What would you do - with confident 8 Year old DD?

[emlu67]

DD is a good rider and has no fear whatsoever although not over confident,. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position at the moment to buy or loan but do not want her pottering about on old lazy riding school ponies either which she has done for 2 years, She has proved that she is more than capable of riding better ones when she has the chance but more often than not they are given to the older girls on her lesson. I have complained to the riding school when she is on the slowest ones frequently and they take notice for a few weeks but after a while it is back to the small slow ones 3 weeks out of 4. She gets the best out of them so that is good but works harder than anyone else on the lesson.

I am not sure about committing to a part loan/ share for financial reasons and wondered if she could ride for one or more owners in showing, jumping etc or whether this is just a pipe dream. Has anyone experience of this?

Have you thought of trying a different riding school? Or maybe some one to one lessons on one of the more lively ponies? Don't be afraid to at least look into a part loan, you might find it not so expensive as you think if you only have a pony for one or two days a week. The going rate round here seems to be about £10-15 per day. Just be aware that a 'keen' riding school pony is still likely to be easier than most privately owned ones, lots of people have a shock when they realise what a difference it makes, so be careful not to overhorse your dd, even if she is confident. For instance, you haven't mentioned if she always has lessons or if she is also experienced at hacking out when ponies can be more unpredictable and the rider also needs to be able to cope with traffic, loose dogs, litter blowing about in the wind etc.

I'd echo what Pixel said; the ploddiest private pony is usually more forward going and responsive than most riding school ones. Your dd is unlikely to pick up competition rides at this stage, owners would need to be aware of her and that comes from being on the curcuit and making an impression. It's a big jump (no pun intended) from lessons to ring-craft.

I'd also suggest a part loan; you should get a couple of days a week for about £25. Unfortunately riding is an expensive hobby and if dd's going to do more than riding lessons then your finances will be knackered for ever more! But she'll be very happy.

To be honest, you sound a bit PFB to me.
IME a little fear is a good thing, and there is far more to riding than whizzing about jumping stuff. 2 years of weekly lessons is nothing really, you could have them for a lifetime and still have plenty left to learn.
The riding school should know what they are doing. if you think they don't, change schools. They won't be making her suffer, by giving her the wrong horses, they will be giving her the mount they think suits her.
TBH I'd be very wary of loaning to someone who wrote your OP.

You could look for a different riding school? My son goes to a riding school with typical riding school ponies, I go to one that's a little more serious and none of the ponies/horses are plodders (and the ponies are very much matched to ability - I am put on beginner/intermediate horses and would no way want to ride their advanced horses! )

Thanks for the feedback. I am under no illusions about her ability and would never overhorse her. I do understand that there is a great difference between school and privately owned ponies. Perhaps I will try private lessons occasionally and in time and depending how she gets on look at a part loan on a trial basis even if it was just for one ot two days a week. She has never hacked as the riding school only does hacking for adults, times are very different from when I learnt to ride in the 70s!

I'd definitely look for a school where she can hack,if you could.It teaches them such a lot,as the other posters have said,they learn how to react to unpredictable situations and not panic if things get scary.The dds old riding school took them on hacks from the age of 4 and it has certainly stood my two in good stead-if the rider is confident,the pony is too and less likkely to land you both in the ditch.

Pony club? We couldn't afford our own when we were kids, but via pony club were able to use the horses of others for rallies and camp. I was given a 4 year old racehorse one year! ;)

If you don't mind me asking, How much are you paying for lessons? The going rate where i am for kids ponies on part loan is around £20 per week. If you're not paying much less than that for an hours lesson part loaning is probably better value as she will be learning much much more.

I didn't truly learn much until i had my first horse on part loan. I literally improved the first day with him as the instructor was better, The horse was better albeit green.

Why not join the pony club and send her on pony club camp in the summer? Lots of riding schools are Centre members and run a camp in the summer (at 8 they dont stay there but go every day for a week culminating in a little show at the end)

Our pony club camp is full already for this summer but she is very keen on joining anyway so will probably do that. QueenofDiamonds lessons are £24-25 around here so you are right a part loan may be cheaper. Just need to convince DH....

Have you checked around other local riding schools to see if they are Centre members? Anyone can go to the camp (providing you join).

I must say your OP does ring alarm bells - it is brilliant that she is so confident as long as YOU realise that it is very easy to lose confidence and SO easy to overhorse an 8 year old. Yes there are lots of 8 years olds jumping in the 2' 3 classes near me but they are all from horsey families that have grown up with horses. Has she fallen off yet? IME a proper fall, or even more so a difficult pony, can really shake confidence at this age.

Confidence does not = skill.

Saggy is right.My dd was very confident at 7,having ridden at RS for 3.5 years.When we bought dpony she was right back to the beginning again.RS ponies are like little robots who know the routine so putting her on her own pony that knew its own mind and was a wily old thing was a completely new ballgame.
She has stuck to it though,but it took months of riding just about every day and lessons at home to get to grips with everything that dpony had flung at her.8 months on they make a great team,but it was hard and frustrating at times.Ponies are very clever,and once you have sussed out one thing,they'll try something else.We had difficulty getting dpony to canter,then when we cracked that,she decided that if she didn't fancy what was being asked of her,she'd plant and refuse to move.That isn't an issue any more,so now dpony is trying running backwards if she doesn't fancy moving,but the dds are so used to her devilment that they'll just give her a smack and if she bucks in protest,they'll sit it out and laugh at the naughty old thing.

If you part loan, it is very important to still have lessons. You will need to figure in the extra expense.