Terrified pony in school lesson

[TheViewFromTheCheapSeats]

I’m getting to the point of giving up on our riding school. They seem to have so many horses with behaviour issues.

I’m posting to see if this is within the norm for others…

My 5 yr old, on lead rein still. Pony straight off is off, trying to trot and pull forward from me leading. Unusually fast walk too, but actually trying to break forward. Having to told firmly, stop, calm.

Told to keep her legs still, nothing but voice commands due to reactive ness. Even a accidental tiny squeeze and she’s off. As I said- 5 year old this is. Good but obv not a perfect seat so I can’t swear no light touches or squeezes.

Use a rein to guide steering, near panic. Had to hold back from a bolt attempt. Nothing child can really do apart from be a passenger! The only way to manage is constant stopping and stroking (which after a bit does settle her).

Apparently the background is pretty sad, which is the reason. I get that, I like the pony. I’d give her time 1:1 with one of my older ones, I can see she’s lovely but bloody scared. However I think it’s mental to have her in lessons.

Add to this we have a kicker at the back of the line to avoid, two super lazy ones, and one that has no interest in halting for children. I feel like it’s gone chaotic with who’s left on the yard post Covid. I get it’s difficult. But we’ve had unriden 11 yr olds on the yard, ponies with abusive backgrounds and others that had just got used to being turned out in the field most the time

My older ones can manage the ponies, but they keep having children with extremely little experience in the lesson and rely on the horses to follow. It makes it impossible

Buy your own!

That really doesn't sound safe. I wouldn't want a 5 year old on a pony like that. It sounds like more of a rescue centre than a riding school.

Obv reasons why not buying one…

Cloudy, it’s changed a lot post Covid. They have significantly struggled and there’s been a turnover. Some have to be fair come out the otherwise really well.
I’m just getting really stressed in lessons managed them in a group situation and with competing issues. Before we had a smaller group and a few more steady ones on the mix so it worked

It sounds unsuitable for a lead rein pony and your dd won't be learning much if she's too scared to use any leg aids.

She’s not too scared to use leg aids, it was expressly forbidden. She’s pretty confident and can ride some off lead, your average school pony I just walk beside. She’s got enough control for trotting through cones with me running alongside just in case

If she's confident then I don't see the problem. It's good to ride lots of different types. Perhaps ask for her to ride a different pony some weeks?

Having said that, being told she musnt use leg aids and only her voice is not really proper classical riding so she's not learning correctly.

I guess, or pay for 1:1/ small groups with out the choas of 6 personalities?

I asked a few times if she was in pain or sick, it just didn’t seem right. I was told she was scared of me and would have to get used to be, but then in a cuddle being stroked she was as still as could be for ages with me when we stopped and gave up to rest my arms. Head on me. Off again and boom, ready to flip

If it is truly likely to bolt it has no business in lessons. But there’s a difference between running off and bolting. My mare pisses off frequently but she’s not a bolter.

I’d spend my money elsewhere regardless, it sounds a bit shambolic. Not my normal experience of a riding school and not for lead rein. Yes you want some sharper ones for confident kids-I grew up riding the green and cheeky ones. But there’s a time and place for it and it’s not lead rein!

Why does the riding school have you leading in the lesson or with your dd in the school? Surely they aren't insured for that. On the rare occasions mine have had school lessons I hand them over at the school entrance. Parents aren't allowed in.

Sounds great! Best dc learn that ponies are unpredictable so that they don't get a false sense of security and expertise as you would if they were push button ponies.

Being able to ride tricky ponies is a skill which makes the difference between an ok rider and a good one.

Having said that, if a child or adult is nervous or had a bad experience then the best pony for them is a quiet plodder.

Just as well they aren't all the same isn't it?

If you want reliability and predictability go cycling.

Why are you leading?
I would expect the riding school to provide an experienced handler to lead the pony. One that knows the quirks of the pony and can be firm in handling it, and pre-empty any difficult behaviour. I would not expect a parent to lead. Support a small unsteady child while being led perhaps, but not to lead the actual pony.

It doesn't sound to me as though the pony is safe for a lead rein if it is too reactive and wants to take off. I'd be asking for a quieter pony perhaps?

But I do agree riding schools are between a rock and a hard place, many had to sell a lot of ponies as they couldn't keep them indefinitely with no income, and decent replacements are a ridiculous price.

It’s hard to say truely running or bolting when held, but a panic jerk, slight raise and eye white then attempt to run. Luckily I am tall and strong and the pony is very small so containable as I was ready holding close to the collar. Not a cheeky run like the other cheeky sod. I whipped her off the second time I had that little trust on where it was going and popped her away.

There are multiple schools round here that ask parents to lead, I can think of 4.
I don’t mind leading at all and being with the lesson, 6 cheeky ponies and mixed ability kids isn’t a one person job. I am a general back up usually and it works

I’m in the middle ground of not wanting cycling, I’d be happy with my older two on her, but thinking 5 year olds shouldn’t be on reactive ponies who are either terrified or in pain, whichever the issue is.

Some of the other ponies are tricky, I’m cool. We make it work. Now who hates a short rein, who doesn’t like close company, who gallops for fun. There’s tricky, and then a line towards not safe. That’s what I’m worried about.

This pony does not sound suitable for a 5 year old on a lead rein. You have to teach a child correct technique first and at 5 they have a long way to go towards learning that. If a pony is tense, spooky, reactive to aids, they need a rider who has the knowledge and ability to deal with that, and very few 5 years olds are in that place ability-wise. Secondly, with a young child, you want to instil confidence. Some kids are more confident than others, but what you don't want to do is over-horse a child and knock the confidence they have.

Good riding school ponies are a particular type and personality. They have been schooled with the aim of helping riders gain the knowledge and confidence to go onto more complicated ponies and horses as they progress. The posters saying tricky ponies teach a kid ponies aren't predictable are being a bit disingenuous - yes, once a child has developed basic skills on safe schoolmasters, let them find out that most ponies are not push button (some need go, some need whoa!) but let them find that out with a solid foundation in good horsemanship, which you don't get aged 5! Maybe from age 10 onwards I would start to introduce trickier sorts. Having said that, I am all for working towards children enjoying riding not suffering falls, scares and tribulations. And on what our Pony Club have described as fairly dull, unsuitably ploddy horses, my daughter has won her second national title this year on a horse the show jumping instructor said I should send back, and certainly shouldn't bring to any more of her lessons! She won her first title 3 years ago on a retired riding school pony who was described by other PC mums as 'a bit too safe to be of any real use.'

So, yes, from my POV I would be looking for a different riding school, one you and your child enjoy and feel safe at. Because if you feel it's risky and unenjoyable, what is the point?

The pony sounds young and inexperienced and with the best will in the world, a novice 5 year old isn't going to help its confidence. I agree riding schools were hit very hard by the pandemic and the price of horses has gone through the roof so not surprised they are having to use difficult or young ponies.

Not a suitable pony for riding school kids

I would request your kids doesn't ride it sounds like a accident waiting to happen

Does your dd have a oh shit neck strap?

Not a young pony at all. Apparently one though who’s been previously mistreated

Being a small pony the saddle has a strap.
To be fair my five year old loves a cheeky horse and isn’t nervous at all, it’s me with this one. She’s had a fall and just apologised to the pony before getting back on!

Back in the box, I lean towards your mind set.