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Post by bonnielady on Sept 30, 2012 15:44:02 GMT
My daughter has a super safe pony. Hes a saint. You can take him any where and do anything with him. He's 13.2 and can pop 2"6 from a trot. But that's the problem, he just won't canter unless you chase him around like a loonie! I've sat on him and he's totally dead to the leg, and if you smack him with a whip he stops going forward all together  How can I get him to be more forward going at the same time as still being a super safe saint?  ?? |
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Post by nia2311 on Sept 30, 2012 16:01:53 GMT
Will he canter out on a hack in open space? If you're comfortable with it, get your daughter to encourage him forward on a hack and see if that will encourage him? I have ridden lazy ponies before, but often they are happier out of the school. Will he take a few strides of canter after popping a jump? Again, try to keep the leg there & a little tap on landing and try to maintain the canter?
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Post by bonnielady on Sept 30, 2012 16:17:40 GMT
He's reluctant to canter any where, but will happily do so to keep up with the others when out.
She did a hunter trial with him last week end and he did canter quite well on the way home!
He is school sick and we avoid schooling whenever we can.We always try to make things fun and interesting. But my daughter is only 10 and does need to have regular lessons.
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Post by nia2311 on Sept 30, 2012 16:21:27 GMT
I would speak to her instructor and see what strategies he/she can suggest. Has the instructor got on? I would suggest getting the instructor to actually ride the pony to see what buttons can be pressed
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Sept 30, 2012 17:38:15 GMT
Can you get on and school him to be more reactive to the leg for your daughter? And make sure she doesn't nag him all the time with her leg, easy to do with an over steady pony but just encourages them to take no notice of it. I was taught nudge, if no response kick, if no response this time schooling whip. Perhaps you may need someone on the ground with a lunge whip to help with this bit? And LOTS of praise when he does answer the leg.
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Post by sometime on Sept 30, 2012 17:45:55 GMT
nagging legs are the worst thing for steady ponies they just start to ignore them. ask once tell then a sharp tap but at 10 your child maybe cant manage to reach for the tap. Kelly marks has a whip whop type of rope to encourage forward movement a bit like the cowboys slapping down the neck with their reins but kinder and not usually touching the horse
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 30, 2012 17:49:47 GMT
Good idea, someone I know uses one of those.
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Post by hs on Sept 30, 2012 19:14:47 GMT
how is he on the lunge? will he canter then?
I had a pony like this as a kid he would not canter, would jump 3ft easily from trot, but he had been a driving pony and pulled floats in village fetes as well in the past. Never really mastered cantering unless in group and he could not keep up in trot, but then I did not have access to lessons and much help from knowledgable people.
I remember as child finding a four leaf clover and wishing for a pony that would canter!
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Post by sometime on Sept 30, 2012 21:08:45 GMT
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Post by vikki85 on Oct 1, 2012 9:46:16 GMT
Can you get on and school him to be more reactive to the leg for your daughter? And make sure she doesn't nag him all the time with her leg, easy to do with an over steady pony but just encourages them to take no notice of it. I was taught nudge, if no response kick, if no response this time schooling whip. Perhaps you may need someone on the ground with a lunge whip to help with this bit? And LOTS of praise when he does answer the leg. Exactly this! |
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Post by LMSmith on Oct 1, 2012 13:52:05 GMT
I found lateral work helped with my lazy pony as it makes them engage the back end.
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Post by sometime on Oct 1, 2012 17:21:36 GMT
Easier for an adult than a 10 year old child though. I agree with all the above but have often found that it isnt the pony's problem per se but the lack of strength and frame of the child. I have also found that getting an adult to sort it doesnt work when the child gets back on as they cant do the same things
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Oct 1, 2012 18:11:54 GMT
The point of getting someone else to school the pony is to teach him to be more sensitive to the leg so that he will react to the weaker child. I don't think LMSmith was suggesting that the child does the lateral work.
