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  Discussion on Rethinking a Free Lease--Dangerous Behavior
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Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 - 3:33 pm:

Help! I need some quick advice…I am free-leasing a pony we have owned for three years to a 9-year-old girl who has had a few lessons; a beginner rider. The pony is 7, has a super disposition, and my daughter has ridden him without a single behavioral incident for the three years she’s owned him. We bought him green and she has shown him locally and trail ridden him in all kinds of situations. He is social, generally very happy, and kind. Unfortunately, Lauryn has outgrown him (still trail rides him, however). We wanted to keep him “busy” and mentally engaged. I thought this young rider would be a terrific match for him.

Today, she came out to ride him for about the sixth time. He has been increasingly fractious with each visit…the little girl is timid with him, then overly aggressive (in his mouth and kicking) and gives him conflicting signals…this is a very smart horse and he seems to have lost all patience with her. Today, with another rider (13 years old) who was there to give “a lesson,” he reared twice…striking out and going dangerously high. We have NEVER observed this—he has always been a complete gentleman and an extremely safe horse.

I have been trying to do the young girl a favor by making this pony available to her. Her mom just bought her a pony saddle, new helmet, etc. (And yes, today was the first time they used that saddle….hmmmm.) I am ready to call the mother and tell her that I think it is too dangerous, based on today’s performance, for her to continue with this pony. I know she will tell me that she’s willing to continue because the child is going to have a broken heart…but I just can’t do it….my horse is unhappy (can’t stand to see that either!) and she’s at risk. We do not have a contract and I have not (as yet, stupid me) had her sign a waiver….which I should have done day one.

I need insight, some advice, as to how to handle this…I hate upsetting people. I can’t even begin to make a case for continuing to let her use him, but perhaps there are some alternatives I haven’t thought of…..
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 - 6:07 pm:

You are right; this is a dangerus situation. Is she riding in the same bit and bridle that your daughter used? Also, I'd check the saddle fit yourself and where and how it is girthed. Maybe there's a problem there.

Then, I'd put the same gear your daughter used and have your daughter ride the pony (with a helmet on)since the two of them got along so well together. I'd do this without the other girl around. If the pony is o.k., fine. If not, I'd do some ground work with the pony then try your daughter on him. It wouldn't hurt to keep the pony on a lounge line or lead even for a bit.

If the pony is o.k. with your daughter, then it's obviously the other girl or her tack. Can you or your daughter work with the girl and give her some leasons yourself? That way she could learn to ride using the same signals and aids as your daughter. Also, if the girl doesn't have much experience, and is getting "lessons" from some other child, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts she needs to learn the basics. Hauling on the bit, telling the pony to do one thing with hands and another with legs and body position probably has the pony fed up and out of patience.

So, if this was my pony, I'd not lease it out until the girl has had some lessons with me, then I'd observe her riding frequently maybe by going out on the trail with her or having your daughter go for a short ride now and then with her. I certianly wouldn't just turn the girl loose on the pony. Not only is the unfair to the pony, but also it's opening you up for a good law suit. Just my opinion.
Member:
Sross

Posted on Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 - 6:09 pm:

Is this pony kept on your property or at another location?

Would you and/or your daughter be able to work with this child and the pony to create a happy team? Or is there a third party that you trust who could work with them?

If not, and you feel that it is dangerous for her to continue to ride the pony, then she should not be allowed to ride the pony, for your sake, the pony's sake, and her sake. Better a broken heart than a broken leg (or worse!)!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 11, 2004 - 6:07 am:

Hello Terri,
Explaining the problem to them as you have presented it here and suggesting finding a pony better suited to the young riders needs should be greatly appreciated. If she blows it off you should be persistant explaining about the high incidence of serious injuries sustained by folks who are on mismatched rides. In the end you must insist before someone becomes seriously hurt.
DrO
Member:
Canter

Posted on Friday, Jun 11, 2004 - 8:18 am:

Hi Terri,
Adding to what Dr. O said r.e. the high incidence of injuries sustained by people on mismatched rides: A friend of mine is an orthopedic surgeon. He told me that the three most common reasons he has to repair broken bones in children are due to soccer injuries, trampolines and horses (not neccesarily in that order.)
I would hope that after you try the excellant advice above from Sandra and Sara and after you tell the mother of the child about the risks, she would be reasonable enough to understand. However, in my relatively small amount of years around horses, one thing I have begun to understand: the more you know horses, the more you understand the dangers (and how wonderful they are). People that haven't been around horses much simply don't get it. They see these lovely creatures with gentle eyes and sweet faces and don't believe that they can put someone through a wall...or worse.

Please make sure you protect yourself legally (think of it as not only looking after yourself but as looking after your family & horses as well). Many people look for excuses to sue.

Good Luck!
Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Friday, Jun 11, 2004 - 9:09 am:

Thanks to all. I have had a chance to talk to the parents of the little girl and I also grilled my daughter further about what happened (I don't think I mentioned I was not there to see the incident). I did not know earlier that the 13-year-old was wearing, and using, spurs (not something he's experienced before). I can only assume the whole thing was a result of lots of factors--loss of patience (pony's and the rider's!), improper use of equipment, possible poor saddle fit causing pain (wouldn't this cause rearing?) and heat (with heat index of about 96 degrees)...they were riding during the hottest part of the day.

The bit was a D-ring snaffle. He routinely goes in this bit, as well as a low-port curb when being ridden western. He's ok with both. He's NOT ok with bit being "hauled on" in his mouth. Lauryn (my daughter) has ridden him several times this week without incident.

Sarah, your idea that it is the child and not the horse is probably correct. I should be clear that the younger one (Krista) was not the one riding when he reared...it was the 13 year old who was there to help out and coach...and she is, from my own observation, a very good rider. She had gotten on when the pony refused to do what Krista wanted (unfortunately, Krista doesn't have a very good idea of communicating to the pony exactly what she wants!) By the time the second rider got on, he was out of patience.

Yes Sandra, we do keep our horses at home. We can and have been working with Krista...it seems to work best when Lauryn is helping her...she puts him on a lunge line or has them work in the round pen. But we aren't always there when they come to ride.

Bottom line is, the parents are wonderful and reasonable people. I asked that they work with a friend of mine who is a qualified instructor, who will assess Krista and pony as a team and see if it is something they can work on from the ground up or whether they should find another horse. The "problem" is that the parents can't afford a horse, the daughter desperately wants to ride, and we live nearby. It promised to be a perfect situation!

All the advice above is great. I am going to put the pony through his paces this weekend and watch carefully...the parents DO NOT want to give up just yet. I just read Fran's post, and Krista's mom is the poster child for her comment, "People that haven't been around horses much simply don't get it. They see these lovely creatures with gentle eyes and sweet faces and don't believe that they can put someone through a wall...or worse." The biggest mistake people make is assuming a horse is a large dog! And it happens all the time...

Will keep you posted as to how things go with the instructor present. This will be the only way they'll be able to continue.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Jun 11, 2004 - 9:56 am:

Sounds like a wise choice. If the family is short on funds, perhaps the instructor will let them work off some or all of the lesson fees even. Good luck to all.
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