New pony woes

[NewNewForest]

Long term lurker, new poster.
Bought my daughter a lovely new pony, has been with us a month and we clearly had a around a fortnight’s initial honeymoon period where the pony was perfect (3rd pony for keen and capable 12 year old to compete, so it’s meant to be sharp and athletic sort, not a first pony type!)
Things have come unravelled in the last week ish, as pony seems to be super anxious and getting more so.
Prancing and rearing when tied up if other horses move around, whipping round and back to other horses in arena, and now most worryingly getting panicked when weight moves in saddle - ie checking girth, getting out of balance when they disagreed on a stride into a jump - and then pony tucks its bum underneath then gallops off till child falls off (now x 4 times) Still polite and mannerly to handle, but very on edge and reactive.
Child sanguine and keen to ride the pony again, but I am mindful that confidence is hard won and easy lost and it would be such a shame to be happy and capable competing 80/90 and then all go to pot.

I am pretty confident it will all come right eventually, I know it’s just a matter of time, but that somehow seems easier when you’re an adult and it’s an adults horse, children’s ponies seem to need a whole other level of emotional parenting energy 🥴 plus there is the added element of this panicking and buggering off, I don’t want to call it a bolt as the word bolting shouldn’t be used lightly, but it’s certainly a dramatic and fast flight response!
Sellers (private sale, genuine outgrown as far as we know) seemed straightforward and have said it never happened with them.

How long would you give it and what would you do while you were waiting for the pony to settle? Ground work only? Lots of police horse style despooking training? Every time the flight response happens it seems to be reinforcing the ponys fear that people moving in the saddle is cause for concern as she inevitably falls off and that frightens the pony, so tempted to avoid ridden work till more settled. I am capable/horsey myself but too heavy to ride this one unfortunately. Maybe this is the motivation to diet 😂

Thoughts from the hive mind please 🙏 ?

It signals to me that the pony has a sore back. Has the saddle and back been thoroughly checked?

Yes, saddle came with pony which we got our regular saddler to check anyway, she was vetted with flying colours and has had a settling in massage from my regular lady with no concerns.
The dramatic response also says soreness to me, but as yet not found a cause for concern!

I would agree getting its back checked and I’d be concerned about a pony who’d started prancing and rearing when tied up. Can you pinpoint exactly when it’s behaviour changed?

Pretty much when she came off the delivery lorry 🤷‍♀️ I think sometimes horse anxiety feeds itself, the more anxious they feel then the more it is self fulfilling prophecy?
She was normal “new home” vibes for first couple of weeks but didn’t actually put a foot wrong, and then it ramped up. Routine has been the same since day 1. She seems to be making friends with us, whinnies on arrival, happy for scratches etc, just really reactive when worked.

I have a mare that was pretty spooky when I first got her, it took her a good 6 months to settle but we’d had an incident where one of our younger dogs mistook her for a sheep and nipped her heels 🙈. For months afterwards when she saw any of them she was a ball of anxiety. I spent a lot of time in the arena with her lunging, doing trotting poles and generally building a bond with lots of grooming and slowly getting her used to a noisier surrounding than she’d been used to. I’d slow things down for a few weeks. Remember it’s spring too and they all go a bit nuts at this time of year (well mine do).

Nuts this time of year: true story 😂
Even decrepit retired job on his toes 🥴

Would want a thorough vet assessment. Did you have the pony vetted pre-purchase?
It can take up to 6 months for a pony to settle in a new home but this sounds alarm bells for pain somewhere to me, especially the part about tucking it's bum.

It sounds like pain, honestly I had a mare like this who turned out to have kissing spines, which I appreciate is not what you’ll want to hear…
Reactive when worked is almost always pain.

It would be worth you considering ulcers (will need Vet check).

I'd scope, the stress of moving could have triggered ulcers. I'd also recommend Naked horse Buck off and Hempine CBD, both have helped massively with our mare. Is turnout regime the same as in previous home?

You've got a pain issue. There's a stat that says 80% of saddles do not fit, I think this figure is conservative! I've been in the industry for a very long time and it's only in the last 5 years I've managed to find a genuinely capable and thoroughly knowledgeable saddle fitter. Also regarding your back person again they're like hens teeth. If you've had a 5 star vetting then it maybe worth asking your vet to do a full spectrum run on the bloods he would have pulled.

