A new Hackney pony

[SaudiHunter]

I’m pretty sure Tempi would fit into the above category. He’s jumped out of his paddock twice–over the three and a half foot rope across the gap in the fence. He ran right back in the barn both times. After the first time, I laid a blanket across the rope to discourage jumping out. (He is (was?) very afraid of blowing towels and blankets.) That worked for about 5 or 6 turnouts, and then a few days ago I poked my head out of the barn just in time to see him tuck those pretty little knees and trot right up to me. Over the blanket in great form. Too bad I did not have a camera.

He is really coming along nicely. One of our favorite activities is to take long walks/grazes. He is much much more comfortable with traffic now and only has the occasional meltdown when cars come up behind him. He has absolutely no fear of cows or other livestock that we pass. My other horse sometimes has to stop and have a think about cows. Nor is he afraid of other horses pulling buggies or spring wagons. (What I’ve gleaned from reading this forum and noticing my other horse’s behavior the first time he saw a horse hitched to something is that they tend to be frightened if they’re not used to it.) He is lunging quite well and is responsive to voice commands.

Ground driving is great, too. We do figures of eight and serpentines in the paddock with lots of practice halting. Yesterday for the first time I ended our session driving him onto the driveway near the barn, then circling around on out onto the road for a couple of minutes. He did brilliantly. Even stood like a pro at the hitching rail while I unharnessed him. Next week will most probably be hitching week. A few days ago I parked his cart in the middle of the paddock and we smelled it and followed it so we could listen to the scary creaks and rattles.

[GypsyGold]

Hello everyone!

I started out with a two year old Gypsy Vanner x Andalusian filly and swore that my second horse, should I ever get one, would be a mammoth of a horse. 17++hh, go big or go home. I did not expect to bring home a Hackney pony yesterday.

I saw an add and immediately fell in love. My only experience with Hackney ponies had been seeing them in classes at the Royal Winter Fair where they are presented in typical Hackney fashion, heads high and tucked, knees reaching for the sky while they pull tiny carts. Definitely not my sort of thing. Enter Danny.

Danny is a 13 year old Hackney gelding, 13.2hh, bay with four white socks and a blaze. Broke to drive, and ride w/t/c road safe, drive-thru safe. This is a small version of the first picture I saw of him:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzUwWDEwMDA=/z/X9kAAMXQVT9Ssk~1/$_35.JPG

Knowing nothing about Hackney ponies I looked into them and read nothing but good things about them, besides their need for speed which could be a pro or con depending! So I packed up and went to meet him. When I got to the farm the stories I was hearing weren’t so promising. When he wanted to run he would throw fits if you didn’t let him, a past owner had sold him because he had taken off with her too many times, etc. When they brought him in to the small coverall he didn’t want to stand in place, until they started to tack him up. I was a little worried, having never ridden a pony with such a pronounced trot, or with so much apparent energy. However, once on him, he was an absolute doll! He never tried to break pace up, or down. He trotted, walked, halted, backed up all right on cue and without any hint of displeasure on his part. Yes, he had speed and he had just as much energy when we were done as when we started but he never tried to take advantage of me. He had the loveliest trot, but he did get more leg action the faster you asked him to trot. I couldn’t not bring him home.

He was being used as mostly a trail pony when I got him. With his drive, speed, agility and endurance in mind I’m thinking of using him as a mounted games pony. I brought him home just yesterday and he settled in in no time. However, when I brought him in to the barn today it became clear he does not tie the way I had been lead to believe. He is honestly an absolute doll besides this. I took him into the arena just to do some in hand work and despite the horrible bangs of ice cracking on the roof he was very attentive and very responsive. There was no rushing, pulling or any sort of shenanigans but his energy is very apparent. We were out maybe an hour just checking out the arena and doing walk/trot/halt/backup transitions on and off line, but you never would have known we’d been out that long or that we had just met.

For tying, he needs to be able to tie to a trailer if I’m going to use him for games, but I don’t want to punish him for being himself. When he shifts around while tied it’s clear he just likes to keep moving, he isn’t being mean or rude about it. Does anyone have any tips for teaching Hackneys to tie? Is there a way to keep them amused while tied? They are very different from my usual but I think they may be my favourite now!

