naughty pony

tillsmum · #1 28th Sep 2006, 01:23 PM

I'm in a dilemma what should i do with my naughty pony. When we got her we were told she was as quite as a lamb and that there 3 year old could catch her and do anything with her. Which she was i saw her.
But since we've had her shes just been a bully. when my daughter is on her she is a gem but shes hard wrk to lead as she tanks all the time and i can't trust her if tilly is on the floor with her as she can just spin and knock her. she breaks fences, and today tilly was brushing her tail and she lifted her leg and threatened to kick.
Is it worth the risk or should i move her on before something happens. Or get a sharer for her so she does more work and see if that settles her. The other problem is she doesn't like anyone but small kids on her and if shes of the lead with light adults can be really silly so not sure that i would be happy asking for a able kid to ride her which is what she needs ao she can hack etc. She also has never cantered when ridden as far as i can tell.

Vicki&Milo · #2 28th Sep 2006, 01:34 PM

You need to get this sorted ASAP, before she knocks your little girls confidence or more importantly hurts someone.

I would try and find a small adult to ride her, an experienced adult shouldn't be too fazed by pony silliness. In the meantime, try and get your little girl riding and workign with some other more bombproof ponies and doing as much non-risky stuff as possible with your pony (head rubbing, back scratching etc.).

If she does settle down great, get your little girl and the pony some lessons together and watch them bloom, if not, admit that this isn't the right pony at the right time, before you or you daughter get any deeper in.

Vicki xx

notpoodle · #3 28th Sep 2006, 01:41 PM

have you changer her way of life when you bought her eg. is she used to living out and now she is stabled or something or are you feeding her 'things that make ponies go mental?'. or she could just be uhm being a swine

juilia
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Afellpony · #4 28th Sep 2006, 01:42 PM

Did you actually see the 3 year old catch the pony? Do you know how to lunge? If you do, it may be useful to lunge her for half an hour before your little girl rides her.
The pony is probably taking the ****. Would she be okay for your little girl if someone was leading her for a while, maybe until she settled down - because at the moment, she doesn't sound like the ideal small child's pony to me.
Do you know anyone who is experienced but small enough to ride her for a while and, may be give her some schooling?
Perhaps you could ring her former owner and have a chat. Explain she is not the pony she described to you - and - would she be good enough to take her back for that reason.
You could try feeding her a calming mix, like Safe and Sound or Ride and Relax.

tillsmum · #5 28th Sep 2006, 01:57 PM

yes i did see him catch her i had her off someone i knew but am not sure i wasn't had. my little girl is only on the lead anyway so no problem when she is riding its just I'm getting fed up with everything being twice as hard as i needs to be because shes forgotten her manners.
She was stabled at night and out on the lawn and yard during the day where as here she is in a field next to another horse during the day and night or tethered somewhere on the yard our mowing our lawn. If i feed her at all she only has a handful of Hifi light.
I also paid quite a bit for her as i believed she was what i was told but when i got her home she had a splint and has rubbed her mane and tail quite a bit since she got here because of all the flies. so am worried that to sell her i'm going to lose loads and won't be able to replace her. She has been placed qiute abit at local shows this year before i had her and was hoping to do some next year. as she is at the mo i wouldn't want the hassle of trying to get her to behave away from home.
I have lunged and loose schooled her quite a bit to try and teach her to canter and listen to my voice more.

Vicki&Milo · #6 28th Sep 2006, 02:18 PM

I'm sory if this sonds harsh, but the only way that pony is going to learn manners is with someone with the time and experience (and patience) to put it right. It might not be a 'real' problem at the minute when your daughters on the lead, but do you want to end up stuck with a pony which can only be used if someone can hold onto her tight enough to stop her running a mock.

She needs to start at the beginning again to learn manners, on the ground and being ridden, how old is she? Its going to be a big job, but it is doable, only you know whether by you or not though.

Vicki xx

Unbridled · #7 28th Sep 2006, 11:43 PM

I have three words for you: Groundwork, groundwork, groundwork!

You cannot expect a horse to behave under saddle if it doesn't even respect you when you're leading it from the field. Roundpenning, lunging, Parelli games...all of these help establish you as herd leader and help your horse to look to you for confidence and listen to your direction. I would call out a qualified instructor ASAP and book some lessons.

Good luck.

LindaAd · #8 29th Sep 2006, 12:03 AM

How long have you had her, Tillsmum? It sounds to me like a pony who's unsettled because she's in a new environment, and taking charge because she has no confidence in the people who are handling her ... I agree with everything that's been said about teaching her manners, both on the ground and from the saddle.

notpoodle · #9 29th Sep 2006, 08:25 AM

maybe she is freaked out because there isn't another pony in her field? or (this will sound horrible ...) she might just be trying you out.

even my pony (a very docile and sedate creature!) tried it on when i first got her (she was nappy, wouldnt let me put the bit in her mouth, pulled her feet away when i tried to pick them out ... nothing dangerous but little nuisance things) and i had to put my foot down a couple of times, which probably wasn't pretty, but neccessary in the circumstances

Julia
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