TRAINING A 6 YR OLD

Question
HI SOLANGE, I'VE ASKED YOU A QUESTION BEFORE REGARDING A 6 YR OLD GELDING PIEBALD PONY I HAVE, I WANTED TO SELL HIM AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE RIDDEN. I'M NOT GOING TO SELL HIM AS ITS UNFAIR, WHAT I'VE STARTED DOING NOW, IS LUNGING HIM EVERY DAY FOR 30 MINS AS HE'D BE UNFIT AFTER BEING ON GRASS FOR A YEAR. THAT WAS GOING GRAND, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS CATCHING HIM, HE'LL WALK STRAIGT UP TO ME. AND HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING HIM ROUND THE RING. YESTERDAY I TACKED HIM UP AND PUT THE SADDLE ON HIM WHILE I WAS LUNGING HIM. HE'LL LET ME TACK HIM UP NO PROBLEM. WHEN I STARTED TO LUNGE HIM, HE THREW A FEW BUCKS. I HAVE A LUNGING WHIP IN RING WITH ME, I DON'T HAVE TO USE IT, HE JUST HAS TO SEE IT AND HE WENT GRAND. STOPPED HIM A FEW TIMES TO SEE HOW HE WOULD BE WHEN I GOT HIM GOING AGAIN AND HE WAS FINE. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO GET UP ON HIM AFTER 2 WKS AGO WHEN HE THREW TWO PEOPLE OFF. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING IN LUNGING HIM AND WHAT CAN I DO NOW. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT I SHOULD BE DOING. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET HIM SCHOOLED, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED, REGARDS JULIET MAGNIER

Answer
Hi Juliet!

There is not enough room on the Internet for me to tell you all the things you should be doing in the correct order!  LOL!!

Since you are determined to keep him and work him yourself, you should ask a knowledgeable person in your area to look at him and give you on-site advice.  Why he is throwing people I cannot say without seeing him go.  But, I will state that no that he knows how to do it and he is successful, he will do it whenever he can.

In the meantime, you should definitely be longeing him daily, asking him to do all three gaits and collect and extend them.  Special emphasis should be placed on "WHOA!"  You whisper it and he can't stop himself fast enough for you!  This all needs to carry over to when you get on his back.

Longe him in all his tack and there is a correct way to do this.  If you do not know how, ask for help.  You can also long-line him to get him going well and paying attention.  Again, if you do not know how, someone has to show you.

As for tack, make sure he is not over-bitted and that his martingale is loose enough for him to pick his head up.  Horses can only buck when their head is down.  Soooooo, keep it up.

He should be tired (well longed) and paying attention the next time you get on him.  The ride should be short and make sure you have a plan before you get on.  Stop while you are ahead and get off while he is still being good.  Keep all riding times short and productive.  Don't ask for too much too soon but, be firm in all you ask for.

You are taking on quite a bit by yourself and while you have no money for a trainer, you may find a friendly, knowledgeable person who will help both of you out!

Be careful and "THINK FAST ~ MOVE SLOW"

Solange