Pondering

E

emma69

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 January 2004
Messages
17,127
Location
Canada
Visit site
Always dangerous! I was just wondering how long people thought it normal / acceptable for people to be on a lead rein while learning to ride. not teeny tiny tots (2 years old etc) but perhaps 5-6 years old and upwards? A few threads have me thinking about such things!
 
I never got be on a lead rein :/ Though my first riding yard was pretty much 'follow behind, hang on and stay on'.

At riding school I worked at, they'd be on the lead rein for 6 weeks-ish [weekly lessons], but with each lesson doing more and more independant work if that makes sense.
 
I must have been the crappiest rider alive when I was 5 as I ended up on the leading rein for the grand total of 13 weeks back in 1968 (and that's having a lesson every Sunday).

Health and Safety didn't exist then, so either they were being ultra-cautious, or I was seriously bad!
 
i think the leadrein is a very useful tool for giving riders confidence, no matter what their age or ability.

OH learnt to ride on my horse when OH was mid 20's. Ron is safe and trustworthy, just a bit of a fool sometimes (shys at daft stuff and jumps at loud noises). The first time OH rode outside of a field he asked to be on a lead rein to help him feel safer.
 
The reason I ask is, when I taught, I wanted them to learn as soon as possible to be in control of the pony. They would have a leader for the first few minutes, then they would learn basic steering (we did have lovely ponies who knew their jobs mind you) with the leader beside them to help if needed, and 'just in case' and then the leader would help them to trot the first couple of times, then just jog beside. Plus I was never more than a couple of strides away from them during the first couple of lessons, and can shift if I need to! My reasoning, I taught WAY too many children who had started somewhere else, and been on the lead or lunge for so long they were terrified to do anything on their own. I figure, don't create the safety blanket in the first place, and they won't depend on it. For the same 'oh it is new it is scary' most of my lessons went over poles on the ground in the first or second lesson so they didn't become a 'thing'!

I learnt very early (about 2!) by being tied on to the back of my aunt's horse, then when I started lessons years and years later I was on the lunge for what seemed like yonks (probably a month!) luckily I didn't have the dependency, as I had ridden on my own a fair amount before formal lessons.
 
i have a small paddock that my 4 yr old rides off the lead rein in, but out on a hack i wouldn't let her off. in a small contained area i feel able to manage a crisis and she has enough room to play around.there are so many other influences out and about i worry that even her fat little pony could be off in a flash - - - me puffing behind!!!!
 
Not strictly relevant but I had to get OH to put me on the lead rein when I decided to take D for a hack up the Tissington trail! I had no whip with me and my starvation paddock fatty went completely insane at the sight of all the lush grass. After a good while of pony club kicking I gave in and let him clip the leadrope onto her bridle. So humiliating, caused much hilarity among the tourists! :eek:
 
we are really lucky, i have 2 ponies one she just doesn't ride because the pony although lovely to handle is a real stroppy mare to ride - she just gets played with! the other gelding is a real gorgeous boy and she can just about steer him in the right direction, other than that she just manages to get a reluctant trot from one end to the other - only of he gets a treat on his way back!!! i think that; she's 4 and although im probably not teaching her much she has lots of fun. If she keeps it up ill have to teach her to ride properly - actually probably get someone else todo that!!!
 
Yup, I used to suggest that they needed to have started school to do proper lessons (we had lead arounds for the littlies to get their fix) as once they start school they learn to follow instructions better, to listen to the 'teacher' and their attention span gets longer. Plus they are physically strong enough for the ponies and their legs are strong and long enough to use!
 
I was tought to ride on the lead rein, but I was lead from someone on a horse. We went for miles, I learnt how to balance myself and control my pony in allsorts of conditions. The ponies I rode were not plods and I am sure I would not have been able to ride them off the lead rein. I soon got the feel and it was not long before I had to cope on my own. This was in the early 60s when there was no Health and Safety. I dont think that I would have had the same interest in riding if I had to ride in a school on a plod. Those days have gone unfortunately.
 
i'd go with that. i take my daughter out on my horse with me and always have done but i think i must be breaking every health and safety rule there is. My teen age daughter though has brought friends over in the past who have been going for riding lessons for years but couldn't manage her pony. Whilst i understand that safety is a huge issue for riding schools it seems such a shame that children without their own pony can't seem to have the same freedom to learn about horses and how to ride out.
 
maxim said:
i'd go with that. i take my daughter out on my horse with me and always have done but i think i must be breaking every health and safety rule there is. My teen age daughter though has brought friends over in the past who have been going for riding lessons for years but couldn't manage her pony. Whilst i understand that safety is a huge issue for riding schools it seems such a shame that children without their own pony can't seem to have the same freedom to learn about horses and how to ride out.
Click to expand...

Good for you, you might just make a jockey out of her!!! I am 56 and still ride out race horses. It didnt do me any harm!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top