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MirandaToo
Silver Member
England
381 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 7:32:15 PM
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Hi All. Hope everyone had a good Xmas!
Just started dipping my toe into the joys of looking for another pony/horse for my daughter. I'm just a bit surprised by what people class as being suitable for a small person. Don't get me wrong, she's 11 and she can ride well - but it seems an awful lot of ponies are stuck in a dutch gag, mouth clamped shut, martingale on, etc.
I do appreciate that some horses/ponies may need some extra brakes etc, but I don't know that I would class something with all that garb on as a suitable for a novice. I just wonder whether I've got a bit out of touch!! We always used a snaffle and quite often used to canter round the fields in a headcollar and rope!! Please don't tell me this is more health and safety!!! 
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proctorclaire
Silver Member
437 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 7:42:55 PM
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| There are alot of horses and ponies all kitted out when they don't need to be. One of my horses old owners had her in a Pelham and then the previous owner had her in a three ring gag and mouth shut with flash noseband and now I have her on a french link snaffle and no noseband!! The fact was she acting like a mad horse cause she was in pain rather than being highly strung and if her old owners had bothered to get her looked over they would have realised something was wrong. Depding on how well your daughter rides you could mayb get a more experienced person to put a less severe bit in, take away martingale etc and get their opinion. |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 7:46:36 PM
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I personally wouldnt worry what its in when you see it, a lot of times its a case of very small child/weak rider and keen/fit pony
My daughterspony was in a dutch gag when we bought her and we put her straight in a wilki snaffle no problem, she doesnt wear any gadgets or martingale etc but as she got fitter and fitter she needed a few mpre brakes for hunting or XC so she's in a pelham for that.
My daughter has lovely soft hands and a steady contact so it doesnt worry me at all she rides in a pelham, better that then pulling the poor ponies teeth out in a snaffle
Good luck with your search, if your still looking for THE PERFECT chunky 12.2hh in the spring pm me as Angel is out growing mrs puzzle fast!
susie |
   
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 8:06:09 PM
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I have noticed that it is actually quite difficult to buy a bridle without a flash, and I think far too many horses have their mouths clamped shut because that's what people think is normal. I have never liked riding in a martingale personally, but a running martingale might partially protect a pony from a child with very bad hands. An awful lot of horses and ponies are overbitted too.
We also used to canter round in a headcollar and a rope, generally rode in a snaffle but used to use a kimblewick, pelham or double bridle for hunting (depending on mount). Despite my comment about overbitting I agree it is better to have a soft touch on stronger brakes than to have a child desperately sawing away on a snaffle in an attempt to stop in exciting circmstances.
When my nieces were younger we did use a daisy rein to protect them from naughty bucking pony, didn't have anything like that when I was a child and had to ride very naughty bucking pony, but it did teach me to have a very secure seat |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 8:18:33 PM
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your right callisto! it is increadibly hard to buy a bridle that doesnt have a crank or flash noseband on!
Both mine and the pony have old fashioned cav nosebands on, more for how it finishes the head nicely then anything else
Angel rides Mrs Puzzle round the fields bareback (but with a bridle on)all the time and in the school, When I ask her to put a saddle on she says shes "improving the feel of her seat" !! I cant say anything to that can I 
susie |
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 11:01:29 PM
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As a kid I preferred bareback, and when schooling now I have a strong desire to get rid of my stirrups (and I ride fairly long anyway), so I think your daughter is entirely right pheonixbruka
To get back on topic I think a lot of it is a question of trust, if your child loves his/her pony and just wants to ride it and have fun together then generally the pony looks after the child and the child learns enormous amounts from the pony.
On the other hand, a retiring child can be put off riding forever by a keen pony - it's horses for courses. |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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clio
Gold Member
Wales
614 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 11:20:58 PM
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A few years ago we took on a grade B BSJA pony for a friend who had bought him for her small light daughter to jump but she was finding him strong and difficult even with every gadget you could imagine around his face and in his mouth.
1st thing we did was turn him out for a month to chill, then strip him down to a snaffle and started re schooling him a little, his mouth was sore and hard when he arrived but he seemed to appreciate the freedom and soon settled to the snaffle and became very responsive that was untill his little owner came to ride him :(
1st thing she did was boot him hard in the ribs and pull on his mouth and up went his head ... needless to say we taught her that less = more and they went on to Grade A in no time still going sweetly in his snaffle.
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*~* Crossleys RainDancer *~* *~* Ora El Masra*~* *~*Diesel*~*
www.riddenarabgroupwales.co.uk |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 05:47:11 AM
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I would agree in that there are a lot of horses out there with all sorts of contraptions on because it's perceived as the 'norm'.
