pony tips, help?

I had a palomino filly listed for free to a good home, but after a home fell through and I couldn't get her moved by November, I figured maybe I better start making a new plan.

My 'god daughter' has always been a natural. She could ride my TB at a fast trot with no help at the age of 4. She is now 6/7. She tragically lost her mother last week, and I want to start bringing her back around the horses, as everyone knows how well horses heal pain.

I decided that I am going to start giving her lessons on my show horse, and I am going to start ground training my pony filly {she is a pure QH, but stuck at around 12 hands at 2}. When she is going well, I'm going to have my god daughter help me break her.

What would you recommend I do with her until then to make sure she is sound enough to put my little one on? I am obviously not just going to throw her up there. I don't care HOW long it takes, I'm in no hurry.

I know how to do all of the ground training and such, and this isn't my first project. But it IS my first small pony. How do you get them used to the flapping and weight. I was thinking about doing about twice as much sacking out, and also extra such as getting used to plastic bags on the saddle and such.

Has anyone used sand bags to simulate a childs weight?

Any pony training trips would be amazing. Thank you all, and have an amazing night.

ponies arent much different than horses, besides the height... train the pony like you would a horse, get her ready for the saddle and make sure shes despooked.

I have no experience with ponies but I do use a "dummy rider" from time to time. Take a pair of jeans and sew the legs closed at the bottom. Put a tube of sand down each leg. Run a rope through the belt loops and tie securely to the saddle horn, then tie the bottom of each leg to the stirrup.

What a great idea. I never would have thought of that. I have so many old big jeans sitting around. Thanks so much!

Shame, that is sad about her mother...it is good you are giving her something to think about. = )

I would say that you just train a pony like a horse, they are exactly the same, except for size, but that doesn't matter. Gradually introduce the saddle and all, although I wouldn't really recommend the dummies, in case the horse freaks out and then the dummy can scare them even more, making them fear anything on their backs.

Can't you maybe get on the pony's back, just to see how she responds to weight in the saddle. If she is calm and all that, then I'm sure it will be safe to put your little one on.

Hope that helps, and good luck. Let us know how that all goes. = )

But that is the very reason I use them…the horse is free to do anything it wants in order to learn that a) the saddle isn't going anywhere, and b) it doesn't bother them as much as they think it does. You can turn them loose (in an arena) to figure out on their own what they can/cannot do with it - they are free to run, roll, buck, fart, kick etc. to learn what a saddle with weight is/feels like without endangering anyone and still learn that nothing is going to happen to them…or their "rider"…no matter what they do.