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To Make the World a Better Place for Horses

stubborn horse

By:

tracyjpike

Date:

2014-Feb-20 at 12:40AM

hi there my daughters pony is so stubborn and has a very frustrating trick. whilst my daughter is on him h stands still refusing to move and turns his head into her leg both sides and just wont move his head away from her feet and will not move. if go in the school with her but then this makes him refuse to go anywhere oher then right next to me. he is commpletely tsking the micky out of my 8 yr old,and knows she cant pull his head away from her foot or move him forwards please help?
x

Mel - Ramsgate UK 2014-Feb-20 at 11:49PM

Hi Tracy, my first thought is he's trying to tell you something, not necessarily taking the micky.
A few questions to start with to see if we can get the full picture to help you.
Who else rides him and does he act the same when they ride him?
How long has your daughter been riding and has she had riding lessons at a school?
&
Have you had him checked out to ensure he's not in any pain anywhere?
Mel
x

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2014-Feb-22 at 01:31AM

Hi Tracy, I agree with Mel, horses do not take the mickey honestly ;-) It just sounds like a communication problem. However, like Mel I have a few questions please, sorry if it sounds like we are interrogating you but it helps to make sense of what is happening. So as well as Mels questions.... (1)How old is the pony (2) Who trained him? (previous owners?) - do you happen to know whether they favoured a particular training style - there is a particular reason I ask this; some trainer (Clinton Anderson and Pat Parelli) teach their horses to neckbend in the saddle and your daughter may be accidnetally asking for this - course it may not be this at all but thats why I'm asking) (3) Interesting that he follows you...suggests he is looking for some leadership that he may not be getting from the saddle... (4) How big is the pony?

Kicki -- Sweden 2014-Feb-22 at 01:35PM

Hi Tracy,
I have additional questions if you are up for more of them.
How big is your daughter? I mean in the sense of how she fits the pony - is her legs well below the saddle or is she sort of "perched" up there?
Is the pony wide or narrow across the back? Too wide will be spreading her legs too much to be effective.
How experienced a rider (for an 8 year old) is she? Again, I'm asking in comparison to the pony's education.
Most ponies are super smart and will quickly assess their riders. Some will take it upon themselves to teach them how to ride in their very own manner. He is definitely trying to tell you something.

beryl 2014-Feb-24 at 09:08AM

Same as all above: Has the pony only recently been started?
It does on the surface sound like an inexperienced rider on an uneducated pony - i could be very wrong of course.
It does just seem so like when someone i knew bought a just backed 4 year old welsh pony for her daughter who was a complete novice just of the lead rein - it didn't go very well as neither knew what to do.