Have decided to buy a pony for ds - your top tips please !

[CMOTdibbler]

Yes, you all said I'd be doing this, and I scoffed.. But ds loves riding soo much, and had a real blast at the school show and a gymkhana on his friends pont that we feel the time is right.

His instructor (and who owns the yard where pony will be living) has said she will go and look at any we ask her to, so obv will be getting good rl advice, but has anyone got any words of wisdom to share ?

Intention is a sec A, up to 12hh for ds who is a tall 4.5, just off the lead rein in the school and trotting nicely

[nappyaddict]

Also does he have group or private lessons?

[CMOTdibbler]

Shall I mortgage my soul to the grooming products company now Seeker ?

Hand prognosis isn't v good - 4 months on I have no wrist movement at all, and v v v limited finger movement. Am now seeing top hand surgeon, but he says it is basically buggered (his words), but will be able to make it a bit more functional. Was a silly little fall, but just landed entirely on my hand in exactly the wrong way and then it all went a bit wrong.

If the school owner wasn't doing continued schooling and development as part of the deal, then I wouldn't have considered him tbh, but as a large part of what she does is buying young ponies and bringing them on I do trust her. And his nature is lovely - walks gently alongside ds, obeys his voice commands, let him put his rug on without a twitch

I'll be bothering you all to learn about showing in the spring

[seeker]

You think I'm joking? At least your ds is too young to con you into buying special mane and tail shampoo, conditioner and serum.....

[CMOTdibbler]

No, I don't ! I grew up showing white goats, and was never allowed to use the show shampoo as it was far too expensive for humans

[CMOTdibbler]

and for anyone interested, he is by Bengad Dogberry, out of Bengad Downy Rose

[nappyaddict]

CMOT Have you ever had your own pony? I would love to get DS a pony but I know nothing about looking after them so not really possible.

[CMOTdibbler]

No, never before! I have been doing a distance learning course, and pony is on working livery with loads of support, so I'll be learning fast.

[nappyaddict]

How many months of lessons did it take for DS to come off the lead rein?

[NorbertDentressAngelOnTheTree]

Hi CMOT -no horse advice or questions here ( I don't know one end of a horse from t'other ) but just wanted to say hello and ask how you're going to gift wrap it?

Sorry to hear hand isn't coming along as you'd hope.

[WhyHavePets]

NA, it took ds and dd about 5 lessons before they came off the lead rein. THey had to be able to rise introt properly and be able to use their body to turn the pony.

[nappyaddict]

How old were they?

[CMOTdibbler]

DS started riding regularly when he was 3.4, did 'tots tasters' (15 minute lesson with a leader and somone walking beside) until he was just over 4, and came off the lead rein in the school when he was 4.5.

I think that it has worked well as he has a very secure seat, good leg and body position, and great balance. Being on the lead rein with 1:1 attention meant they concentrate on doing loads of balance and position exercises, rather than just riding

[WhyHavePets]

They were 5 and 7 at the time. My friends dd was also 5 and took about the same amount of time. It took about 3 months to get them balanced, in control and cantering. Ds is now 8 and started jumping, it has taken about 5 months to get to that stage I think.

[mummydoc]

gosh that is incredibly young. make sure he isn't over worked they are still develpoing and growing at that age, my yard has a " baby" who is 4 1/2 and he has been brought on incredibly slowly for last yr. our pony has bengard sire .... bengard rocket. i will look out for you at shows next year as we are just over the border in herefordshire. i would definitely join a branch of the ponyclub

[nappyaddict]

My friend's little girl started lessons at just turned 4 (the youngest you can round here) and was off the lead rein by 4.4. I thought it was really young!!