[litehold]

He’s beautiful. I have a pony with about 1/4 hackney and she is fantastic. Very, very smart, and I have never seen an animal with more endurance. You can’t wear her out.

Good luck with him, it sounds like you two belong together; you appreciate him, and he appreciates you.

[Silk]

I had to comment on this thread I bought a hackney pony 10 years ago and I still have him he was much like you describe…couldnt get near him with fly spray, crinkly things caused a freak-out and he had wild eyes and was always moving. He was distrustful of people in general and super hard to catch. We dont know his history but guessed it wasnt so good. From what I understand, they use a lot of the same training tactics used on other light horse breeds…vaseline in the eyes, chains on the legs, paper bags, etc. With a lot of time and a lot of one-on-one…brushing, standing in the crossties feeding treats, etc he came around. Today he is a dream to deal with. He is still full of energy at 23 and still as sound as the day is long…after a career in the pony jumpers. They are not like other ponies…not sneaky or crafty. They are extremely smart and extremely sensitive. But, they will give you their all!!! He is the most fun to ride and I can get a suspended jog that is almost piaffe-like, but he will do an extended trot that is a true extension…throwiing the shoulder forward!! His lead changes are auto and he can turn on a dime. The problem with mine as a games pony (and he had a little girl who did games and barrels) is that he hates to stop!! We have him trained to stop and drop (his head) when you throw the reins away and soften your seat.

mine is not an easy ride, but he is fun and safe…just takes a lot of energy to rid him and when he wants to go, you cant use rein to slow him. You have to ask him by engagiing him and softening him. We always sy that if he was 17 hands he would be a grand prix jumper…his suspension is incredible. Mine goes best in a pelham for english and a simple western curb for western…he responds best to leverage and a curb chain versus pressure on his bars or tongue. He has a hard mouth.

I dont drive mine…I did but he a handful to drive and can be spooky in the cart. I am guessing someone who knew driving well would enjoy him, but not me

Mine loads and ties, but he best kept busy when tied with a hay net

[luvmyhackney]

Love the hackney stories. They give my hope for my Charlie. He is a 10 y/o 13 hand ex-roadster that sat in a pasture for 4 years and the owners were scared to death of him. He moved a little too fast for them. I’ve had him for almost 8 months and he is now under saddle @w/t. Took a long time to get a walk! We are still working on a canter (any tips appreciated). Hitching for first time in years next month. Fly spray doesn’t bother him anymore but plastic bags make him trot way above level barefoot. He never does anything ugly, just difficult when riding with other horses. He always wants to go at warp speed and pass everything. Charlie loads beautifully, but he doesn’t tie well, even with hay. He will stand forever not tied to anything when he is tacked up. Loves having a job.

[Silk]

Yes…I sau mine has two speeds. Standing and warp speed - lol. Very true about them wanting to go UP as soon as you stop their forward motion. Mine also stands forever under saddle and mine is great for pony rides too. He loves little ones Mine is a bully…will take on any horse of any size, EXCEPT when he bonds with a horse. Then he lets himself be bullied…it is the funniest thing ever. You have to love them and everything they are. Trying to convert them to something else will not work. I tried for 2 years to get mine to be a slow short stirrup pony — no way!!!

To get the canter was hard at first. All he wanted to do was trot faster and faster. I went with that and pushed his trot to where he just broke into a gallop, then praised him forever. After a while of doing that, he got the idea. leads were a bit different…against all conventions, I used the lean to the inside to help him get leads. Again, I tried everything “conventional” and this was the only thing that worked. From there, I slowly move back to more conventional, correct aids, and hi m being so smart, he got it. I can agree that the true walk was the hardest gait to achieve. Mine LOVES to jump…takes anyone to any fence, regardless of how freaky-looking we can make the jumps - lol. At first, he would only jump UP…didd not know how to go ACROSS a jump. We did a lot of low spreads to teach him to follow through over the jump…staying in half seat on the landing and using a lot of leg across the jump helped. Mine has been on a couple of leases and one kid did everything with him…parades, 4H drill team, beach rides, bareback, low level polo, etc. I always say mine feels like you are riding a stick of dynamite - lol. Mine works best of off body motion and seat versus hands and legs.

