Breaking in a lead rein pony

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Pink Gorilla

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Ok done lots of ground work. He’s a champ; long reining past tractors, various farm animals and in open fields etc. Lunges well and done ground manners. Such a clever pony, everything has been sooo easy!!! Until I started backing him...He seems to be ok with me on his back until I move unexpectedly to pat him, adjust my reins etc and then he shoots forward in a panic and takes a while to settle. Over 4 weeks I’ve not had much improvement and I’m still at the me being led around in walk stage. Anyway I’m wondering if it’s me? I am too big for him, I’m 5’8, slim and he’s a very chunky 12h. But the online rider/weight calculator says I’m within his carrying range (although at the very top end). Anyway I wanted a competent rider to ride him, as I heard that’s what makes more sensible leadrein ponies. I read the naughty ones are usually naughty because they haven’t been broken and occasionally ridden by a competent rider (I know temperament and saddle fit etc can affect things). Have any of you found this, or have you found just getting them used to weight on their back in the form of a dummy rider or feed bag was fine and if they’re just going to be a leadrein pony, no need for an adult to sit on them? I must look so high up behind him, I wonder if that’s what’s freaking him out, since a rider is in the predator position.
 
Agree with the lots of faffing about, sitting on his back moving around and just getting him used to you being there.
I backed a very skittish rescue Welsh A when I was a lot younger, it took me a good few months of flapping about her back just sitting there, while she ate, while I fed her treats from her back, grooming her all over when on her back, just generally faffing, she was a gorgeous little pony, would have never made a lead rein due to her unpredictably but a great little second ridden.

Just keep going with it, as long as you can be sure he isn't in pain when moving?
 
Lintel said:
Agree with the lots of faffing about, sitting on his back moving around and just getting him used to you being there.
I backed a very skittish rescue Welsh A when I was a lot younger, it took me a good few months of flapping about her back just sitting there, while she ate, while I fed her treats from her back, grooming her all over when on her back, just generally faffing, she was a gorgeous little pony, would have never made a lead rein due to her unpredictably but a great little second ridden.

Just keep going with it, as long as you can be sure he isn't in pain when moving?
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Great ideas thanks. Non of that giving treat and grooming etc actually occurred to me. Derrr. I was just practicing patting him all over while sat on him. I think he’ll respond better to treats.
 
I used to break a few L/r f/r (my mum breeds them) and if a pony is to be solely a lead rein pony you don't need to spend that much time on their backs. I did little bits of schooling and the odd little hack but mostly ground work.
I'm 5'6 and at the time I weighed 7st.12, I'm almost 9 stone now and really wouldn't want to burden something that size any more. The ponies I was riding were R/Ps, and sec Bs and didn't have as much bone as a mini cob, still hated that feeling of nothing in front of you but a pair of ears though!
 
In the ABC of Breaking and Schooling it says that it is sometimes seeing the rider above them which can startle them, and she recommends standing on a bale of straw, or in the manger in a stable, from both sides obviously and just petting and patting them so they get used to you being up high.
 
When I’ve had a one who was spooky about stuff on its back I’ve used a dumb jockey (overalls stuffed with straw) to sit on its back and just flop around, all done at stand still and walk so that pony gets used to stuff moving erratically, used to someone walking next to them whilst holding the “child,” when they are used to it flopping all over I’ve thrown it right over and simulated falling off.
 
It’s usually the eye switch that causes the spook, eg you mount on the left, pony sees you with his left eye you get on and suddenly appear in his right eye field of vision.
They’re used to having their humans on one side and suddenly you’re in both.
Because he’s little you can try standing on one side and reaching over his back to have a treat on the other side.
A keen skinny teenager also works well if you have one to spare ?
 
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