Post by tracerace on Oct 8, 2009 12:40:18 GMT -5
I'm just throwing this out there to anybody who may be interested...just to see if the right home exists for this pony.
I bought Cricket as a weanling in hopes that my daughter, then 5 would be a good partner for her as she got older, and as a transition from the little pony we have.
It turns out my daughter isn't in to horses as much as I'd hoped, and Cricket isn't for a timid child. She's too small for an adult rider and too much horse for a timid child - in my opinion (I could be wrong since I have not sent her to be trained professionally).
Cricket is solid brown - I have pictures of her dam and sire but she is not registered they are both very loud POA's. She has stripey hooves and scelera on lips and eyes, etc. but otherwise she's just brown - not bay, not chestnut, just dark brown.
The good: She's cute and healthy and perfectly sound. She's never been sick or lame a day in her life and she's an easy keeper. I keep her on 12 hours pasture in the summer - more than that she gets too fat. She trailers SUPER well and loves to be groomed and fussed over but doesn't like baths (hosing on her body - I just haven't taken the time). She longes very well - she's not in shape now but when she is she will w/t/c canter very nicely in a surcingle/bridle. She is SMART and loves to please and will try as hard as she can for me. She loves people and does well as an "only" horse because she really bonds with her person . She is a fancy mover for a POA - not a big boned POA but a much more refined pretty little thing...she'd look fabulous pulling a cart in my opinion . She appreciates a fair, relaxed handler and will take correction like an grownup as long as it's fair.
The bad: I have not trained her to take a rider yet. I have 5 other horses and I am in school full time and I just don't see that I'll take this pony to her full potential. I have sat on her a handful of times with mixed results - some were wonderful moments, others I got off quickly because I thought she was too tense. *I am NOT a horse trainer* though so I was not comfortable. I have not given her a fair shake under a good, consistent training regimen though so this is probably also unfair to mention it under "the bad".
She is sensitive. She's never lost her mind - she just reacts quickly and ALWAYS comes back around. She never loses focus because of anything even if something scares her she'll come around when I refocus her mind on me. But this makes it so I don't let my timid daughter handle her alone outside of grooming, where she is happiest. She HAS knocked me down when she was startled twice before. It was my inattention but still, this is why I don't think she is appropriate for a child. This is not normal for her - but she has the potential to startle enough to knock down an inattentive adult....again, this could be me.
teachU2ride has worked with her and she loved her too, but she stressed that the wrong type of trainer could ruin this pony's spirit. She is happy-go-lucky...I love this about her and don't want someone to strong arm her and ruin her willingness.
I love this pony. I've taught her stupid tricks with the clicker but I should have instead been working on a job for her. She's perfect for clicker training though because she is so willing to please. I have never sold or given a horse away so this is a HUGE step for me
to even put it out there but I think she has a lot of potential and I don't have the time or resources to give her what she deserves. I want to see if someone else can.....without fear that she'll end up in a bad home (my biggest fear by far).
I bought Cricket as a weanling in hopes that my daughter, then 5 would be a good partner for her as she got older, and as a transition from the little pony we have.
It turns out my daughter isn't in to horses as much as I'd hoped, and Cricket isn't for a timid child. She's too small for an adult rider and too much horse for a timid child - in my opinion (I could be wrong since I have not sent her to be trained professionally).
Cricket is solid brown - I have pictures of her dam and sire but she is not registered they are both very loud POA's. She has stripey hooves and scelera on lips and eyes, etc. but otherwise she's just brown - not bay, not chestnut, just dark brown.
The good: She's cute and healthy and perfectly sound. She's never been sick or lame a day in her life and she's an easy keeper. I keep her on 12 hours pasture in the summer - more than that she gets too fat. She trailers SUPER well and loves to be groomed and fussed over but doesn't like baths (hosing on her body - I just haven't taken the time). She longes very well - she's not in shape now but when she is she will w/t/c canter very nicely in a surcingle/bridle. She is SMART and loves to please and will try as hard as she can for me. She loves people and does well as an "only" horse because she really bonds with her person . She is a fancy mover for a POA - not a big boned POA but a much more refined pretty little thing...she'd look fabulous pulling a cart in my opinion . She appreciates a fair, relaxed handler and will take correction like an grownup as long as it's fair.
The bad: I have not trained her to take a rider yet. I have 5 other horses and I am in school full time and I just don't see that I'll take this pony to her full potential. I have sat on her a handful of times with mixed results - some were wonderful moments, others I got off quickly because I thought she was too tense. *I am NOT a horse trainer* though so I was not comfortable. I have not given her a fair shake under a good, consistent training regimen though so this is probably also unfair to mention it under "the bad".
She is sensitive. She's never lost her mind - she just reacts quickly and ALWAYS comes back around. She never loses focus because of anything even if something scares her she'll come around when I refocus her mind on me. But this makes it so I don't let my timid daughter handle her alone outside of grooming, where she is happiest. She HAS knocked me down when she was startled twice before. It was my inattention but still, this is why I don't think she is appropriate for a child. This is not normal for her - but she has the potential to startle enough to knock down an inattentive adult....again, this could be me.
teachU2ride has worked with her and she loved her too, but she stressed that the wrong type of trainer could ruin this pony's spirit. She is happy-go-lucky...I love this about her and don't want someone to strong arm her and ruin her willingness.
I love this pony. I've taught her stupid tricks with the clicker but I should have instead been working on a job for her. She's perfect for clicker training though because she is so willing to please. I have never sold or given a horse away so this is a HUGE step for me
to even put it out there but I think she has a lot of potential and I don't have the time or resources to give her what she deserves. I want to see if someone else can.....without fear that she'll end up in a bad home (my biggest fear by far).
. Joc said "They're probably causing all kinds of trouble up there." 