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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Pony share starting next week!

23 replies

saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/08/2010 18:18

So excited!

I returned to riding (after a 15 year break) about 18 months ago. Have loved it and learned loads. Ds3 (aged 5) has started riding regularly and we've taken ds1 (severely autistic -age 11) to a friend's when possible (she is very happy for us to visit but it's a long way to go abd obviously hassle for her). We all went on a Horse Boy camp recently which even ds2 (scared of riding) loved.

Sooo I've been looking for a suitable pony. Last week I saw an article on a local charity. They rescue and rehabilitate equines and offer some to loan. They also run a scheme where you can have a part share and pay for three days a week (max of 2 sharers per horse). So we've been matched with a lovely little Dartmoor. Safe as houses. Because she's pretty much a leading rein pony -ideal for us- we're only paying £15 per week (nothing else to pay except riders insurance).

They do a lot of natural horesmanship at the charity and I'm hoping to learn some and do some ground work with her. I'm also going to try and learn more about equine therapy for ds1. One of the leaders is really interested as well. And of course I want to volunteer.

Am so excited - it feels a safe way to take a step
towards horse ownership. And she's such a sweet natured pretty pony.

OP posts:
Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/08/2010 18:21

Oh the share ponies stay at the charity which is only a short drive from us in a stunningly beautiful spot (on the moors with views of the sea).

OP posts:
Butkin · 13/08/2010 19:24

Sounds great - I hope it works out for you and all your family.

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/08/2010 19:30

I know if it works out with the kids pony I will end up falling in love with one brought in and end up with one myself. :) At the moment I'm happy to stick with my lovely riding school for my riding but I can see where I'm heading :o

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loler · 13/08/2010 19:36

That sounds fab - was going to ask where ot was but the views of the sea means it's at least a 2 hour drive away so think DH may say no?

Good luck

rotool · 13/08/2010 20:11

Both my DS have ponies, my younger DS can be difficult and hyperactive and the pony really helps him,he has even been known to fall asleep on her!
Good Luck and lots of fun.

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/08/2010 20:22

Yes ds1 really relaxes on horses. He was dreadful yesterday - really uptight from early morning, but he really relaxed when he rode the pony (we went out to meet and groom her). He didn't want to get off.

OP posts:
rotool · 13/08/2010 20:27

Both my DS have ponies, my younger DS can be difficult and hyperactive and the pony really helps him,he has even been known to fall asleep on her!
Good Luck and lots of fun.

rotool · 13/08/2010 20:29

sorry, didn't mean to post twice!

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/08/2010 20:37

I would love ds1 to fall asleep on her!

Even the setting is very relaxing. We live fairly centrally in a large city. We can be at the yard in about 20 minutes and it's just so peaceful and there's so much space. I'm arranging the share days to coincide with ds1's respite (which alternates each week) so we can have a combination of time for ds2 and ds3 and time for ds1 (and some time for me to do groundwork and just groom).

Such lovely people up at the yard as well. It's all very sudden - I have been mulling the idea of a pony share for a while but only heard about this charity last week. Despite being sudden it feels very right - no doubts at all.

OP posts:
Pixel · 13/08/2010 22:36

Oh I've just come back from my holiday and seen this, what lovely news. Smile

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 14/08/2010 22:21

pixel - I am sure I am going to be asking you for lots and lots of advice! I've just bought a bareback saddle pad for ds1 to use as her stirrups are a bit short for him (and he never really uses them anyway). He is so relaxed on horses he is the most secure of the 3 boys.

Now I just need to get him to hold the reins (her bridle is bitless so he's not going to do any harm) - at the moment he'll hold reins for about 10 seconds then drop them.

I've been up and done the paperwork today so we can ride her from Monday. :) I am doing this all the time :)

OP posts:
Pixel · 14/08/2010 22:56

Lol you can buy longer stirrups you know! You just wanted an excuse to buy something horsey.Wink Bareback pad is good, ds rides bareback most of the time anyway as he seems to prefer it but he always gets a dirty bottom. He doesn't like holding the reins either (won't even lead her down the field, he gets behind her and pushes which she tolerates from him but not from anyone else Grin), he is just starting to get the idea now but to be honest he is a bit too heavy-handed as he doesn't understand that there is a bit in the pony's mouth. We put the headcollar on as well and attach the reins to that for him so he can't hurt the pony's mouth but he is still able to stop her if he wants. Obviously if you have a bitless bridle you've already solved that problem, as long as you don't mean a hackamore because they can actually have quite a severe action if not used properly. I've been letting him ride her back to the field without the lead rein lately as she is very trustworthy and he is slowly getting the hang of using his legs to move her on (when she heads for the grass Smile) and the reins to steer her a little bit. It is very slow going to get him to do anything but he is happy just being on her, very confident and has great balance. We have little improvements, eg he wouldn't put his feet in the stirrups for a long time but now he does, in fact he shoves them in a little too far sometimes (I think because he has discovered he likes the pressure) so we have bought cages for his stirrup irons to be on the safe side. like these.

