We are thinking something like this might need to happen. I’m not sure if we have someone to fit the bill… but I am definitely brainstorming.
Usually these are set up by your trainer (another reason to see if they know a trainer that does the rated stuff on the regular! They can help). If your trainer asks around, often there’s a handful of Professional Pony Kids in your area that catch ride these types all the time. You just have to know who to ask! You can also hang out by the schooling pony ring and see which bigger kid is sitting on multiples and getting them around.
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We are a very small barn and our ONE older/more advanced girl left the barn….YESTERDAY. I think this officially make my daughter the oldest, most advanced at the barn. Such bad timing really…I will have to ask and see if we can get a child from another barn to do it.
I don’t, unfortunately. I can send some video from her practices at home though.
Trying to upload but seems that I can’t because I’m a new user here.
If you send me your email address I can send you video of her there.
our oldest daughter spent a summer in Kentucky doing catch rides for trainers whose young riders where not available to show the junior exhibitor horse that was needed to show to be ready for the State Fair, She had a blast riding all those high caliber horses (one respected trainer pulled me to the side to tell me “your daughter rides much better than what you can afford”)
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WOW! that is amazing. I’m sure that was an awesome experience for her. I’m afraid that my daughter probably rides much better than we can afford too haha…Or at least id think she has the potential to…with the right training. But that may just be the momma in me, thinking she’s amazing. LOL
I wish there were professional pony kids in our area…we are from south Louisiana and unfortunately our area is swamped with western riding folks. The hunter/jumper people are far less abundant.
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On the other hand you can know everyone in a smaller group, and have some amazing networks. 
Put the word out through the network of all the things you need, and with luck, it finds you. Things can happen that way.
Can you move to Houston? 
It’s awash with hunt seat riders and lots of shows, low and high level. Good junior riders who will school anything can be found. And plenty of people from south Louisiana.
Ha I wish! I don’t think moving to Houston is in the cards. I will put the word out for the need of a catch rides.
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Keep in mind it doesn’t have to be a “pony kid.” We have some some teenagers who have moved on from their pony days to junior hunters/big eq/junior jumpers but are small for their ages. They don’t ride ponies normally but can easily school them when needed.
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If you can find a good riding junior at the shows, you could have the more experienced kid show the pony in the green division first, and then have your daughter get on to do the regular division.
That way the pony can get some good mileage with the more experienced rider, and your daughter can reap the benefits when it’s her turn.
Just a thought.
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