Ride and lead- do you do it?

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Dora5

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So I have an older horse at my yard who is in love with my boy and tempted to do ride and lead with her, apparently she's done it before and my boy is quiet. Owner more than happy for it and may come out on foot for the first time. Does anyone ride and lead regularly? I did do it at college but that was a long time ago!
 
I used to lead my sisters horse out off mine when my sister was on hols cos her horse sulked if left behind. When I was in Australia I worked as a polo groom for a season and would ride one and lead 4, 2 on either side all cantering along nicely!!
 
Wish I could - it would be a massive help with fittening. But my 3 ridden boys all have their long established place in the herd hierarchy - and those rankings stay exactly the same when riding and leading. I've struggled to get them to work beside each other, as the lower ranked horse immediately tries to fall into place behind the higher ranked horse, and its always turned into a tug of war when I've attempted it in the past!

If anyone has any ideas how to get over this, I'm all ears!
 
Yes, when Stinky was two, he started coming out led off Cairo Clydesdale and he loved it. Also got him used to seeing life so when he was ridden out later, he was fairly bombproof.

I still lead him out off Farra if I am short of time amd wanting a nice hack out. On a bridleway I do walk, trot and canter, but the horses I have done with this are well behaved and don't try to race etc.

I often lead kids out off my two as they are well behaved and they are very good with the ponies.

I have done this on the road, but only very quiet ones.

I start in the school and when I know I can halt, change direction and paces, then I go out with them. I use a bridle and a long lead rein in case I need the extra length - old draw reins are perfect and the best use for one.
 
to FARO
when riding and leading the horses should be looking to you ,ratheer than thinking of their own heirarchy. So firstly, when you ask to walk on, if led horse lags, have a person on the ground ready to back up your commands. have them stand safely behind , with lunge whip or similar. The led horse will soon get the idea!
I love riding and leading, and it makes life more interesting when youve long slow hacks to harden hunters off. WE use it also when getting 3 yr olds ready to be backed , so they know the area,roads, are used to traffic etc.
 
Yep - used to ride and lead regularly when I had all 4 at home. I found different combinations of pace worked best ie, ride the slowest/ spookiest so you can keep your leg on where necessary. I always carried a schooling whip to tickly the being led horse along if they don't keep up, a couple of tickles and they soon realise they have to march on as much as when being ridden and can't dordle behind (as one partiular one always did!)
 
I do it all the time with my hunting cob and son's pony - fab way to keep both fit and saves time too!

I always lead the pony from a bridle -I was told years ago that if you an accident and the lead horse is in a headcollar, it invalidates insurance?

If the horses get on, I would just give it a go and see what happens!
 
Yes, but not with my current little monster! My ridden boy is very well behaved, my welsh monster not so much.... He is renowned for his spook, spin at 100mph which would not be very safe with me in a horse, probably pull me right out the saddle!
 
Ride and lead one or two quite frequently. Did it at hunt yard so happy and confident to do it.

Makes a huge difference when you don't have much light at this time off year, you can get them all exercised in one go.

On another note, it makes cars slow down! Always good.
 
Thanks everyone, the only hesitation I have is that the older horse sometimes when very excited, just plants herself and bronks! Not always but sometimes! I need to check if she has done it when being led as sometimes if she bronks when being ridden and refuses to move, the owner would get off and lead her so I think she should be ok. Well I'll soon find out as going to have a go tomorrow. Def in a bridle and the draw rein idea is a good one!
 
I do if they're quiet :) I don't 'like' it, but it is useful. I take my 2 y/o colt out sometimes to see a bit of the world with my older horse, and also lead the pony out normally when I'm hacking my TB lad to keep her ticking over. With the youngster, I just walk and trot. With the pony and TB, we do everything as normal hacking - canter, gallop etc, but both are dependable.
 
Yes, loads. My mares bombproof, so led loads of kids, or young horses from her. And frequently did it in an old job. Before daughter was off lr I spent more time doing ride & lead than I did riding alone.
 
i wish i could make life hell of a lot easier
although i wouldnt trust any of them saying that if even though i live in a quiet area in the lake district people using there sat navs regularly use the back roads we ride on as a short cut and not knowing the roads and doing 30mph round unknown to them country roads can be at times be a little worrying.
 
I do started off riding round the paddocks with them last year before the youngster was backed and they Walk, Trot, Canter and Gallop quite happilly. I took them out for a hack the other day on the road for the first time. I ride the older boy and lead the four year old. Both very responsive to the voice and they're best friends - I'm quite sure the four year old would merilly come with us off a lead rope anyway!

Found the traffic was marvelous and slowed right down for me - more so than usual and had the usual suspects ask where we'd lost a rider and had a laugh. I always have the lead horse in loosish side reins as it gives you a litttle more control as they can't rubber neck and then lead from a Lunge cavesson. I'd be worried that a bridle might come off if a bad situation arose?

It's a huge time saver and means I have time to get other jobs done instead of exercising both individually. I do do it midweek midday on the roads when they're quiet - wouldn't want to be doing it if it were busy.
 
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