Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2009 9:56:16 GMT 1
When you're as passionate as I am about the way children are taught to handle ponies, getting an invitation from a riding school to come a work with a couple of their equines is a real pleasure. It was great to meet Katy and Owen, who run the school, and all of their crew, but especially my pupils for the day, Zaggle and Snowy.
Zaggle is fairly new to the school and, to be a safe pony for all the children to handle and ride, there were a couple of glitches to iron out. Firstly, she was a bit bargy and pushy. Like a lot of bargy ponies, though, she responded extremely well to being shown where she should be - her head at my shoulder instead of ahead of me - and once we started working her through the L shape she was absolutely superb. For me, a lot of what came across as barginess with Zaggle was in fact uncertainty. She was being asked to walk ahead of the human, be up there and take the decisions, so she was doing this in the best way she knew how, by pushing the humans out of the way!
We discussed the importance of not letting Zaggle move people, especially with that shove of the head that she's so good at, and also started teaching her to ground tie. Standing still is not one of Zaggle's fortes...
One issue that is still to be address is loading but that is for another day. However, previous bad loading experiences, with a lunge line behind her, have left Zaggle worried by lines. Clearly, this isn't good for a child's pony. You wouldn't for example, want her spooking at a hosepipe or similar. I spent a few moments desensitising her to the line over her back (not a problem) and behind her legs (oh no! don't like that...!), a walking over the line (you must be JOKING!!!)...
There is still work to be done with Zaggle. The head pushing will need consistent correction as at the moment she'd knock a child flying, but she's a sweet pony and I have every expectation that consistency will win the day.
Next it was the turn of young Snowy. One of the most common problems with little ponies being led by children has to be grass grabbing. Snowy knows all about that, he's expert! First sight of something green and it's head down and yank. I should say that this is not a pony who never sees grass. All of Katy and Owen's ponies are turned out every day.
Watching Snowy try to drag a considerably bigger Owen around, it was clear that a child would stand no chance. We popped a Dually on, with the training rope tucked under the noseband to stop it dropping too low. First of all, we corrected the leading position again, and I explained then to Owen about keeping a light but steady conversation with Snowy, rather than waiting for the head to start going down and then ending up with harder corrections. It really was all it took. As long as Snowy knows you're there and in control, he's great. As soon as he thinks there's a slight opening, the head goes down.
I recommended lots of practice, first in easy places just next to the grass and then working up to more tempting places, keeping absolutely consistent to break the habit. Then, when Snowy is good with the adults, I suggested asking one of the older children to do the same thing, so teaching Snowy that no matter who leads him, he does not eat.
Butter wouldn't melt...
Zaggle is fairly new to the school and, to be a safe pony for all the children to handle and ride, there were a couple of glitches to iron out. Firstly, she was a bit bargy and pushy. Like a lot of bargy ponies, though, she responded extremely well to being shown where she should be - her head at my shoulder instead of ahead of me - and once we started working her through the L shape she was absolutely superb. For me, a lot of what came across as barginess with Zaggle was in fact uncertainty. She was being asked to walk ahead of the human, be up there and take the decisions, so she was doing this in the best way she knew how, by pushing the humans out of the way!
We discussed the importance of not letting Zaggle move people, especially with that shove of the head that she's so good at, and also started teaching her to ground tie. Standing still is not one of Zaggle's fortes...
One issue that is still to be address is loading but that is for another day. However, previous bad loading experiences, with a lunge line behind her, have left Zaggle worried by lines. Clearly, this isn't good for a child's pony. You wouldn't for example, want her spooking at a hosepipe or similar. I spent a few moments desensitising her to the line over her back (not a problem) and behind her legs (oh no! don't like that...!), a walking over the line (you must be JOKING!!!)...
There is still work to be done with Zaggle. The head pushing will need consistent correction as at the moment she'd knock a child flying, but she's a sweet pony and I have every expectation that consistency will win the day.
Next it was the turn of young Snowy. One of the most common problems with little ponies being led by children has to be grass grabbing. Snowy knows all about that, he's expert! First sight of something green and it's head down and yank. I should say that this is not a pony who never sees grass. All of Katy and Owen's ponies are turned out every day.
Watching Snowy try to drag a considerably bigger Owen around, it was clear that a child would stand no chance. We popped a Dually on, with the training rope tucked under the noseband to stop it dropping too low. First of all, we corrected the leading position again, and I explained then to Owen about keeping a light but steady conversation with Snowy, rather than waiting for the head to start going down and then ending up with harder corrections. It really was all it took. As long as Snowy knows you're there and in control, he's great. As soon as he thinks there's a slight opening, the head goes down.
I recommended lots of practice, first in easy places just next to the grass and then working up to more tempting places, keeping absolutely consistent to break the habit. Then, when Snowy is good with the adults, I suggested asking one of the older children to do the same thing, so teaching Snowy that no matter who leads him, he does not eat.
Butter wouldn't melt...