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Post by LucyHebditch on Oct 1, 2012 18:14:31 GMT
There's a space at mine Carolyn  haha! |
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Post by picklesanddinx on Oct 1, 2012 22:41:19 GMT
I am having the same problem with my little boys sec a she is safe and will plod anywhere with him but he is only a tiny 8 yr old and can't get her to do any thing other than walk he is getting very frustrated as I have to run around with him at pony club just so she will move he wants to ride on his own which he can on other ponies but we just can't get his pony to move any ideas
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 1, 2012 23:02:12 GMT
Picklesanddinx, you need to get an instructor to work with your son on the aides he can use, and maybe teach him how to handle a schooling whip to support his leg aides. Obviously, you don't want him whip-happy, but you also don't want a pony who is dead to the leg from being constantly nagged by weak leg aides (and I mean that in the best possible way!) My son is 10, and only now is he strong enough to support a slower pony with his leg and able to keep a canter on a lazier pony. He is a very small 10, but his legs are pure muscle!!
It would help your son to do some other activities that work on leg strength, like bike riding. My son rode his bike all spring/summer both this year and last, and it has helped his riding. I think swimming, martial arts and trampolining would all help with leg strength, and are fun for kids activities.
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Post by bonnielady on Oct 2, 2012 6:22:01 GMT
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I will try to lunge him. I have sat on him and even I found it extreamly difficult to get him going forward. However my chiropractor has banned me from riding for a while Lucy, its a very tempting offer  Part of me though just seems to think that this is just him and his way and as long as my daughter is feeling super safe then maybe I should just be looking for another pony to take her to "the next stage". He is just soooo lovely in every other way. So does anyone know where I can get some hens teeth or rocking horse poop??!! |
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Oct 2, 2012 7:20:18 GMT
Just a thought but has he been checked by a physio? Maybe he has tweaked something that makes canter difficult for him. If you canter him on the lunge you may be able to see if he looks awkward in that pace, or is better one way than the other, either would indicate a problem.
If you did decide to change ponies he would be a hen's tooth or rocking horse poo for someone else with a child at an earlier stage!
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Post by vikki85 on Oct 2, 2012 9:08:59 GMT
Very good point sarahp, Defo worth a check with a physio as it could be that he actually finds cantering difficult rather than laziness...
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Post by bonnielady on Oct 2, 2012 15:32:00 GMT
Good point Sarahp. Will find one in my area and get him looked at. |
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Post by sageandonion on Oct 2, 2012 16:00:26 GMT
Vet up for an annual MOT (my vet does a package price) usually includes back, teeth, blood profile and worm count. Physio if the vet thinks so and possibly a couple of sports massages for the little angel because he deserves it. Also, be careful what you wish for.
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Post by belmont on Oct 2, 2012 20:28:57 GMT
I would start to lunge your pony, including lots of transitions in all the paces to get him responsing to your voice, praise him lots for going forward in whatever pace - esp Canter. My ponies are lunged regulary which gets them used to the voice aid which i also use when riding, these ponies are clever and usually will only put as much effort in that they can get away with. When ridden encourage your child to still ride lots of transitions, this will encourage her to think how she is using her leg aids and like others have said you dont want it to become a nagging cycle - gentle nudge - firmer - then a tap behind the leg on pony's bottom - the transitions will also encourage pony to work more from behind - getting the power/energy/lift to want to strike off into canter - and if pony starts to response to your voice from lunging this will help - even canter child on lunge first? Just a few ideas.
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Post by bonnielady on Oct 6, 2012 20:29:24 GMT
We have found his "thing"!
Did some x-country schooling today and he cantered alot!!!!
Almost think that we have yet to find the right buttons, and when we do we will be away.
Clever things these ponies!!!
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Post by nia2311 on Oct 6, 2012 22:01:29 GMT
I thought jumping would help!!
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Post by sometime on Oct 7, 2012 12:23:38 GMT
Kind of rules out a physical issue I suppose although he may have been extra excited. Cross country is a good substitute for hunting in a pony but hunting is a good one too. Pleased for you just hope he doesnt get strong when excited.
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??
haha!