2 New Horses, and a Rider Who Doesnt know How...

[Somethingroyal]

Well, as you might imagine, there has been some jealousy in my house over the past month. My sister has wanted to learn to ride forever, but my parents couldnt afford it so they had her do other things. She threw a fit when i got Nana, saying it wasnt fair, which it probably wasnt, but I needed my own horse. But once she heard that I was getting yet another horse, and this time a very expensive one, and she still didnt have lessons, she pitched a fit, again. Well, since my dad got a new job we have had a lot more money, so my parents agreed to start her on lessons, but she said she wanted a horse too. So now they have bought her a pony, and she doesnt know how to ride or care for it. So now I have to do all that for her, and she just rides it in her lessons. She has no interest in caring for her pony, and I have to do it all, which I dont mind now while I have the time, but once my new horse gets here I will have my hands full. My parents dont seem to get that I have to do everyting for the pony, even though I have told them plenty of times over the past two weeks. Any suggestions on how to get my sister to take care of the pony and how to tell my parents shes not doing her share?

[floppy]

ask my parents to adopt her and then you can adopt me and voila everyone is happy :)
hehe..noo..
well what can i suggest? ehm...
well im sure you parents knwo you take good care of nana right!? so maybe what you need to do is keep an eye on your sisters pony but no do so much for it.. if she doesnt clean the stable at all then i would leave it and ge tyour parents to come have alook... for eg. if you clean the poo out of nanas stall a couple of times a day then make sure that when you show your parents your sisters stall that your stall is nice and clean and you sisters hasnt been pooped out for the day..right!?!?!
btu that only works if you keep your hors eina stall durign the day or at all.
Another thing you could do...is tell your riding instructor to talk to her..and that if you sister doesnt groom, make sure the stable is clean or whatever else it is you have to do for your sister then she wont have a lesson until she has done what needs to be done and cleane dout your horse at the same time. Maybe your sister plainly doesnt know what to do!? talk to your parents..if they cant help or wont listen then your riding instructor is you next bet.
If i think of anythign else then i will get back to you...
but i definately think the no riding part is oen fo the ways to get her to do all the thigns she should be doign that you are doign for her! I mena you say you dont midn..but thats not the point...i woudlnt midn either but i would definately be frustrated if she didnt even care to observe what i was doing and then maybe try it out for herself!mayeb your parents hsould have given her the lessosn first adn considered the pony later if she was really keen on it...but its too late fr that option..poor pony :(

[Gracie]

If your sister wants to ride than she should take care of her pony! Tell her all the consiquences of neclecting her horse. Explain to her that owning a pony is more than JUST riding! For example, if a hockey player never sharped his skates and only played in them his skates would become dull and his performance would not be as good!
Any how good luck!

[Maci]

Try explaining to your parents all the work a horse involves, how you have been caring for it, and how it won't work out when you get your new horse. Tell them to talk to her that having a horse involves responsibility, and if she can't maintain caring for the pony herself, or at least learning how to, than you won't keep her anymore (you don't have to actually sell the pony, just tell that to your sister to "scare her"). Talking to your instructor to talk to her, is also a good idea.

Good Luck!
Maci :)

PS- Are you going to sell Nana? I noticed that her name isn't in your signature anymore, like it used to be.

[Somethingroyal]

Thanx guys. I think I will talk to my trainer and tell my sister that the pony will be sold if she doesnt starty helping. I have talked yo my parents and they just dont seem to get it, but maybe if I refuse to do anything and they see the state of the pony then they will listen. I have to walk a fine line between neglect though, so maybe I will just touch her up with a bit of dst and hay:) Im not sure if my sister really wants to ride, or if she just wants to brag that she has a horse... I have noticed that she is always brnging her friends to the barn to see the pony, but she doesnt spend anytime with it, instaed she goes to show off Nana saying that she will be hers once I get my new horse (NOT true by the way).

Thanx

PS-Maci: Very Observant! And no, I would not dream of selling Nana, never ever... I took her name out cause I didnt want my signature to get too long, as it is a bit long already...

[floppy]

if you parents dont pay much interet..what about your grandparents!?!?!i knwo that my grandparents can be mor eharsh when tellign kids whats right and wrong...
yeh you do have a to draw a fine line about the neglect thing...
oooooooooooooooooo does the pony like rollign in mud?? the day befor eyour sister has riding lesson take th epony to find some mud...then when it comes to your sisters lesson she will ahve to give the pony a good clean :)
btu that only works with mud and a pony that likes rollign in it!
seeing as your gradnparents are buying you a secodn horse maybe they will be better int elling your darling sister that she isnt being nice to her pony!?!?!let us knwo how you get on...this coudl bea very usual post in the years to come :D

[Somethingroyal]

thats a good idea, but unfortunately this pony doesnt really like to roll anywhere... I mught graze him with his bit on soshe has to clean it to ride... Im talking to my trainer today about it...

[floppy]

well good luck!
are you too big to ride yoru sisters pony?
hehe then maybe you could canter through a muddy puddle or soemthing :D
or even betetr..you know what..the ONLY other thing i can think of is if you get your trainer to make her clean her pony AGAIN before the lesson...and if her tack is dirty then that too and if the trainer sees the pony/tack dirty again then your sister will have to clean all the tack in the tack room at the riding school...we are talking punishment here :)

[Somethingroyal]

*evil grinz*, I like that idea, but im not letting her near any of my tack, she'll probably ruin it. ill just have to teach her to clean. When I get to the barn today I think ill give the pony a dustbath and stick pieces of hay in its mane, then let it graze with the bridle on. Ill put everything back, and my parents will see it since they are coming today to talk to my trainer about the show next month. :D this will be fun

[floppy]

hehe well no you dont have to let her near your tack...but eveyrone elses...or your trianer could punish her making her do yard chores or something...maybe get you trianer to make her do a stable management and pony care course.
but i liek the idea of sticking bits into the ponys mane and makign it look messy for your parents :)
maybe you could 'slump' your sisters tack somewher etoo
like leave the stirrups drapped messily over the saddle etc
dust bath all her grooming tools too...noone can get a dirty horse clean with dirty brushes nwo can they!
and another good hting is to leave the bit of the bridle dirty...give the hrose something to eact before th ebridle is taken off so the bit is all dirty...ooo *evil* i hope your siter doesnt use this board too!

[Somethingroyal]

no she doesnt, and it is a good thing. She is only 10 so she probably wouldnt have a whole lot to say. Anyway, my parents came to the barn today and they got a great look at my handiwork. The bit was covered in dry caked grass, the pony was covered in dust and had hay in her mane and tail. just for affect i dampened the mane so it stayed in clumps. 3 stalls down was Nana, who was sparkling clean with a dainty little mane, and I made sure my tack was perfect. My mom got sooo mad at my sister for not taking care of the pony, and actually threatened to sell it. So I ended up showing Ciera how to bathe and groom the pony, and she seemed half interested, so thats a start...

[floppy]

well done!! hehe..ok let us hope that you sister wakes up a bti and lookes after her pony :)

[Maci]

That's sounds funny how you described it! LOL! I don't know about you, but I love watching my sister get in trouble! Call me sick, but I guess it's sibling rivalry!

Maci :)