Leading rein xc not going so well. (pics if you can navigate)

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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Iam sorry, its not me nor anyone I know, but as some of my events have been covered by the photographers I do like to see other riders/events.
I came across this during one of my snoops, and dare I say it, its a heart in mouth situation.
IMHO, the leader is doing the damage, the boy rider isn't great but I think he is holding onto a saddle handle which is acceptable. If you can understand my directions, take a look and see what you think.
Sorry if its anyone out here, but it did catch my eye for the wrong reasons, and worth a little leading lesson before things get worse.

Go to www.jayphotos.co.uk/events
Choose BSVPC ODE
Pick class 'mini'
Cross country
on the 7th line down, a grey pony with a rider in blue being led

Hope that works!
 
i appreciate they arent the best pictures, but if i was that kid (or that mother/leader) i would be mortified to stumble upon my pictures being critiqued on an internet forum by strangers.

Im sure everyone has pictures that they cringe at the thought of (that are kept private!)
 
xloopylozzax said:
i appreciate they arent the best pictures, but if i was that kid (or that mother/leader) i would be mortified to stumble upon my pictures being critiqued on an internet forum by strangers.

Im sure everyone has pictures that they cringe at the thought of (that are kept private!)
Click to expand...

I do agree - if it was me, I would be mortified, but all the more reason to get help and look better for next time. I do hope they get help, as that combination wasn't working together that day at that time and therefore its the pony who is coming off worse.
Some of the other leaders also need help, as for example, if you look there is a 'tug of war' going on with a chestnut pony! We've all been told not to lead ponies like that, and as a PC thing it shouldn't have been seen. Looks bad for PC don't you think?
(just for the record, I've just had a phone call telling me to look at the 'shocking riding' in this class - from someone who was there. Noone said anything to them at the time apparently).
 
Good example of how not to do it - was going to say perfect example of a pushy parent, but maybe it should be a 'pully' parent! One of the joys of the internet is pics like this in the public domain, there for all to see and comment upon.
 
Blimey - that looks horrible - she is just hauling the poor pony over the fences. :( Part of me actually hopes the family concerned do see this and ensure that the combination don't go out jumping again until the pony and rider are much more confident.

Personally, I waited until my daughter was old enough to jump off the lead before she went out competing, but if people do want to do lead rein competitions then the leader should be there purely as a back up to ensure the pony stays in control, not to haul nervous ponies and riders over jumps.
 
I think a neck strap is need. I appreciate that something is being held onto, but that unfortunately is including the reins.

Someone said on here not long ago, can't remember the thread or who it was, so my apologies if I'm plagurising, but lead rein jumping is not a good idea - the leader gets in the way, the pony just about grinds to a halt before the fence, then often cat leaps it.

I would have thought that if one is going to do lead rein jumping, then the jumps should be built so that the leader can go to the side, i.e. a low wing on one side, that way there should be a better line for both pony and leader.

The only query I would have, and I'm sure the OP has considered this and has the necessary approval, is that the pictures are under copyright.
 
i think the only reason they look so bad is that the pony is reluctant to go over some/most which is shown clearly by one of them where the pony looks to be near a stand still while the leader climbs over the fence, halls on the rope and over launches the pony from a standstill. some very poor leading skills in my opinion!
 
poor pony they obviously need a bit of practise the pony doesnt look happy especially as the kid is leaning back wic really doesnt help
 
Jeez looks like an accident waiting to happen. They are very lucky that the child stayed on board!

Looks like a perfect lesson in how to ruin the confidence of both the child and the pony.

I've led ponies jumping in the dim and distant past and it isn't easy, and it is crucial not to interfere with the actual jump, which it looks as though this leader is. It also looks as though the little jockey doesn't have the knowledge or stability to adopt jumping position at all, and has his reins tight whilst jumping as he's clinging on for dear life!

If you are going to jump on the lead rein the jumps need to be little more that raised trotting pole height to avoid this sort of thing.

In one picture it looks as though mum is using the lead rein for balance.....

I think someone should have stopped this combination from continuing, the pony could so easily have fallen from the looks of some of those pictures.
 
Nobody looks well prepared for what they are trying to do! The poor pony at best looks totally inexperienced for jumping XC, at worst looks in pain. The poor rider looks like he is not secure enough to be jumping and knows nothing about the jumping position. The handler in charge of all this looks like she knows nothing about nothing.

While I take the point about public comments, the combination should have been better prepared or retired when they got into trouble.
 
Personally I dont agree with lead rein jumping full stop let alone lead rein XC! if child can't ride effectively off the lead rein then they shouldn't be jumping. I just think lead rein jumping classes push kids into it too fast often making for a serious confidence loss!
 
not nice viewing (particularly the last few) and undoubtedly not a nice experience for poor pony / rider and all for the sake of a rossette...
 
Absoloutely stupid woman, looks like the sort who has decided this will be done and no matter that child is not ready (pony looks like a real sweet sort).
Poor pony
 
How awfull, they must be truely embarassed by these photos, i did do alot of lead rein jumping with my daughter, shes just gone off as finally has the knack of remembering courses!! When i did it i only ever had the lead rope attached onto the nose band then it did not interfere with the ponies mouth, clearly something that is happening here, and do be honest i quicly progressed to just running next to her with no lead rein and just looping my finger into the noseband if needed. I made a point of staying at his shoulder to so not to get in front even if that meant me jumping the larger part of the jump!!!!. The idea is to help them, i still made my daughter do the steering ect. otherwise nothing is learnt. Luckily for my legs she off now, not so lucky for my nerves. This lady should have retired as the pony was obviously been forced to do this and been forced through its mouth, people like this is why good first ponies are so hard to come by as the get fed up and play up!!
 
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