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Post by shadylady on Aug 31, 2009 13:02:57 GMT
My daughters pony has taken to napping and she isnt forceful to push him through it. Does anyone recommend how we cure it as she is nervous anyway and certainly do not want to put her off?
Thanks
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Milliesmum
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COCKERP00S RULE!!!
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Post by Milliesmum on Aug 31, 2009 16:42:55 GMT
I would have said just very firm riding and lots of work independently at home - can you borrow a more confident jockey to ride him a few times? Failing that, lessons to build her confidence, as they do get crafty and they know when a different rider gets on!
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Post by shadylady on Aug 31, 2009 17:43:26 GMT
Thanks Milliesmum. Were looking for a good instructor but really hard to find. Think i may have to resort getting on him myself but my legs are long and wrap round him lol...
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Aug 31, 2009 17:50:29 GMT
Some years ago I went from a very kind ex riding school pony, to a just 5 year old with lots of character. She did try to deck me, and succeeded a couple of times, then I think something clicks, and you suddenly get determined to get the better of them! I think when you get one that takes a bit of riding, that's what makes a rider out of you! And the success is all the sweeter when it all comes together.
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Post by carys on Sept 3, 2009 15:27:53 GMT
What does the pony exactly do when he napps? Are you working in a school or an open field? I have used exercises in the past for specific evasions but it is important to identify how something napps. For example is it speeding up and running through it's shoulder, or slowing down and avoiding the leg and then turning round. Small ponies that nap often tend to lock against the rein and refuse to bend and head for a certain direction (e.g the gate), the child then tries to pull them round so they then lock against the inside rein even more so they are never corrected! I have also found that adults getting on can help 'naughty' ponies who are trying it on to see how much they have to do but some times this isn't much help when you have a serious underlying block in the ponies body or if the adults rider tries to over dominate the pony. The main thing is not to scare pony or child and to avoid flustration on the part of the rider- the more upset they get (or the parents get!) the more difficult it is to make headway with the problem. If you let me know what 'type' of napping it is then I can tell you what I have used before to see if it will be of any help.
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Post by shadylady on Sept 3, 2009 18:19:27 GMT
What does the pony exactly do when he napps? Are you working in a school or an open field? I have used exercises in the past for specific evasions but it is important to identify how something napps. For example is it speeding up and running through it's shoulder, or slowing down and avoiding the leg and then turning round. Small ponies that nap often tend to lock against the rein and refuse to bend and head for a certain direction (e.g the gate), the child then tries to pull them round so they then lock against the inside rein even more so they are never corrected! I have also found that adults getting on can help 'naughty' ponies who are trying it on to see how much they have to do but some times this isn't much help when you have a serious underlying block in the ponies body or if the adults rider tries to over dominate the pony. The main thing is not to scare pony or child and to avoid flustration on the part of the rider- the more upset they get (or the parents get!) the more difficult it is to make headway with the problem. If you let me know what 'type' of napping it is then I can tell you what I have used before to see if it will be of any help. He slows down and refuses to go forward threatening to go up on her. If you lunge him first it does seem to resolve it but i cannot do this all the time. Like i said, i can get on him but i am a little too tall. I really want her to overcome this herself but without any injuries obviously Thanks for you help
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Post by princessstacie22 on Sept 3, 2009 22:27:54 GMT
Do lots of transitions, changing reins, serpentines etc etc. I find this usually helps as it gives the pony alot to think about. Without having seen the pony its quite hard on what to suggest. When he slows down change direction and move up or down a gaite (ie trot to walk or trot to canter). Sometimes just carrying a crop/stick will help. It doesnt have to be used. However i would try the above first. hth
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Post by carys on Sept 4, 2009 8:37:53 GMT
A Difficult situation. I am sure you have already done it but have the ponies back checked by some one who is a soft tissue practitioner as well as a chiropractor. Even have a good feel of the back yourself and check how the saddle fits with the child onboard. Compare all differences between what happens when the child is on board and when the pony is on the lunge. Watch the pony on the lunge does he flex one way better that the other, is there a slight toe drag on one or both hind legs? Look for clues of tightness.
