NEED HELP!!! Our Lg. Pony and what bit to use???

[pgpreston]

My 12 year old daughter has been riding for about 6 years now. She owns a Lg. Quarter Pony. She actually started out doing hunters with him and then to pony jumpers. We have backed off of the pony jumpers and went back to the hunters (Children's Pony). This is where we are currently at and have been for the past year.

Here is our problem. He CAN get his lead changes, not pretty, but very fast and rushed. He seems very worried. My daughter is NOT a timid rider at all and rides many different ponies, but seems to be getting more worried about the changes with her pony. We recently changed his bit from a twisted wire to a segunda and to our amazement he is knocking out the leads more consistently. I know the bit can be severe, but she says she feels like she has much more control. She does alot of ground work with him and lots of exercises to help him get those leads. Any suggestions on a different bit, stick with the segunda? School in something not so severe and show in the segunda? He is also in a training program.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

[HowDoILook]

MY large pony sounds EXACTLY like your large pony. I show in a segunda but at home I ride him in either a 2-Ring french link elevator or a Happy Mouth 2- Ring Elevator with a peanut in the middle. It gives me just enough lift to collect him for the change and he doesn't panic. Your pony might like a different mouth piece though. My pony chucks his head around in anything with a single joint.

[mroades]

Have you had his hocks checked?...horses that run through lead changes often are in pain

[2DaPoint]

Have you tried a Waterford?
This is often the wonder bit on horses who also go well in a Sequnda.
Give it a shot if somebody you know has one that you can borrow for a couple of rides.
But, yes, I would suggest you use something different at home so that the Segunda can be held in reserve for the shows when things really matter.
KD

[BigDreams07]

Hmmm. I have a similar pony who had this problem, but he has always been ridden in his happy mouth. QH Lg pony, very versatile little fellow. He used to drag me thru changes and just RUN out of the turn. I can say, changing the bit might have gave me more control, and if your daughters getting a little worried with the changes, that might help if she really needs the control. But its really about schooling the pony very very very well on the flat. I used to flat him 5 days a week and he became SO much more balanced and used to just gallop thru changes but now he can do a balanced when I need him to. If you choose to work on flatwork, lots of simple changes thru the walk help. Gets them just so much more balanced. He also used to RUN because he got nervous about them. All I used to do was run through the diaganols but I've found asking for them not through the diag. can help as well. I found asking on a track betweem the center line and the quarter line helped him because it was harder, required more balanced and he learned to do that well without anxiety so loping through the diagonol was no big deal.

Hope I helped and didnt just ramble on! Gotta love QH ponies. Sensative little guys :winkgrin:

[pgpreston]

Thank you so much for everyone's thoughts. I really appreciate it.

To BigDreams07, in regard to your post "If you choose to work on flatwork, lots of simple changes thru the walk help. Gets them just so much more balanced."

I am sorry, I don't understand what a simple change thru the walk means. I know what a simple change down to the trot is. She does do alot of flat work. We don't jump everyday. Her trainer has been riding him and thinks the segunda is too much for him but may work while my daughter is riding him.

Hopefully we can get some help here soon. He is really a great pony with a great disposition.

Thanks again.

[Addison]

I second having his hocks checked.

[BigDreams07]

Thank you so much for everyone's thoughts. I really appreciate it.

To BigDreams07, in regard to your post "If you choose to work on flatwork, lots of simple changes thru the walk help. Gets them just so much more balanced."

I am sorry, I don't understand what a simple change thru the walk means. I know what a simple change down to the trot is. She does do alot of flat work. We don't jump everyday. Her trainer has been riding him and thinks the segunda is too much for him but may work while my daughter is riding him.

Hopefully we can get some help here soon. He is really a great pony with a great disposition.

Thanks again.

Oh I mean when you do a simple change come back to a walk and then get the correct canter lead from the walk. Sorry that wasnt very clear ;)