Headstrong 5yr old - wont go on leadrein !

Toffee_monster

Toffee_monster

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Ive been reading a lot lately about pushing kids to ride too early, which has made me worry a bit about my son and his riding. I thought here would be a good place for opinions.

My son has been around around horses since he was nearly 2 (i gave up horses for a while to have a family) and he is very very good with them. He understands safety and is wonderful around the horses. For xmas and his 5th birthday we got him his first pony on loan, a little shetland. The shetland is a total gentleman and the bond they have already is amazing. Josh leads him in/out of the stable, ties him up, grooms him, trots him round in hand and is addicted to riding him!

He hacks out round the village on our own and with others and is great in the school, i thought he was more of a lead rein pony but Josh is dead against being led !!! He is very headstrong but also very sensible. I walk next to him on hacks and sometimes help out if he gets a bit strong but most of the time Josh controls him very well. In the school he steers him perfectly and will trot him on his own, and the shetland obliges and listens to his tiny aids. At first i was really nervous but my little boy amazes me!

I would like him to stay on lead rein and i havent pushed anything, i wasnt even going to teach him to ride to the trot yet but he seems to have taught himself !!! The only thing he has a problem with is holding the reins properly but he is getting there :) pony wears grass reins as a little help and a crupper, and like this his saddle is nice and secure.

So, good or bad? Too soon?
I must add that i am always on hand very nearby , but this pony wont go through puddles in hand or on long reins for me, yet for Josh he does as hes told LOL

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They are both adorable!! It sounds like you've got quite the rider in the making there!

If he is happier off the leadrein, maintains control, pony is sensible and safe and you are always close by then I see no problem with him being off the leadrein.
 
Those 2 are literally the cutest little pair! !! If hes happy leave him :) its good that hes got confidence too many wussy kids these days! I was off lead rein at 5 :)
 
V cute - however why is he riding in wellies? His foot is dangerously close to going through the stirrup in a couple of those pics :/

I guess it depends on your area and the traffic - only you know how safe the area is. Id put a handle on the front of the saddle for him to grab if he felt he needed it.
 
Thanks, his wellies have a heel so wont slip through. He doesn't always ride in these and i know they aren't the best footwear, his half chaps come up to his knees bless him.

He has a handle on the front already, just never uses it!
 
This! However would suggest stirrup cages or safety stirrups and get him a pair of joddy boots, not safe for him to be riding in wellies just in case:)
3Beasties said:
They are both adorable!! It sounds like you've got quite the rider in the making there!

If he is happier off the leadrein, maintains control, pony is sensible and safe and you are always close by then I see no problem with him being off the leadrein.
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3Beasties said:
They are both adorable!! It sounds like you've got quite the rider in the making there!

If he is happier off the leadrein, maintains control, pony is sensible and safe and you are always close by then I see no problem with him being off the leadrein.
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This let them be. BTW the pictures are so adorable
 
I don't think its unusual to be off the lead rein at 5yo, I know I was, we were let completely loose however it was at a riding school so in an arena, however I don't see much difference out hacking as long as you are in grabbing distance. I think its still normal in this day and age too, as my cousins 5yo started riding lessons and was never on lead rein, they had him trotting in his first lesson, and after a few sessions he no longer had a 'grabber' running alongside in walk & trot. Your lad seems to have a really lovely bond with his pony so I'd just let him progress at a level he's comfortable with :) I really wouldn't be worried that you're rushing him :). Lovely lovely pics :).
 
I'd have started with "When we're on the road we wear hi-vis and a lead rein", I see he's ok with the hi-vis :) I wouldn't be worried about him being off the lead in the school though.
 
Sort his foot wear or fit him with safety stirrups and let him get on with it It is lovely to see a little boy riding and if he is happy and is going to carry on he should be fine with you very close by
Love his little hi viz stuff too
 
I have to say I'd have had him in peacock stirrups just in case. It's lovely that he's so happy on the pony, I wouldn't want anything to put him off.
 
Back in the days before ElfnSafety - I went cubbing at 5, on the lead rein - but must have been off lead normally, because I had a complete hissy fit about the lead rein, and got taken home in disgrace!
 
Many many moons ago when I used to teach at pony club the highest winning pony in dressage, showjumping to about 50 cm, x country and pony games was a 4 year old on her super shetland She had so many rosettes on her both her and the pony disappeared under a mountain of red and blue ribbons Red was first in the open classes blue was first in the pc classes so no reason why he shouldnt progress as fast as you both want him to just dont expect too much and keep him having fun
 
Auslander said:
Back in the days before ElfnSafety - I went cubbing at 5, on the lead rein - but must have been off lead normally, because I had a complete hissy fit about the lead rein, and got taken home in disgrace!
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AWww, must have been so sweet to watch! My daughter's first pony used to take tiny children hunting on the lead, sadly we got her when my daughter was ten so never got to see the cuteness.
 
So many people are so quick to knock Shetties.. but then you see a total superstar like this. Who is the lady with a very young daughter who also rides a shettie off lead rein? Her name escapes me.

They look a wonderful team, that pony is truly worth his weight in gold. How old is he?
 
Mine were off the lead rein before they were five, albeit following on behind my horse, and I wouldn't class them as brave.

Children can manage to hurt themselves just fine in every way imaginable whether that be on a pony or not!

However I would get him a pair of riding boots too - sorry.
 
Ladyinred said:
So many people are so quick to knock Shetties.. but then you see a total superstar like this. Who is the lady with a very young daughter who also rides a shettie off lead rein? Her name escapes me.

They look a wonderful team, that pony is truly worth his weight in gold. How old is he?
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I think you mean FfionWinnie. Can we have some more pics please OP?
 
My Daughter is getting that she doesn't want us to lead her she wants to do it "All by myself Mummy" she has no chance lol as she is only 2 and 10 months. When I was teaching in the riding school. if the child started riding at 4 they were usually off the lead rein at 5, Can I ask where you got the HI VIZ gear from for his size?
 
I was off the lead as soon as I could be! And I had a total SOD of a Shetland pony to ride :D I hated being on the lead rein! By sister on the other hand wanted lead everywhere! I did Gymkana games off the lead whilst my older sister was being lead lol! I did laugh!

I have had a few kids to teach for the show ring. One rocked up, I plonked her on my Shetland and said to her to go a few laps of the field in walk to get to know the pony before we started anything - off she toddled, mother came round the corner and went MENTAL! The kid had never been off the lead rein before - at 9 years of age ... I refused to go and lead them! The kid was well happy, the pony - for once - was behaving and she never had a lead rein on again! I don't do leading! I'm too lazy! Another was the same, never off the lead before 9 when I plonked them on and refused to go with them lol! And yet I borrowed another 9yo for a lead rein class at a show who's mother never let her off regardless asked if she could take my pony for a wander round the show ground - I didn't see a problem as I trusted the pony completely and it wasn't til her mother came over and asked where her daughter was, caught sight of her cantering up the hill completely on her tod that she realised that her precious little flower didn't need to be glued to her side and was quite happy doing things by herself! I did get a rollocking though! But I didn't know she had never been off the lead before lol!

Shetlands are awesome! if he's happy by himself for the most part let them get on with it!
 
TigerTail said:
My god that angelic little face could make the most hard hearted hormonal!!!
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He is a sweetheart and he melts my heart. We went to tesco this evening and at the bottom of the stairs to the flat (6 flights) he said "mummy don't struggle let me have one of the bags" and I said no it's ok they are too heavy, to which he said "please let me help mum, it might be heavy but I'll give it a try".

He mucks out and loves every minute up the yard, makes even the winter enjoyable :)
 
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