New Pony Wobbles

[Thesebloominhorses]

After searching for a long time, in this crazy crazy market, we have finally bought DD12 a new pony. Stepping her up for her 12.2hh which she has been on for too long.

New pony is 8 year old Connie x cob. Experienced pony club pony, been there done that (done quite a lot for an 8 year old, beach rides, gallops, camp, SJ, XC, team chasing) did my homework, no one had a bad word to say about it. Came with PC references etc. we tried it three times, took instructor and all sorts. All good. Came from a reputable home. Known history from birth. All that.

She is a pretty chill and straightforward, friendly pony who likes people. There is just one thing which is really giving me the wobbles. She panics. We can go past 5 giant Lorries and tractors and fine, then suddenly she’ll completely panic at one and it’s a knife edge to keep her on the spot. Similarly we’ve twice had a tumble, which only happened because she panicked. She slipped going into a jump and DD slipped in the saddle to the side. Had the pony slowed down DD12 would have righted herself. But the pony panicked and shot sideways and galloped away, meaning DD had no chance of righting herself.

I’m torn between thinking it’s just new pony wobbles after dear little 12.2hh, or if it’s actually just bloody dangerous and I should send her back. We’re 4 weeks in.
for contact she is foot perfect everywhere else , wasn’t worried about a new home and yard, and very chill when we take her out and about.

Sorry for essay

It's only been 4 weeks, I think it's probably wobbles rather than anything else. When you say she panics, what does she actually do? With the traffic example, you say it was a knife edge to keep her on the spot, but you did keep her on the spot then, she didn't actually go anywhere? That sounds alright as a spooky reaction to me but understand even a flinch with a heavy lorry thundering past is scary!

With the example where your DD fell off, I think tbh most 2nd ponies probably would have done the same, a saintly lead rein or first ridden yes will grind to a halt whenever anything out of the ordinary happens but a horse or pony with a bit more about them is going to be a bit more spooky, and for a lot of horses things flapping or banging or pulling at their flanks is a huge trigger for flight instinct and all their brain is telling them is to get away as fast as possible, I think it mimics being chased and clawed at by a predator, just unfortunate that a rider who's slipped sideways and is trying to save themselves can give the same effect. The only thing I'd worry a bit about is why she slipped, was this on a surface or grass? The former I would want to keep a close eye out as really a young pony shouldn't lose its footing regularly on a stable surface.

Perhaps just time to slow things down just a tad, if she's being a spooky/panicky in traffic can you stick to quieter routes with a calm lead pony, maybe walk beside her on foot so you can grab hold if heavy traffic does come past? And keep jumping easy/low heights and work on your DD's balance and positioning on the new pony which must feel so different to a little 12.2, I think where a child's gotten so used to a really safe pony that will get them out of any trouble there can be a need for a little back to basics just at first when they make the step up, lots of work on core strength (I know she's only 10, it will come in time), independent seat etc? Your new pony sounds great so I'm sure it will come in time!

I agree (as usual!) with @maxelly - it’s only been a few weeks and just as the pony will feel different to your dd, so will your dd feel different from the previous rider to the pony. When my dd got her first horse he was a nightmare to mount and she fell off every single time she jumped him for the first few months - there was absolutely no way he’d have slowed down when dd lost her position to help her get back (although he would look at her quizzically once she was on the ground as if to say ‘what on earth are you doing there?’). However, the following summer at pony club camp he was awarded the schoolmaster of the year trophy, stood like a rock at the mounting block or for a leg up, was being used as a lead over ditches and steps for anyone finding them tricky and generally being a good egg.

It sounds like there are loads of positives and that your dd and new pony just need to get used to each other.

Was going to say much the same! It's really tempting to crack on and do loads with a new horse but it's a massive change for them and it can really pay off to bond with them first. I'm not a NH type but groundwork, especially with poles, can be really good for learning to trust each other!

I'd also look at tack fit if you've changed her tack and consider giving her something for ulcers just in case.

8 is still quite young. I think you should spend the winter having lessons in a school with a trusted instructor. Hack out on the lead rein for a while to build confidence.

I think it’s just wobbles, the jump fall sounds like a very very normal reaction to a rider not being where the pony expects them to be. I don’t think a pony is dangerous just because it acts in a perfectly normal way and unnerves the rider doing so.
Horses can behave slightly more on edge when they settle in, when I moved yards my very polite mare got very silly to mount for about 3 weeks then returned to normal.
I’d get a good instructor to work with them, and also maybe take a step or 2 back while they get to know each other.

