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Post by mandmfan on Jan 29, 2010 12:03:20 GMT
I agree with you Nursey - very few around. My pony is extremely quiet, laid-back and well behaved. Yes, she will up the game for the more experienced rider but for the novices/tinies/nervous riders she just adjusts her pace. She does exactly what she is asked but no more and is what I term a 'push-along' pony rather than a 'pull-back' which is what I think gives a lot of children their confidence as they feel in control rather than vice-versa. Her drawback (not for me as although I am a light-weight I am five foot tall) is that she is 13.2 so obviously too large for affiliated (FR)classes and for most unaffiliated classes (FR).However, she has given a lot of children confidence at home - whether out hacking or in the school. She is currently teaching a five-year old to ride and there is a two-year old next on the waiting list. And the other drawback is that ponies like these very rarely come on the market - they either stay in the same home for life (like mine) or are sold by word of mouth.
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Post by bigmama on Jan 29, 2010 12:03:34 GMT
i would recommend waiting until a child is at least six years of age before contemplating off the lead rein mode and then the child should have some lessons on a very steady riding school pony who will be used to beginners riding solo and will trot round on the track whilst the child can concentrate on learning to steer, turn and keep the pony going on their own ... then i would find said child a sensible older pony who is an easy ride and this does not have to be the most beautiful pony ... as long as it acts as nurserymaid to the child, it can have two heads and a purple tail as far as i'm concerned .. that pony will set the child up for the future when they are ready to move onto something that is the most beautiful pony on four legs
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minty
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Post by minty on Jan 29, 2010 13:08:17 GMT
We went to see one for my eldest son when he was about eight (now 16) told it was push and shove pony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? When we arrived they were lunging in and then this enormous lady got on it!! She showed it off and while we stood there my son turned to me and said "You're not expecting me too get on that are you" I of course said "NO" this woman then turned to us and said would my son like to have a go, we said he would'nt, Thank you its now quite what we are looking for.She then went into one!!! what was the matter with her lovly pony etc etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We turned tail got into the car and drove off!!!
On the other hand, why is it that if you do have a lovly pony that is good in all ways, you can't sell it because the purchaser won't believe what you tell them, perhaps because so many people have been stiched up over the years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are out there BUT always take someone with you has got alot of experience!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by suzee on Jan 29, 2010 14:43:16 GMT
Got to agree that to find a really genuine 100% childs pony is almost impossible,because it seems to me that the genuine ponies are not really pretty head turners,the ones that would look after a small child are normally a bit plain,and most parents want a good looker.Surely a proper schoolmaster first then buy the pretty pretty one when the child is more confidant
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Post by bunny on Jan 29, 2010 19:23:06 GMT
We are sooo lucky - our pony recently had her winter holiday for 3 months was caught up and next day clipped enroute to Emmas show where she was 2nd in FYFRwithout time to work in at all. She is our pony of a lifetime and has bought my 3 children on leaps and bounds in 3 years, my eldest was a nervous wreck but is now at 10 years old about to compete on our welsh c. My middle daughter who is now 6 has been off the LR on her since she was 4 nearly 5. All she has to worry about was steering and this pony would do the show on her own. The only time anyone has come off her was in a fancy dress when the whole ensemble which was very badly secured by mum fell off the pony and covered her eyes completely so she did backwards circles and my daughter came off. My wobbly son is now riding her and starting to trot, he likes to go by himself with steering wheel reins and she puts up with the lot. She holds her own qualifying for the champs each year and being placed in HOYS FR but will step up a gear for a more experienced rider in open classes. She has won young handler at NPS summer championships 2 years running with my eldest and my younger daughter took her into the evening performance age 5 on her own in the FR without me stressing about her putting a foot out of place. With all this she still has her little quirks, she is a monkey to catch. She likes a free rein when she is stood in line after her show and will pull the reins if the children sit there and try and hold her in an outline. There is a small possibility we may have to find her a new home at the end of the season, I hope not but even if we do, I dont think we would have a problem, the only issue will be finding someone good enough for her, I will be asking for them to submit a CV. Now - any excuse - lol but a few pics
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2010 20:14:28 GMT
I specialise in breeding good lr & fr ponies, my homebred ponies are well known for being good childrens ponies, even newly gelded working lads have gone on the win fr championships within a month of leaving- I have always had to borrow riders too - thanks Bunny - so there are genuine ponies out there.
