| They need an overcheck on the pony that is putting its head down. It
doesn't need to be very tight, but tight enough so that after it puts
it head down lower than it needs to for trotting over the poles it
feels it in the bit.
Almost every horse or pony knows what the rider is capable or not
capable of and small arms and short legs aren't usually effective at
correcting a problem. Also, if Katie isn't comfortable holding a crop
with the reins, she isn't going to be comfortable giving the pony the
good whack it deserves for doing this. My former riding teacher had a
lovely horse with this one and only bad habit - an overcheck was all it
took.
The other pony that tossed her off needs to be corrected by an adult
and then ridden by a small child that is a very capable rider to
prevent it from happening again - not someone who is taking lessons and
hasn't progressed to higher things yet. If the pony is too small for
an adult to ride and correct - seconds after the incident, then she
needs to be on a bigger pony or a horse.
FWIW - None of my riding teachers in the past 20 years were ever wild
about ponies with small kids. One of my former and very good teachers
told me that the closest she ever came to getting killed was with a
pony, not a horse and she wouldn't use ponies in her program.
The problem is, if the ponies are too small, the adult can't
immediately get on and go over the jumps, poles, whatever to correct
it. The ponies know they have a kid on their back that can't make them
mind. The horse might know too, but if it also knows someone can
instantly discipline it, that knowledge can make a difference.
What does the instructor say/said after the pony tossed her off and the
other one put his head down?
There is a difference between falling off because your form is bad and
having the horse toss you off. I've flipped off over jumps on my old
horse, not because he did anything, but I was learning and wasn't ready
when he was. But he never, ever tossed me off no matter what we did.
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| My riding instructor uses horses for small children's lessons as well.
She does have a few ponies around, but I'm not sure if they are in the
lesson program or just broodmares/kick around ponies.
Something else I've picked up over the years is that some instructors
teach in a pace that they are comfortable with, and not the student. I
started with one who went so slow, I got bored and quit. My current
instructor gets more students from other barns who were jumping before
they were physically and mentally ready. Perhaps your daughter needs
more time working on the flat and equitation before she starts jumping.
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The instructor got on the ponies in both cases of Katie getting tossed
and following the head going down. The instructor is firm with the ponies,
but as has been mentioned, the ponies still know they have the
advantage over the smaller child.
Is it being suggested that Katie ride a horse off lead/lunge?
As a result of the comments in this note, I asked Katie tonight about
jumping and if it was something she felt ready to do. Her response
referred back to the progress that her brother has made, and she
doesn't want to be 'slow'. We'll try slowing her advancement down to
her pace and see if that helps as well.
At what point in time does it make sense for children to have their own
horse? Both Mike and Katie want their own, but are not yet at the age
that they can care for one entirely (which is OK, cuz I love them
too!).
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| All my instructor's young students are responsible for everything horse
and tack related on lesson day......even if it takes hours, which for
some kids it does!
I don't think she keeps them on the lunge line too long because she wants
the kid to figure everything out. I've watched her spend the entire
lesson (� hour for the younger ones) walking beside the horse talking
the child through learning to steer. The horses look drunk, but in a
few weeks these kids are doing real well at a walk and trot!
I think she bases each lesson plan on each individual and makes
judgement calls based upon them. I can't say enough good things about
her because she's help me alot, and I watch a lot of her lessons, and
there is a large group that shows, and all her kids are in the top
ribbons.
Try leasing or � leasing a horse at the barn this summer for your kids
to see if they really like it, I think you'd be suprised at how much
responsibility they'd accept.
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| I never rode on a lead/lunge till I got to be an adult, so I can't
really answer that one about Katie. I don't think she's too young to
ride off the lead/lunge, but it is clear that she needs a horse or pony
that won't take advantage of her.
I take some of my lessons now on the lunge to learn to balance better
off my legs and body not of of my hands. I find it helps me to muscle
up better.
On having their own horses - Personally, I'm not sure any child is
ever *entirely* capable of taking care of one of their own. I really
do think that is too much to ask. I got my first horse when I was 12
(after several years of lesson and a summer at a great riding camp). I
certainly knew a lot more than my dad on the finer points, but my
parents really felt I needed one of them in the barn to keep an eye out
for me when I was bringing the horse in, feeding, etc.
For example, we had running water in our barn, but we had a shut off
valve and a drain back for when it was cold so the pipes wouldn't
freeze. That first year I felt I was really old enough to take care of
it - well, I missed it one night (dad always double checked it, but
didn't come down that night) and the pipes broke. My dad had to haul
water for me for the rest of the winter.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, kids don't know all the implications
in different actions, nor should they be forced to shoulder what are
adult responsibilities.
Generally, I was fine taking care of my horse until something went
wrong. Once, I did lock up the grain but the horse got out of his
stall during the night, broke the grain bin and was hogging it down. I
"knew" he would colic, but I really *needed* dad to help me get the
horse away from the grain (try little arms pulling a horse away from
it really wants - can't be done), and I really *needed* dad to call the
vet and keep my horse walking till the vet came.
I kept my old horse till he died 3 years ago. Most of the time I was
very good about feeding, cleaning, etc. But sometimes I wanted to do
kid stuff too. As long as "kid stuff" didn't become a priority (which
it didn't) my parents weren't resentful of the times they needed to
take of the horse.
If you are willing to put time into the horses with your kids, then it
will probably go well. If you are going to feel resentful when they
don't want to feed and clean one night, or get distracted by kids
stuff, then it won't go well.
This sort of discussion leads me into one of my pet peeves with people
(I'm *not* flaming at you at all!). They buy a small child a pet (dog,
cat) to "teach" responsibility, when consistent, day in day out, year
in year out, consistentacy and responsbility are not really trade marks
of children. Then the parents get resentful over why their kids aren't
responsible, etc. But usually the pet suffers, because the parents
didn't really want it in the first place.
So, if you like horses and want to ride, get a nice horse that you can
enjoy primarily and encourage the kids, just don't expect them to
always take the lead with everything. You may be pleasantly surprised
with how much they do like taking care of it, if it doesn't become this
incredible forced burden on them.
You and your children might benefit from a riding camp. They have them
for one or two weeks now for adults and children. An inhouse camp
would teach you and awful lot about taking care of a horse and what is
required. You would probably have a great time with your kids at one.
The Yankee Pedlar advertises them. Even if you can't find the time to
go, your kids would benefit from different instruction and different
horses. You would also get to measure how interested they really are
in the whole thing.
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Thank you all for your feedback!
Katie has tossed in the towel, saying she doesn't want to ride anymore.
When I asked why, her only reason, although a very important one, was
she is too afraid of falling off again. I could tell by her answer
that it was a hard decision for her to reach, but I certainly can
understand.
Can anyone give me the name(s) of instructors who work with young
riders, show the patience and enthusiasm needed to help them over these
inevitable hurdles? We live in Fitchburg and I like the lesson to be within
a 1/2-3/4 hour ride. We need evening lessons.
I can be reached by DTN: 244-6637 or vaxmail: AKOCOA::MARJOMAA
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