Agree with all the above, my connie X needs a confident calm rider or they get worried, in confident hands they are an angel 99% of the time. Not really worried about how good a rider you are but want you to be in charge and not worry. A young teen coming off poines once rode him in the school as her's was lame and it was surprising now badly it went really, he wasn't at all happy with the percieved lack of leadership even though she rodw correctly. Early days with a lot of changes might have affected the pony's confidence, hopefully this will grow with the bond. If yours is like mine it isn't a matter of telling them off too much if they worry, mine is allowed to look but not turn around unless I say. They do really need to know that I don't care/ am not worried about what they are trying to point out...

You've done loads - at 4 weeks all we'd done is wander around the school with me at the head on our current pony. Scale it back, given her time to settle and get to know you all

I'm very much a "crack on and get on with it" type. i don't have settle periods with new horses and would often have been out competing at least once in the first month. IF of course, the pony/horse is fully fit when it arrives. Sometimes taking a step back when you get a pony that's been in full work and is fully fit can cause more harm than good to both the new rider and the pony.

The fall that's described seems normal. second/third ponies tend to be sharper. I've had plenty that will hack passed something 20 times in a row and literally throw a wobbler the 21st time, then fine the next 10 times.

Your daughter will learn those quirks of the pony. Get lots of lessons over winter at different places, not just at home, and maybe some walking inhand hacks after a schooling session etc.

It'll come together! It's early days :)

Completely agree with what's been said already. It's very early days and it doesn't sound like the pony is dangerous or likely to do anything unkind, more that she is adjusting to a new rider and new environment. Second ponies are very different from first pony types, who are described as saints for a reason.

I think the way to look at it is that this isn't just a pony for your daughter to do what she wants to do this week and next, it's the very beginning of a partnership and that really does take time to build. Whilst your daughter has to adjust to a new pony, the pony also needs to adjust to a new rider asking for things differently, and crucially, she needs to learn to trust your daughter.

My DD's first pony was (oddly!) a whizzy fizzy young Welsh jumping pony. She (the pony) had little to no experience but bags of confidence and enthusiasm. They learnt together, went everywhere, flew over everything and did brilliantly. By the end, DD only needed to look at the next jump whilst in the air over current jump, and pony felt that slight weight shift and changed canter league in the air ready for a tight jump-off turn on landing. That's how well they knew each other.

With her second pony they have had to start from the very beginning. He can also be a bit of a panicker, he will dart to the side of a fence if he isn't sure about it, and I had wondered if he would ever be the right sort for what she wants to do, which is ultimately more eventing/XC. He asks her questions, and she has had to learn to answer them (she's had to learn to ride again basically)....he will not jump a new jump if she doesn't clearly tell him to. He would also panic if she was unseated or unbalanced. He Would Not Hack on his own for months, napping, spinning etc. but we have worked at it and he is now very steady and safe out and about and she hacks him 'on the buckle' as people say, often being the safe steady one to accompany nervy ones out. In the first year we have gone from stress and tears and wondering if he would ever do the job, to him LOVING the job, taking her confidently into fences, because she is giving the right signals early enough, and telling him that he can trust her.

He is beginning to show his personality and he's fab, and trustworthy. He is just still a pony, not an actual saint!

I realise this is slightly different from what you have described, but some of it is related, and more to say that it is very very early days. DD's coach said in the early days with our boy 'don't trust this pony for a YEAR, I mean it, a year. He needs that time to learn what you're asking of him'. And she was spot on actually. All the pieces are now coming together, and it's ace and we're excited for the future.

Final point - I think it's harder when your child is 12-13 because they are over-thinking things more. When they're 8 or 9 on their first pony they just do as they're told, now it's 'Why does he do that? Why doesn't he listen when I ask for this?'.

I would just assume this winter is getting to know each other, next season is having a go at everything, and hopefully you will be in my position in a year knowing you have all the pieces in place for the fun they are going to have.

Sorry that was a bit long and not all completely relevant!

We've had our new (2nd) pony 2 months. Initially she was very skittish on the ground but I would say already she is a bit more relaxed.

We have had DC1's horse a year and she is much better now except when the hunt is around and then she is wired!

As others have said you probably need to hold your nerve and give it some more time. Maybe keep off the roads until you are feeling more confident.

Have you heard about trigger stacking? It's basically the idea that ponies/horses can only cope with so much- i.e. they can cope with one stressful thing, maybe two, but three, four, five- eventually they will get scared and react. Your pony is in a new home, and is holding it together most of the time in heavy traffic- that is pretty good going! Personally, I think that sounds like pretty hardcore hacking- do you have any quieter/mainly off-road routes you can start with?

The saddle slipping thing- yes, some ponies are saints who will do anything to save their rider, but this pony may never have been through that exact scenario, and understandably panicked! I don't believe that's dangerous- it's not a crazy extreme reaction, it's a pony, that, however much it has done, is only 8 and getting used to a new home and rider! It's also possible the saddle slipping caused pain- which will always cause a response.

