Opinions on ride and lead?

E

elsielouise

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 February 2005
Messages
778
Visit site
Interested in this as just started riding my mare out and leading my sons Section A and a 'friend' of mine said I shouldnt do this with a kids pony and it would ruin it! I am not sure I agree but - what do you think?

I do it both to save time and to prep the pony for when my son will be riding out with me (he's only three). I've only taken them both oUT a few times as want them both to be happy going out without each other and also cos they are not exactly best matched in terms of paces and squirt has to trot to keep up.

Anyway - the pony is excellent and matches pace beautifully with my mare with no pulling or lagging behind but I want to check with any one with more experience of childrens ponies that I am not 'ruining' her lead rein paces by taking them both out this way. I apreciate what my friend is thinking and I dont want to end up with the pony speeding up when out on its own (I still take pony out on the lead rein in hand a couple of times a week).

My thinking is that as long as we keep up her work variety - i.e ridden with toddler, lead out alone and off my horse and ridden by light adult that she will be fine.

Surely?
 
I did it all the time with our 4yr old sec A. Initially on her own before the child rode. I then led the child in hand on the leadrein - hacking and in the school. She was a very forward going pony, and hard to keep up with on the LR, so going out on ride and lead with the rider on was a natural step - it meant that a child that was no way ready to come off the leadrein could come on longer hacks and get more enjoyment. When the child was later riding off the leadrein, the pony was already a confident hack. We then made sure that she went in front frequently. We had no problems whatsoever. Ours was not used for showing though - only local level, where she did very well. There may well be other ideas in the county world of showing - but thats not a world that I'm a fan of anyway.

PS. Totally agree with having a light adult/older child ride them too from time to time - was the making of ours, as she realised she couldn't just drag the tot around and got used to being told what to do..
 
Last edited:
Personally I can't think of a better way to exercise a small pony, way better than driving it around in mindless circles as an alternative:) Kills two birds with one stone too - as it were. I don't think you will ruin it at all, far more likely to do that just in the school :(

I did it for years with all my daughters ponies, from her welsh LR's to her NF, they were ultra fit, and clipped right out (shock horror) they also hunted on the odd occasion.

. Never had a single problem either with them being led off my arab (who was hunting fit, he didn't hang around out hacking) or when she rode them. It certainly never affected their paces or attitude, infact I found them a lot less stuffy - both to handle and for her to ride.
 
i do this with our pony. hes 4 and 12.2hh and i have a lovely safe cob who is 14.2hh who ive led a 17.2hh 4 year old on. he knows the game. i think its the best way to exersize them and get them out and about!!! :)
 
If the two horses match and behave I see no problem with it.
Theres been occasions where I will ride my horse out to the field bareback leading another 3 (not on a road) it was great fun :)
 
I think what you're doing is great, good for your child and good for the horses. They work well together and it saves the pony from the restrictions that having a teeny rider can mean.
I've always periodically ridden and led two horses (without 2nd rider though), purely to save time exercising. They seem to match each other well,they're not daft, they know whats expected of them. Can't say its had any negative impact at all, only positive and it adds a bit of variety to work.
 
Bert (Shetland) spent the first 3 years of his life with me doing ride and lead, and he is the ultimate childs pony!!
 
Do any of you do it on the roads? I have two rising three year olds, who I've just started long lining, but I'm thinking ride/lead would be a good way of getting them out with another horse (I have a very steady 16.3 I can take them out with), but I have no off-road hacking near me, and I'm wondering what the thoughts are on doing it along the roads?
 
Jenna500 said:
Do any of you do it on the roads? I have two rising three year olds, who I've just started long lining, but I'm thinking ride/lead would be a good way of getting them out with another horse (I have a very steady 16.3 I can take them out with), but I have no off-road hacking near me, and I'm wondering what the thoughts are on doing it along the roads?
Click to expand...

Total no no from me, you won't be able to hold them if there is a problem. So unless you are prepared for them to be disposable if they hit a car I would not take untrained horses out on the road

All mine are taught to lead in enclosed fields, and I have lost one on occasion. This puts me off taking them on the road, but with a unknown quantity youngster, I think it would be very foolish.
 
Jenna500 said:
Do any of you do it on the roads?
Click to expand...

Yes, I had to, no choice, straight up the main road through the village (busy, cars, coal lorries, buses etc, etc) I ended up with traffic proof horses that didn't mind stopping to chat, being parked outside a store, me waving my arms about indicating, they became voice operated, would go abreast, or behind if we had to pass something or go through a gate. I could go at all paces, on all terrains, frequently cantered on the mountains on a loose rein.

It really is an excellent way to exercise and especially for youngsters, they get to go out and about without having to cope with a rider as well. Can't recommend it enough:)

Jen-Cots, God I hate having to justify myself!

All this is said with the obvious assumption (assumption being the mother of all cock-ups though. I automatically assume that everybody has common sense, doesn't have a death wish and is competent and does things according to the abilities of their own horse/s) that the horse will lead in the first place and has been trained to do so (horse and rider) in an enclosed space blah, blah, blah. I am not exactly saying take a green baby out up the main street on its' first day. What suits one horse/rider will not always suit another.

I have always ponied my horses, I always will, when I taught at Pony Club we used to teach the children how to ride and lead, invaluable skill that all should have.
 
Last edited:
I started in the arena, and then progressed to offroad, but yes, I nw ride and lead on the roads with my 17hh gelding (Snip) who is known to be flighty and a bit unpredictable, and he's never been at all a problem.

I DO always put fluro boots on him though, that way if he does get loose at least he is more visible.
 
Jen_Cots said:
Total no no from me, you won't be able to hold them if there is a problem. So unless you are prepared for them to be disposable if they hit a car I would not take untrained horses out on the road

All mine are taught to lead in enclosed fields, and I have lost one on occasion. This puts me off taking them on the road, but with a unknown quantity youngster, I think it would be very foolish.
Click to expand...

Well, they're not completely untrained - they've been led out on the roads for the past year, know how to lead, have worn bridles (shown them bitted), and I long line them on our quieter country lanes - I've just never rode and lead before.

Enfys, thanks.

Trouble, good idea - when I'm long lining they always wear fluorescents, as when I'm riding, but good idea to put on both horses!
 
i take mine on the roads. but we do have very quiet roads here. we do most of it off road but with the littleun weve done ALOT of roadwork on the lead. hes never been a problem. i think ride and leading is a fantastic way for youngsters to learn!
 
Thank you for the replies. Seems pretty much everyone thinks my friend is talking rubbish. Mind you they are into very 'show pony' show ponies and their daughter is sat on after mum has ridden in and faffed with them for ages. I KNOW they dont hack, so we are bound to have a different approach I suppose.

I want my little boy to be safe playing cowboys and indians out hacking or, as he is currently prefering, making her splash about in muddy puddles (blame Peppa Pig!) and since the show ring is unlikely to be his playground we will carry on as we are.
 
My mum used to ride her 16.1 and lead my pony 12.2 all the time when i was at school, i used to do fun rides nearly every weekend or a showjumping comp so that way he was kept fit in the week when i didnt have much chance to ride. He did used to trot every few strides to keep up though (which i had to when riding with her too!!) as mums horse had a big stride but it never did him any harm.
 
Sounds like your friend is talking a load of tosh. What your doing sounds perfect; it'll probably help the pony to be a little more 'bomb proof' with your child on board. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top