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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Dd's pony is a little shit....

28 replies

Harrysdoneit · 30/10/2021 23:22

Just that really.....he is the world's worst pony..... he is horrid and grumpy on the ground and liable to throwing her off whenever he feels like it. When he's good you can see his potential but when he is bad he's just horrid and I'm never quite sure when he will throw in one of his broncing fits and ditch her...he's perfected the shoulder drop and buck to a real art. Do we persevere because dd adores him despite his faults and he will teach her to have a fab seat or move on and purchase something safer......more reliable....... said pony has had teeth, back everything checked there is nothing wrong with him he's just a demon pony!

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 31/10/2021 12:58

Has he been scoped and has his back x rayed?
Being a shit on the ground and broncing screams ulcers and/or kissing spines.

lastqueenofscotland · 31/10/2021 12:59

Also did a dentist or a vet do his teeth? If the latter get a dentist out ASAP!

ShrimpingViolet · 31/10/2021 13:01

I had a pony like this as a child. He too perfected the art of the shoulder drop.

I came off him v nastily aged 8 and ended up with a compound fracture to my arm which still aches in the cold now (and I'm 34!)

Polkadotties · 31/10/2021 21:40

What do you feed him?

silverbubbles · 31/10/2021 21:44

Has he got any redeeming features? if not get shot of him. .

Life is too short and you could be spending your time having a more positive experience.

next time you buy spend alot more time looking for the right pony so that you don't make another poor purchase.

Josettegrey · 01/11/2021 07:46

Has he always had this behaviour? We had a pony that suddenly started misbehaving and it got worse. However sometimes he was an angel (out hacking for example). One day it just got worse. We’d had everything checked just like you. But on this occasion someone saw his behaviour that hadn’t met him before, they said that they’d strongly suggest get him scoped. And he had ulcers. He’d been trying to tell us. I’d suggest getting him scoped for piece of mind.

maxelly · 01/11/2021 09:57

Is this recent behaviour or has he always been this way? How long have you had him and what's his history? What's your insurance situation, can you afford to throw some money at proper diagnostics?

I know you say you've had everything checked but the broncing, grumpiness and unpredictability screams pain to me (or perhaps, memory/fear of previous pain) and in my experience with horses this can be quite hard to get to the bottom of, and require some quite extensive vet investigations to get to the bottom of if the more obvious causes have been ruled out by the usual physio/dentist/saddler/lameness work ups. Hind gut ulcers for instance are quite common and only tend to be diagnosable with a full scope (not done on a 'normal' vet check), but you can always try the treatment first (gastroguard, ad lib forage etc) and if the symptoms improve that gives you a good hint. Likewise, kissing spines or some more subtle kinds of lameness e.g. hock arthritis may not show up on a basic vet check, you may need x-rays or nerve blocks, but if you do a 2 week Bute trial and he's better then you know there's something somewhere hurting him.

In the meantime I definitely don't really think you should simply persist in putting your DD up on what you describe as a 'demon pony' and hoping for the best, sounds well beyond the normal trials and tribulations of naughty ponies, surely if she keeps being thrown at best she'll lose her nerve and stop enjoying it and at worst there'll be a serious accident. I wouldn't just 'get rid' though, I'm not anti-selling on of child's ponies in the right circumstances, but what responsible home would want him as he is now? If you sell or even give away, you 100% will be risking someone else's child getting hurt or maybe a dodgy dealer buying him, buting/sedating up and selling on as suitable for a novice child esp if he's pretty which may lead to a spiral of being passed around from worse to worse home, and that's just not responsible or fair on the pony... If it was me I'd stop my DD riding him as of now, try the Bute/gastroguard trial (or perhaps an extended holiday and dose of Dr grass - not easy at this time of year though) and see if he's better on the ground and lunged first, then depending on results do more investigations to my insurance limit or perhaps consider reschooling and lessons with an experienced and sympathetic instructor. If no results and the behaviour doesn't improve consider retiring as a field ornament or even PTS. If that means your DD is without a pony of her own for a while that's unfortunate but I am sure you can supplement with lessons at a riding school or perhaps a share, and if she loves him as you say she'll understand the need to see if he can be made better before just dumping and moving on?

