smallbutgreat
Well-Known Member
I'll try to keep this sane, sensible and short ...
Seeking advice on whether or not I should ride my daughter's pony - for my sake and the pony's - and if so how to go about it.
In a nutshell, she is a gorgeous pony, who we've had for five years. Always been ridden by my daughter, for whom she has gone like a dream ... lots of prizes showjumping round about 1 metre 5 (she's very fast), cross-country, horseball, and above all great fun to ride out in the woods.
Daughter's done what daughters do: grown up, done exams and gone on gap year. We looked half-heartedly for a new owner, but in my heart of hearts I had already decided not to sell.
She's a pet (I know she shouldn't be, but she is). She is also just too fast for most kids, and teenagers here ride horses at a much younger age than in the UK since there is no distinction in competitions. She can get "silly" in the school, although an experienced rider can get her going beautifully. And, at 12, she is getting old. Also, we will be returning to the UK one day and I want to take her with us rather than leave her to an uncertain future here.
So .... I suddenly got this crazy idea I would learn to ride her and keep her for myself, perhaps finding a better rider for half share. Longed for a pony for years when I was younger, suddenly thought it would be mad to get rid of this one.
Hacking in company is basically fine. But I've just had my first lesson in the school, from an experienced friend. Totally different ball game from my previous experience, which is strictly riding school. Responds to change of weight in rider, and even at the walk she just wandered in misshapen circles for the first half hour, until I finally got her on the track. At one point she did go to tank off, but I managed to sit back, breathe, keep my hands down and not squeeze with my legs and was actually fine.
She's so not the right horse for me, and I can see a long road ahead. I also don't want to spoil her or damage me. Yet I had an absolute ball, came away really happy, and to be honest, if I don't ride her I won't ride anything.
Seeking advice on whether or not I should ride my daughter's pony - for my sake and the pony's - and if so how to go about it.
In a nutshell, she is a gorgeous pony, who we've had for five years. Always been ridden by my daughter, for whom she has gone like a dream ... lots of prizes showjumping round about 1 metre 5 (she's very fast), cross-country, horseball, and above all great fun to ride out in the woods.
Daughter's done what daughters do: grown up, done exams and gone on gap year. We looked half-heartedly for a new owner, but in my heart of hearts I had already decided not to sell.
She's a pet (I know she shouldn't be, but she is). She is also just too fast for most kids, and teenagers here ride horses at a much younger age than in the UK since there is no distinction in competitions. She can get "silly" in the school, although an experienced rider can get her going beautifully. And, at 12, she is getting old. Also, we will be returning to the UK one day and I want to take her with us rather than leave her to an uncertain future here.
So .... I suddenly got this crazy idea I would learn to ride her and keep her for myself, perhaps finding a better rider for half share. Longed for a pony for years when I was younger, suddenly thought it would be mad to get rid of this one.
Hacking in company is basically fine. But I've just had my first lesson in the school, from an experienced friend. Totally different ball game from my previous experience, which is strictly riding school. Responds to change of weight in rider, and even at the walk she just wandered in misshapen circles for the first half hour, until I finally got her on the track. At one point she did go to tank off, but I managed to sit back, breathe, keep my hands down and not squeeze with my legs and was actually fine.
She's so not the right horse for me, and I can see a long road ahead. I also don't want to spoil her or damage me. Yet I had an absolute ball, came away really happy, and to be honest, if I don't ride her I won't ride anything.
