Leading small kids from a horse

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FfionWinnie

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When I got the ponies I had the grand ultimate plan that I would be able to lead my daughter on her pony when she was older. I started to think about the logistics of this today instead of just the airy fairy idea of it and thought of a few problems.

Firstly we have to go on the road to go anywhere. Secondly the pony is a Shetland and my horse is a forward 14.3, I could lead out on the 13.2 but the Shetland would still have to trot all the time I think. Obviously before I took her out I would have experimented with the Shetland and no rider and then in the field with rider but I just wondered if many folk did it these days.

I remember being led when I was very small and I don't remember if I would have been able to control the pony myself.

So if you did it, how old was the child and what stage were they at and what were the animals involved and what if any problems did you you encounter?
 
We do it - 15.3 and 11.2, daughter is 6 and has a reasonably good seat - can sit a shy very well. Start round the fields and menage but make sure you put a handle on the saddle and little one holds onto that.
 
Thanks Mcnaughty. Saddle has a handle. How old was your daughter when you first did it?

This pony is ancient and bomb proof, she has ridden him since she was 18 months and he has never shied or done anything other than bites but that's another story. Maybe I will try leading my tiny (adult) neighbour on him and see how we get on ;)
 
I did it from daughter being 2&1/2. By then she'd been cantering on lr for 6mnths. Didn't hold reins at all, but was balanced in her seat. When doing ride & lead, she rode a very saintly 12.2, who had very loose forwards paces with no contact, whilst I rode my 14.2 picked up a bit with a shorter, higher stride. Generally though I preferred her riding smaller ponies at that age though, so I didn't do it often. When she was 4 it was more regular. Either with her fr loan pony, or with a very whizzy, non typical shetland, who's attitude was the faster, the better. But, I'd done loads of ride & lead, both from others & especially from the 14.2. And the ponies she rode had done it plenty too.
 
Thanks LL. daughter is currently 3.5 and I think the pony will have been lead off a horse before since he is 22 and had many many led rein homes. I will try everything out first separately and see how we go. Shetland is rather long legged and very forward going. Don't think he has ever been off the lead rein.
 
Oooh I'll be interested in any tips! I'm thinking about leading out Minnie today whilst I'm on Foxy, just without a rider! :D
 
I used to work in a riding stables where we had to lead two kids at the same time. The key is long enough lead ropes! The biggest lead horse was 17.2 the smallest pony was 12.2 :D
 
Oh and voice activated ponies are a good idea, so when you say "aaannd TROT" the ponies trot, you may otherwise end up lying on the back of your own horse. Fun times :)
 
I had a friend who did this from a 17 hh Tb and a super Shetland mare she was a pearl without price that pony it worked fine the Tb had a special slow walk for leading it was lovely to see ,it was mum horse and pony all working together to teach the child very special .
 
I used to take my daughter off big horses on her 11.2 when she was little she held rein ect but wasn't really that effective but pony was excellent we used to go on roads and all round Windsor great park and to the pub on the way home!!!!!
 
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