If I had kids they would not go camping. They would not play contact sports. They certainly would not ride this pony...
Watch the whole video for the full effect, including the bolt and the "foot caught in stirrup." IMHO, kids should not sit on this pony's back. If this were my pony he'd be on a diet and he'd get turned out with a herd of feral yearlings. I'd find a petite 25 year-old "legs-of-steel" professional to ride the p*ss out of him. THEN, maybe I'd put a kid on him...
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A friend posted this on Facebook where I watched it. I'm just amazed that Ross kept getting back on the pony. Of course, this is the "highlights" video. Maybe Ed has his more docile moments? But based on this video, it appears that Ed definitely needs a session with a vertically-challenged, experienced rider who has nerves and legs of steel. What a bratty pony!
ReplyDeleteApparently child and pony have since parted ways and pony is now driving instead.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everyone who was appalled by this video which some people seem to think is "cute." The potential for serious injury is way over the top.
Six years is, to my mind, a bit young to be riding anyhow, but that's another story. Fortunately, I guess no one got hurt, but that is only because God and a guardian angel were watching over all.
The person taking this video and the adult in charge are completely irresponsible. Unwittingly the child taught the pony over and over that he could dump his rider whenever he wanted to.
ReplyDeleteThey must have paid a lot of money for this pony and, by gum!!! he was gonna ride it!!
ReplyDeletebwhahahah! I LOVE THIS PONY!! that kid is such a trooper! he will be able to ride anything when he gets older!! There is also a video of Ed behaving :)6 too young? my child is 2 and been riding since she was born!Awesome pony i want him!
ReplyDeleteI saw this on Fugly - the debate what deafening....
ReplyDelete"....Yes, Stacey, your comments with regard to this horrific video were right "on the money". And, in my humble opinion, I can't help but wonder why the parents, trainers, etc. would post this video and think that anyone would find it humorous. The only redeeming quality is that the child wore a helmet and a safety vest but none-the-less, I'm still surprised that a tragedy didn't happen!"
ReplyDeleteApparently the video was taken over a long period and in between these 'naughty' moments they did have good moments. The video was made by his grandmother (she has posted somewhere about the whole tale) to be shown to a trainer, to whom the pony then went for two weeks to be 'reschooled' by a girl with long legs. He was a fair bit better on return but not perfect. The boy was always very upset at the idea of selling the pony and just adored him even though he wasn't easy. I doubt there are many of us who,rode as kids who didn't experience a pony like this occasionally...I know I did and I know my duaghter still does.
ReplyDeleteI read on Facebook that this pony is now learning to be a harness pony for someone else. Cannot validate how accurate that is though.
ReplyDeleteThe pony I learnt to ride on as a 6 or 7 year old bucked *every time* he went into canter and I don't think I've ever been bucked off (crosses fingers, touches wood) since then. Less-than-perfect ponies can be great for producing riders with a secure seat and so on - but I agree that this pony wasn't child-friendly (or safe).
ReplyDeleteI don't care how long a period these incidents occurred, the pony isn't suitable for children. Children's ponies (the good ones) are above all KIND! Given his kicking out and refusals to move forward, I wouldn't consider him a reasonable prospect for driving either. I think the child did a pretty good job, considering, but the parents get a huge F!
ReplyDeleteI feel very badly for the pony and the boy in this video. The pony is clearly an athletic, intelligent animal who is fed up with human ignorance. The boy is over-faced and just too small to do anything, but teach the pony 101 ways to dump your rider. Notice the extra rein attached to the pony's bridle to try and keep him from throwing his rider. Just look at the pony's face: utter frustration. This video looks like pony/boy torture and is not even slightly funny. The adults should be ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone here take the time to see the OTHER video of Ed jumping & Ross riding like a champ?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe the other videos of Ross riding other ponies, and doing amazingly well?
My friend's 8yo daughter told her mommy she wanted "Ed the naughty pony" for her next horse. Now I know what she was talking about!
ReplyDeleteThe kid in the video has a good seat for that age, but Ed needs some remedial training. I wouldn't put a kid on him until (if ever) that improved. Perhaps what Ed needs is a change of lifestyle. He needs to lose weight and maybe a new career? Driving pony? Tricks? He looks like a smart guy - he knows how to get away with things. I have to admit - I like horses like that. I'd be happy to have Ed in my barn. :)
Yup, very cute...I posted that on my blog too early last week after seeing the video on a friend's page on FB.
