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Original poster

Pony help!

52 replies

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 17:22

So we’ve just bought a young pony. I’ve only ever been around/helped/ridden older horses and riding school ponies. He’s a relatively quiet pony for his age, but only 5 and pretty green. He’s got good stable manners and great in the school. But to lead to the field and back, he’s super eager, wants to race back. I stop him, circle him, make him stand, but as soon as I walk him on again he pulls forward again.

Any tips? We’ve been doing ground work in the school and he’s great. He’s just so excited moving stable to field, and vice versa.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 26/12/2022 17:25

I would get the help of a good local instructor who can help you face to face. It is vital to instill good manners at this age in a sympathetic, positive way.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 17:28

Thanks, any tips in the meantime so I can stop him getting any worse?

OP posts:
Oncemoreforluck · 26/12/2022 17:32

‘Monty Roberts’ head collar. Used correctly, they are a great tool.

or instead of circling him, make him back up every single time he pulls you, or turn and walk back the opposite direction.

Wallywobbles · 26/12/2022 17:35

Can you do some lunging in larger open spaces so his associations are different.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 17:43

thanks, going to lunge tomorrow, will be the first time (only got him last week).

Have been wondering about a Monty Roberts, would rather correct the behaviour, equally need to make sure we are safe in the meantime, so think I’ll order one, thank you.

The reason I’ve taken him in a circle, rather than back him up, is cos he is ahead of me almost immediately, literally as soon as we start to walk, when he’s really excited. In the school I’ve been stopping and backing him up no issues, and only need to do that a couple of times and he’s perfect after that. I’ll have a go tomorrow, need to be more on the ball I think.

OP posts:
TheNinthLock · 26/12/2022 17:50

We had this with DD’s pony when we first got him. We calmly made him back up the entire distance he had charged forward.
Circling made him more hyper 😁

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 18:15

Right thank you, yeah, I think circling added to the excitement! So that’s fine, I make him back up, stand, but then as soon as I say walk on he charges forwards. Do I then back him up again? And repeat until he walks forwards nicely?

OP posts:
TheNinthLock · 26/12/2022 18:19

We repeated it every time he did it. Some walks to the field took an age….
But I don’t know if that was necessarily the correct way to do it - it worked for our pony.
He is a Connie / Connie X, exact origins unclear, but we had to outstubborn the stubborn 😁
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly 😊

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 18:40

Thank you, yeah I can see a 3 minute walk taking a couple of hours, but can’t afford to not get this sorted, and want to get manners firmly established before DD starts taking him! He’s been great for her in the school, but I made sure he was ok for me first.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2022 18:40

Short term , can you lead him out in his bridle as you'll have more control and his mindset will be Bridle=Work.
Otherwise if he continues his lairyness he's got more chance to establish the behaviour ?
He sounds lovely but very green.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 19:13

Thank you, bridle is a good idea. He is super sweet, just quite green/young/excited having just moved here. I kinda knew this might make things tricky, but was sold on his sweet temperament (he laps up fuss and cuddles, will stand all day to be groomed, not head shy, super easy to catch, great to tack up etc etc etc). Just Will need more groundwork/lunging than I’d hoped I think. Will be good for DD to learn all of this though (I think/hope!) and I have a couple of friends who will be helping her, plus she’ll be having lessons from a really experienced instructor

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 26/12/2022 19:20

Do lots of other stuff. We used to take our young ones out like a large dog. On a rope but for dog walks. Round everything, piles of everything etc. Flags, hola hoops, balls etc. Walking over scary stuff.

Bemyclementine · 26/12/2022 19:22

Ground work x 100. Teach him to back up, stand and move away from you. Do this in the schoo, but also use the sane principles when ever you're with him and handling him.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 20:12

Wallywobbles · 26/12/2022 19:20

Do lots of other stuff. We used to take our young ones out like a large dog. On a rope but for dog walks. Round everything, piles of everything etc. Flags, hola hoops, balls etc. Walking over scary stuff.

Thanks, have been doing a bit of this, plastic bags, does not bat an eyelid, seen a tractor, was fine, seen jumps, coloured poles, fine. Just crazy to get to his field and back to stable!

OP posts:
Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 20:15

Bemyclementine · 26/12/2022 19:22

Ground work x 100. Teach him to back up, stand and move away from you. Do this in the schoo, but also use the sane principles when ever you're with him and handling him.

