pattiwright
New member
help with a spooky pony
Today at 12:30:47 I had purchased a pony in Aug for my 8 yr old daughter who had been riding for a yr with trainers and a leased horse prior to the purchase. We went tried out the pony twice and the person selling owned the barn and level 1 coach so we we comfortable taking her advice as been upfront and proffessional. The pony at her facility was totally docile and overly calm and so we felt ok about any spooky behaviour and did ask and told never was a problem and that her students were fine with the pony We did not get a vet check as I guess we can call ourselves rookies and would not do that again live and learn. Anyway the pony arrives and we did pay a large sum of money 9700 for her we are boarding at a good facility and a level 1 coach helping us with the pony We felt that week was a period of adjustment time although by Thurday of that week I was concerned as the behaviour of the pony was like 90 degree difference she was spooky jumping at every sound and very skiddish My daughter rode her that Friday only to be thrown in the air real quick she tried again the pony was so spooky the trainer stopped everything did some lead line work next day and follow training trying to get the pony to even walk through the gate that is large and very open this behaviour continued for another week we called a vet and massage therapist had accupuncture done ect to be assured not a medical problem changed bit and tried various saddles ect nothing cahnged the behaviour contacted the original owner to be told that we had to have done something to this pony I had other trainers one being a level 2 trainer as well as one other as well trainer who worked on an olympic team all telling me she was far to dangerous to have a child ride her I hired an 15 yr old girl to exercice her and a very good rider who she took several fall off the pony due to spooky behaviour. My question I guess as this is the first pony we have ever owned and kind of rookies is it possible a pony could change behaviours so drasticly and if so does anyone have any ideas to help with spooky behaviours we have her with a trainer now and I in no way want to sell her I feel she is not safe and do not want anyone to get her at the cost of just my getting rid of her The problem exsists and I would feel morally obligated to disclose that the pony is welsh /arabian owner could not really confirm that but she has features physical of an arabian very pretty she has a sweet temperment but don't ride her on the ground awsome but no lead changes ect nothing although told differently by the owner
We have tried doing lots of work putting obstacles and sound at her and putting her in dir=ffirent situations so she could try to get accustome to various noises and not be scare I read in a book it was a good thing to do may or may not be even so it is not working Now after 4 months have paseed and no change at all even the trainer is getting frustrated The pony is 5 yrs old we were told but no conformation if correct vet feel that is close The owner has sort of walked away from providing any advce so not an option their.
So any ideas and help regarding how to deal with this behaviour and if It possible and what is anyones thoughts why a pony can all of a sudden change I am just baffled and not sure what to do anymore and a very disheartened child not a good experience So any thought or ideas I am open to trying and ideas would be greatly apprecaited
Thanks for reading such a long messge
Today at 12:30:47 I had purchased a pony in Aug for my 8 yr old daughter who had been riding for a yr with trainers and a leased horse prior to the purchase. We went tried out the pony twice and the person selling owned the barn and level 1 coach so we we comfortable taking her advice as been upfront and proffessional. The pony at her facility was totally docile and overly calm and so we felt ok about any spooky behaviour and did ask and told never was a problem and that her students were fine with the pony We did not get a vet check as I guess we can call ourselves rookies and would not do that again live and learn. Anyway the pony arrives and we did pay a large sum of money 9700 for her we are boarding at a good facility and a level 1 coach helping us with the pony We felt that week was a period of adjustment time although by Thurday of that week I was concerned as the behaviour of the pony was like 90 degree difference she was spooky jumping at every sound and very skiddish My daughter rode her that Friday only to be thrown in the air real quick she tried again the pony was so spooky the trainer stopped everything did some lead line work next day and follow training trying to get the pony to even walk through the gate that is large and very open this behaviour continued for another week we called a vet and massage therapist had accupuncture done ect to be assured not a medical problem changed bit and tried various saddles ect nothing cahnged the behaviour contacted the original owner to be told that we had to have done something to this pony I had other trainers one being a level 2 trainer as well as one other as well trainer who worked on an olympic team all telling me she was far to dangerous to have a child ride her I hired an 15 yr old girl to exercice her and a very good rider who she took several fall off the pony due to spooky behaviour. My question I guess as this is the first pony we have ever owned and kind of rookies is it possible a pony could change behaviours so drasticly and if so does anyone have any ideas to help with spooky behaviours we have her with a trainer now and I in no way want to sell her I feel she is not safe and do not want anyone to get her at the cost of just my getting rid of her The problem exsists and I would feel morally obligated to disclose that the pony is welsh /arabian owner could not really confirm that but she has features physical of an arabian very pretty she has a sweet temperment but don't ride her on the ground awsome but no lead changes ect nothing although told differently by the owner
We have tried doing lots of work putting obstacles and sound at her and putting her in dir=ffirent situations so she could try to get accustome to various noises and not be scare I read in a book it was a good thing to do may or may not be even so it is not working Now after 4 months have paseed and no change at all even the trainer is getting frustrated The pony is 5 yrs old we were told but no conformation if correct vet feel that is close The owner has sort of walked away from providing any advce so not an option their.
So any ideas and help regarding how to deal with this behaviour and if It possible and what is anyones thoughts why a pony can all of a sudden change I am just baffled and not sure what to do anymore and a very disheartened child not a good experience So any thought or ideas I am open to trying and ideas would be greatly apprecaited
Thanks for reading such a long messge