New pony problems - does he need more time to settle in?

Question

I have just bought my daughter her first pony. He's a 13.2 Appaloosa x New forest age 7. He 's a real sweety on the ground, we have no problems catching him, leading him form the field or grooming him. He tacks up fine. We got him home and let him settle in to his new environment (he's kept at grass) and after a couple of days just led him up and down the road in his bridle - no problems. A couple of days after that my mum rode him in the same place we led him, again no problems - he is great with the traffic - my daughter even had a little ride on him while I led her. the next day my mum rode him again down the road. he was fine on the way out but when she turned him to come back he started rushing for home and she had to hold him quite hard. When she got level with the gate to the field there were a few cars passing so she tried to make him walk past until they had gone. He wouldn't, his nose went right up in the air so she had no control at all and he bolted across the road, very narrowly missing a car. He was fine once he got to the gate and calmy stood. We decided a martingale and a new bit were needed (the bit he had was a bit narrow we thought. We bought the new stuff and a couple of days later again we tacked him to try him inthe new bridle. No problems putting it on and then we walked him up and down the road in it for quite a while he was perfect. But as soon as I looked like getting on him he started backing up and really didn't want me to. I got on eventually and he went barmy and threw me off with rocking horse type bucking. I got on again - he stood still this time - but just started tearing about. I managed to stop him and calm him down and got off. As soon as I was off he was the same soft loving pony as he was. I'm at a loss what to do with him. I know we've only had him under 2 weeks but I am wondering if I've made a mistake. He was nothing like this when we tried him and the owner is quite suprised in the change. I don't want to put my daughter in him now. We don't have access to a school or field where we can lunge or ride. Do you think the bump with the car frightened him? Is he just needing more time to settle in? Help please as I'm so upset, especially if i haev to tell my daughter he's got to go as she loves him so much already x

Answer 1

Just because there were 2 bad experiences does not mean this is a 'bad' pony. It means you are not able to correct behaviour that you find undesirable, and he gets panicked and the behaviour escalates.



The pony sounds green, and you sound very inexperienced in training horses. Hire a trainer.



Don't expect to be able to accomplish any training without a proper arena. Trying to expect an animal to focus on the road while you're trying to instill basics is just too much to ask of a horse. Are there other horses who can be ridden with this pony?



What made you decide to get a pony? It's not a decision to arrive upon lightly. At the very least I would start prepping your daughter for the possibility that the pony needs to be sent away and replaced with an older, schoolmaster type. Then find a trainer and give the pony a good 3 months of solid training.



Even so, No, I wouldn't put your daughter on the pony.

Answer 2

Like so many answers before me, I say get his back checked. He could be sore. You can check for just plain soreness yourself by rubbing his back (Like a massage) and watching his reaction, but a professional Veterinarian can give you a true answer. Check to see if his saddle fits, has no bristles or pokey's in it, it could be a simple scratch from a weed caught under the the blanket or saddle. Check his girth/cinch strap, there could be a weed in that, or you could be pinching his under belly. Mayhap your just putting it on too tight or tighter than he's used to. But if there is nothing you can do, as an individual rider, ask a more experienced person in your area. He could just be reacting to your son riding him. A horse knows when there rider is small, and they know what the rider is capable of. They know what they can and can't do with that rider on board. If your son does not control/try to control the horse before and after, then the horse is learning that he can get away with it. Next time the horse rears (If it's just a behavior problem) spin him at least twice to the right, twice to the left and then back him up four paces. Then ask him to stop and stand for a good 10 seconds before your son continues what they were trying to do. I hope I helped, And Good luck. Hopefully your sun can figure this horse out!

Answer 3

I think he might be testing you but maybe he's a little nervous. Take him for walks down the road and if he rushes on the way back turn him the other way so he sees rushing = going the wrong way to home! He will learn and I think he's being a proper pony! I'd get someone who knows what there doing to help school him x good luck!x and don't give up he could be the best thing you've ever done!

Answer 4

Typical little pony! All that he is doing is called napping! He is testing you out to see what he can get away with. What you need is to have the better of the two bigger riders (or braver!) get on him, ride him (wearing a body protector, gloves, hard helmet and carrying a schooling whip!) and get tough with him. Whatever he does do not get off him. If he refuses to move from the gate, then you can use the schooling whip without removing your hands from the reins. Expect a few temper tantrums on the way, but do NOT get off him! Put a neck strap on for added security when his back end comes higher than the front!