Thanks, out of interest, how do you teach all of these? Just want to make sure I’m doing it right. Altho he does all of this perfectly in the school. So I guess, spend a lot more time doing this in the school and set aside a lot of time for anything outside of the school, so I have plenty of time to give to it.

OP posts:
Melon9 · 26/12/2022 20:19

Have you an idea why he's doing this? Is he last in from the field or is it very late and he's hungry?

Not that it's acceptable but he probably has a reason.

A monty Roberts dually used as a training aid rather than a strong headcollar is the way to go. Use a long rope or lunge line. When he charges off let him go a bit, plant your feet and wait for him to hit the end of the rope and turn himself, disengaging his quarters and stopping himself. The idea here is that he's doing it to himself rather than you doing it to him.

Longer term do get sone help if you can't resolve it, it's a dangerous habit and should be fairly easy to solve.

Melon9 · 26/12/2022 20:21

Kelly Marks Perfect Manners book is a good basic text on ground manners.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 20:44

Melon9 · 26/12/2022 20:19

Have you an idea why he's doing this? Is he last in from the field or is it very late and he's hungry?

Not that it's acceptable but he probably has a reason.

A monty Roberts dually used as a training aid rather than a strong headcollar is the way to go. Use a long rope or lunge line. When he charges off let him go a bit, plant your feet and wait for him to hit the end of the rope and turn himself, disengaging his quarters and stopping himself. The idea here is that he's doing it to himself rather than you doing it to him.

Longer term do get sone help if you can't resolve it, it's a dangerous habit and should be fairly easy to solve.

So helpful, thank you. I’ll try this.

Yes he was last in today and this is the worst he’s been. He is the same going out though, and even walking to the school. Fine as soon as he’s in the school though, walks beautifully and stops/stands/walks on nicely. He didn’t do any of this with previous owner that I saw, so I think it’s probably as much down to my green-ness as it is his!

OP posts:
Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 20:45

Melon9 · 26/12/2022 20:21

Kelly Marks Perfect Manners book is a good basic text on ground manners.

Great thank you, I will order!

OP posts:
Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 21:43

Melon9 · 26/12/2022 20:21

Kelly Marks Perfect Manners book is a good basic text on ground manners.

Book is ordered, head collar ordered, will also try and bring him in sooner tomorrow, so he’s not last in

OP posts:
SoImAHorseThenTed · 26/12/2022 22:30

You need to work with him on the ground - not lunging, but establishing of personal space, manners, your expectations of correct behaviour from him. If you have no experience with a young horse, I would be looking for an instructor who can help you. As others have said, it is vital to instil manners at this age, especially if a child is going to be handling him. It’s a much bigger job than can be described in a few words on a forum.

Original poster
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:38

@SoImAHorseThenTed thanks, I agree, have plenty of help around, and will be doing this work, just really making sure I don’t allow any bad habits to become established in the meantime. He’s only just arrived, and its been Christmas, so things have taken time to set up.

OP posts:
SoImAHorseThenTed · 26/12/2022 22:38

Just spotted have been bringing him in last. He’s a young, inexperienced horse in a new setting he doesn’t understand and a new handler who doesn’t seem to know enough about ‘the rules’ to instil respect in him, and you are leaving him out till last. No wonder he is in a bit of a hurry to come in! It’s not really fair to expect him to feel secure enough in a new home that you can take all the other horses away from him and he not be bothered by this.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2022 22:43

He didn’t do any of this with previous owner that I saw, so I think it’s probably as much down to my green-ness as it is his!

He's had a lot of change to deal with and maybe being brought in last has scared him. He sees his stable as safety .

Animals thrive on routine , it's one of the most important things in their life . You domesticate an animal , you have to give it structure ,
And he;s probably thinking now he can be a cheeky wee bugger and mess you about Wink

GingerbreadCookie2022 · 26/12/2022 22:43

SoImAHorseThenTed · 26/12/2022 22:38

Just spotted have been bringing him in last. He’s a young, inexperienced horse in a new setting he doesn’t understand and a new handler who doesn’t seem to know enough about ‘the rules’ to instil respect in him, and you are leaving him out till last. No wonder he is in a bit of a hurry to come in! It’s not really fair to expect him to feel secure enough in a new home that you can take all the other horses away from him and he not be bothered by this.

^This. Is he the last pony left in the field? Also is he the last out in the morning?