Maximise the time the pony spends with its head down stretching over its back i.e grazing, feeding off the floor, doing carrot stretches (a good equine body worker will give you exercises and explain them) so you can identify any areas of tightness.
I would carry on working through the problem lunging with side reins and long reining. Work on the suppleness of the pony and it's head carriage and contact. Work on voice commands which can then be used when the rider is back on board and take care that all lunge work is taken as schooling to improve the way of going and not just for exercise- keep it varied use poles and plenty of transitions. Use a normal snaffle- I would avoid wilkies and bevals and use lunge and inhand work to teach the pony to start flexing at the poll.
We have a pony who totally locks down in the trot work and won't go forward for the child rider although will for me. It has taken months of careful correction to achieve resposes in the pony from the child. We have also used body work and accupuncture on the pony with good affect. Initially he would kick out when pushed and would intimidate the child. The little girl also didn't like me wanting to push her pony on when I worked it from the ground or on board. I kept her involved the whole time and let her understand what I was doing and why. Now we work together on it and she is happy to push him so he doesn't take advantage of the difference beween me and her. She is only 5 but because the pony is well behaved in other respects we have got her involved with helping lunging him, moving poles etc to keep her interested.
We then moved on to lunging the pony with the rider on, have a little balance strap on the saddle in case of accidents. This gives the rider security and teaches the pony to do carry on being obedient with a child on board. Then move onto walking on straight line on the lunge if safe, then unclipping and walking along side- if the pony stops I would immediately march it on again, riding lots of transitions and changes of rein. Bear in mind to encourage the rider not to feel back on the rein whan they turn- I would teach the pony about opening the hand to turn so it can't lock up in the paces and think about napping. Sometimes you have to go back a step to help the pony and to also regain the 'security of the rider'. To keep it fun for our rider, once she was confident to push the pony on, we had her chasing me around the arena with me on foot and her riding! She has also played follow my leader following one of her mother's dressage horses around the arena to encourage the pony to go forward. The child thought the whole thing was hilarious but it encouraged the pony to listen and was great fun for those involved- but probably even funnier for those watching ;D
As far as going up is concerned if there is even a suggestion of that and you are 100 % sure about the back/ saddle and there is no obvious excuse I would definately have the child off and I would be on. It is not worth the risk. However I would ride in a non offensive way and 'wait' to see what the pony does rather than getting on ' to sort it out!' When on board teach it to go from the stick and avoid overuse of the leg as the child will not be able to do this (but can hopefully carry and use a liitle crop?). If it is going forward in can't go up,also if it can be flexed in the poll it would find it difficult at that moment to pop its head high enough to go up.
If it is half as difficult and flustrating as our pony you have my sympathies! I think the important things are to not let the child lose confidence which can be achieved by the above, also not to let the child get bored- (be prepared to turn all of the above into a game or challenge of some description) and to actually tackle underlying problems in the pony rather than symptoms. By cutting corners in the past some one (or several people) have not given our pony the eductaion he deserved. We are paying the concequences but are now having a lot of fun reschooling him.
Good luck.
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Post by shadylady on Sept 4, 2009 12:19:52 GMT
Thanks Carys.
He only does it in the school or schooling, he hacks out with others perfectly and lunges the same. I will keep trying with him.
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Post by sageandonion on Sept 9, 2009 8:19:03 GMT
Are you experienced enough to lunge him with your child on board?
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Post by shadylady on Sept 9, 2009 9:34:45 GMT
Yeah we tried it once but will give it another go i think as lunges really well
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Post by tamrik on Sept 9, 2009 12:52:48 GMT
go back to the "old" ways and long rein him, this sorts out a lot of napping issues and gets the pony to carry itself rather than relying on the rider. it will also help the pony move forward off the voice rather than off the leg. will sort it out in no time!!!
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Post by labryinth on Sept 9, 2009 23:06:39 GMT
My old horse used to nap whilst out hacking, on one specific ride, in company or when alone, and always in a similar area. A very old instructor of mine told me not to do anything at all, and to simply make my horse stand.
The next time we went on the ride, and he started to nap, I stood him squarely in the middle of the road (very quiet country lane). We must have been there for a good 10 minutes the first time. Then I quietly asked him to walk on, which he did.
