We just purchased our DD an 11.2h pony. When we got her she was thinner than I like and had no muscle. We have put some nice weight on her (but not too much), and working on the muscle. She already looks sooooooo much better, and its only been a couple months. Question is…how do I build up a nice topline, and back muscles, without having to ride her too much myself?
I was an adult pony jock for my trainer a LONG time ago (like 20+ years ago). One of the ponies I rode was 11.2, so I know I can do it, I would just rather not more than once a week. Do they make a Pessoa type lunging system for tiny ponies?
I do have other kids riding her as well, but they’re beginner too. They are really just giving her exercise on the days we don’t make it out there. They don’t have the ability/knowledge to really make her use herself to create these needed muscles.
Any suggestions welcome!
TIA
Proper long-lining (preferably with hill work!) is a great asset with the little ones.
Proper lunging once a day will do the trick. Get her going long and low with loose (properly adjusted) side reins.
Yes, there is a Pessoa lunging rig made for ponies. It works great! We do our young ponies (5 year olds) in the rig about 1- 3 times per week and they are ridden by a child the other 2 or 3 days. We do short sessions in the rig, about 15 minutes, with mostly just walk/trot work. It works wonders for helping develop their top line, teaching them to stretch down and accept the bit all while simultaneously encouraging hind-end engagement and self-carriage.
I much prefer the Pessoa rig over the side reins for young horses/ponies. The side reins are too fixed and the ponies don’t understand how to reach up from behind and use their backs yet, so they just lean on or resist the side reins. Side reins while lunging work fine on made horses who already know how to engage behind, just not so well for green ones. The pessoa rig really forces them to carry themselves. They can’t lean on it or get on their front end if it’s adjusted right. I love it for horses too!
We also have pony-sized long lines and use those to ground-drive the ponies occasionally too. Also very helpful.
You can get all the pony sized equiptment at “Just for Ponies”. They carry pony surcingles, long lines, pessoa rig, etc. I hesitated and waited to buy the pony Pessoa rig for a while because of price. I wasn’t sure we really needed it, thought we could get by with just my son riding the ponies and some ground-driving, but I wish I had gotten it sooner. It has made a huge difference.
PS-If you are handy, you could probably make your own Pessoa rig. I know several people who have made horse-sized rigs.
Try a neck stretcher. Really helps with the top line. I’d suggest only using it about three times a week.
