Fresh pony advice please

[joiedevie99]

If he gets speedy/bucking in the canter only - I’d spend a week or two really working on the kiddos trot work to get her confidence up - two-point, up-up-down posting, leg yielding, cavaletti, etc. I’d also teach her a one-rein stop. Then I’d set the canter up for success, assuming kiddo is strong enough to do it at all. Do a solid 45 minutes of trot work. Pick up the canter in the middle of the long side, canter 5 strides or so, and back to trot. If the pony doesn’t listen, she is approaching a corner she can aim him into.

While kiddo works on that, put the most physically similar (height and weight) pony jock on to work on the issue. Heck, if pony jock rides in the am, let your DD ride in the afternoon.

[limptoad]

@PNWjumper

Or maybe this is where you can teach some ride management lessons. Like she only gets to canter on circles and has to transition to the trot (or halt -> walk -> trot) before going down the long side.

But one other suggestion is to cut back on the number of days (or intensity each day) that the pony is worked. IMO, that’s why lunging to death never works long term either. All you do is put a fitness base on the horse that leads to more of the behavior.

Agree with this - I would be VERY careful about increasing the amount of work, otherwise you may end up with a VERY fit pony at the end of the winter who your daughter can’t ride any time of the year. Have your daughter only W/T the pony for the most part and canter in situations in which she is going to be successful. Lunge line only, or canter 4 steps, then trot. Do a lot of walking, practicing stretches, other things that will give your daughter time in the saddle practicing her balance but not making the pony fit.

I had a medium that was used in a couple of lessons a week, and originally he was gettting 3 pro rides a week, but he got the kids’ numbers quick. He ultimately did do best with a pro ride 4-5x a week in winter to “tune up” the bad habits but it was literally a 5-minute check in, not trying to work him down. Carrying an adult makes them much fitter than carrying a peanut.