He is not frightened. He is just being a stubborn little so and so - a battle of wills. Ride him where you want to go - say past the gate. If he does not want to go past the gate, concentrate on that part - MAKE him go past the gate, ride him down the road a few hundred yards and then turn him round and bring him back again. Once there, turn around and try to leave the gate again. He might put up a resistance, but it will be a lot shorter. Make him go again. And again, and again! Until he will leave the gate at the first time of asking. Once he has done this a couple of times then bring him home and put him to bed. I have done this on a number of occassions - once it took 5 hours to get the pony out of the yard, but I would not get off despite the fact that every attempt caused a bucking session. Once I had repeated the going out and coming back a few times he never tried that one again! My mother handed me sandwiches or drinks while I was on the pony so that I did not get off. I did not need to pee since he was being such a little so and so I sweated it all out!



Another one had had an accident - because of his so called terror of donkeys, so I took him for a long ride around in a circuitous route and the donkey's field was very near home and on the way home. I felt his back end start to slow down. He was snorting and prancing and spinning round etc. I knew the donkey was not in residence that day, so I was patient with him for a while, and then I got tough with him, used a schooling whip a couple of times, he dropped his head as if to say "Oh, alright then!" and trotted calmly past, and never misbehaved again, even when the donkey was in the field. He was just needing someone who could get a bit tougher with him.

Answer 5

We have one of these! He's a fine fellow, really likes me, easy to catch, never kicks or bites, but if he sees a large, white lorry he believes he has an excuse for misbehaviour, and engages in airs above the ground. "Ooooh! I'm allowed to be barmy," as you said.



I'm planning on working him with the training in this set of videos:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m_o_po0_Ks



Watch especially Day 5, with the Dreaded Plastic Bag. Pay attention to how the trainer observes and reacts to the horse's emotional state, bringing up a minimal level of fear, and then rewarding the horse by removing the fearful object at the moment the horse relaxes.



I don't keep a large, white lorry handy, so other dreaded objects will have to do.



I am a firm believer in ground work for correcting problems that happen in the saddle. I am just a bit too old to take spills with abandon, and feel better if my bones are not suddenly rearranged. A horse properly trained on the ground, which from my perspective also includes ground driving, is a safer prospect than one trained only from the saddle.



It is my suspicion that your pony and mine both received incorrect training, in which they were punished for good behaviour and rewarded for bad. Now we have to go and undo that. Do not give up. Trainer John Lyons suggests that 200 repetitions of a lesson is a good number to keep in mind.

Answer 6

Hey,Its too early to tell. Your going to have to persevere for a bit longer,he might just be scared or he might just is having 'one of those days'. My horse wouldn't let me get on her either,but she wouldn't go mad like your pony. Try lunging then ridding afterwards. Did the person you bought him off mention him having any back problems? My other horse had a saddle/back problem that was resolved by a saddle riser and a new gullet on the saddle which is only cheap. Don't jump to any conclusions yet,keep trying.Get leg-ups instead of using a mountain block,as it would be easier and safer,and just walk him round,and them give him a pat then go for a trot or something. If you feel him,getting all wobbly like he is going to buck.etc. Then change the rein or something to try and get his mind off bucking out. But remember he is still only young and is full of energy! GoodLuck. I hope this helped!x

Answer 7

I'm sure you did, but have you had a vet to check him before buying him? He may be uncomfortable in his tack, or his back could be uncomfortable (hence the bucking, and being fine when he isn't being ridden).

Once you've ruled this out.....

He could also just be worried in his new environment and struggling to settle in, maybe (if it is possible) try leading him out with another horse or pony, then taking him for short hacks in company, to help get his confidence up. You could also try getting a riding instructor to come and help you (give advice, evaluate his behaviour etc.) and take things from there :)

Answer 8

I think the horse was drugged when you tried it. That or you dont know the first thing about horses and he knows it and doesnt trust you to take him on the road. Thats the only 2 things i can thing of.



You dont have a paddock you can ride in? so youre telling me you dont have a place to keep him or what?