all the correct handling and ground work, and he's a nice quiet temperment, it should really just be a case of her getting on and off she goes. So yes, I'd happily let a competant 10yr old break a sensible pony.
 
Yes, but I would make sure she's involved right from the start, see's yuou long rein and lunge and has everything explaned to her properly. That way hopefully you'll make a proper little horsewoman for the future!
 
My horse, who I bought at 13, had been backed by a 14 year old from a very experienced showing family and you couldn't ask for a nicer, well-mannered animal. I think as long as you are supervising, it could be a fun thing for you both to do together and it would do the pony the world of good as well. It would certainly increase your chances of finding him a good home if you ever needed to sell him.
 
I dont see what the problem is? So long as there would always be an adult present, and she has all the correctly fitted safety gear on, is a quiet and well behaved rider, and her parents are happy, I think its fine! Its not like you're just gonna let her go wild by herself!!!

Go for it. Obviously you must supervise her ALL the time, but if shes happy to ride then go wild! xxxx
 
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