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Barnyard Buddies:  More pony problems...ugh!  |
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snowberryfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
132 Posts
Michelle
Central Wa
WA
USA
132 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 1:37:34 PM
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Well, our pony training has been going well...until yesterday. My 9 yr. old has been lunging her, working with the hooves, saddling her up, and riding her around. The trainers help her and have been working on riding, just walking her around the pasture. Yesterday, the pony appeared very lazy, and she would try to stop, but my daughter was advised to keep her going, and only let her stop when she stopped her. At one point, my daughter may have kicked her slightly harder, and the pony bolted across the pasture!
She was taken off guard by this, and ended up bailing off, by falling to the side. (she wasn't sure how to stop the pony).
Wonderful! I really don't want to put my daughter in danger...we didn't see this one coming, and I am wondering if this pony is just not the right one, or if this is something you just have to deal with when you own a horse or pony, knowing they can be unpredictable, and you just have to be on your toes and able to handle anything that comes up?
Any advice is appreciated! |
Edited by - snowberryfarm on Jun 10 2011 2:18:24 PM |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 2:39:33 PM
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My advice is find a new trainer, cause what you have posted in the past , and now, tells me he/she may not be right for your daughter and her pony...can not blame the pony for your daughter kicking her to hard, and her bolting, and a good trainer would be teaching your daughter how to use her body position and leg pressure to cue the mare, not kicking, and make sure that your daughter is not giving mixed signals to the mare. One other thing too, make sure that when the pony is "acting lazy", there is not another under lying problem, e.i., illness, rock in her hoof, too hot, etc...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 4:17:27 PM
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I have to agree with Tina! If the horse was just acting lazy, I would have after getting a good response, have gotten off and gotten out the lunge line and lunge whip. Also I wouldn't be having a novice rider loose in a pasture for lessons! She should be in a much smaller area such as a roundpen or small arena so that if an accident happens the horse only has so far to go. One of the first lessons the trainer should have given is how to do an emergency dismount and how to do an emergency stop/ one rein stop.
I don't think it's the pony's fault without being there to see the full interaction between horse and rider. I think your trainer does not really know how to give beginner lessons. She has pushed your daughter in the past and I am concerned that if she continues along this path she might make your daughter afraid of horses.
Are you talking lessons as well?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 5:07:39 PM
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Ditto to what the gals said. A horse is always unpredictable until you personally know what it's saying with it's body language because you're well aquainted with the horse.
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 08:03:03 AM
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I agree with the other girls too. How does your daughter feel about her experience? Is she still excited about getting back on and trying again? Another thing to remember is that a pony or horse cannot run away with you while you are on its back if it is going in circles. So if the trainer doesn't teach your daughter this, tell her that if her pony tries to take off again, then pull one rein around so that her nose is pointed towards your daughter's toe. The pony will come to a stop very quickly!! It is called the one-rein stop. Practicing this helps a lot so it becomes habit too...even if she just goes over and over in her mind what she will do if that happens again. 
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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snowberryfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
132 Posts
Michelle
Central Wa
WA
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 11:25:48 AM
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Yes, the trainer had told her about the one-rein stop, however, my daughter forgot, and didn't know what to do, so she just fell off. At this point she is fearful, and doesn't want to get back on, unfortunately.
Part of the problem is that I am uncomfortable with her learning to ride on a regular size horse, but a pony needs someone small to ride and if the pony needs more training, and the rider doesn't have the experience, it's hard to find someone small enough to give the pony the riding experience it needs. :( |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 1:40:18 PM
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Michelle- if the pony is not properly trained, I wouldn't recommend your daughter riding her to learn to ride. Ponies can be great animals but can also be willful and mischevious. Have you looked at smaller horses? I have an arabian that is just barely 14 hands she is awesome. Very calm and good natured. My four year old can ride her. Of course you have to make sure you get a good (sane and not breed to be super high spirited) arabian from a good breeder- but a nice older horse of any breed that has "been there" and "Done that" might be just the ticket. As long as they are sound- some of the older "babysitter" horses can be a child's best friend!
In my honest opinion- I would get a horse that is big enough that an adult can ride because children are not always the best to be correcting or schooling a horse if they do something wrong, and once a horse learns that it can get away with a bad thing such as bolting from a young rider- it can become very hard to stop. I also am concerned that the trainer has not kept the horse and training sessions under better control and I would look for an instructor with more experience in teaching children to ride. Perhaps taking lessons at a facility?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 1:43:43 PM
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Michelle, Find a good older push-button semi-retired lesson horse, large pony size or alittle bigger, make sure to have a vet check done, and bring an experienced horse person with you to ride the horse...Ponies are often NOT good first horses for a very green rider, they tend to be stubborn and alittle cranky. I think you all got caught up in the cute little pony with a foal, with not near enough experience to enjoy and be safe...or you can send the pony out to a proffessional trainer and have her evalulated, and give her a tune-up on prior training, and when the pony is in a good place, after your daughter has had numerous lessons on a good lesson horse from a good teacher, start again...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 4:39:09 PM
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I'm assuming that your situation is like mine, money is definitely an object.
In your shoes, I would look around for someone that has a bomb proof semi-retired horse for my daughter to school on. Probably to lease, not buy (although such a horse can often be had for around 300-500 dollars.) A lease agreement could range from you feeding and keeping a horse on your own property in return for free use, or it could be free use only while he remains housed and fed on the owners property for a fee to offset the owners cost of care.
A horse like this will build up your daughters skill and confidence until she is ready for more of a challenge.
When it comes to the pony, I recommend some refresher training to get her manners more in check. Ponies are VERY smart, and they WILL take advantage if a child doesn't have complete control. When I was 6 or so, my Shetland George used to have a habit of dragging me under a rose bush to end a ride quickly unless I kept him out of it.
If you think she's too much of stinker for your DD to handle, you may want to see about breaking her for harness, and then she will still be a sporty little thing for your farm that can be used by you, you may also learn by watching a trainer work with teaching her the discipline, as you can use some of those methods in teaching the foal yourself later on.
If you can't easily afford a professional trainer (I get the impression you may be getting help from friends who have experience with horses rather than from someone who makes a living working with them) you can always try to barter with people. I've had great success doing that. |
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snowberryfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
132 Posts
Michelle
Central Wa
WA
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 8:08:44 PM
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Thanks for all of your advice!! We are learning so much, not only from the trainer, you guys, but the pony too! Although there have been bumps and bruises, there have been a lot of positives as well, and it has been a definate learning experience.
One thing I have learned, not ever owning a horse before, is that I love it! I don't know what it is...I think horses might be addicting...I find myself just wanting to go outside and "hang out" with them. If I miss a day, I want to get right out there and be with them.
I agree that although my daughter had taken lessons in the past, she had not learned, or perhaps, "remembered" much...and riding lessons on a horse that has tons of experience would be key at this point. Then, once she has confidence, she could work with our pony again.
Like I said...it's a learning experience, but one I am so glad we are taking part in!
Michelle |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2011 : 8:20:03 PM
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Michelle- I agree with you! I love spending time with my girl. The barn manager I used to used to board with said she believes that the more time you spend around your horse, the more you develope that trust bond and the horse's personality. Spend lots of time with the ponies but also make them mind their manners!! :)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2011 : 11:33:32 AM
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Something you might like doing Michele, horses say hello by blowing noses, I always greet my horses, and horses I'm meeting for the first time that way and it seems to put them at ease, just blow a puff of air into their nostrils and laugh as they blow back into your face!
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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Barnyard Buddies: More pony problems...ugh! |
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More pony problems...ugh!
