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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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:
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:44

Thanks, am aware of this also. He hasn’t been coming in last, happened today for reasons out of my control. Plan tomorrow is to bring him in first. But need to work on this issue regardless, and have been doing, he’s already better than when he arrived (aside from when he came in last today) so we are making progress.

OP posts:
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:50

@70isaLimitNotaTarget yup did not want to bring him in last, and won’t be doing again! Yeah he tried it on today and got the better of me, hence posting on here to get tips to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Love the internet for building people up. Most things in life require confidence and perseverance as well as skill and knowledge, so it would be nice if people could just offer advice (and I’ve had some great advice on this thread) in a constructive way. Hey-ho.

OP posts:
7upandup · 26/12/2022 22:52

His bridle
A chifney bit
A monty Roberts head collar.

In the meantime try walking him with his head facing you, he can't charge ahead and will find it harder to pull if he can't look forward in a straight line.

GingerbreadCookie2022 · 26/12/2022 22:52

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:50

@70isaLimitNotaTarget yup did not want to bring him in last, and won’t be doing again! Yeah he tried it on today and got the better of me, hence posting on here to get tips to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Love the internet for building people up. Most things in life require confidence and perseverance as well as skill and knowledge, so it would be nice if people could just offer advice (and I’ve had some great advice on this thread) in a constructive way. Hey-ho.

I’ve not seen anything other than really good advice on the thread or trying to get more information to help you.

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:54

7upandup · 26/12/2022 22:52

His bridle
A chifney bit
A monty Roberts head collar.

In the meantime try walking him with his head facing you, he can't charge ahead and will find it harder to pull if he can't look forward in a straight line.

Fab, thank you.

OP posts:
Amber245 · 26/12/2022 22:56

GingerbreadCookie2022 · 26/12/2022 22:52

I’ve not seen anything other than really good advice on the thread or trying to get more information to help you.

Yes the thread has been super helpful. I know bringing him in last was not helpful—this was due to factors out of my control. And I also know I need to nip this in the bud—hence my post on here.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2022 23:01

I'm certainly not trying to bring you down @Amber245 but as you said yourself he was being well behaved before in his familiar territory , now he's being a chancer .He's a young pony and I understand you want him safe for your child , you want him to behave from the get go.
And total respect that you want to get into his head to see whats upsetting him.
I've seen people wallop a horse rather than fathom it

But yes they are herd animals and changes in routine make them fret . Takes a while for any change to sit right with him.

Interesting that the Monty Don halter was talked about - I used to walk loads of his videos , some agree with his methods , some don't , I've just gone down a rabbithole of videoes now !

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 23:11

@70isaLimitNotaTarget apologies, I was a bit prickly, as am annoyed with myself for this. I was projecting. He’s a pony with mega potential, and I anticipated it being hard work and needing lots of help along the way, so need to remind myself of this and carry on!

The thread has been mega helpful, and all advice v much appreciated. I’ll be nipping this in the bud and getting help with it asap, and certainly before DD takes over any of this. I also have someone v experienced who is going to be riding him for us. He’s a bit of a project in some ways and that’s ok—we’re in this for the
long haul and not in any hurry. I’m jumping on anything that crops up like this and tackling it. He’s been great in all other ways. Though I’m sure more things will crop up as we go along!

Yes YouTube is a rabbit hole! A very useful one though!

OP posts:
7upandup · 26/12/2022 23:18

@Amber245 check out the Kelly marks books, she has some fantastic tips and exercises for ground work with your pony.

It sounds like he has separation anxiety and is hurrying back to the stable but if he's in livery then there is only so much you can control, so I wouldn't blame yourself for any of that. It's ok for you to do things that work for you and it's ok he feels insecure just now...all will work out.

A lot of people don't like chifneys, but if used correctly horses respect them and it teaches them to walk without pulling forward or refusing to walk forward. I would personally go with that, whilst teaching him the ground rules.
It sounds daft but if you sing to him when bringing him in, it will be soothing and will make you breathe which in turn will send relaxed signals to him...he will know if you are tense, and you will be after his antics.

Turning him in a circle may make his anxiety worse as it takes longer to get where he wants to be, but it's hard because he needs to know he can't just March ahead and drag you along.

