bucking pony 18 yrs old

Question
QUESTION: I have just purchased an 18 yr old welsh b pony who is fantastic in every way on his back and on the ground.  He was poor when I got him and now is nice and rounded and very happy.  My 7 yr old daughter has been riding him lovely in walk and trot but although she hasn't a lot of experience in canter, she has cantered other ponies with no problem.  This pony has started bucking and she is not strong enough to kick on and ride him through it.  She has sat a lot of bucks but they can be bad sometimes and she comes off.  She then lacks confidence about cantering on him again.  I recently sold a pony for this very reason and I am at a loss.  I lunge him when he does this in full tack and never bucks in canter.  His back and saddle have been checked and adjusted.  I am resulting to my 17 yr old daughter getting on him but she is 5ft 9 and 11 stone so really too big but he has to learn.  Any ideas would be very welcome. He lives out but has access to his stable.  He is on restrictive grazing to prevent laminitis and has two other horses which live in the same field but separated by electric.  He is loved and groomed and is an angel apart from this.

ANSWER: Hi Julie!

Ponies, ponies, ponies.....what rotten little creatures they can be.  This pony knows very well he should not be bucking but he simply cannot help himself.  He's a pony!

Your poor little 7 yr. old is just being taking advantage of and this pony needs to be taught that any bucking is cause for a serious schooling...with a bigger, stronger rider carrying a large whip that should not be used sparingly.

If you want to keep him then you must train this vice out of him in an intelligent way because force will only go so far.

Contact your local Pony Club chapter and get yourself an older girl who has been riding ponies forever and sticks like glue in the saddle.  Have her out to school him for a few weeks.  Have her lure him into bucking if he does not do it so he can see the consequences.  Once he has been smacked around a little, have your 7 yr. old ride him again with the older pony rider there.  If there is even the slightest show of disobedience or a buck...stop him, pull off your daughter and on goes the older rider to canter and canter him till he wished he was somewhere else.  I mean dripping wet and huffing and puffing.  Any buck should be met with whipping and more cantering.

Then, back on goes your little one and I just bet you will have a much more agreeable little man.  If this must be done only once, you are very lucky.  If this must be done ten times, oh well...ten times it is then.

You say he is "loved and groomed".  Be careful not to "love" him too much or he will feel you are all a bunch of push-overs and he will take advantage of your good nature.  At all times anyone who handles him must be firm, no-nonsense and businesslike.  Once a true relationship of trust has been earned, then you may "love" him.

The only priority in a horse/human relationship is safety.  If you are too nice too soon and your horse reacts by being bratty, that's not safe for your little daughter.  If you must be firm and whip him into shape and not give out treats and kisses but, your pony responds be respecting you and his rider, then your daughter is much safer :)


Solange



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Solange.  Many thanks for really great reply.  I have searched for a young rider who is prepared to ride this pony for me and it is impossible.  That is why my own 17 yr old daughter is getting on.  Will we be hurting/damaging him due to her size.  He does huff and puff but he certainly knows when she has been on him.  thanks

Answer
Hi Julie!

I am sure it is OK for your older daughter to ride him as it is only for correction and she is not on him forever.  

If you are truly concerned, have the vet out to exam him and watch her ride him.  The vet will tell you if it is too much for him.

The important thing to do is to only put her on for training and then corporal punishment when he is disobedient for your younger girl.  Make sure when he is bad for your younger one that the older one gets right on to correct him.  This pony must connect his disrespect/bucking with swift and no-nonsense punishment.  There is a very small window of time that a horse will connect his actions to correction...it's only a few seconds actually.  But, if he has her get right on him after a spat, he will soon deduce she only shows up when he is bad.  Ponies are rotten but, they are also clever.

It should get to the point where if he even sees your older girl in the arena, he straightens right up....for fear of her and what she will do to him!

Solange