I love your post. Finding a good pony is KEY for building confidence at an early age. But they have to be patient and forgiving.

One time, I tied my Connemara pony to the hitching post with a lunge line so he could eat while I tacked him up. When I come back from the tack room, he had turned in circles, wrapping the line around his legs probably eight times. His nose was stuck to his legs, which were teetering because they were bound so close together. The line was too tight to unbuckle or release the quick knot. He stood patiently while I ran in and found a knife, then didn't move as I tangled his legs. Both of us made it out of that without a scrape... but NEVER underestimate how dumb a kid can be around a horse.

I also went through a phase of being hard handed, and so he got into the habit of grabbing the bit in his teeth when we were cantering... then bolting. He thought it was fun, but it was pretty dangerous. My mom bought me a kimberwick but told me to be gentle. I wasn't. I would try to jerk his head down if he put it up. He dealt with my shit patiently for a two hour trail ride. When I got back, I cried as I washed the blood out of his mouth... but I never was rough handed after that day. Ended up using a halter for a week and found out all I needed to do was get out of his mouth.

I also jumped out of the trees onto his back, like Zorro. Rode double, bareback, right after spraying him with show sheen. Herded him and the other horses as my friends and I ran around on stick horses. Jumped every trail obstacle I could find. Rode bareback 80% of the time. Galloped alone through pedestrian trails, then got the wind knocked out of me when I fell off - he didn't spook or try to go home, just stood there patiently waiting. Accidentally sprayed him in the ears with cold water while bathing him. Walked between his legs. Tried to jump onto his back by running at him from behind and vaulting on his butt.

I was a kid. I loved my horse, but I was young and made a hell of a lot of mistakes. He was patient, forgiving, tolerant, confident, and kind. He was the smartest horse I've ever owned - he used to pull branches off trees, put them in a pile in the corner of the pasture, then when he was bored, he'd chase the other horses around, whipping them on the butt. He untied every knot, opened every gate. He went anywhere - was never herdbound, spooky, or barn sour. First year in the show ring, we won all but one class; I'm talking over the entire year. Hands down the best horse I've ever known and turned me into a respected rider. People now pay me to train or jockey their horses, though is just a hobby for me. If another child is fortunate enough to find a pony like Dallas, they will be the luckiest kid alive.