He tried to nap several more times when we tried the ride again, and once more I stood him squarely in the centre of the road and didn't allow him to fidget, rest a leg etc.
Appreciate that your circumstances are slightly different, but may be worth a try. I think he got bored of standing, forgot that he needed to nap, and was most keen to set off again!
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Post by HarryHaflinger on Sept 10, 2009 11:06:28 GMT
I had severe problems with my pony, and as hard as it sounds, it has taken me 2 and a half years to get him going forwards in the school without dropping shoulders/going backwards/throwing himself about etc. I used many different instructors, and although some helped with manors weather he was at his own home or away, he would eventually go back to his old ways. In the end I 'gave up on istructors' (lol) and learnt that I was clearly making the situation worse by reacting-which was exactly what he wanted me too do. To stop him coming out of the gate I out poles on the lead up to the gate and continued them a few strides away, to take his mind off the easy exit (which didnt have a gate on it as was a dressage school!) When he did stop dead and start all the back and up buissiness, I disorientated him by spinning him in the opposite direction to where he wanted to go, which often worked. A few things to consider; I was tiny at the time (only 13) but small, He was an ex driving 14.3 haflinger X, only 5 ish. And he was completely off his rocker!! It is possible and I believe that constant work on his own (how ever long it takes to get him away from his 'napping spot') and change, often being in the school for over 3/4 days a week will encourage bad behaviour and perserverence (sp!) will produce good results!! HTH and let us no how you get on!! x
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Post by shadylady on Sept 10, 2009 20:08:47 GMT
Thanks HarryHaflinger.... Some really useful advise. He hasnt been in school for ages now and went in for the 1st time tonight and behaved impeccably. Your right to much school work bores him to insanity!!!!
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Post by sophieandcallum on Sept 10, 2009 21:26:12 GMT
Definately agree, my pony is a saint out hacking or if hes jumping or generally enjoying his work! The school = boring! This makes him become dead to the leg, really huffy, buck and throw strops which is most certainly not in his nature and definately not his normal behaviour. We try to keep schooling to maybe once a week or less just now since in winter we wont be able to hack as much! So I agree schooling probably bores him senseless It took me aaages to realise this with my pony and he was a bit of a problem hacking out on his own so I had to rely on someone to come with or deal with bad behaviour in the school! So we plucked up some courage and I just persevered and now hack out alone most days! I think the best way is to keep school time to a minimum and do schooling out on hacks instead or put up some things in the school to keep his brain occupied. If I have to go into the school for whatever reason I usually put trotting poles/raised trotting poles (if I don't plan on jumping) and maybe some bending poles. Just to make it a bit more interesting! But hes a bit of a baby in the head and has to concentrate REALLY hard on raised trotting poles, where as I don't know if your daughters pony may do them no bother! But variety is definately the key good luck!
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Post by josie1234 on Sept 12, 2009 8:10:37 GMT
I know how your daughter feels, my mum who had to ride my pony for a while because he would threaten to rear with my but never with her (I think she weighed him down) LOL But I had to learn to over come this once he knew I was the boss that was it and I will admit he went up on me a few times but I was told to swerve him from side to side using one rein then the other, a horse will find it very difficult to rear up on you if he is moving forwards or going sideways, if she feels him about to stop and nap with her get her to drive him forwards or get her to concentrate on somthing in the school and go at it! If she is really nervous get someone to show her how its done. Good luck xxx
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Post by brookhouse on Oct 6, 2009 19:16:49 GMT
hi, I bought my son a pony in may, she did tiny rears in the ring in the line up, lay down in the line up, napped to the ponies and the gate, every time I have go into the ring and stood with my son as soon as she plays up. we took her to tiny local shows she had a few problems or so I thought, turned out she had lots. she napped to the other ponies while in the school even though they were in the field. I rode her and sorted this out, then we rode in the field with a few shetlands in napped again, she learnt not to do it with me but would do it to my two children and threaten to rear, exaclty the same, my children have rode her forward, and smacked her on the neck as she bucks from behind. lots of hacking out has worked and time now 5 months later she has won fr and been champion and came 2nd last week in the open bsps small breeds with my son. she never put a foot wrong,she is much happier but it has pushed my patience as there have been times I have wondered why am I doing this good luck as its not easy when its your child
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