new girl on the block

[FellRider]

Hi, just thought I'd say hello to other adults who ride ponies out there. I have been riding now for about 6 weeks on my new pony, Tommy who is turning out to be a right character. I have a lesson on him each week which gives me much confidence in being able to deal with him because he can be very stubborn and sluggish or fiesty full of himself and throwing in a buck just for the hell of it! I think I have got two ponies in one! He is very fat at the moment and seems to exist on fresh air so my winter plan is to get him a bit fitter and more responsive when I want and not when he wants and next year I hope to take him to a local show. I would like to either do M&M in hand or ridden. Does anyone know if there is an age limit (i'm 38). I am not sure if he can jump yet although he will go over poles on the ground easily enough. My instructor thinks he will jump but she says these natives are quite strong willed and at the moment he needs to be a bit more obedient. She is going to do some lunging with him. I am having a few problems with him being forward going when he is on his own (he likes to go out with others) but we are working on it (see my post in the Training of the Horse Section of the Forum). Anyway I am really glad I chose a pony and am really looking forward to all the things I can do with him. I would love to drive him too but that is for the future!

[Mehitabel]

hi fellrider - congratulations on your new boy! he sounds like a real character.
your instructor is right - natives are strong willed, but the way to deal with them is to make themwant to do as you ask - bullying or trying to make them do things will result in fights. they are animals who really need to respect the owner to be obedient, and you do have to earn that respect!
i used to run a new forest stud, (still ride for them) and they are very similar...
there's no age limit for handlers in m&m classes either inhand or ridden, and there are m&m workig hunter classes where you can jump as well, so you will be able to do a bit of everything with him in the future.
got any pictures?

[HAYLEY GITTOES]

Hi fellrider, and welcome to NR, this is a great site with some friendly people.

What breed is your pony? Is it a fell?

I have a fell x, Molly she is also very stubborn and strong!

But i wouldnt be without her!:D

Where abouts do you come from?

Hayley and Molly

[Billybo]

Hello and welcome! I'm an adult pony rider too! I've got 2 highlands, and like you, I'm glad I chose ponies! I wouldn't be without my boys now AND they're closer to the ground!

Mags

[tubby]

Hello Fellrider , glad to see new bods swelling the ranks of adult pony riders . I love all the M&M breeds , myself I've got a Highland , & yes there's no age limit on the M&M show classes so you'll have no problem there :):):):)

[FellRider]

Hello again everybody, thank you for your replies. tommy is a Fell and is all black. I come from near you Hayley, just the other side of Stafford. Today Tommy has been really good and instead of shouting at him I have been telling how good he has been and patting all the time. Today he has been ridden by my sisters little girl Holly who is 11 and she is up here on holiday from Cornwall where she also has her own pony called Bluey. We took Tommy on the route that he hates going on his own and he was quite happy to follow us (there was me, my mum, my 2 boys and Holly's brother) so he had quite a crowd. He only tried to stop a couple of times and half heartedly tried to turn round but Holly kept him pointing in the direction we wanted to go and he gave up and followed! He trotted lovely when my son and I ran in front! The only time I had to admonish him was when I was lead roping him with my younger son and he keeps trying to nip my hand or my coat so he had a smack on the nose for that. My instructer has said that he is not allowed to be given any *** bits because he bothers you like mad and this has worked. He isn't half as bad now and when he has done his work he gets his treats in his feed bucket.

I am looking forward to showing him at a local show next year but we have got lots of work to do before then. Es, I have got a picture of him but I haven't a clue how to post it and I probably haven't got a good enough set up i.e. computer!

[Mehitabel]

the easiest way to post photos is to go to http://groups.msn.com/nrphotos and join, and create an album of your own. there are step by step instructions on how to do it and how to upload your photos - then you can link to them in a post by just copying the address of your photo album into a post.
like this - http://groups.msn.com/nrphotos/esspictures.msnw

[tubby]

Think you're not that far from me either Fellrider , as I'm just over the Staffs/Cheshire border . Hope you continue to enjoy your pony.:):):)

[FellRider]

Me thinks one needs a scanner for this photowebsite which I do not possess. My sister has one and she will do it for me at some stage when I have the time to send her one (she is in Cornwall)!

[rezbeck]

hi i am new here too,glad i chose a pony as opposed to a horse, but he can be very willful too. tried lunging him yesterday, oooh the look he gave me!!!!!!!!!