CaptainThe95thRifles · 01/11/2021 13:24

I agree with the post above - this poor pony isn't a shit - he's screaming at you that he's not happy. It's not fair on him or your daughter to continue as things are.

arootintootingoodtime · 01/11/2021 14:19

I agree, your OP screams pain. I'd start with a scope for ulcers and then, if there aren't any, trying a bute trial in conjunction with the vet.

Newuser82 · 02/11/2021 08:42

I’d definitely scope for ulcers. If nothing found I’d seriously consider selling him and getting another. Confidence is easily lost and very hard to re build. You run the risk of firstly your child getting hurt and secondly her losing all confidence and not wanting to ride at all. It’s meant to be fun. I know it’s hard as we have been in the same situation (the pony did have ulcers) but ultimately the child’s fun and safety need to come first

krustykittens · 02/11/2021 12:29

I agree with further investigations. We had an ex-riding school pony that was a bit sour and had lots of little tricks for getting kids off including taking off across the school before going into a sliding stop before dropping one shoulder. She was also a real grouch. BUT - as my daughter persisted, she improved, rapidly. She also knew her job so well we could put her in a show jumping ring or a handy pony competition and she would canter round all by herself. This pony does sound like he is in pain as he is not improving. I would try and get gastrogaurd from your vet and rule out ulcers first. Scoping is expensive and stressful and not 100 per cent when diagnosing ulcers. I agree with Maxelly, please don't just pass him on, he could hurt someone else's child very badly and I am sure you don't want that on your conscience.

Harrysdoneit · 02/11/2021 15:10

Don't worry he won't be passed on we have enough space here to keep him for life as I do all our pony's. I was just musing whether or not we bought another or stuck it out. He's had a full work up there is nothing wrong with him! He just knows he can ditch his rider so he does when he chooses...when older more capable children ride him he is good as gold.

OP posts:
krustykittens · 02/11/2021 16:17

Have you tried an r-stor (I think that is how it is spelt). I bought one for DD2 as her first pony was a little shit. He had been passed from pillar to post and I think he had been mistreated because he HATES kids (a big drawback when you are an 11.2 welsh). He had a nasty habit of bucking of bucking to get kids off but the r-stor helped her keep her seat and gave her a lot of confidence. Once he realised it wouldn't work, the little shit gave up! She never had any trouble out of him as she got older and more confident but he is a horror with small novice children off the lead rein. He is also with us for life, no one else would touch him with a barge pole!

Colin56 · 02/11/2021 16:32

'Do we persevere because dd adores him despite his faults and he will teach her to have a fab seat'

For context both my kids are extremly good riders ands we have four competition ponies. There is nothing at all nice about this pony. He won't teach her to have a fab seat - he will teach her that riding is unpredictable, not enjoyable and she will learn to have no connection with him. Stop right now, dump him and get something trustworthy that will actually do whats required. He sounds vile.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 03/11/2021 12:42

He does not sound "vile" - he sound like a pony who is, in some way, unhappy with his life. Whether that's a physical issue, management, training, learned behaviour - that's an unhappy pony. Plenty of horses with physical issues can be ridden through their complaints by stronger riders - behaving for older kids is no indication that he's not in pain - and plenty of issues aren't picked up during a standard workup too.

Whatever his issue is, he's a pony - he's not "vile" or a "little shit", he's just an animal doing what comes naturally to him - what he's been trained to do, or what he is driven to do by his circumstances. This trend for attributing human ideas of premeditation and intent to horse behaviour is really damaging on so many levels.

If you can turn him away and give him a decent life without being ridden, OP, that's better than persisting with the status quo. He's not happy and sooner or later, your daughter won't be either.

lastqueenofscotland · 03/11/2021 13:03

@CaptainThe95thRifles

He does not sound "vile" - he sound like a pony who is, in some way, unhappy with his life. Whether that's a physical issue, management, training, learned behaviour - that's an unhappy pony. Plenty of horses with physical issues can be ridden through their complaints by stronger riders - behaving for older kids is no indication that he's not in pain - and plenty of issues aren't picked up during a standard workup too.

