Training my shetland ?

Question

i bought a shetland pony that is cute as a button. i want to use her for pony rides at my barn and maybe some day take her in hunter classes. (only poles though) and possibly x-rails. anyways. i am in the process of training her but the lady that had her before way pampered her. the pony lived inside! i have been trying to lunge my pony to maybe get her stamina up, but she isnt afraid of anything! EVEN THE LUNGE WHIP!!!!!! its incredibly hard to get her going on the lunge line since the whipp doesnt even phase her. she just walks right back to me lol. i also would like to get on her and ride her a little to get her ready for pony rides. but idk if she can carry me. im ninety pounds and shes about 10 hh. i had a 7 year old get on her and when he tried to kick her into the trot she went off in a bucking spree !!! luckily the boy did not fall off! *note* the 7 year old boy has been riding since he was 2 and knows what he was doing. so it was not anything that he did that made her buck, it was the pony.* can somebody please help me on lunging tips? and plesase please somebody tell me if it would be safe for me to get on her for just a llittle to get her training better? thanks!!!!

Answer 1

I'd suggest definitely doing alot of ground work first, not only lunging but things like just hanging out with the shetland, showing her manners and such. My horse is almost as bad as yours with not being afraid of things, so you can't use that method, you have to use the "If you don't do something right, I'll make you do harder work," and "If you do it right you will be rewarded with praise(rather than treats, etc)."

Google Carolyn Resnick, she does these things called "water hole rituals" which would probably help your shetland alot.