Ponies
are just like horses in many ways but they also
have some distinct differences.
Happy
Horsemanship
Horses are something to dream about and to wish
for
Fun to watch and to make friends with
Nice to pat and great to hug
and oh, what a joy to ride!
For you to enjoy me (and for me to enjoy you, too)
there are some important facts about me which you
should know before you try to handle or ride me.
I am a HORSE
My name in Latin is Equus. From this name comes
the word “equine”, which means something
to do with a horse, and the word “equestrian,”
which means one who rides a horse.
Getting a horse of your own
When
you first start to learn about horses and
ponies - how to handle them on the ground
and how to ride them - you should try to find
a horse or pony that has already had a lot
of experience in teaching other young riders.
Seeking the Best Possible Place to Ride
and Take Your Training Instructions
Such
an establishment will have well-qualified instructors,
calm and patient horses and ponies to ride while
you are learning, and a proper ring for beginners.
DOs and DON’Ts for Horse and Pony
Owners
DON’T
assume you can just get on any pony and simply ride
You don’t want to start out with a young,
inexperienced pony, who is just learning about things
himself. The combination of a “green”
(which means inexperienced) horse or pony and a
green rider is usually unsuccessful, and it can
be dangerous.
Not all ponies are alike. There are ponies you can
get on and easily ride. Others are so green that
you could easily be injured if you have little or
no riding experience. The ponies that are easier
to ride are typically older.
The older ponies have been ridden the most and will
be more forgiving of a beginning rider’s mistakes.
Younger ponies will be the hardest to ride.
DON’T assume one pony
trainer’s technique is the only way to train
a pony
When a novice owner starts to experience problems
with their pony, they go looking for answers. They
will talk to friends who own ponies and ask them
what technique(s) they use for training. But when
they can’t train their pony with that technique,
they assume a dumb or a untrainable pony. The novice
pony owner needs to know that there are typically
lots of ways to train a pony to do one thing. If
you try something and it doesn’t work, try
something else. This is an approach that is very
commonly used in horsemanship training.
DO make sure you ride your pony regularly
Another problem new pony owners experience with
their pony is they don’t ride their ponies
enough. The best thing you can do to have a good
pony is to ride it and ride it and ride it. Don’t
ride him just once every couple weeks. Ponies need
to be ridden a lot to make them good riding ponies.
A pony that just sits in his pasture becomes sour!
DON’T think a problem with the pony
is the pony’s fault
If a pony has some problems, it is almost always
a result of the pony owner. Very rarely is it the
pony’s problem – it’s more likely
a problem with the rider. For instance, if you can’t
get your pony to ride away from home (this is called
“Barn Sour”) it’s likely because
you don’t have control over him. You can establish
control with various techniques. A good training
facility is a good place to learn control over your
pony.
DO try to understand how horses think
Ponies are herd animals. In their natural state,
they travel in groups. When frightened, they run.
They have thousands of years of the “flight
instinct” built into their brains. To successfully
train them takes patience and understanding on the
part of the rider that they are naturally fearful
and cautious.
DO remember that every interaction with
a pony is a training exercise
Every time you interact with your pony, you are
training him - even if your pony is well-trained.
Even when you pet your pony, you are training him.
Novice pony owners must think through what they
do when working with their pony, because they can
easily and unknowingly affect a pony’s behavior.
DON’T ever ride a pony or horse if
you have little or no understanding of horsemanship
Sometimes a novice pony owner will ride their new
pony not knowing pony-riding skills. It is important
to have an understanding of riding techniques because
ponies react to leg pressure, how you sit in the
saddle, whether or not the rider is nervous. There
are so many things out there that could seriously
hurt rider and horse.
Let’s face it. In order for a pony owner to
be successful with his/her pony, he/she needs to
understand the pony. The best thing novice pony
owners can do is learn how to ride, learn how ponies
think, learn what works good for the rider and the
pony. Riding a pony often is just about the best
thing you can do to have a good pony.
May you all have as much fun as we are having! Good
Bye! Good Luck! Good riding!
Our
Guarantee
We give the highest guarantee in the horse
business. Bricker Performance Ponies
- If for any reason you are not
completely happy, return the pony in the
same condition the pony was delivered to
you. Effective immediately after
3 days the pony can be traded to another
pony available on the ranch with 50% of
the purchase price being credited toward
the next pony March 1, 2007. The pony must
be returned in the same condition it was
recieved initially. We will replace
the pony with a pony of equal or greater
value. "No Cash Refunds"
Bricker
Performance Ponies will replace a pony before
leaving the ranch with a new pony. If it
is determined, by a veterinarian that a
pony has any soundness problems that would
preclude it from doing it's performance
or any health conditions.
When
you first start to learn about horses and
ponies - how to handle them on the ground
and how to ride them - you should try to find
a horse or pony that has already had a lot
of experience in teaching other young riders.
You don’t want to start out with a young,
inexperienced pony, who is just learning about things
himself. The combination of a “green”
(which means inexperienced) horse or pony and a
green rider is usually unsuccessful, and it can
be dangerous.
When a novice owner starts to experience problems
with their pony, they go looking for answers. They
will talk to friends who own ponies and ask them
what technique(s) they use for training. But when
they can’t train their pony with that technique,
they assume a dumb or a untrainable pony. The novice
pony owner needs to know that there are typically
lots of ways to train a pony to do one thing. If
you try something and it doesn’t work, try
something else. This is an approach that is very
commonly used in horsemanship training.
Another problem new pony owners experience with
their pony is they don’t ride their ponies
enough. The best thing you can do to have a good
pony is to ride it and ride it and ride it. Don’t
ride him just once every couple weeks. Ponies need
to be ridden a lot to make them good riding ponies.
A pony that just sits in his pasture becomes sour!
If a pony has some problems, it is almost always
a result of the pony owner. Very rarely is it the
pony’s problem – it’s more likely
a problem with the rider. For instance, if you can’t
get your pony to ride away from home (this is called
“Barn Sour”) it’s likely because
you don’t have control over him. You can establish
control with various techniques. A good training
facility is a good place to learn control over your
pony.
Ponies are herd animals. In their natural state,
they travel in groups. When frightened, they run.
They have thousands of years of the “flight
instinct” built into their brains. To successfully
train them takes patience and understanding on the
part of the rider that they are naturally fearful
and cautious.
Every time you interact with your pony, you are
training him - even if your pony is well-trained.
Even when you pet your pony, you are training him.
Novice pony owners must think through what they
do when working with their pony, because they can
easily and unknowingly affect a pony’s behavior.
Sometimes a novice pony owner will ride their new
pony not knowing pony-riding skills. It is important
to have an understanding of riding techniques because
ponies react to leg pressure, how you sit in the
saddle, whether or not the rider is nervous. There
are so many things out there that could seriously
hurt rider and horse.