Bombing Ponies!

[Toggi_Gurl]

I have been riding since I was really young, but into my first year of secondary I had to sell my pony and hadn't rode for 2 years.
It was great news when my mum told me that she had booked me in to start riding at some stables near us. This place doesn't do lessons, they just go on different hacks with groups of mixed abilty, and teach you while you are on the hacks.
My problem is that we have to women in our group who as soon as we get near a bit of grass decide to come from the back of the group and bomb past us, that would be fine if the pony I ride didn't get excited at everything, and for like two miles I am trailing behind them trying to get this pony to stop.
I have never been very strong, so could you help me with some effective ways to control the pony to the speed I want to go.

Thanx

[Tina J]

Ummm. You can't really blame the pony for wanting to keep up when offered a race, which is what these two women are doing by bombing past. It would take a very fit and experienced rider to stop a pony under those circumstances. I would ask the stables owner about making these two very inconsiderate riders behave themselves, or ask if you can go out with a more considerate group, or, quite frankly, ask your Mum if you can go somewhere where you can alternate hacking with lessons.

I have my own horse, so I have only ever been in that situation when I ride in France. The owner of the stables I use makes it very clear that when cantering you have to stay in the order she says. Anyone disobeying has to stay in the manege for the future until she decides they are capable of going out again. Another english woman did once bomb past us all, using the excuse that (a) she didn't understand and (b) she couldn't control the horse. Language barriers or not, she was left in no doubt that her behaviour was not acceptable!

The thing is, these two women are getting their horses used to the idea of racing in certain areas, which means that they are going to be harder for anyone else to ride, so it is in the stable owner's interests to make sure they behave. At the French stables I mention, all the horses and ponies know that they have to stay in line, and exited or not when they sense a canter, they do generally behave well.

Basically, its not you that has the problem, its the stable owner and two very selfish clients.

[KathyT]

What a rude woman!! That has got to be the height of bad manners! If I were you I would stay behind her so that she can't go bombing past you, however the best advice I can give if this does happen is either to go with her and enjoy the ride or sit tall and deep whilst taking a good hold of the reins. I would have a word with the stables with regard to this behavior as it is potentially very dangerouse.

[KathyT]

What a rude woman!! That has got to be the height of bad manners! If I were you I would stay behind her so that she can't go bombing past you, however the best advice I can give if this does happen is either to go with her and enjoy the ride or sit tall and deep whilst taking a good hold of the reins. I would have a word with the stables with regard to this behavior as it is potentially very dangerouse.

[Toggi_Gurl]

Thankyou to the both of you, I think that if these women decide to do it again I will talk to the owner of my stables, becuase it isnt just me, one of my friends was on the ride today and they did exactly the same thing.

I will next time either sit deep or just enjoy the canter while keeping it controlled, thankyou to the both of you again!:)