Toudle Dilemma

[brigadier]

Just airing this really as the solution is 'there isnt one!'

Toudle is a lovely gentle soul, a real trier and very sensitive and intelligent. He works so well with me, makes a lovely shape and can do nearly all the school movements. The problem is he is 12.1hh and will always have a small rider. Nearly all small riders are novices and have balance and hand issues. His rider at the moment is doing well but like most small children doesnt listen and cries when it all goes wrong. It pains me to see him being pushed and pulled but unfortunately that is the life of a pony and at some point he will learn to cope.

Im starting to worry every time he is ridden as he panics once she pulls his mouth and then rushes and scares her. Ive put him in a big rubber snaffle to try and make it less uncomfortable and Im also thinking of trying a bitless but still think pressure anywhere will make him upset. Ive lunged him wearing plastic sacks to try and get him more resilient and he just copes and trusts me so gets on with it.

Im thinking of just lungeing the rider and keeping her on the lead rein until he trusts her again and meanwhile doing lots of schooling including jumping (yes- I actually jumped him!)to make him more experienced and hopefully that will get us where we need to be, but its so hard and causing me sleepless nights.

Poor little horse! I think I will try a Bitless and see how that goes.............watch this space.

[FirenLady]

It must be tough being a kids pony, can you colour coordinate her reins so she has to keep them a length that even if she pulls it won't hurt him? Fire's jockey has a neck strap too which I get her to hold on to. Is she very little his rider? Could you find a competent 12yo to ride him too? (Fire's rider is 12 and I find that listens really well and tries hard) Fire's riders last pony that she rode was a bit nuts and she really had to keep hold of her head jumping and cantering or she'd clear off! So first time she got on Fire I had to lengthen her reins two inches cos he likes to have his head and getting her to give enough over a fence with her hands. Toudles is lucky you are little enough to ride him. I'd love to see some pics of you jumping him

[racaille]

I've seen first hand how brilliant this little horse is and he doesn't deserve the mixed messages; he tries so hard but when his little rider has her foot on the accelerator and her hands on the brakes it's impossible for him to figure out. I'm only surprised that he doesn't object more strongly.

I think there is a solution but it might be a bit difficult to persuade the rider: you need to get her hands off the reins and improve her balance and that means a lot of lunge work.

Here, the littlies start off on the shetties with millions of exercises without hands (in fact even adults do these and then progress to no stirrups and then eyes closed. All at once) . They will have to touch their toes, the pony's tail or ears, etc etc, all in different paces. The also hold onto the front of the saddle to help them learn how to move with canter which is a big problem for T's rider as she goes rigid (with fear?) and bounces. No wonder she panics.

I think the problem as it stands is that T's rider really is a beginner (despite her lessons) rather than a novice. She's not a confident beginner either as you say. I guess you have to think about what you want for T. Will he stay with you forever because he is so lovely? Or will you sell him on? He is easily big enough to be a fun second pony.

It obviously pains you to see him being worried. I don't think bitless is the answer, it's true he won't have the jab in the gob but the yanking on his head pressure points might be just as bad.

I would be tempted to send the rider away for lessons elsewhere for a while while you work with T as he is utterly brilliant but it doesn't help him in any way to have a beginner on his back while he is still young and learning himself.

[racaille]

PS - Taking a break might even be a good idea for the rider too - I daresay she is stressing about this as it can't be fun bursting into tears. Perhaps if you explained that T needs some time off to learn some more stuff (he'll be doing Olympic dressage in no time from what I saw!!!!!) she might find her seat on a pony club ride who knows his stuff and can come back to T when she is more confident/stable.

[brigadier]

I know what you are saying Rac, Ive told her Mum that it will be lunge stuff from now on and lead rein at PC. If she gets bored then tough. Its taken me a week to get him relaxed again after Sunday!!!

[toomanyhorses]

Does his rider have lessons on him? If not i would make her have some lessons with a good instructor on him. You can always continue with his schooling inetween, which i know you will anyway. I wouldn't go bitless with him as it can still put alort of pressure on him in different points. Have you thought about using a nathe it when the rider is on him for a while?
Do lots of lunge work with her without reins to develop an indipendant seat if you have time. Lots of work without reins and stirrups when she is ready will help loads aswell.