Stay at riding school or loan pony?

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone,

I need a bit of advice please. Firstly I'm not a horsey mum, we're new to this. My 9 new old daughter started lessons at a local riding school and has been going consistently for over 1 1/2 years now. She loves it, the whole thing from looking after the pony to riding. She watches YouTube videos constantly about horse care and pretty obsessed.

We're an outdoor family and I love it down at the stables.

Recently I found a loan pony for my daughter, the owner is very thorough which is what I want. She knows we're newbies but happy to train us up. We're taking it slowly there, so we can get our confidence up and experience. I see this as a long term thing so keep what to invest in it. The pony itself is a ploddy type pony, the type we need to begin with.

We also will be getting 1-2-1 lessons with the loan pony via an instructor at the livery. Currently her lessons at the riding school is a group lesson of 8. It's lovely but takes ages to wait for each child to have a go at cantering.

I'm torn as to what to do. Financially I can't afford to carry both places on at the same time. It's one or the other.

With the riding school, once she gets to a certain level she can be a leader for the little ones and there's lots of friends she could make there which she needs as she's an only child.

At the livery I've noticed it's quite bitchy, lots of back stabbing which I don't like and don't want to be involved with. There's none of that at the riding school.

I want what's best for my daughter and currently I'm a bit torn.

Help! 😬

You had a strange vibe to begin with- you should have listened.

no experienced horsewoman would willingly loan out their 5 year old to a novice child and a clueless (sorry) mother.

something is very, very off about this. and “never done that before” is bs. With all do respect, your dd is unlikely to be balanced enough to be riding a green pony, that’s why is bolted and bucked. it has shown it doesn’t have the temperament for bouncy novices and at 5 who can blame it, it’s just a baby.

this woman clearly has the gift of the gab and it’ll be financially motivated. You need to remove yourself from this situation before dd has her confidence crushed or worse, injured.

she will learn so much more with a loan, yes, or atleast a much better riding school (agree with others, 8 in a class is ridiculous) but this is not it. She needs a golden oldie to show her the ropes for a couple of years.

best of luck OP. I hope you see what’s right.

in all honesty, the riding side is the "easiest" part

Are you willing to learn the signs of illness such as colic and laminitis? Learn to deal with injuries, learn to notice when a pony is 1/10th lame etc? because if you take on a loan, whether its this oe or another, you'll end up being sole charge at some point and these are things you need to learn as the adult in the set up :)

But yes, no careful owner should think loaning a 5year old pony is suitable for complete novices.

This is 8 month on from @Cherryblossom200 last post.
Wonder how things are working out? Still loaning? Did you try the other riding school

Hi all,

We stopped shortly afterwards. The lady wasn't that pleased, but I couldn't care less! My DD's safety is more important. We're just at her normal riding school again which works well x

Good decision. A 5 year old pony is still very young and I would be surprised if he were a good first loan tbh. Does the riding school not do loan days? Most do, I'm loaning my lesson horse 1 day a week at the moment. Plus you can find riding schools with 'normal' ponies. The one I'm at they're all either currently competing or ex competitive so have their share of quirks.

My usual horse is kept in the furthest stable surrounded by warning signs as he bites anyone who doesn't ride him, he only loves 'his' riders. But incredible to ride, most popular in the school despite being an accredited knobhead.

The littlest and cutest pony bucks when she gets too excited cantering and occasionally has to have one of the more experienced teens get on and teach her the error of her ways.

One pony is just a bloody Saint. Never puts a foot wrong and is universally adored by all children.

One horse thinks he's a dog and follows you all over the field with his chin on your shoulder but is an amazing retired showjumper who can bounce anyone clear off his back on landing after a jump. Sweetest nature going but has had most people off with his big jump.

Another is super spooky in autumn so has Sept to December off work. I think this may be deliberate 😆

Even riding school horses can be quirky and difficult in their own ways. Yes they will have a few steady Eddies but plenty of more challenging horses too and the more she progresses she will likely get to ride them.