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Welsh A Pony With Some Issues.

1K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Foxhunter 
#1 ·
Hi all,
We've recently gotten a Welsh A Pony who is 3 years old, and I'm in need of some help. We got her about a month ago before coming to us she was in a paddock with other horses for approx 6 months (I don't think she had contact with humans at all.) she's biting, kicking, she won't lunge and she was apparently broken in at 1 and a half. We've been told that if she's biting to slap her on her nose, but from what I've been reading on the internet it leaves physiological issues. Are we doing it right? She also pushes her head against us when we're working with her and I'm unsure if it's affection power play. We took her for a long walk before we put her under saddle the other day and she was fine, but yesterday we just got her out of her paddock and put her under saddle she bucked me off about 4 times and even after that she wouldn't let me on. Are you supposed to tire out a horse or pony out before riding them? Because whenever I've ridden elsewhere that sort of stuff has never been done. Please help.
Coco.
 
#2 ·
There are sooo many things to say but what it all comes down to is you need a trainer to work with both you and the horse hands on. I honestly would not handle the horse at all until that point.

It is irrelevant if she hasn't been handled in a few months.

No knowledgeable horseperson will start a horse at a year and a half. As a section A especially I'm concerned about what physical impact that had on her. Regardless. She needs time to grow up so I wouldn't think about really working her at all at this point. Get her ground manners good and leave it at that for a bit.

No you don't tire them out before getting on, think about the impact that would have if that was part of riding? And no she won't be traumatized if you get after her for being bad. Think of her as a big and dangerous child.

STOP trying to ride her until a) she is ready and b) you have control and know what you're doing. I'm also hoping that whoever is riding her is an appropriate size for her.

You can't take a green (if that) baby and throw a saddle on and expect everything to be perfect. Please get hands on help.
 
#3 ·
Based on what you have written this pony has major respect issues that, as I'm sure you know, can be very dangerous. Coco, it's possible that you could work this pony out of her issues but just the fact you are seeking advice from others I would have to reccommend calling a trainer or some other experienced horse person if you ever feel like your safety is at stake. The fact you were bucked off 4 times and kicked at would count as a red flag as far as safety goes.

She won't lunge? Is it because she's lazy? It's possible you can lunge on a lunge line but my opinion is that the most effective way to do proper ground work is with a round pen. With a horse like this I personally feel like lunging/groundwork is absolutely necessary. I know that not everyone agrees with the "join up" method of working with them in a round pen, but, it is a (not "the") proven method for working with an aggressive/dominant horse. She needs to be MADE to move her feet. Of course she doesn't want to - it sounds like she's the head honcho and that's a very submissive thing for a horse to do.

As far as the biting goes, I will say if an adult horse ever bit me aggressively they'd be smacked so hard on the nose they would never even think of doing it again. I don't like hitting above the nose area as it can lead to head shyness. And I'm very particular about rubbing their head affectionately, brushing their face, etc. so they don't develop head shyness.

Pushing her head against you may or may not be power play but it should not be allowed, especially with a horse that already has a tendency to push you around so to speak.

Getting their energy out before a ride is not a bad idea by any means, but based on everything else you wrote it sounds like she has issues deeper than just bucking because she's feeling fresh.

This is just my opinion on the matter. But above all OP, do NOT feel afraid to discipline this horse. She is not made of glass and paper. She is probably close to 1000 pounds and can most certainly hurt you if she wanted to, or even by accident. It's not necessarily uncommon for a horse -especially a young horse- that's been out to pasture with their friends to act that way but that does not make it any less dangerous.
 
#4 ·
It see from your writing that you have bitten off more than you can chew in that you are obviously inexperienced as is the pony.

The fact that you say she was 'broken' at 18 months would put up a big red flag for me. That is like saying a second grader is on a par with an tenth grader.

This pony is just being a pony. She is pushing the boundaries greatly but that is not her fault. Odds are that at 18 months someone plonked on her back and was either led around or rode her a few times and they called that 'broken'. I would bet that she doesn't lunge because she has never been taught to.

Of course she bucked you off because she was not trained correctly (or at all) and she has the strength to do so.

What excuse is there for you not having seen her worked when you bought her?

This pony needs to go off to a proper trainer to be started correctly and you need to have lessons on a good school master horse a d at the same time go to the trainers to learn how to work with the pony.

Welsh Sec A ponies only mature out at 12.2 so is this pony for you or someone else?
 
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