advice re ponies please

[ilovearnold]

Hi my dd has been offered to ride for free to give consistanty and schooling to three differnet ponies .Each need a differning style and bit feelOne is very green and falls out etc.She feel s she would like to help.Would it confuse her or do you think it would be good exprience.She lans to go to study equine wise at college or uni and we have been told that this may be good but id hate to put too much on her or put her off...

Can you let us know how old DD is and how experienced is she?

Our DD is 9 tomorrow and goes to school/compete ponies for professional producers so gets loads of experience on different types. However we know they are all going to be a reasonable standard and know that the producers will make sure they are safe beforehand - riding them first if necessary.

We do get asked if she will school ponies which other friends kids who don't want to ride them (ie usually naughty) and we politely refuse - just not worth it.

Imo one of the best ways to get really good is to ride a variety of horses and ponies.

The bother I've had when people roll up saying "oh yes, I've ridden for 8 years" and what they mean is one geriatric schoolmaster!

It depends how old and experienced your DD is and what the ponies are like, but riding lots of different horses is the only way to learn to ride properly.

I think it depends slightly how old she is and how experienced she is already...however, the fact that you are saying she is thinking about college plans makes me think she's a teenager whose been riding for quite some time? - If so go for it...as alpine and callisto say..lots of differnet ponies/horses requiring some problem solving is the only way to learn IMO.