Whatever his issue is, he's a pony - he's not "vile" or a "little shit", he's just an animal doing what comes naturally to him - what he's been trained to do, or what he is driven to do by his circumstances. This trend for attributing human ideas of premeditation and intent to horse behaviour is really damaging on so many levels.

If you can turn him away and give him a decent life without being ridden, OP, that's better than persisting with the status quo. He's not happy and sooner or later, your daughter won't be either.

100% agree and thank you for posting this I would not have been so polite to the poster up thread who said this
Colin56 · 03/11/2021 14:15

My friends kid has a pony like this. Sure, shes a great rider but every ride out/ competition is a battle of wits and she is hyper vigilant for any signs of acting up etc. Can never be trusted to not do bad stuff. I think kids get such a short time to be kids that I would not waste time trying to correct/ ride a pony like this. Life is too short when there are plenty of honest ponies out there. Riding should be challenging but fun.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 03/11/2021 21:29

Let's just try and remember that this is a live animal that we're talking about and not a machine.

There's a middle ground between allowing a child to ride a dangerous / disheartening pony and just "dump" it Hmm

Kittykat93 · 03/11/2021 21:55

@Colin56

'Do we persevere because dd adores him despite his faults and he will teach her to have a fab seat'

For context both my kids are extremly good riders ands we have four competition ponies. There is nothing at all nice about this pony. He won't teach her to have a fab seat - he will teach her that riding is unpredictable, not enjoyable and she will learn to have no connection with him. Stop right now, dump him and get something trustworthy that will actually do whats required. He sounds vile.

You sound vile. The pony sounds agitated or distressed in some way. Nice that you think its acceptable to dump animals though.

Honeyroar · 03/11/2021 22:12

It depends whether he’s frightening her or not? Some kids cope fine with being dumped, others lose their confidence. But generally speaking she’d be better on something kinder until she’s a bit bigger. A lot of ponies are buggers until they’re almost outgrown- then they turn into saints!

Isausernameavailable · 04/11/2021 00:01

Perhaps sell him on for an older more competent rider and get a nice pony more suitable your daughter's age and ability?

kitkat6 · 04/11/2021 00:16

Is it a shitland? If so yes you are doomed to shitland like behaviour.

In all honesty ponies and horses do learn that they can deck their rider and generally would much prefer to toddle off to eat hay rather than go round in circles. There are grumpy mean humans and grumpy mean ponies.

Assuming he has had the full work up and the vet/farrier/physio/saddler have all confirmed that he is being a dick also that tumeric hasn't worked either. It sounds like he would be suited to being loaned to an older more competent rider and your child would love a better behaved pony just as much.

Also worth looking honestly and without rose tinted glasses to ensure that darling child is not socking it in the teeth, being too rough, pony club kicking etc etc etc.

DandyHighwayWoman · 04/11/2021 00:17

@Colin56

'Do we persevere because dd adores him despite his faults and he will teach her to have a fab seat'

For context both my kids are extremly good riders ands we have four competition ponies. There is nothing at all nice about this pony. He won't teach her to have a fab seat - he will teach her that riding is unpredictable, not enjoyable and she will learn to have no connection with him. Stop right now, dump him and get something trustworthy that will actually do whats required. He sounds vile.

’vile’ what an atrocious thing to say about an animal Angry
XelaM · 04/11/2021 07:57

Some people on this thread are completely ridiculous and over-dramatic. The OP was clearly being funny (and it made me laugh Grin reading). Of course ponies can be mean and have bad temperaments. Just like dogs or other animals

BertramLacey · 07/11/2021 08:57

Agree with everything @maxelly and @CaptainThe95thRifles said. I'd also just reinforce a couple of things - you cannot possibly declare with confidence that there is nothing wrong with this pony. How often have humans gone to doctors knowing that something is wrong, and been told that no, they're fine? Only to find out later that there was something seriously awry that the doctor missed. And that's when you can speak the same language. The pony is clearly telling you something is wrong. The fact stronger riders can overcome this does not mean all is well - it just means the threat from them outweighs whatever problems he has.

Second, sure, horses' temperaments vary and some are more kindly disposed than others. But if a horse is acting in a way we dislike they are doing so to get a point across to us. It might be pain somewhere, it might be they just don't like children, but they're trying to telling us something is wrong. We really should listen, not label them as vile.

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