"stopping" pony

[seeker]

dd took her pony to their first show this weekend, and for some reason, for most of the morning she just would not jump. She stopped, and stopped ant stopped - even at tiny jumps. Then, all of a sudden she seemed to get her act together - and did really well all afternoon. She didn't seem stressed or upset or anything, she was interested in everything and seemed relaxed and happy - just not jumping. She is very sensitive to dd, and it was obvious that after a bit dd was losing her confidence and not believing that they would get over the jump, which of course meant that they didn't, but it was very odd how she suddenly started jumping again. Any ideas?

I would suggest that perhaps your DD was nervous and uptight. If it is the first show your DD was probably a bit stressed about getting there on time, looking ok, how the horse would behave, would she fall off, etc.

I have been there and yes the pony does play a big part, but i would put it down to first show nerves tbh

She was nervous, definitely - but it wasn't her first show - just her first show with this pony. I am sure that once the pony started stopping then dd made it worse - particularly as she has only ever refused a couple of times at home in the last 6 months, so it was a shock! We'll have to wait and see what happens next time. I suspect that the pony may have suddenly realized at lunch time that if she wanted a rosette of any sort she'd better get on with it and not let dd's nerves get the better of her!

Ponies are amazingly telepathic! And, through experience, I have decided, that generally, a pony only does what you make it do. you might not realise you are telling it, but the pony is listening to exactly what you say!
Sounds like your dd was subconciously? (sp) either nervous or not sure the pony would jump the jumps. As time went by, she got her head together, and the pony was tuned in to her. Sounds like you actually have a very good pony who listens to her rider.

"Sounds like you actually have a very good pony who listens to her rider. " Hadn't thought of it like that - what a fabulous way of looking at it! Can't wait to tell dd. She is a lovely pony, but she was an impulse buy and we know very little about her. So every new thing is a bit of a vovage of discovery. She was very pleased indeed with her second place rosette in the pairs jumping and her lap of honour, so we're hoping she will want to repeat the experience!

might be worth entering a few local fun clear round classes...or take her to a local riding school for lessons so she gets used to being out and about.

Or just taking pony out for a few trips to shows without entering.

What age is pony?

Pony is actually at working livery at the stables and dd has a lesson every Saturday and pony club on Thursdays. She hacks her out and just generally messes around with her loads. She's done lots of jumping in the school - that's why the stops at the show were such a surprise!

She's around 14/15 the vet thinks.

I wouldn't do anything. Let your daughter carry on pottering about, go to a few more shows and see how things progress before you start treating the pony for a problem it probably hasn't got. Don't make any kind of issue which could affect the way your daughter sees the pony. this was their first show together and they have to find their feet.
We were at a jumping clinic recently, and dd was on a lovely little pony. As they aproached the jump, dd just had a moments doubt which the pony felt and they stopped. The next jump, pony stopped as if to say, you didn't want to jump the last one, so we won't do this one either. It was so blatant you could almost hear it thinking.
Dd's own pony does the same thing. Is basically because dd has no faith in herself and the pony is the same about it's own ability. What we do is all line up along the fence, and when they get over the first we all clap and cheer! Seems really daft but the pony suddenly twigs that it can do it, starts to enjoy itself and dd realises everything will be fine!

I agree with Saggy.

Pony is simply saying "Oh, you are not sure? Well, lets just take a look at this one shall we?"

I wouldn't consider it a problem unless it happens everytime.

Thank you all - I don't really think there's a problem - I was just wondering if there was anything preemptive we could do that we're not doing to help it not happen again.

She is a lovely pony - but, as I said she was an impulse buy so I'm a bit over alert to things going wrong because she was such a bargain I keep expecting one of her legs to fall off or something!

She was so sweet in the prettiest mare class - massively outclassed by all the expensive show ponies but doing her best and very pleased with herself to come 5th!

Stop worrying. Kids are as telepathic as ponies! If you keep stressing about them both, one of them will start to believe there is a problem!

Thak you!