Mumsnet Talk

We have had dpony for the past week or so, he is pretty young still and a bit green but good (mostly!) on lead rein, and perfect behaviour in the stables and when mucking out etc, hes has been ridden bare back and with a saddle with children before but not for a few months so I will gain his trust first before putting dd on. He is confident and doesnt spook easily at all.

I have had a horse before but a LONG time ago and to be honest it was pretty well schooled and I was led to believe this dpony was better schooled than he is but that doesnt worry me too much as he is fine lead rein which is what we need but I need advice how to bring him on from where he is.

Other than consistancy, practice and bonding.

Find someone experiencd to come and help you. Ideally a small adult (am assuming he's not huge if he's for your dd) so they can school him and teach your dd when she starts to ride him.

Long rein him to see what he's like on hacks?

Thanks, hes fine on hacks, my main problem is when you take him out of stable either for mucking out of for him to exercise in arena he wont go back in! He wants to go to the field and stands and steadfast refuses to move! Im also worried that until Ive worked with him more I wont get him in off fields if I do turn him out.

I second maria, get some experienced help. I would also use food as a bribe. So feed after mucking out and after working and on catching in. He will quickly learn that you and the stable mean dinner. It helps further if you have a routine with timings for feeding. You will find if you always feed at the same time he will wait by the gate for you when turned out. If you can find someone who will teach you some natural horsemanship it can be a useful way of gaining his trust and respect, leading to good manners when handled as well as when ridden.

Oooh! I know all about this.dpony has and will plant herself and not want to move either coming in or going out.I had a natural horsemanship lady out and she was great.I was advised to turn her in a circle if she won't move forward,and keep circling her until she walks forward.You can never pit your strength against a pony and win trying to pull them forwards,but if you push them sideways they loose balance and have to move to stay upright.I've tried it many times and it does work,even when we've had to circle our way up and down the field,we have still got there,and each time we've got there it is a lesson to dpony that it doesn't matter how much she faffs about,we'll get there eventually,so she might as well make it easy on herself and walk nicely.

The key is,to make them move their feet,if you do that then they know that you are in charge.I was advised to do a lot of in hand work with dpony,leading her around obstacles,backing her up,just reaffirming that when I ask her to move,she has to move.She is a lot better,but will still try it on occasionally [ie like yesterday].Oh I always wear a riding hat when on the ground too.it is safer and if she sees the hat she knows I mean business.

I forgot to say,I have given her a mint when I go to catch her and we don't have any trouble with that although her previous owners all have done.They learn very fast,good habits as well as bad!

Food in stable and getting him to move his feet are what I would try as well. Also well worth investing in a Dually headcollar, they can be really helpful in such situations.

So you don't turn the pony out yet? I think you are going to need some proper help. It sounds like dpony is just broken and not yet ridden away. Ridding away is quite q task as it is when ponies learn everything (good and bad) they will take into their riding life. If you want a really good riding horse you need good experienced help before mistakes happen. How old is the pony?

Please turn it out, a small paddock with a headcollar on until you are confident if catching. Horses need to stretch their legs and graze or you will create a load of bad behaviours from boredom!

If you don't turn out at all the pony is likely to have loads of energy and use it to get into all sorts of trouble! I also think it's crucial you turn him out asap. As above, field safe headcollar, small paddock, other horses next door, wear a hat and gloves to handle. If he is totally loopy ask the vet for some sedaline to keep him a bit calmer for the first few days.

Sorry he has been turned out but the stable owner has been bringing in him for me when shes brought her horse in as I have him on livery while I get into the hang of things again/gain experience. What I meant is if I turn him out and her horse isnt out he wont come back in easily even for her so I dont think I have any chance unless theres no one to follow!

When I viewed him I did all the usual stuff, had him on lead rein, led him out, made sure he would let me check his feet, would allow weight on his back, short hack etc which he did fine, I also led him back into stables but this was behind her horse so he went in no problems, she said he came to call.

I have since found out from someone else he has always been a problem coming in from fields and stables, kicked her daughter and broke ribs when she tried to bring him in and is prone to rearing and running off completely.

TBH he is on loan to us and I am seeing how it goes, it may be simply that horse is not schooled enough or I am not experienced enough to deal with him.

Hmmm.I would definitely get an Intelligent Horsemanship RA out if he is prone to rearing and running off.They will teach you how to use a Dually headcollar effectively to stop him becoming problematic.Dpony has also reared if she hasn't wanted to go in the direction I wanted,and from past owners I found out that she has a history of it,so wanted to stop it escalating.

Dually headcollars really work,I haven't had to use one recently because after a short session with the RA using one,dpony learnt very fast that being difficult didn't pay.But if she regresses,I'll have no hesitation in buying one and using it.Please be careful and wear protective clothing whilst handling him,it really isn't worth the risk not to.

When you went on the hack was someone riding him?

My gut response to the above is that you have been loaned a lit of hard work, possibly someone's failed project. Often people loan out just backed or difficult animals so the loanee dies all the grunt work and they get back a pony worthh more or is more suitable for their own child.

Harsh as it may sound I would send it back and get your dd something that she can learn in and enjoy now whilst she is in the early stages then look at bringing on/fixing something when you are both properly in the swing if things. You are looking at a lot of work here by the sounds if things and mist young ponies need a string enough young rider to break them of or stop them developing bad habits, this one sounds like it already has a few and is strong willed too.

Low I agree, he didnt have anyone riding as her dc and mine where at school and she said she wasnt available in the evenings and I cant ride at the moment due to non horse related injury.

I think a failed project is exactly what it is, I since found out she had bought a horse for each of her children and one for her and her husband, out of six horses only two were rideable, one came as an ex schoolmaster and she couldnt do anything at all with the others, they have to be turned out 24/7.

He is on the same yard so sending him back wouldnt mean uprooting him. Im tempted to have a word with her, there is an ex schoolmaster at another farm that would probably be much more suitable.

The schoolmaster sounds like a much more sensible option

I'd change to the schoolmaster if it was me, a green pony (whose start to ridden work sounds a bit questionable) and inexperienced child is going to be deeply frustrating all round. It sounds almost as though the pony needs starting again and that's a big ask for your dd (and even more so for you, who will end up doing all the work)

If you do decide to persevere it shouldn't take too much trouble but you should start again.

Ideally get a small and experienced teenager/adult to ride him for a week and try long reining and lunging him as well. Don't do any canter work though as this will teach him bad habits if you're only keeping him on the lead at this stage.

Whatever you do don't put your DD on him until he is absolutely spot on in walk and trot. Just because he is on the lead you should always think that DD is riding independently and the lead is just for safety.

We don't like giving titbits - especially to ponies - as it can encourage nipping and fighting. However we always have their meals waiting for them when we get to the yard so they are keen to get inside. From the outset make sure they know who is boss. Don't allow any barging etc and don't let DD lead him until he is perfectly behaved and more used to his routine.

Hi unreasonablemuch, have you ever used a rope halter and longer line to work on the ground with your pony? Working on the ground helps to teach them about balance and rhythm as well as teaching them to stop and go. I also teach my youngest child to ride while the pony is wearing his rope halter so that I can keep her safe. I definitely would not use bribes as this could lead to a disrespectful pony. The approaches I have used have been www.davidstuart.com.au, www.lynnhenry.co.uk or have a look at horse agility.