[PRS]

Many years ago a local man went to an auction up north somewhere and came back with trailer full of hackney ponies. He then gave them to his fearless kids to train up as barrel racers. Those little ponies could tear up a barrel racing course. They were hot little firecrackers. I’ll never forget the little boy clinging to the back of the pony as he reared and spun twice (he did this every time before entering the chute) and then took off like a rocket. The kids that had hackneys (that could actually ride them) won more than anybody else. Those ponies ended up making that man a lot of money when he sold them as five event gaming ponies.

[NorthwoodsRider]

@GypsyGold;7342186

I did not expect to bring home a Hackney pony yesterday.

Danny is a 13 year old Hackney gelding, 13.2hh, bay with four white socks and a blaze. Broke to drive, and ride w/t/c road safe, drive-thru safe. This is a small version of the first picture I saw of him:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzUwWDEwMDA=/z/X9kAAMXQVT9Ssk~1/$_35.JPG

GypsyGold - did they have him advertised on kijiji? I think I remember seeing that picture there. If he’s the same pony, he caught my eye right away - he’s absolutely adorable.

[GypsyGold]

Everything you’re all saying about Hackneys makes me love them more. I can’t believe it took me this long to catch on. I think I would be a better rider if I had grown up with these little spitfires! It sounds like I’m going to have a lot to learn. I’ve never driven before but I’m hoping my uncle can get Danny boy going again so I can try that too.

We’ve been working on the cross-ties and he stands much better in them than he had been! He still shifts around every once in a while but he doesn’t look so alarmed at the idea of not having a full range of motion. He’s about the same if you tie him loosely to a ring. I think he should be fine with tying as long as he has something to play with.

I’ve been trying to take riding slow with him since we are new to each other, and the barn, but he doesn’t dig slow Also, I was going to build up his fitness level progressively since he has been mostly a pasture puff with occasional trail rides this winter but he’s got different thoughts. A week of just walking is not on his agenda. He has yet to work up a sweat or look even remotely tired though so I suppose it’s okay to forgo?
His one speed is trot, and that’s okay. He’s got excellent ground manners but he could use a brush up on his under saddle skills. On the plus side the worst he does is break into trot, and if he doesn’t listen to me when I ask him to halt with the reins he stops with a gentle “Woah” or slows with a gentle “walk” every time. We’re still working out what tack works best for us, and we’re still settling in so I’m not holding any of his quirks against him. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s really got once we’re fully in tune! I’ll definitely give updates as we progress! He’s such a sweet, fun little guy <3

GypsyGold - did they have him advertised on kijiji? I think I remember seeing that picture there. If he’s the same pony, he caught my eye right away - he’s absolutely adorable.

Yep, Northwoods they did! He is quite the cutie, and he’s got the personality to match

[Chewbacca]

My advice on achieving a canter (driving, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work riding) - is to find a hill. Go up. Canter.

They will naturally want to canter up hill because it’s easier. If you’re riding, just get into a half seat, and allow the pony to move under you. If you’re driving, just give the lines a little, and kiss to him a bit to encourage the canter.

It’s 110% easier getting that first canter up a hill AND since they’re going to be concentrating more on moving up the hill, there is little to no liklihood of them trying to buck or get excitable (as I’ve noticed many horses will do when asking for that first hitched canter).

I’ve introduced all but 1 green horse to cantering by going up hills the first, second, third (etc…) time THEN transfer over that cue and reward system in place from the hills over to the arena.

[SaudiHunter]

Hackney love! Update on Tempest in a Teapot----He has become my #1 best equine friend and absolutely solid driving pony. I trust him 110% and he me. We went to the Fair Hill ADS recreational drive in October. Apart from rearing at the safety check (this after driving him 5 miles in my wagon before I brought him to FH) and then going about 2 more at FH, everything went well and we enjoyed our first tunnel, water hazards and open field galloping.

My barn owner peer pressured me into buying another pony to match Tempi for a pair…this one was the leader in a unicorn hitch demo at the sale and really knows his business. He is only 6 but seems like a lesson pony compared to Tempi, who is well in his teens.