From: Sue
Dear Jessica, I have had a look back at previous questions but can only find problems with horses wanting to be at the front of rides. Our problem is the opposite! My niece of 10 has recently had her first pony. He is only young (4) so is green and a I think a little timid. The problem my sister has encountered is that when Bounty goes out for a hack or walk around with no other ponies, she has to run in front of him to get him to go into trot - he won't take the lead place, even if he is the only equine! In group lessons too, he is only happy being at the back of the ride and very close to his companions. Is there anything they can do in his training or while out to encourage him out in front? Kind regards and thanks for all you do for Horse-sense, Sue p.s. My husband suggests a fishing rod with a picture of another horse's backside on it, but then he isn't a horsey person at all ;-)
Sue
Hi Sue!
At four years old, this is a very young and very green pony who quite sensibly feels that his proper place is bringing up the rear of the group. All horses are herd-bound to some extent, as that represents their safety and security; young and green horses are even more herd-bound, as they don't yet have much experience in the world, or much trust and confidence in their riders. Young, green horses and ponies brought on by kind, experienced adults or even older children will eventually learn to rely on their riders -- but as this is a ten-year-old child's first pony, I can't see this scenario playing out in exactly that way.
Age and experience will help, and your niece's increasing competence will help too. In the meantime, though, there is something that she can do at home and later on rides out.
There's a good game for children and ponies -- here's how it's played:
In an indoor or outdoor school, or in a field, the children begin walking their ponies in single-file, one length apart. When they are all moving fairly around the school, the last rider begins to trot, and trots past all the other riders to take her place in front, one length ahead of the next rider. She then walks, and the new last rider begins to trot, passses everyone else, and takes the lead, etc. When everyone is comfortable with this, the exercise may be moved to a larger/outdoor school, or a field, or even a bridlepath, and/or it can be done with all riders trotting and the last one cantering past, but there's no hurry.
(With very new ponies and nervous young riders, an energetic instructor may even allow them to stand on line, whilst she leads the last pony past the others at a walk!)
This works well with young racehorses, too, for the same reasons: it's a "game" that will teach all of them to speed up, slow down, pass other horses, be passed by other horses, keep their distance -- and to be the leader, be in the middle of the pack, and be the last horse. And yet it's very simple, and children and their ponies enjoy it. It allows the children to focus on their ponies and their steering and their ability to move their mounts forward, and whilst they are doing all of that, they are also learning many other skills.
You might take a look at the games book in my web pages. It's freely downloadable -- you're more than welcome to make yourself a copy -- and it's something I wrote for young Pony Club children, so the games should be about right for your niece and her friends. Mounted games for young children are just entertaining ways for them to learn the basic skills of riding -- without having to be grim and determined about it. ;-)
Oh, and actually I quite like your husband's suggestion. ;-)
Jessica
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