little boy learning to ride, opinions

[Jenna]

Being offered a lovely little pony this morning has got me thinking
My little boy Jayden (4) seems to be really into the ponies at the min and is always asking to ride! He has a little Shetland who is 100% on the ground and to walk round with Jayden on his back but that's about it really. He had a lesson on him a few weeks ago and twice i had to pull Jayden off him because the pony tried tucked his bum under and was shooting forward (never seen him do it before). We have tried a trot before and pony bucked - obviously because he wasn't happy with Jayden bouncing round on his back (don't think i would be either). He was pestering me to ride again and didn't want to put him on Shetland again so put him on my 13,2 but shes not suitable for him to learn on and shes obviously too big. What do i do? I cant afford to send pony off to be properly trained/schooled and don't have anyone bigger to get on him. Pony is currently stabled on a livery yard with my 13,2 I will never sell the pony but wondered what i should do, do i-
1) Persevere with pony but risk my sons confidence being knocked
2) Get my son lessons on a proper riding school so he can learn to ride then try his Shetland again
3) Get my son lessons on a proper riding school and get a loan pony to carry on learning and having fun safely-he could have lessons on him too as his riding school is literally round the corner
4) Get a more suitable pony on loan and turn Shetland out with my two youngsters on my field, i am happy for him to be a field ornament and come out to a few in hand shows- pony will be happy as long as hes got food in his belly

I feel like i don't want to just give up but i think the best option would probably number 3. opinions please

[Philippa]

Doesn't sound like the Shetland is at all suitable. I'd be opting for lessons and a loan pony if you can't buy something. Wouldn't entertain trying the Shetland again unless you want to put your boy off completely.

[fanfarefan]

i would go for lessons only at the moment , until your son has shown that its not a five minute wonder ,,,, see how keen he stays

[Louise Dixon]

Option 3 or 4. I wouldn't put him on the shetland again. Whether or not the lessons are a good idea rather depends on your son. My 4 year old son doesn't have the concentration, and would be put off, but loves riding his pony on 'adventures' and gets loads of pleasure from playing with him, brushing him, leading him about etc. But your boy might love the lessons, if it is that handy, why don;t you try one and see?

[Jenna]

Im kind of glad as I thought you would
All say keep trying with the Shetland ! He's ace to walk round with in the yard etc but that's about it I think! I'll get him a few lessons booked at the local riding school then see about getting him a loan pony! I defintely don't want to buy I would rather loan as I don't like selling them on anymore and potential pony obviously wouldn't have a job once he's outgrown it!

[catkin]

I totally agree with the above advice, but I would also be trying to get to the bottom of what is wrong with your Shetland pony. Perhaps if you have some time, you could go back to basics and with him, lots of lunging, walking out in tack etc. I know its hard with the little ponies if you cannot get on, but if you want the pony to be a LR anyway, you should be able to achieve a great deal from the floor. I am a huge fan of Shetland ponies but am very conscious that quite a few are not broken properly and allowed to be used as play-things. This, combined with their very great intelligence often leads to bad behaviour and then the breed as a general gets branded as naughty. I am not blaming you in the slightest, but you never, know, you may be able to really help this pony and ensure his useful future too! Good luck with it all.

[Jenna]

no you are totally right, i don't think hes ever been broken properly but i don't have anyone small enough to get on him and i cannot afford to send him away to be broken as i am just about to buy my first proper horsebox so i can get my others out so all my moneys going towards that at the min. I don't particularly need him to do a job, I'm just happy having him as a field ornament and I'm sure he wont mind either!
I do have a 2 year old section a that will be my sons in a few years to come (if he turns out sensible enough!), i can break him myself (if i loose a bit of weight) as I am only 5'2! But obviously hes not going to be broken for another two years

[lme]

I can fully see your predicament, My granddaughter started to learn to ride on out Shetland, he was previously an inhand pony but very sharp and we did lead rein (reluctance on his part) and started to bring her off the lead, she can hack him out (since 5 now 7) off the lead (hes a prat if you take him out on the lead)walk and trot and hes 100% and brilliant in traffic, get him in the field or school and he takes the mick, I put it down to a combination of boredom on his part (not interesting enough) and inexperience on both their parts, I am only 5ft and weigh 7 stone so last year I took the plunge and got on myself - although I do find trying to get trot quite a challenge, I had the local RS owner put her small teenage daughter on but tbh she struggled as well - they are not an easy ride for a larger child -adult unless I presume you started on them , hes currently carrying an injury so I am hoping to get back on again as soon as hes fit and then try again. GD is only very slight and has a quiet seat which seems to suit him but she really wants to get back out to do some ridden classes at local shows this year if she can, if they were held on the road it would be brilliant but they are not. I don't want her to be put off by it, we are getting there slowly.
We have a Welsh A but in no way is he suitable for my GD at the moment.

so we are were we are, one brilliant very intelligent little Shetland who loves taking his little rider safely out on adventures but not keen at all on the serious stuff and takes the Mick given half the chance- a by product of them both learning together and GD lack of initial strength and awareness - now shes stronger she is able better to tell him what she wants and react quicker to prevent some of his behaviour issues, we will get there but if I had to do it over again, I would have had him schooled properly before putting her on - hes just learnt very quickly how to avoid doing something he does not want to do and as with most things its harder to break a bad habit than to learn a good one.