Hi all, just wondered if anyone has any advice for me to pass on to my daughter. She's been loaning a pony for the last 8 weeks and he's been fine. But the last couple of weeks whilst she's riding he keeps pulling his head down to eat the grass and tonight she came off, he put his head down and she went over his neck. Luckily the farmer from the yard came over and we managed to calm her down and get her back on. She started to slowly trot round again and he did it again whilst in trot and she flew off again. She's slightly hurt her arm but is OK. I just wondered if anyone had any advice on anything we could try to stop him doing this as I don't want her to be scared to ride as she's been doing so well.

Have you tried grass reins ???

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No we're really new to this and we're only using the reins he's got. Whats the difference between the normal reins and grass reins? (sorry if i'm asking a really silly question)

Cheeky pony! We have a pony that does the same and we use grass reins, they are basically resemble a long dog lead usually made from webbing nylon, they have a clip on each end and you attach one of the clips to the D-ring on the saddle then pass the other end through the ponys bit and then attach the other clip yo the other D-ring, hope this makes sense??
Adele x

sounds like a job for a daisy reinthis connects to the headpiece of the bridle behind the ears,and fixes to the saddles d rings.this prevents this

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(formally clare7577)

Thanks for all your help, we're just on our way down there again and I'm going to ask if anyone has any grass reins we can use to try him. Will let you know how we get on.

You can make your own grass reins simply out of baling twine.Really simple.

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For past 2 days we've been using baling twine from the bit through brow band and back to D rings and so far so good. He still tried it but once he realised he couldn't get his head down he gave up. The smile has come back onto my girls face which means its also back on mine. Thanks for all your advice I'm sure I'll be back for more. xx

I've had many a problem with grass loving ponies. What i find best is when they do put their heads down instead of giving hard long tugs on the reins wiggle the bit and do short tugs quickly and keep doing that until the pony puts his head back up and he will as long as they are sharp and sweet as the pony will find this uncomfortable and will find it harder to eat the grass. Also as your daughter is trotting or whatever round, slowly wiggle the bit to remind the pony that she is in charge and that he must listen to her. While she is still nervous a lead rein might help so you can help stop her falling off and reasure her. Hope you get the problem sorted as it does just sound like a heirachy issue in which your pony is just taking advantage.

Heya ive recently come off mine naughty pony best thing for a real confidence boost is to be amazingly supportive and if your daughter grooms the pony its good for trust as for the grass as many have said before grass reins are the best and using bailing twine is great because its very easy to get a hold of.
best of luck

x