I'm really pleased for you. Hope you have lots of fun and am not surprised you are Smileing a lot!

Pixel · 14/08/2010 23:00

Will ds1 wear gloves? Might help if he doesn't like the texture of the reins. It didn't work with ds because he doesn't like gloves either grr!

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 15/08/2010 09:09

No he won't wear gloves. Bridle should be fine - it looks like a tiny halter with reins attached so I don't think it can give much pressure.

Weirdly he seems to know about using his legs - I think he's been taught that at school donkey riding sessions.

Lol I did think about longer stirrups but he really seems to like bareback riding and the stirrups always seem a distraction to him (and he never indicates when he's lost one) so i thought we'd try the hippotherapy approach :o To start with anyway. you're right about me just wanting to buy something though. I drooled over the Christ sheepskin bareback pads but put the credit card away and bought a best friends one.

I may start by using a thick rope leading rein for him to hold onto (not attached to bridle) then move onto thinner reins. (memories of having to start PECS with pictures stuck onto huge chunky bits of wood, then cardboard before finally getting to laminated paper).

OP posts:
Pixel · 16/08/2010 23:44

Have you had a good day with the new pony? Smile

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/08/2010 20:30

We went yesterday. DS1 is in a dreadful mood this week (don't think it's full moon, new maybe?) very anxious and shouty and repetitive. He had the first ride on the pony but he was shouting so much I made him get off (bless her she was good as gold and didn't bat an eyelid). Later he asked to get on her again, but I told him he had to be quiet if he was going to ride. He went back on and was fine.

He eventually relaxed and started trying to climb on everyone else's horses (they were very good with him). When we took her back to her field he sat for ages on the wall just looking at her and saying his version of her name. He also tried to brush her and generally leant on her (again she was marvellous).

Our bareback pad arrived today - I'm very impressed with the very quick service (from horse and harmony). My book on groundwork also arrived, I'm going to do a bit with her when the kids are back at school and it's too dark to take them out after school.

OP posts:
Pixel · 17/08/2010 21:04

All sounds lovely. Bet you are looking forward to getting her all to yourself Wink. Ds likes to stay at the bottom of the field while I poo pick and I don't mind leaving him for a short while as there is a little fenced-off paddock away from the other horses and he won't try and get through the electric fencing (I can see him the whole time). I put dshetland in there too so she can eat her feed in peace and ds sits on a log and keeps her company. It's very sweet. Smile

I spoke too soon about his excellent balance as he had his first fall yesterday, oops. The pony wasn't even moving and I was looking the other direction at the time (bad mummy Blush). Heard a dull thud and there was ds on the floor looking shocked. Not far to fall but the ground is so hard atm. He has taken to sitting casually with his leg over her withers sort of like side-saddle so I suspect that was what he was doing behind my back. I knew his over-confidence would catch up with him, perhaps now he will hold on when I tell him to!

Pixel · 17/08/2010 21:07

Btw I think it's a sort of three-quarters moon. I noticed it last night when I was coming back from watering my allotment. Don't know if that helps Grin

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/08/2010 21:17

oh no to the fall! I love that there is so much space for ds1 when we go out to the yard. They have 50 acres and we're pretty free to walk through a lot of it.

three-quarters? If we're the week before the full moon then that explains it. Once we hit the full moon we're okay. In the meantime my nerves are shot to pieces Grin

He's in respite next share day, so I'm going to take the younger two out.

OP posts:
Pixel · 18/08/2010 16:39

Ds had a little ride today and was as confident as ever thank goodness. I was worried he would have been put off because I don't think it had even occured to him before that he could fall off, he was so surprised. He looked at me so accusingly as though it was my fault!

Original poster
saintlydamemrsturnip · 18/08/2010 18:28

No I don't think it would occur to ds1 that he could fall off. Luckily he doesn't have far to fall at the moment.

OP posts:
FlorenceDaphne · 26/08/2010 17:19

Saintly Dame? Is it HoofBeats near Plymouth? The scheme sounds familiar. Your new pony sounds lovely.

Pixel · 26/08/2010 19:46

It came to me yesterday that I probably know the place you go to. If I mention Manaton would that be the right place?

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