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Post by lizzie on Jan 29, 2010 20:22:24 GMT
Bunny Im going to back up your post. Its a shame but there arent many perfect childrens ponys about but we are also lucky enough to own one. Ours is also a Shetland. Molly has been ridden by everyone from a 18 month old little girl in a fancy dress and concours class behaving impecably. She has been ridden by her little loan jockey since the jockey was 2 and a half she is now 3 and cantering off the lead. They have Molly time where her jockey gets off to have a rest and sits on the floor in front of the pony not holding onto her and Molly just rests her head on Jessicas head and waits while Jess chats away to her. She comes trotting up to her in the field and has given her jockey so much confidence and happy memories. I can put any child on this pony or leave any child in the stable with her and she will stand for hours and never puts a foot out of line. We had visitors last weekend and one of the kids had never been on a pony before by the end they where walking her round the edge of the school off the lead with just someone walking with them. She is an absolute poppet and if Id wanted to could of re-homed her 10 times over but I never would when I have children if I ever do I hope she will still be going for my kids. I only paid £250 for her and it is some of the best money I have ever spent and I would never sell her on if I was unfortunate enough to be in the position where I had to find her a home I would pass her onto to someone to be a part of their family because in my opinion thats what a true childs pony is as would you trust anyone else but a member of your family or equivilant with the most precious thing in your life.
Its a shame that some people advertise ponies incorrectly however as a few people have said all ponies can have their off days etc but some of the stories on here it really does make you wonder what goes through peoples heads.
Modified to add Bunny your shettie is stunning! Lots of luck this season with little jockeys.
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Post by bunny on Jan 29, 2010 21:15:44 GMT
Thanks Lizzie and your Molly sounds an angel. Cayberry, anytime and your ponies are fantastic and I just love that picture of the little girl doing FR.
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Post by perfect on Jan 29, 2010 21:42:46 GMT
I searched for months, travelling up and down the country looking for a genuine FYFR, and wasted a lot of time and money in doing so, but eventually i did find the right one,and the people where so genuine, and in fact i think they vetted us, because that pony had done so much for them. She has been a super star, she does have her little quirks, but not when a child is on her back. we have had tremendous sucess ahd she has given my grandaughter so much confidence./ Before she came along someone lent me an old JA pony for her to learn on, and he was a saint god bless him(hes now in Heaven), what a little star he was. These ponies are very hard to find and i feel so lucky to have found 2 of them
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2010 22:24:57 GMT
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Post by Totally Agree on Jan 30, 2010 21:12:21 GMT
i would recommend waiting until a child is at least six years of age before contemplating off the lead rein mode and then the child should have some lessons on a very steady riding school pony who will be used to beginners riding solo and will trot round on the track whilst the child can concentrate on learning to steer, turn and keep the pony going on their own ... then i would find said child a sensible older pony who is an easy ride and this does not have to be the most beautiful pony ... as long as it acts as nurserymaid to the child, it can have two heads and a purple tail as far as i'm concerned .. that pony will set the child up for the future when they are ready to move onto something that is the most beautiful pony on four legs HEAR HEAR!! - someone talking common sense. All too often we see mums desperate to get their little darling onto the next stage as young as possible, like they are competing for their child to be the most advanced for their age (smacks of the pushy parent idea?) Only rarely are they lucky enough to have a child with the right temperament (confidence), co-ordination and ability to grasp the concepts required for this to be a success and even then the pony HAS to be a true saint. Most often they might get away with it for a year or two on a 12hh but wait til they're riding a younger or stronger pony that isn't so amenable.
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Post by bunny on Jan 30, 2010 21:28:25 GMT
I do agree totally agree, but we must be one of the very lucky people then. Possibly because I have never worried whether the children compete, ride or not, it was always my hobby that they seem to have taken too. I certainly dont count myself as a pushy parent, totally the opposite really, I am happy to let them have a go at classes they feel able and want to do rather than what I think they can win.
The right pony works wonders, the wrong one can destroy any interest children may hold. My daughter was totally able at 5 to compete by herself and knew her show, my son now 6 well I doubt he will compete off the lead rein for a long tim, he just wouldnt have a clue what to do.
We wont need to worry about moving them off safe steady and under 12 hands for years as they can do the m&m FR until they are 12 if need be although I would guess they would be bored by it by then.
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Post by fayeandash on Feb 1, 2010 10:00:15 GMT
I have what we would call a fyfr, always looks after Ash even in the busiest of evening performances, stands like a rock even when ponies either side of him are messing about, he's a total saint, Ash has been able to ride him off the lead since 4 years old, they have a very strong bond, but put another rider on and he can be totally different, even dumping some and thats totally out of character for him, i could count on one hand the amount of times Ash has fallen off him in the past 5 years, so maybe the pony advertised that you went to see was similar to our Elmo?
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