Bad Pony!

Okay, so Treenie was basically the boss in this relationship for the first year we had her. However, with the help of her wonderful and encouraging trainer, Molly was slowly started to win some of the battles. "Don't let her win Molly - you can do it!" was a phrase we heard often. Keep in mind, that poor Molly was probably all of 45 lbs at the time! Of course, just as things were starting to come together, it was time to mix things up - the weather changed and we could go outside again.

The first trip was just that - a trip. Molly mounted inside, and proceeded to walk out the door with the rest of the others in the group. Miss Treenie began to walk toward the ring and realized that her paddock was just a bit beyond - "See Ya' I'm going back to my paddock" and off she trotted with Molly yelling the whole way while trying to stop her. Fortunately, her pony groom (aka ME) was there to retireve her and drag her back INTO the ring.

The first several lessons seemed to put them back to square one - unless Treenie could follow another horse around the ring, she pretty much decided that she would just take Molly wherever Treenie wanted to go. Molly was nothing more than another annoying fly on her back. At this point I was really starting to second guess this decision - was this the right pony? Will Molly ever be able to sort this out? The problem with a small pony is there are a limited number of people who can ride her - hence our problems. Fortunately, we have a great adult rider who is quite petite and she was able to get on for a few schools - of course, Treenie was great for her but the same old as soon as Molly would ride her.

The turning point came during a lesson - Treenie has just decided that she was going to stop and try to turn toward the rail. Molly was coached through the stopping and told to shorten her reins and pull Treenie's head to the inside. As she did that, Treenie jerked her head down and pulled Molly in front of the saddle then in a split second she spun and dumped Molly - scaring her to death. We had never fallen off before so our ego was more hurt than anything fortunately. However, momma bear absolutely did not like what she just saw. Pony tricks are one thing - being dirty and nasty (which this clearly was) is absolutely not tolerable! Molly did get back on and make the little she devil trot around the ring before she gave up for the day - good for her - no treats for pony!

Of course, I am driving home thinking - Molly needs more leverage - she can't win this battle alone - clearly the grazing reins which we had been using were not enough. We were already in a double twisted wire so that option was pretty much exhausted also. I had to come up with something....and then it hit me. I was on the phone to Beval's the next day - Hello, do you have a pony size "tack noseband"? Of course, they were out of the tack nosebands but did have a chain one - okay, better than nothing and it was reasonably priced! I'll take it and you better send me a standing martingale too!

Okay, here come the big guns - anti grazing reins so she can't pull her head down, standing martingale so she can't throw her head up - chain noseband so she feels some pull and punishes herself if she tosses her head. It took Treenie all of 10 minutes to figure out that the party was over. She flipped her nose 1 time and realized that it wasn't worth the fight. Low and behold, that pony CAN walk, trot and canter around the ring, circle through the middle AND change direction when asked. She does know how to listen - she actually is the nice pony I thought I bought!

We kept her accoutrement (I LOVE that word) on for the rest of the summer and into the fall. Everything was working and Molly was riding well and gaining confidence - why mess with it. As the lesson moved back indoors and there were not other issues arising, I decided to take off the grazing reins. Molly was mortified - NO! I NEED THEM! she would argue with me. Finally, I told her to just get over it and took them off - guess what no problems! A month or so later I removed the martingale - you can't use a martigale in the flat classes, so we needed to see how things would go - again - no problems! The noseband will stay - Molly needs that extra leverage that it gives her and I don't want Miss Treenie to realize that she is now naked.

So, the winter has gone by, Molly has ridden consistently and improved immensely. Her position look great, she's in control and she's confident. She's ready to horseshow...oh wait - our pony is on turnout board - although she is blanketed, she looks like a hairy beast. No one will be able to tell if Molly is riding a pony or a sheepdog. Okay, need a plan.....