Sending pony away for professional schooling - what to look for?

[CMOTDibbler]

Ds's 6 yr old sec A has decided to start being naughty (stubborn mostly), and is ok out hacking even on his own, but increasingly a pita in the school.

He behaves fine for me on long lines, but ds just isn't strong enough to boss him around riding. And I'm 5'9, so can't ride him!

I've found a breaking/schooling yard that specialises in welshies fairly near to us, and we are planning on sending him there for a few weeks to have intensive schooling, and bring on his canter and jump.

Any thoughts on what to look for and what to ask?

We often send our Welshies away to a local specialist. Our Roan A LR has just gone there to be schooled and sold (available on Horsequest!).

I'd say some key issues are:

1. Price and what it includes!
2. Turn out - how much do they get each day and do they share?
3. Bedding, hay/haylage options
4. What is the school like - is it riding OK in the current heat wave?
5. Do they have small experienced people to ride your pony? Are they small adults or children?
6. Can your DS have lessons on him whilst he is at their yard and if so who will give those lessons? Are they included in the livery price?
7. Do they hack out or just work in the school?
8. How busy are they - I'd expect anywhere good to be pretty full on at the moment.
9. Does the principle go away (competing etc) at the weekends and if so who is in charge then?

10. What are their jumps like? Do they have a mixture of SJ and WHP?

Sure you'll think of loads yourself!

Thanks Butkin, I've had a very clear price list from them, and dpony could continue to live out on grass (he gets no food in summer, and is on the shortest of grass paddock right now too). Nice school in pics, and he'd be ridden by a small adult.
They do lessons, and they are separatly priced.

Will check the rest out - hadn't thought about the principal being away at weekends.

Hope this will sort dpony out - realistically, ds prob only has another year to 18 months on him as ds is so tall, and I want him to get a good home after that as he is so lovely and well behaved when not ridden atm.

Yes the (probably only) drawback with our local producer is that she competes non stop on her clients ponies. Therefore if she is going to be away for long periods at the summer champ shows (this time of year) we tend to bring our ponies home. We find remedial schooling is best done in the quieter months but obviously this is a showing yard whilst yours may be different.

Make sure you know who will be schooling your pony and clarify if anyone else is allowed to ride him. Also clarify how many times a week your pony will be worked.

If they offer lessons I would be tempted to go for a couple of lessons first to make sure you like their approach. If not possible I would try to be present for the first few schooling sessions and then visit once a week. Also ask them how often they will provide updates of progress and how (e-mail, text, phone?).

We went to visit today, and really liked her - shes a very petite adult who shows her own Sec C, no other staff, only 5 ponies there atm, 3 of which were sec A. She's sold her championship stallion so isn't showing currently.
She'll update by email twice weekly and if anything else comes up, but will be going over for ds to have lessons on him anyway.

So, have booked him in and just need to get a trailer organised to take dpony over.