ReplyDeleteI also saw it on FB, didn't realize it had already made the rounds!
ReplyDeleteThat is one bad pony. He has learned how to get out of work and get the kids off of him. Glad to hear they aren't trying to ride that pony any more. I cannot believe the trainers would post that video. I wouldn't have let the child back on that pony after the first fall.
ReplyDeleteStacy I do enjoy your wonderful dressage videos.
This video is being posted all over the place; the fact that so many people seem to find it amusing horrifies me. I cannot imagine a parent in his or her right mind (1) allowing their child to ride a pony like that and (2) posting a video of their child being dragged.
ReplyDeleteI really don't care if the pony was fine between the videoed clips, as some people have claimed. The incidents that were filmed could easily have resulted in a serious accident.
Other clips of Ross with his new pony show that, unfortunately, the child has not mastered a secure seat and quiet hands due to his "education" with Ed.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mandy1960xx#p/u/7/3OvDdxiTqgs
I have my horse at a local area trainer's barn and there is no way that a child with a seat and hands like that would be allowed to jump.
I feel sorry for the little boy and his ponies.
I saw this a couple times, and the part where he got dragged terrifies me every time. That would have been the last straw for me, if I was the parent. Although I do have to applaud the parents for having the kid in a helmet and proper attire. And the pony looks very well taken care of. But still.
ReplyDeleteThere's a time and place for every kid to learn how to handle more difficult horses, but poor Ross is too inexperienced and just doesn't have the physical strength yet. Maybe in a few years he could get back on Ed and learn to handle him, but not now. I have to hand it to him for always getting back on and staying so calm when the pony is going nuts. He's got loads of talent, and I'd love to see him on a more docile pony.
Val: I completely agree.
ReplyDeleteHow depressing it is to read the comments here branding the pony 'naughty'. He is a clever little fellow; all his tricks, his rider taught him.
Why must the horse always be blamed - and punished - for the ineptness of the human?
I love reading comments like, "If a kid rode like that at MY barn, I'd never let them jump."
ReplyDeleteDoes it EVER occur to you experts that some folks can ride Great on the flat, and then lose some equitation perfect o/f?
Or am I the only imperfect rider around here?
When a horse is bad for riding, he may be even more dangerous for driving. Bolting, rearing or kicking with a carriage behind is even more dangerous for all involved. Imagine being in a car that's moving out of control and having to jump out. Plus, the pony is then dragging a cart behind it and can get irreversibly injured. Driving is more dangerous in some cases than even eventing.
ReplyDeleteI'd never teach a known bolter to drive. IMO, a driving pony/horse must be even more docile than any riding horse.
In response to "Anonymous" who posted:
ReplyDeleteI love reading comments like, "If a kid rode like that at MY barn, I'd never let them jump."
Does it EVER occur to you experts that some folks can ride Great on the flat, and then lose some equitation perfect o/f?
Or am I the only imperfect rider around here?
You're certainly not the only imperfect rider around here but your comment is a little confusing and doesn't really apply to my post.
I never stated it was MY barn; my horse boards there, and the BO is a hunter/jumper coach. Her students work hard, have excellent seats and impeccable legs and hands.
They are not just "pretty" riders either, they go out and gallop cross country.
I am not a hunter/jumper rider but I've seen enough young riders to know that the Ed and Ross situation was a major accident waiting to happen. They were lucky. This method of training may never catch up to them but if it does -- well let's hope that the reckoning doesn't come on a cross country course when little Ross is older and doesn't bounce quite as well.
Off the top of my head I can think of two young riders who have experienced major accidents after being taught by the riding by the seat of your pants style of teaching.
One child suffered a major concussion when she was 11. She was wearing an approved helmet, was riding a horse with a nasty stop and was thrown when he deked out. She suffered a seizure in the ring.
The other girl was 15 when she was dragged by a pony. Her knee was ruined and it ended her participation in martial arts, a sport where she was quite competitive.
You know, I am not a driving instructor nor a Formula One race driver but that doesn't make my observations about someone erratically on the freeway invalid. I don't understand why opinions about riding scenarios should only be made by Grand Prix or perfect riders.