At the end of the day, you have bought a flight animal, you've bought a relatively young one, it's a big-ish step up for your daughter. Horses and ponies do react, do spook/shoot off/spin etc- it's a survival instinct, and very hard to avoid it ever happening! Very likely, given time, it will reduce in this pony- but maybe in the meantime you need to take a step back and reduce what you are doing.

Or maybe you do need to go for a much older, been there, done that model! But it honestly sounds like this pony is pretty decent, not dangerous but is having a lot asked of them, and perhaps needs a little more time to settle!

Thank you everyone for your input. Really helpful. And i appreciate all the time and input.

the stress stacking is an interesting perspective. Which I had not considered.

we can’t avoid the hacking issues. I was on a waiting list for 18 months for this yard. It’s the only livery yard with half an hours drive that allows under 16s. There is NO off road hacking at all. It’s all country lanes. But that’s the same for all yards round here. We’re deepest darkest devon believe it or not. But it’s not good horse territory. That said it’s not awful and I can’t think of a single other horse I’ve come across who wouldn’t manage it. It’s still country lanes with occasional traffic. In an hours ride I probably see 10 - 15 vehicle, but at least 3 will be a tractor or large lorry.

We’ve figured the issue is traffic moving past her. She’ll calmly go past combines, tractors lorrys and all sorts if they are stationary. The issue is if they move past her. And I can’t stop them doing that always. She’s better in company or with someone in a bike or on foot. But the issue is that I have no one to ride with. So whilst she is fine for DD, I can’t ride to keep her fit.

shes a pretty full up imposing 14.2hh, all white (grey) and I’ve been wearing all black boots, jods, jacket and with the Polite / police hi viz, and hi viz leg wraps on chest plate on her. That does work to slow traffic down 9 times out of ten. To a layman I guess we’d pass as a police horse. But of course it’s not a crime to pass us on a wide lane 🤷🏼‍♀️

current plan is to keep her going over winter with DD. I will long rein her to give her traffic exposure and see if that helps. And we’ll sell in the spring. And be sure it’s to a home with off road hacking, narrow lanes where traffic can’t go past, or to someone who always hacks in company.

That sounds sensible OP. We have similar to you as regards hacking on roads and having horses that are as bombproof as you can get is essential.

Last week dd was riding through a long deep puddle and a car just didn't slow and drove fast past her, creating a wave which drenched her and dhorse. Luckily he wasn't bothered but that an absolute prick. People are awful on the roads these days.

I also think it is very early days and the traffic thing may well get better. Horses are herd animals and they rely on their rider to substitute for the herd on a solo hack. Atm, your new pony hasn't accepted that you are really her herd, it takes time, it's youngish and still learning about life up to a point.
I'd just keep on doing what you are doing, the saddle slip issue is typical of a youngster, they don't like the feel of the rider being unbalanced but again it's a learning curve.
Have a look at richard maxwell's ideas on groundwork and other stuff, the panicking is the pony's way of dealing with stuff and he explains how to get them to the point that they can process scary things and not panic. It's all about switching from the sympathetic to the para-sympathetic nervous system

With time and patience I suspect the hacking may well improve dramatically. We have some fabulous hacking but there’s about 15-20 minutes on country lanes to get there. DD’s youngster had a fright not long after she’d arrived when a delivery van shot past her way too fast and way too close - she completely lost the plot, rearing and broncing and the next time dd took her out as soon as she saw a car she was terrified. Since then dd’s been giving her as many positive experiences out hacking as possible - she’s been going out with another horse or a foot soldier and keeping it all low key - she’s becoming much more confident and yesterday was leading her friend past any scary bits. The aim is for her ‘confidence jar’ to be as full
as it can be before she’s put into a potentially scary situation - it will take time but it will be worth it.

If its you riding in traffic, not your daughter, then I would suggest taking a more robust approach to dealing with vehicles and set the pony up for success. If you don't think there is enough space for a vehicle to pass (or your pony isn't comfortable for them to do so) then don't let them. Either ask them to stop, position yourself in the middle of the road, turn around/trot on to find somewhere to tuck in. I have a 4yo pony who sounds v similar with big/noisy traffic. I see it as my job to protect her and her confidence has come on in leaps and bounds. I find that drivers are very understanding and I always do my best to inconvenience them as little as possible.

For an 7 year old in a new home she really sounds fine. You can't expect a schoolmaster at 8. The traffic thing I would walk with her and every time something passes her, give a small treat.

Ask cars to stop, speak to them and ask them to pass extremely slowly but moving. Most drivers on country roads are fine with this. I've been asked the same and happily done it and even given treats from my car window to young horses being desensitised.

You can get high vis jackets with YOUNG HORSE IN TRAINING, PLEASE PASS SLOWLY on the back as well which helps warn drivers that she may flinch when passing them.

Also, sing and make an effort to relax your bum. They can feel you and if you relax it helps convince them that you are unconcerned and this situation is fine.