Pony refusing to move

[madsb]

Hi Ive recently bought a new pony. At her viewing she was lovely and forward. Rode her twice then bought her home a week later. First few times ridden at home she was lovely. Recently i’ve noticed when schooling she will stop and refuse to move at all. However when I lunge she is completely fine and forward, the same when out hacking. Any help please!

 

[carthorse]

Did you have her vetted before you bought her? And is she in the same tack as when you tried her?

It could be the schooling is more demanding than she's used to and is causing some soreness. Did she do much schooling in her last home? It may also be thar in the buzz of having a new pony you're doing more in the school and boring her, particularly if she gets lunged in there too. Or it may be that the saddle fit needs looking at, what's ok in a straight line or without a rider on may be uncomfortable schooling.

My suggestion is you get an instructor out and see what they think. Even is the saddle came with her it probably wouldn't hurt to get the fit checked if only to rule it out as a factor.

 

[madsb]

She was vetted and passed. Her tack is the same and the saddle fitter came out the day before I bought her home. I’ve ridden and lunged her in two different places that we have. She is quite unfit so I could blame it on that as she wasn’t doing too much before I got her but i’ve been trying to keep schooling sessions short and positive. Thank you!

 

[carthorse]

In that case I'd stick to hacking until she's fitter, what we see as short and positive may still be too much for her to do comfortably/ When you do have her fitter and start again I would get an instructor out so you have knowledgeable eyes on the ground.

 

[Jessey]

Yep I’m a huge fan of hacking to build initial fitness, I’d do that until you can arrange an instructor to come and assess exactly what she’s doing.