Lead rein pony troubles

[Annaacbella]

Hello, new poster here!

We have just taken on two Shetlands for our 4 year boys to ride on lead rein. They've both ridden a 13hh pony a few times before and loved it.

So now we have these Shetlands, one twin really enjoys it and the other says he is scared and doesn't want to ride. That's fine, we can get him there but we won't force him.

Anyway, the two ponies... They are lovely things, they clearly love the boys already and generally are very quiet around them which is great. We are just really struggling with them on lead rein. It's like a constant battle everytime because they won't walk quietly next to us. It's constant tugging to go faster or or graze. I know I have a few options such as grass reins etc but I don't know, I think I was expecting this to be easier. I've owned a variety of horses in the past when I was younger but now not being in charge from on top makes it harder. Plus I think there is also a lot of stress caused by me worrying about the children and worrying about what the pony is doing.


When we went to see them, they both seemed to go fine on lead rein, albeit around an arena, and at home we just have fields and grass tracks so it's obviously quite a different set up.

 

[Nudibranch]

Grass reins.
Are they bitted?
I'd spend a couple of sessions walking them without the boys and reinforcing my expectations - no pulling, no snatching.

 

[rabatsa]

Take the children out of the equation and just lead the ponies until both you and them are used to it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mine used to be the same, however with time he’s now great. He gets a bit quicker if they (his mini rider and leading mum) turn for home but I was very impressed when I went walking with them recently!
Have yours been “in work” maybe it’s just a bit exciting right now?

 

[Maryann]

I think you need to practise the leading wothout the boys on board. The ponies sound as if they are currently lacking the good manners needed for the job.

 

[Ossy2]

Did they come to you already as lead rein ponies? If not then as others have said take kids out the equation for a bit and train them to be lead rein ponies

 

[Annaacbella]

Thank you all. Yes I was just saying to my husband perhaps I need to lead them without the children. The dealer friend who sold them to me said they were just lead rein, and yes they have certainly been out of work for several months.
They took a bit no problem just now so hopefully it will all improve with a bridle set up and a coupling rather than halter and lead rope.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think there are lead rein ponies and lead rein ponies. It's (relatively) easy to put a child on a pony, and have it on the lead rein in a controlled environment, and control it from the ground. This means that there are some ponies marketed as lead rein who don't have lots of manners and aren't used to being led in more difficult situations.

If they've been out of work for months, then they may well have not been doing a lot before that.

I agree with others that some training is probably needed without the children- a bit will help stop them snatching for grass, too. Small children can find snatching for grass quite scary, so if you get this sorted, you may find your other son is now more keen!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

They are taking the piss and chancing their arm. Take them out without the kids a couple of times and get them paying attention to you and not thinking of their stomachs. A properly well schooled lead rein pony should be able to walk and trot next to the human on a loose rein taking their cue's from the leader for going up and down gears and the pace at which they are going at.