Need some experienced perspective please

[horseHorseHorse]

I'm really not sure what to do and would appreciate some experienced perspective please.

I recently arranged a loan/pony share of a riding school pony for my daughter. We were at a family event yesterday and went up today to meet him and have a little plod about.

The pony is a 12.2 gelding and is used in the riding school, was advertised as 100% bomb proof and safe (I know no horse is ever 100% safe but that's how he was described!) Daughter is 5, and has been riding in lessons for about nine months. I have experience with horses and have worked with them in the past though I am a bit rusty currently!

He was a bit grumpy coming in from the field this morning but seemed willing enough. Brought him to the yard, groomed and tacked up. Again was a bit grumpy but I put it down to him just not being a "pocket pony" and didn't think too much of it.

Daughter mounted at the mounting block and we headed towards the outdoor school. Pony wasn't very willing to go forwards so popped him on the lead rein. Tack was fine, nothing obvious that would be upsetting him.

About halfway to the school, he did a massive spook - both feet right off the floor, dropped his shoulder, yanked the rope out of my hand and bolted off at high speed. He went directly back to the stable and was very unsettled and upset. Untracked him and asked one of the girls who work on the yard to pop him back out.

Daughter came off over his shoulder and thank God isn't hurt beyond a few bruises. I have a broken hand from the force of him pulling away.

I just don't understand what happened - I am blaming myself but I can't think of anything I did wrong. Daughter was riding quietly, not kicking him or hanging onto his mouth.

I also don't know what to do next - it's £300 a month, and we can only use him after 2pm. The school have said he'd never done that before and have offered us the use of a different pony but to be honest, it's put me right off. School is BHS/ARBS approved. I want to ask for my money back and break the loan.

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled- I'm still very shaken!

Sorry, hit post by accident.

It's maybe a slow two minute walk from the stables and mounting block.

I never wrap ropes around my hands - I probably should have let go quicker! 🙁

It honestly came out of nowhere though - one sec he was plodding along fine then the next second both front feet were off the floor, he'd dropped his shoulder and gone! Did wonder if he'd been stung or something because it was so sudden! (it actually reminded me of a mare I used to ride, who had a problem with her neck and if she moved her head the wrong way it would pinch a nerve and she'd react like this!)

I've been looking for a share since Jan with no luck - had an ad on various Facebook groups in my area and up in the local tack shop. It's not very rural or horsey where I live unfortunately so this seemed like a good idea, especially with the pony being in an approved riding school!

I'm still waiting to hear back from them to see what their solution is.

I get that!

Th staff were around and didn't seem bothered by his grumpyness so I figured it was normal for him and he's just not a cuddly pony iyswim?

I'm not sure if I've made it clear but I was checking with the staff throughout the process and they kept saying to crack on ☹️

Ah, none of that is clear from your OP.

I would say that, no matter what the riding school tells you, you should always stop if you're uncomfortable with a horses' behaviour, especially when there's a small child involved. What's totally manageable as an experienced adult can cause major problems for a young and inexperienced rider.

At the school I attended, a lot of the horses were incredibly smart and knew every trick in the book. They could 100% sense your nerves or fear and would react accordingly!

Mountain block being so far outside the school is not ideal. I would give her a leg up in the school rather than use the block outside the arena until you're confident in the pony.

I've known enough riding school horses to know that a large amount are school stale, have backs that aren't checked regularly and often have ulcers.

Honestly OP I’d ditch the share idea for now, find a centre with a pony club centre and look when your daughter is older and a bit more knowledgeable.

Our local pony club centre is about 40 mins away and unfortunately she's going through a phase of being car sick so not really an option 😞

Can you maybe double the lessons she is getting with the same money for the loan pony so she gets more riding experience? As she gets older there are various horse residentials she can do as well - my daughter is off to Pine Lodge in Exmoor for the second time in August.

Yep - I still haven't heard back so will ring tomorrow and ask about using the money for lessons instead.

Rang a couple of times today with no answer so have left a voice message. Will update when I hear back from them.

Combination of things it sounds like. Trigger stacking. New rider, new person leading him, none of his mates around, sighting of a rare horse eating leaf and freaked out. It can happen to anyone. Falls and spooks are part and parcel of riding.

The one I ride is as bomb proof as they come and he has had me off a couple of times spooking. Once at a loud noise behind him, once at a piece of tinsel on the floor. Literally the same tinsel he just spent an hour unwinding from the fence 🤣

I wouldn't be making too big a deal of it, would just get her back on and this time make sure someone he knows is around. Even if its just another child who rides him hanging out with you.