There could be many many things going on here but the movement is very telling of pain. It could also in addition to the pain be extreme winds we've had, the horse was lacking vitamins and you're now suppling and vice versa, the grass coming through etc etc. If you're in Derbyshire please message me if you'd like me to suggest genuine professionals that I know and trust. They are not all created equal.

Sounds like ulcers which have flared up due to the stress of moving

Saddle?

Make life easier for now - don't tie where other horses are moving, don't ride with others in the arena, and no jumping. 4 weeks isn't long for a pony to settle.

Has turnout time changed with the new home?

Are you feeding the same and riding the same?

Are the old owners close enough to visit and ride the pony for you a couple of times? Did child tighten girth/change stirrups or is the pony used to a mum that did everything?

Can you pop on the lead rein and practice round the world etc

it's only in the last 5 years I've managed to find a genuinely capable and thoroughly knowledgeable saddle fitter

Sorry to hijack the thread, but is the one you have anywhere near North London/Herts? If so, could you please pass on the details as we have had some bad experiences with saddle fitters?

Edited: Apologies, should have seen you're in Derbyshire.

I would start with the saddle. Another thing, is the pony turned out in the same paddock as other horses? When we bought our horse and he was in an individual turn out paddock he became very difficult in the handling. This was solved as soon as he was in with others.

It could just be the grass coming through combined with new home nerves. That said I would have a physio out to assess and have the saddle rechecked. I would also try to avoid any triggers to allow settling in time. This might mean no jumping for now and maybe riding mostly in an arena. Is the rider still able to ride the previous pony to keep confidence up?

It put money on it being pain.
I'd get everything checked again, saddle get a second opinion
Vet check for ulcers and if not the a full performance review
Physio check
Dental check
I bet something shows up.

As a separate thing how much turn out does the pony get? Is any aspect of your current management wildly different from the previous owners?

What's life/routine like with you compared to where she was before? Feed? Turnout? Herd size?

I'd get the vet back, and get them to run the bloods they took at the vetting.

In the meantime, I'd cut all hard feed. If you get the go ahead from the vet, I'd get a lightweight adult/older teenager to ride a couple of times a week. Ideal situation would be to get the pony out on some good long hacks with a couple of proper nanny types.

I agree with those saying pain, and an ulcer flare up from the stress of moving does seem to fit to some extent. Alternatively it could be down to a change in management e.g. feed, more time stabled etc?

If the pony is maybe used to competing and even stay away camps, have they now twigged that actually it is a proper move and they are not going back?

I would speak to your vet, and probably also ask your instructor to come out and have a general look at everything that's going on?

I wouldn't necessarily go to ground work and de-spooking per se, but I'd probably keep everything pretty low key riding wise for a bit, maybe just riding on the flat in the school, gentle hacking with sensible companions etc? It does sound like you've done quite a bit in the space of a month and it may all be a bit overwhelming.

Is the pony mostly in a stable routine? If you're out and about a lot or riding at random times, then that may also be unsettling? I'd probably try and keep a routine e.g. turnout at X time each day, if riding bring in at X time, ride within 1 or two predictable abilities, feed, put to bed etc.

I would agree with everyone saying pain needs checking thoroughly.
I would also suggest contacting an Intelligent Horsemanship recommended trainer local to you for an assessment and advice. This was really helpful to me in many situations.

We sold a pony who was ‘well described’ and we were very honest. First week they said how great pony was and towards the end of the second they said they had a dangerous pony. Videos of him sound very similar to yours. We had to buy him back and we had him scoped and he had ulcers, likely bought on from the stress of a new home. If you haven’t already, would definitely suggest getting him scoped

I would get her scoped as sounds like the move could have triggered something.

Also look at her feed, our mare lost her shit after we moved yard and we realised it was a change in hard feed. She was strong and opinionated to ride, fine once we changed her feed.

I'd treat for ulcers, cut out any hard feed but offer free choice hay, and also consider ovarian pain/cysts. It's often overlooked in horses. Maybe also stop riding but spend time doing groundwork and just bonding. Offering something like calming cookies or another calmer can't hurt and may help to break the cycle.

I wouldn't scope as most ulcers in horse are hind gut anyway, but I'd assume ulcers. Can you afford to start her on Gastroguard? Pricey, but it's been transformative on my friend's dressage mare.

I would also get back/saddle fit double and triple checked as PPs say above.