No disrespect and imo, but ppl are mainly sheep and don't question much (if anything I sometimes wonder) of what they do, think and believe in, in the horse world and the world at large.
I wouldn't let anything they are using put you off. The minute you remove it and start really communicating with your pony, they, and you wont look back.
Fee |
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templars
Platinum Member
England
1852 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 09:31:11 AM
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Good luck with your search.
And it's not just ponies that are "over tacked" - horses too!!
We do exactly the same as Susie and Linda - let them settle and then strip all the tack off. Back to basics and build up as you need. It's so satisfying to have a horse go all three phases at an event in the same bridle. The beautiful and talented Taragun spoiled us - she never needed anything adding for cross country and I'm thrilled Harls is following in her footsteps.
And totally agree about flash bridles - it's almost impossible to find a cavesson nowadays. And I do worry about how tight some riders put the flash part.
There are ponies out there and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for but you may have to buy the raw material and put the finishing touches on yourself - but that is so rewarding. |
   www.eviepeel.com    |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 10:51:19 AM
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Totally agree with all that has been said! My son's Sec C mare came to us ridden in a double bridle, martingale etc. We gave her a month to chill out then went back to basics - she is ridden in nothing more than a snaffle now - she is a big, full up very strong mare but far happier with the least amount of tack.
Good luck in your search |
www.spanglefish.com/kasanarhythmbeads/ |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 3:42:58 PM
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When I rule the planet, one of the first things I will do is make all flash nosebands illegal! As folk say, it's become a fashion item, used unthinkingly and causing much distress.
Keren |
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kimzi
Gold Member
865 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 4:18:41 PM
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| I don't have any problems with flash nosebands or ones with a crank action which only has effect when you are tacking up as long as they are not done up too tightly. Have always used flash's when jumping and mostly loose rings snaffles for the last 25 years so they are hardly a fashion item, actually rosie who we lost last xmas was a JC and ridden in a flash with a d ring snaffle and we added a running martingale when jumping indoors as she could get very above the bit if there was any flash photography. Always ask to see the pony ridden before child gets on and then you can see whether the tack is neccesary or the rider isnt up to it. |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 4:33:24 PM
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Its funny but 40 odd years ago if you saw a pony at a gymkhana all kitted out, you would think wow! that must be a hot little thing and the rider must be good to manage it thus .
Only now do we know this is not necessarily good training and that the best ponies can go all day with a snaffle mouth and the kids on them are far better riders. as with all things , I think Riding and schooling methods have ( although clearly not in all cases) evolved in keeping with education of the animal and child to benefit each other . |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 11:53:28 AM
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Going back to the thread!! Are you being unrealistic? No. I don't think you are. There are a lot of good ponies out there, it is just a minefield finding them. Unless you need a 'super bargain' why not wait intil spring. If something shows itself before then so much the better.
I am another fan of giving the pony the benefit of the doubt. Horses I have bought usually came with drop nosebands and martingales. I didn't need them after the first week of acclimatising. Just because a pony has been ridden in all sorts of tack doesn't mean it is the ponies' fault. For instance, if every time a child jumped on her pony she galloped the first half mile anyone with any bit would would find it difficult to stop it. But why do the re training if you can find the perfect pony waiting out there? |
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MirandaToo
Silver Member
England
381 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 7:02:37 PM
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Thanks for all the replies - some food for thought. It's interesting to get other points of view. There have been some ponies I have bypassed due to what they've been wearing in ad photos, but I think a lot will be down to what my daughter 'clicks' with. Hopefully if we can find something she finds that sparkle with ( silly word, but not sure how else to explain it!!), then we can work on from there.
My opinion and I'm sure I'm probably wrong, but to me it does seem ponies are ridden differently these days, for better and worse. As Lyndilou pointed out education of horse/pony and rider has evolved, but I personally think a lot of the freedoms I used to enjoy when riding as a kid have gone - I can understand why though. We used to go off hacking for hours on end, bit of change tucked away to stop enroute for coke and ice creams, ponies never on the bit , (taught them all to neckrein though), but we used to have a blast . Sadly, I know there is no way I would let my daughter do this nowadays, because I would be too worried about traffic amongst other things! Times change I guess!
Thanks Phoenixbruka - unfortunately think I'll be looking for something min 13.2 (daughter is only 11, but fast catching me up height wise!!0.
Thanks, Quarabian, although I'm a bit  at the mo (it all seems far more daunting than looking for myself!), we are not in a rush and I'm a bit of a believer that the right one will come to at the right time!!
Thanks again peeps,  |
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Am I being unrealistic?
