Describe the perfect lead rein pony...

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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Just wondering what people's expectations of the ideal lead rein pony are - should they be clever and sensitive to the rider/leader, or should they listen to the leader more? Or is a more ploddy, quieter type preferable?

What types of scary things should they be exposed to to help them become unflappable?
 
A true LR pony will look to the leader for guidance

Some pure LR ponies will not even move off the lead!
 
Bear with me on this one, but I think there's a difference between a perfect lead-rein pony (that you can plonk a kid on, tart it up and it will strut its stuff in the show ring - oh how I wanted to be that child! :redface3:) and a perfect first pony that will work well on the lead rein, and then can be trusted to look after a little person after that, then test them a little when they get more confident - something that will help develop a child into a rider rather than a passenger.

And then, after that, a naughty-as-hell second pony that will cheat at gymkhana games :wink3:

(ETS: sorry, I realise that's not much help - I guess I'm saying both have their merits, depends on your ultimate aim I guess!)
 
Personally, I don't think an LR pony who won't move when off the lead is much good to anyone. How do you teach a child to ride with a pony who only listens to the commands of it's leader? For me a good LR pony will be sane, sensible and forgiving and will respond when the rider asks it to do something. Otherwise, the child will get on their next pony, off the LR, and have no idea what to do. I would always go for a first pony over a LR only pony.
 
No NumptyNoelle, that's exactly what I wanted to know! I'm in the process of buying one that I've had on loan for a few weeks and had turned out to be a little greener than I expected - however I think my expectations are a bit out of synch so I'm trying to get real! The pony is lovely with the kids and excellent on the lead rein and really listens to me as a leader - but it is a little bit jumpy now and again which I think I can live with/work on. I think I had expected it to be more of a first ridden type with lots of experience but really that isn't necessary at this stage. Mmm...thanks all!
 
Clare85, thanks for that too. See that's where I was coming from. I'm hoping to work on the schooling of the pony, but what I don't want to do is sharpen it up so much that it is unforgiving of say a kids mis-applied aid, when actually it would be better off being slightly dull to the aids...if you know what I mean? I know if I were a kid riding the pony though I would want it to respond exactly to what I was asking for.
 
I would describe my shetty as the perfect pony to learn on. On the lead rein he listens to me and me only. I have him on a loose lead and so long as I am walking or jogging he will be with me whether I am turning to scream at the child or if I am ignoring them! As a first ridden pony he is safe as houses - he will walk about aimlessly and if he gets bored he will trot to the nearest fence or human and just stand there. Nothing any kid does will shift him! Until he has had enough when he will turn and trot to the next fence/human/gate. Once said child has learned to ride properly and ask him to do things properly then he is a forward going, well schooled pony who is a push button ride. He is totally bombproof and a brilliant example of a Shetland and thus does really well in the show ring.
 
They should listen to the leader, but know when they have been released* from the leader and tune into the rider, and again when the leader is picking them back up. A tricky thing to learn!

*by released it could just be a longer rope and the leader is stirrup level with the rider, so not so much doing the leading but still there for safety.

Should be forgiving of the child's unclear aids, and able to work out roughly what the child is looking for. Responsive, but not silly. Not spooky in the slightest, but not lazy.

One of the best lead rein ponies I knew would nip the handler at any given opportunity, but an absolute saint in every other way, did exactly as asked from both child and handler - and never endangered the child... Just the adult :p
 
I prefer them to be responsive from the rider, but listen to the rider too. Also, they will listen to the leader too and understand basic voice commands. I work in a riding school and teach a lot of lead rein lessons and I find teaching with slightly more forward, responsive ponies is easier than ones which are slightly too lazy and unresponsive.
 
A true lead rein pony will have tiny children safely perched on a narrow back and will try to keep them in place!
It is good if a little ones pony responds to the leader and ignores all the random things a three yr old can do while all the "up downs" are established. They'll ideally have smooth paces, not choppy or extravagant, and child is learning balance and strength and having fun safely - and you don't want them falling off at this stage.
A little child shouldn't be expected to have the concentration to ride off lead - move on to the' hens teeth' 1st ridden when they do!
 
Most established and well behaved lead rein ponies take command from the leader as otherwise small people learning would find themselves in a variety of unexpected paces. There is a true distinction between a lead rein and a first ridden pony, the latter being the one who will go for a small child and like hen's teeth to find.
 
