Bringing a Shetland back into work.

[poiuytrewq]

I don't really have anyone small/good enough to just hop on so was thinking along the lines of long reining lots to establish steering/brakes and just get him used to tack again- maybe a bit of lunging although I done see any huge benefit in this other than getting him fit which I don't really want desperately as he's going to be ridden by a little girl on the lead rein.
He leads nicely and is 100% trust worthy for kids to clamber over/sit under pull his tail etc etc (not that this is what I will encourage of course!)
My daughter can sit on him bare back but she's far too heavy really and he only has a cub saddle so she cant fit into it!
Then can we assume when he's going well and as I already know he is fine with weight on him that I can let this little girl on board? I figure someone will be holding her at first anyway so can grab off if he reacts?
I got him as a companion aged late teens but found out he was 5 when we got him a few years ago so it seems a shame to keep him solely as a companion for ever more doing nothing.
He was being ridden at the time by a child.
How do you guys bring tinies into work safely?

 

[RobinHood]

I'd lead him off another pony. We don't have anyone small enough to ride our shettie so he's never progressed beyond being lead with a toddler on his back. To stop him getting laminitis I lead him off our new forest pony in trot and canter round the fields.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have thought of that but although hes great with kids he's not great with my horse and attacks him...I think it would end in disaster! The only horse he can be trusted with is my TB who's had to retire.