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 23:19

Also just realised, he was stabled at viewing, tacked up at the stable, so never saw him walked in a headcollar, walked him over to the school in a bridle (he was perfect) so could actually have been a nightmare in head-collar for owner for all I know. Or it could just be a combination of all the other factors discussed. Either way, I’ve recognised the issue and will make sure it’s sorted, and it’s been so helpful to get some tips of things to try tomorrow! Thank you all.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2022 23:23

No worries @Amber245 , Smile

But I'm surprised you've got to page 2 without someone saying "photo" ?

Amber245 · 26/12/2022 23:27

7upandup · 26/12/2022 23:18

@Amber245 check out the Kelly marks books, she has some fantastic tips and exercises for ground work with your pony.

It sounds like he has separation anxiety and is hurrying back to the stable but if he's in livery then there is only so much you can control, so I wouldn't blame yourself for any of that. It's ok for you to do things that work for you and it's ok he feels insecure just now...all will work out.

A lot of people don't like chifneys, but if used correctly horses respect them and it teaches them to walk without pulling forward or refusing to walk forward. I would personally go with that, whilst teaching him the ground rules.
It sounds daft but if you sing to him when bringing him in, it will be soothing and will make you breathe which in turn will send relaxed signals to him...he will know if you are tense, and you will be after his antics.

Turning him in a circle may make his anxiety worse as it takes longer to get where he wants to be, but it's hard because he needs to know he can't just March ahead and drag you along.

Thank you, book is ordered, although delivery not until 3rd jan, hopefully will come sooner tho.

Yes circling is not helping, and that explanation makes sense. He was definitely not happy to be last in, and I’m going to try and make sure that doesn’t happen again anytime in the near future!

OP posts:
mumarooni · 26/12/2022 23:38

To add to useful comments: make the exciting trips less like runways towards a good thing (which he might see as food, turnout, company, whatever it is he's keen for) and more like the places he leads well like the school. So for example, always do some "work" when you get to the field or stable, like some leading exercises, some standing still for 3 minutes, backing up, moving sideways over, or over some poles. Go in the arena for 10 mins every day when you come in. Stops the association with in = haynet. Makes it less of a runway. Make sure he isn't running out of forage in either location, hungry ponies are rarely well behaved ponies (like kids!)

Littlepuddytat · 26/12/2022 23:47

Is he rushing to get to the other horses? Can you try leading him alongside someone leading a quiet horse to see if he still pulls?

Amber245 · 27/12/2022 00:03

Littlepuddytat · 26/12/2022 23:47

Is he rushing to get to the other horses? Can you try leading him alongside someone leading a quiet horse to see if he still pulls?

Thank you, will try this! I’m not sure if he’s rushing to get back to his stable/hay (though plenty of nice grazing where he’s turned out) or back to the other horses (seems more likely given he was so upset being last in)

OP posts:
Amber245 · 27/12/2022 00:05

mumarooni · 26/12/2022 23:38

To add to useful comments: make the exciting trips less like runways towards a good thing (which he might see as food, turnout, company, whatever it is he's keen for) and more like the places he leads well like the school. So for example, always do some "work" when you get to the field or stable, like some leading exercises, some standing still for 3 minutes, backing up, moving sideways over, or over some poles. Go in the arena for 10 mins every day when you come in. Stops the association with in = haynet. Makes it less of a runway. Make sure he isn't running out of forage in either location, hungry ponies are rarely well behaved ponies (like kids!)

ahhh yeah this makes a lot of sense, thank you. He’s definitely a LOT better walking to the school from his stable, than from the field to his stable!

OP posts:
Amber245 · 27/12/2022 00:06

What a super helpful bunch you are! Looking forward to trying some of this out tomorrow and will you know how we get on!

OP posts:
Littlepuddytat · 27/12/2022 09:17

Good luck! If he's better walking next to a quiet horse, maybe do some groundwork with that horse around to give him a bit of confidence? Like stopping, starting, backing up - that kind of thing. Then when his manners improve then stop using the other horse?

Amber245 · 27/12/2022 13:41

Update: got him in first and he was a dream. Will continue with this, but will remember all of your tips for any future challenges—would never intentionally set him up for failure so to speak, but there will inevitably be more instances where factors beyond my control lead to not-ideal circumstances, I’m sure! Will be doing lots of groundwork and lunging in the coming weeks.

Thanks so much all!

