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Post by horseyll81 on Nov 11, 2009 20:00:51 GMT
Hi, Have recently bought a 4 yr old pony for my daughter who was going superbly until this week...we have now had him for 5 weeks. All of a sudden he is leaning on the bit, pulling the reins the reins out of her hands and trotting off with her. He is in a happy mouth wilkie, as suggested from the old owners, and we have also used a snaffle with some latex around as apparently he likes something to chew on or he doesn't stand still. Have tried going back to the latex wrapped snaffle and now he's getting worse..last 3 times ridden. We've tried pulling on one rein as he does it, but my daughter is not quite strong enough and I'm far too big to get on him unfortunately!! Does anybody have any ideas? His teeth/back etc have all been done. Thank you
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Post by Julie(luke3) on Nov 11, 2009 20:04:42 GMT
I would definetly get a more experienced light rider on the pony to see what it does. It will tell you whether or not it is just trying it on with your daughter.
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Nov 11, 2009 20:05:31 GMT
When did he last have his teeth checked? Also wouldn't do any harm to check back saddle etc.
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Nov 11, 2009 20:08:47 GMT
He's only a baby - maybe he's just discovered that he CAN do this now so he will!
I'm with luke3 - find a good light rider for the moment rather than try to sort this with a different bit.
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Post by horseyll81 on Nov 11, 2009 23:01:51 GMT
Thanks!! Just had new saddle fitted by Master Saddler and his teeth and back were checked only 2 months ago, so don't think its anything obvious like that. sarahp - you're probably right, he's probably starting his adolescent 5 yr old stage early!!!
If there are any willing, experienced light riders in South Hampshire that can help, please shout!!!
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Post by sarah00000 on Nov 12, 2009 6:32:06 GMT
Where in Hampshire are you? PM me if you like?
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Post by JessicaT on Nov 12, 2009 7:36:58 GMT
Echo above, he's sussed his child rider isnt strong enough, our 4 y o did the same with us earlier this year. Luckily im little enough to jump on. He doesnt do it anymore, we also changed bit as he was in a wrapped wilkie, puy him in a loose ring frech link, never looked back.
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Post by sarah00000 on Nov 12, 2009 8:38:40 GMT
Mine came in wrapped wilkie too. Sec A moved into french link. Much happier. Section B moved into a NS starter bit. Brilliant.
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Post by chuck on Nov 12, 2009 10:55:37 GMT
We've had the same problem with our 5yr old pony, and like you have no-one to ride him other than my daughter (who is tiny), which sometimes I think is a blessing in disguise because she has got through it, so don't give up. However, our pony does prefer a mullen than a linked snaffle and the use of a schooling whip to give him a little ting on the bot when he pulls seems to have done the trick.
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Nov 12, 2009 11:11:45 GMT
What about good old-fashioned grass reins when your daughter is riding him? Long enough not to come into play when he is behaving, but short enough to prevent him actually pulling the reins out of her hands if he does put his head down, to give her more chance of getting them back and regaining control? Young ponies usually forget bad habits if nipped in the bud quickly enough and at the end of the day he is there for your daughter to ride although I still think borrowing a stronger rider to school a pony of that age is a good plan, this is just a thought to help your daughter for the time being. And I'm not a wilkie fan either, too long in the tooth to approve of anything but a snaffle for children and ponies of this age.
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Post by chuck on Nov 12, 2009 11:18:20 GMT
Yes, totally agree sarahp, I did have some grass reins on as well just so he couldn't yank the reins out of hands completely.
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Post by sarah00000 on Nov 12, 2009 11:24:52 GMT
Yup echo the grass-reins - I just sold my set on HG, as section A now with fab new home. They are very good back up plan, just in case!
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Nov 12, 2009 11:52:46 GMT
Didn't know there were such things as saleable sets of grass reins - whatever happened to baler twine? It doubles for all sorts of bits of tack here!
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Post by sarah00000 on Nov 12, 2009 15:00:12 GMT
ha ha - yes you can get very nice leather grass reins these days!
They used baler twine when I was a kid too!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2009 17:38:22 GMT
try a hanging cheek french link snaffle and a bit bigger rider- If you are in north yorks we could come and help, just ask
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Post by horseyll81 on Nov 18, 2009 23:00:29 GMT
Thank you for all your advice. Had a lesson yesterday with a daisy rein on and once he got over the frustration, he went much better and actually started to mouth the bit!! May swap the daisy rein for grass reins as they seem a popular choice!! And a snaffle will probably be the next port of call!! Thank you all for your help x
Thank you cayberry- unfortunately we're a bit too far from Yorks!! If I'm ever passing....!!!!:-)
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Nov 20, 2009 20:40:40 GMT
What's a "daisy rein"? Never heard of that one before!
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Post by horseyll81 on Nov 22, 2009 9:28:31 GMT
Hi sarahp, A daisy rein runs from the poll to the pommel d-rings, along the top of the neck. Has worked a treat at stopping the reins being pulled out of my daughters hands, and even though the pony was frustrated with it at first, he never over reacted and is now becoming softer in the mouth as well!
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Post by iluvmyponies on Nov 22, 2009 20:53:10 GMT
I had the exact same problem with my Section A when he was 4. We tried loads of things but the onlt thing that seemed to work was a Waterford bit. They bring their head up and stop them taking the bit out of your hands. It has worked wonders! xxx
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Nov 23, 2009 10:26:16 GMT
Thanks horseyll81. So like half a grass rein then.
That's the second time I've put up a totally inoffensive post that has disappeared, I replied to this in this vein last night!
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Post by mayhem on Nov 23, 2009 15:22:19 GMT
He is trying it on, has got away with once and thinks this is fun.
Just get a jockey on him that wont let it happen nothing to do with the bit.
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Post by iluvmyponies on Nov 23, 2009 22:20:11 GMT
He is trying it on, has got away with once and thinks this is fun. Just get a jockey on him that wont let it happen nothing to do with the bit. I tried being bossy with my section A and it did nothing but make him fight against me more I really reccomend the Waterford, it is not a strong bit it just brings up their head and lightens the mouth, they can also be used in showing xxx
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Nov 23, 2009 22:26:40 GMT
Don't think it's about being bossy, more about keeping him going forward and giving him something to think about, lots of varied schooling exercises, circles, turns and transitions. It's probably just a phase which needs sorting before it becomes a habit. A more experienced rider would probably help, someone who can get more leg on and therefore lighten the forehand.
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Post by traffik on Nov 23, 2009 23:57:58 GMT
gadgets,gadgets galore, dont help when your in the ring! if you lung said pony in two lines off the bit you can a, see how he operates(works) and b, feel through your hands just what hes doing with the bit, alot of babies lean at the front when the engines not strong enough at the back, hacking out will strenghthen.
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