Trouble pony? Sweet temperament but difficult ride?

Question

I'm leasing a 10 year old pony who was imported from the UK.  He was a competition pony and achieved great things.  Anyway, he was imported with a few other ponies and they created a strong bond.  After they arrived, my pony doesn't like being ridden alone.  None of the other ponies have this problem though.

Whenever we ride alone with no other horse company, he calls continuously and doesn't concentrate on any of the aids.  Therefore, it's really hard to get him to do as he's told.  I pat him and talk to him, it doesn't help much though.  He's also a bit spooky, that just makes it worst.  When he's all going good with other horses around, he's not as spooky and is good to ride.  When they are no other horses or ponies around, he spooks at the smallest things.

He's also a bit lazy and needs big squeezes every stride to go forward.  I haven't used spurs before and someone suggested that to help his laziness.  When there are other horses I guess it would be fine and a lot easier for me but if other horses aren't around, it might get really bad.

Advice on his needs-horse-company problem and laziness? Thanks:)

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Your pony is herdbound, eh? (Herdbound is another word for how your pony needs company with him on the trails). Since he is, take him out on the trails a little further and further each day. So if you are going to go riding on him today, take him just to where he can see his buddies. Then tomorrow when you go ride him again, take him a little further where he can't see his buddies and then head back. Since you can only go so far each day, you could repeat yourself. Just keep going a little further each day and see how he reacts.

You could also bring out a riding whip out with you. Whenever he neighs to his buddies, gently tap him with the whip on his hindquarters and control him. If he ever needs to look back the way you just came from, turn his head to the way he is supposed to be going, and tap him with the whip again. Remember, don't hurt him with the whip. Just tap it gently, but not too gently otherwise he may think he can get away with this big problem.

Do you have all sorts of barns and old houses around your place? If you do, you could ride your pony around these old houses and barns to where the others cannot see you and that pony and see how he does. Does he keep neighing to his buddies? If he does, repeat the riding whip method again. You can even get off of him, lead him around and show him his surroundings. Show him that he doesn't have to be scared without his buddies. You could even lunge him around and see how he does.

He may even need a trainer to fix this problem if you are not experienced enough to fix it yourself.

For the laziness part, I would suggest you use spurs to get him going. Just tap him lightly with them on at first because many people hurt horses with these. Please, don't just jab the horse in the stomach. (Not saying you would, but have seen many people do it, and it looks painful). Get him in a round pen and lunge him everyday before you get on him and ride him. In the round pen, make him walk, then stop and repeat this by going faster and faster and opposite direction as well.

Good Luck! =)

? · Answer

I just cant imagine anyone importing a horse when there are so many here that need homes that are very reasonable priced.

It would be great if you could pay some top hand rider to get on the little stink and give him some commin upins, he needs to be shown that riders will not  put up with that stuff.

Smart one · Answer

First of all never use spurs and my pony has small tantrums but if you just say good boy or good girl then they will slowly grow out of this stage also everyy time they do anything good pat them and give them a treat.

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Trouble pony? Sweet temperament but difficult ride?

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