OP posts:
maxelly · 27/12/2022 16:06

Lots of good ideas here. I think in general my main takeaway from being an inexperienced numpty dealing with youngsters is that no-one is perfect and there will always, always be hiccups, but try as far as you can to set them up to succeed, so things like plan ahead and don't make life unnecessarily stressful for yourself (the last thing in from the field thing has been extensively covered), make use of help from more experienced horses and people where ever you can (so things like following a quieter/steadier horse in from the field or out on the roads) and don't be afraid to use aids like a monty roberts collar that will give you that bit of extra emergency control when you need it.

Groundwork is absolutely crucial especially for a child's pony, personally I'm not a huge fan of lunging as the main form of groundwork, it's useful in some circs. e.g. as a quick leg stretch if you don't have time to ride, to get the hoolies out of a very fresh one or to build muscle and topline when done correctly, but personally I wouldn't use this as a foundation for correct training with a youngster esp a small pony, unless you are very skillful which I certainly am not personally, by doing loads of lunging all you really do is teach them to spin round and round you in tight circles in an enclosed area which is bad for young joints, gets them much fitter than you need and doesn't do much to prepare them mentally or physically for their eventual job. Do you know how to long line OP? If not I'd get someone to teach you and then I'd get him out and about on long lines in straight lines, just in walk is fine, you can start in the arena but then ideally go round and round the yard, up and down local lanes and bridleways and yes, back and forth to the field loads and loads of times until it's boring to him. You can have someone at his head to start with if you have a helper but eventually he should learn to take his cues and confidence from behind, unless he's to be a lead rein pony eventually of course. Practice lots of transitions back and forth from halt, turns, straight lines and curved lines with him, over ground poles and raised poles/cavaletti, despooking, obstacles etc wherever you can as well, always thinking forward and off the aids, keep him busy and always paying attention to you rather than daydreaming and getting into mischief and it will really stand him well. But like I say, set him up for success, don't expect it will all be perfect overnight and if you sometimes need to go back a step (like leading everywhere in a bridle not a headcollar until his manners are drilled into him) to eventually go forward again, your aim is the long term here so providing the overall trajectory is positive don't doubt yourself.

Experienced help is the other crucial thing, with my very first youngster I felt so silly paying someone to come and show me how to successfully get her to stand tied up on the yard or walk past the spooky bush without turning herself in knots, I felt I really should be able to manage such basic things myself but my instructor was so skillful and sorted so many things/taught me techniques/ways to think about training I'd never had to think about with my previous, older horses it ended up being the most worthwhile thing I've ever paid for...

Good luck!

Bemyclementine · 27/12/2022 16:09

Vanessa Bee did a great book about horse agility, it's gives some good ideas for keeping ground work interesting.

Breehinny · 27/12/2022 18:48

I would try leading him around as much as you can for different things, he knows that field means freedom and food, and stable means food. Lead him around your yard, hand graze, lead him down the road etc. let him know that leading doesn’t automatically mean stable or field, he will soon stop expecting it. It may also help to disrupt his routine a little bit so he doesn’t know what to expect, leave him in for an extra hour or two if you’re able to, this will also help him to get used to being by himself, my gelding has terrible separation anxiety when he’s the only one in or out.

horseymum · 27/12/2022 22:31

Sounds like lots of good advice. Consistency is the key as you are training them with everything you do or allow them to do. Also at the risk of sounding patronising, a riding hat and gloves on every time to lead, especially your kids. I am very strict about this and was glad of it when friends pony decided he didn't like coming in at the time we chose and started waving his front legs in the air.

Gremlinsateit · 28/12/2022 02:11

Don’t forget to repay PPs for their helpful advice with a photo :)

EverestMilton · 29/12/2022 13:59

I would go easy on both of you. He's young and unsettled by the move. He's going to take a few weeks to find his feet. You've discovered that he's good as gold if he's first in and out. Excellent news. He's not being nasty he's just feeling very insecure without friends. I'd turn him out in a bridle with a Newmarket attachment and slightly longer length lead rein. Put gloves and a hat on. Either turn him out with a friend or make sure he's first in for a couple of weeks. If he pulls then you could try serpentining your way back so redirecting him but still going forward. Lots of praise when he does anything right. In the school practice using your breathing (big breath out) to slow/stop him, used your body to push him around/away from you so he reacts to your body language rather than you pulling him if that makes sense.
If it makes you feel better. The new companion pony I have pissed off on me the second time I turned him out. Took my Fat Cob with him, put me on my arse in the mud and they both hooned around with lead ropes trailing....... He's settled in, got with the routine and they are both dopes on ropes again. No problems since.