Due to decreasing use over the years, I have decided to disable the forum functionality of the site.

Forums will still be available to view but new posts are no longer allowed.

More pony pics

Monsterpony September 15, 2011 September 15, 2011

Forums

I took my pony to a large arena yesterday so I could teach him to canter in the cart. He did better than I expected. He picked up the canter like he'd been doing it his whole life and he didn't care when a Jack Russell Terrier ran under the fence and charged. Right when we were finishing up, a lady showed up with a couple horses that were spooking at him in the cart. All he did was turn to watch the other horses quizzically. We worked him under saddle first just to make sure that he'd be ok alone in a unknown environment (better to have him freak and lose a rider than spook and wreck a cart). He behaved himself brilliantly without a qualm about all the new stuff. [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/20trot.jpg[/I…] [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/06trot.jpg[/I…] [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/23canter.jpg[…] There was a track around the arena so we decided to see if the pony could hand gallop. He thought that was too much work and only extended his canter a little. His rider called it a perfect 'hunter hand gallop'...too bad he moves like a cob. [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/33gallop.jpg[…] After the ridden work, I hitched him up. After a little walk and trot, I asked for the canter with voice only. He picked up the smoothest canter without any further cuing. [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/01canter.jpg[…] [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/04canter.jpg[…] [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/32trot.jpg[/I…] [IMG]http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb462/LascauxMambrino/29trot.jpg[/I…]

Monsterpony Fri, 09/16/2011 - 23:37

Admin- I have his feet done at least every three weeks as he grows so much toe on the hind so quickly.

Maigray- Thanks! I have put my 4 year old niece on him with nothing but a halter and bareback pad and he behaved himself like a gentleman so I think that he has the potential.

rabbitsfizz Tue, 09/20/2011 - 07:11

He looks to be an ideal child's pony- I love the more than laid back attitude to life, but I also love the way he (to quote RS Summerhays) "looks through his bridle"= I have never seen anything except a child's pony illustrate this and Reggie used a kids pony in his book, so it is probably exclusive to them!

Just a word- I think your harness needs "tweaking" just a tiny bit- the breeching looks a hole too low, which would do no harm at all on a flat surface but I have seen the results of this on a more than honest pony who had his hocks buggered by an idiot who drove him on bad hills with the breeching too low, just a warning.

I am also wondering why you wanted to teach him to canter- are you going to scurry him?
I love that he goes in open and closed both- he is obviously happier, as are most ponies, in the open bridle!

Monsterpony Tue, 09/20/2011 - 18:02

Thanks Rabbit! He really does enjoy working and I think a child could go quite far on him. His paddock is just across from the outdoor arena and he spends all his time watching the classes when they are running.

I'll up the breeching another hole. I am teaching him to canter as the majority of the market for driving ponies of his size is in CDE. And I agree on the open bridle! I only ever use a blinkered one when I am taking sales pictures. He (and I) prefers the open one, though he behaves himself well in the blinkered one.