I know mine is too bg to be a lead rein pony but she is perfect for teaching even the tiniest of riders to ride. She is a 13.1 highland pony and really looks after her rider no matter how big or small. She adjusts her position under her rider to make sure they don't fall she looks drunk sometimes when walking up the field as she moves to keep the rider on board. She doesnt need a lead rein she simply follows the handler at what ever pace that they move at the child on board is in charge of steering, and the pace but as soon as that child overbalances she slows gently to a halt or moves over to stop them slipping. She is truly genuine and would avoid losing her rider once able to rise to the trot she will trot around the field with her child again stopping them from over balancing and will move onto canter only when she feels they are ready then she canters a few strides and comes gently back to trot I am certain it is possible to find a gem like her in a smaller size but they are like gold dust. Was once 10 years ago offered £25,000 for her as she won her PUK workers and came out of the ring and the riders little 4 year old sister got on and rode her back to the lorry on her own. The gent in question said "That is a wonderful pony worth her weight in gold I will give you a blank cheque if you will sell her" so in answer to your question a lead rein should be rock solid, responsive to its rider and think genuinely for itself , be able to up its game as a child inproves but be happy to stay with a leader no matter what happens around it.
One of the biggest complaints about the Licolnshire County show is we are visited every year by a Dakota and the red arrows usually when the lead reins are in the ring if I were a judge the only ponies that would be in the line up would be those that stood still and quietly as the aircraft flew over they are the true lead reins and anything that moved is not. After all the atmosphere at places like HOYS and Royal International are very electric. I believe hickstead is close to Gatwick too
 
Speaking as a showing person a lead rein pony should be very responsive to the handler no matter what is going on around him or on top of him. If I turn he should turn, if I run he should trot. I expect a lead tein pony to be pretty much unflappable. Whether a little 'jumpiness' is acceptable really depends on the age of your jockey. If I had a 2/3/4 year old child it would be a no. For 5 years and up a tiny (and I mean tiny) jump or spook is not too bad as once they get to 5 kids seem to have a bit more balance.
I have 2 lead rein ponies. One young section A who is very bold and 'unspooky' by nature and a riding pony who is actually a pensioner first ridden. He is an old Barkway pony and was very successful in the ring in youth but is now a bit past top level showing. He now prefers being a lead rein pony, however he has a very big 'show pony' trot which tends to chuck the smaller jockeys out of the saddle (good for teaching up downs though!!). He does still go off the lead which is great as many lead rein ponies don't! I wouldn't expect a dyed in the wool lead rein pony to go off the lead so it's a massive bonus if they do.
 
Thank you very much for the responses here, so helpful! I think the pony is green but with more input will be a good one - I'm going to work on developing the bond between her and I as leader first and foremost, and expose her to as much as possible - could do with calling the red arrows in for assistance! If it does spook it is more like a freeze rather than skipping about, and once it has seen something seems to just get on with it.

I was a bit worried I was expecting too much and I think I was - perhaps she'll make a nice first ridden in time, but that's not important right now, plus I've two daughters 4 and nearly 2 with one more on the way, so I reckon pony has a good few years of lead rein classes to go!!
 
She sound lovely and if she has a calm temperament will learn to be the perfect pony especially if you are quiet but confident around her as that is the key they really do pick up everything you are thinking
 
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I have two. Both respond to the leader when led, without effort, and on a slack rope, either from the ground or another horse.
Both will take instruction from the rider unless it directly contradicts the leader.

However, one is lead / first ridden... throw the rope over his neck and nothing much changes - he will hack for miles on the road, keeping a toddler safe without a lead.
The other (a Shetland) is lead / second pony... drop the rope (with a non-rider) and watch your pony disappear in trot / canter over the horizon :D
 
Our Sec A has turned a hoof and seems to be quite good on the lead now. he follows me like a shadow, I take a step he takes one etc. But is not unflappable - we are working on that. But as so many have said on here these things take time. I think ours will be a gem for my son to ride, poor DD has all the hard work.

My old horse was brilliant on the lead rein, would completely ignore whoever was riding him in favour of who was leading/lunging!
 
My daughters lead rein / first ridden responds to the rider however on the very rare occasion I have needed to step in my voice has took the priority over the rider whether I have been next to the pony or in the middle of the school
 
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