Hello.  I'm KL.
I'm a qualified Horse Riding Instructor.

 Welcome to my website - Pony Problems!

I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Around this website you will find lots of information on Ponies and how to improve "their" problems.

We have come to realize that it's not the ponies who have the problem - it is usually a pony reacting to a human's problem or misunderstanding.

It truly is a privilege - NOT a right - to be able to interact with, communicate with and trust these incredible animals.

I hope that as you browse this website and the training videos (which feature my ponies) you will find them helpful in your own relationship with your pony.

If you are motivated to do what I did, you might like to invite your pony to participate in learning some new and helpful tricks.  This is part of how I have found that a strong bond develops between a human and a pony.

There's got to be something positive in it for your pony!!!! 
It's not enough to just "release the pressure."

• Teach Your Pony The Neck Trick. (This trick is most helpful to people with big horses and for emergency situations.)
• Teach your Pony The Paw Trick  (this trick is a good show off party trick, You can even pretend your pony can count.)
• Teach your Pony the Smile Trick.
• Teach your Pony to Line Up. (Instead of having to line your pony up to a tree stump in order to mount, or mount from the ground which can cause pain across the withers, your pony will line itself up for mounting from a simple hand signal. 
• Teach Your Pony to Back Up from Voice. (This is a great exercise and will spare your pony's mouth.)
• Teach Your Pony to untangle itself.
• Teach Your Pony To Yield Hindquarters.
• Teach your Pony To Side Pass.
• Teach Your Pony to Yield Fore Quarters.  
• Teach Your Pony to Trust You.
• Desensitize Your Pony.
• Get a bond with your pony.            

         And much more. ...

I strongly believe that as humans, we can have true friendships with ponies and horses. Even amongst a herd of horses, no-one likes a bully. True leadership of the herd is founded on respect and fairness.  A bully horse is not trusted as a leader.

A bully horse in my experience, is usually one that is brought up in an unnatural environment such as a racing stable where it is weaned and placed with a group of other yearlings, or an orphaned and isolated foal where they are not taught the social rules of the herd.

Respected leaders are ponies or horses that can be depended upon in a crisis.  They can reason and think rather than just bully.  A true leader will permit other ponies or horses eat near them, while a bully chases other horses away from water and feed.

But a leader is no pushover either.  A leader knows all about boundaries and respect and will not tolerate disrespectful behaviour.

I do not believe respect should be gained through hitting with ropes or jerking on halters or what a pony or horse would understand as "BEING BOSSY."

Respect should come from owner/rider and the pony, not just from the pony/horse. 

Just as strong friendships do occur in the equine world, so too strong friendships can and do occur between horse and human - but the human must understand how to enter into a friendship relationship with the horse/pony.

Being a leader is not being bossy (dominating, controlling, bullying).
Being a leader is taking responsibility for the happiness of the herd, in ways that matter to the herd:


The leader has to:

• locate adequate feed and water to meet the needs of the herd;
• guide the herd to the feed and water, 
• alert them to hazards and defend them from danger
• guard the herd from various threats through the day and at night when they are sleeping.
• signal to the herd that the danger has passed
• possibly other roles unknown to us at this time.

There is more to leadership than bullying; much more in-fact.
Please read my articles to discover how to become a REAL leader, Friend, and Soul Mate to your pony or horse.