Ride and Lead tips please

[claracanter]

Hi, I’ve recently got a young horse to bring on as my older one reaches his late teens. I’m thinking forward to the winter, the lack of daylight and having two horses to exercise, so I’d like to try ride and lead. What’s the best way to go about this please? I’ve got a few months to practice first so have you got any tips please? Whenever I see people doing it round here, it looks great.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Have someone walking as well to begin with, just with a loose "safety line" that isn't used unless needed.
Have the led pony in bridle, not a head collar.
Put your lead rope through both bit rings, not just the side nearest to you.
Keep the pony's head near your knee - don't let him get further in front of that otherwise you're doomed!

 

[AmyMay]

Pony being led is always on the inside.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Are they used to being tied up together? Are they relaxed side by side?
If so, step 2 would be yourself and your assistant lead them round the school together with new horse a bit behind, with his head where your knee would be if you were riding. New horse needs to get used to the "lead horse" cutting in front of him when you make a left turn.
Step 3, you ride but assistant still leads beside you, with horse's head beside your knee.

 

[Kaylum]

We use a bridle with old fashioned cotton draw reins so you can attached it to each side of the bridle to begin with, then move to a long read rope.

Horse begin lead on the inside. Try round the yard first.

 

[millitiger]

Ride the lazy/ naughty one and lead the one more likely to listen to your voice aids.

I like a bridle and I attach my lead to outside bit rung, over the poll and through the inside bit rung.
I like a line that is thin enough to hold and about 8-10feet long.

Practice in a field first, making sure you can turn left and right and make sure you can trot without too much silliness!

I find horses tend to find it quite natural and don't take much training to understand it.

I've always found it easier to ride the youngster and lead the older (hopefully) sensible one, as youngsters tend to need a bit more leg support and their attention can also wander when being led!

 

[Cragrat]

All good advice.
Only thing to repeat is ALWAYS keep the led horses' head by your knee - never let it in front of your knee (where it might nip the ridden horse or push it across, making it change direction) or behind your knee ( again, it could take a crafty nip, and get kicked in return). Even, or especially, best pals take nips at each other, playful or otherwise!

I'm afraid I lead from a headcollar, with a longish rope directly attached so there is no weght swinging under the chin. I do hours and hours every winter.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Try in a school or field first so your safe if you need to let go or your lead horse gets loose.
The one yard I rode at used to use a dually halter for the lead horses it was brilliant and they all prefered it to a bridle and it gave more control than a standard head collar.
And lead the more forward going horse.

 

[Melody Grey]

Once you’re up and going, try trotting, circles, canter if you’re brave enough in the school, that way you’re prepared for unexpected speed out in the wild! You’ll be fine, I think it comes quite naturally most horses.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Would you all ride and lead on quiet lanes? Twenty years ago I would ride one and lead two hunters to get them fit. The older me is more anxious. I have two very sensible types. This could work for us…. So wondering on the protocol these days.

 

[Melody Grey]

Would you all ride and lead on quiet lanes? Twenty years ago I would ride one and lead two hunters to get them fit. The older me is more anxious. I have two very sensible types. This could work for us…. So wondering on the protocol these days.

Yes, I get out and about all over the place with the pony with/without rider. In more built up areas, it can be helpful that you’re the width of a vehicle as drivers are less likely to try to squeeze by you. I often trot to prevent holding traffic up. I have a long enough rope on the pony that we can do single file if required. Works really well or me- we’re all high vizzed up too, so more visible.

 

[Kaylum]

I have done this down quite a busy road and your outside horse shields the other. Just make sure you practice well first. We used to take a string of them out.

 

[Squeak]

I haven't done a huge amount of ride and lead but I found I needed to lead the dominant one as otherwise the submissive one was too scared to come close to the dominant one being ridden whereas the dominant one had no such issues and was happy that when it was being led it was working and so wasn't to boss around the submissive one.

 

[Northern Hare]

Would you all ride and lead on quiet lanes? Twenty years ago I would ride one and lead two hunters to get them fit. The older me is more anxious. I have two very sensible types. This could work for us…. So wondering on the protocol these days.

I used to love ride and lead, I think if you've got a well-suited pair, they really enjoy going out together. It's years ago since I did it though, and I even R&L around Hyde Park Corner on more than one occasion - although that does send shivers now I think about it - there's no way I'd do that now!

 

[Belmont]

All good advice here. I've done ride & lead with several different horses and never had a problem. Can't see it mentioned already but I always pop an overreach boot on the near hind of the ridden horse, just incase the lead horse steps on him.

 

[Goldenstar]

I ride and lead a lot is a great way to get younger horses out and about without the weight of the rider , it’s also good for old horses .
pits a good thing to teach them to do .

 

[gunnergundog]

The only thing I would add to the advice already given is to add a good old fashioned drop noseband to the bridles of both horses. Stops any biting malarky!

Also, I use a rope that is longer than a lead rope, but shorter than a lunge line AND it has a big knot in the end!

Practice makes perfect! When my horses were in this country I was on a big yard that would go out with multiple ride and leads, so it was easy to 'sandwich in' a novice pair in the middle so you had a pair to follow plus a pair pushing you forwards from the rear end! This is the ideal, but obviously not always achieveable.

 

[Maesfen]

The only thing I would add to the advice already given is to add a good old fashioned drop noseband to the bridles of both horses. Stops any biting malarky!

Also, I use a rope that is longer than a lead rope, but shorter than a lunge line AND it has a big knot in the end!

Practice makes perfect! When my horses were in this country I was on a big yard that would go out with multiple ride and leads, so it was easy to 'sandwich in' a novice pair in the middle so you had a pair to follow plus a pair pushing you forwards from the rear end! This is the ideal, but obviously not always achieveable.

I always preferred one with a loop on the end simply because I'd always bang my knee with the knot and which I would hold against my hand then fold the extra over like a continuous snake, not looped around as there's less risk of getting your hand trapped tight and the loop (just like your knot) was a better anchor for me; it's amazing what shapes you can put yourself into when hanging on to one that's ar$ing about as long as you've got that anchor!
Echo - bridle always; keep by your knee and if it goes to bite either you or the horse, don't be afraid to slap it; that's not on and once it's got away with doing it, it'll keep on doing it; nip it in the bud.
Good luck; used to love ride and lead, it's fun.

 

[Taliesan]

I absolutely love ride and lead. My boys really enjoy going out in our little family unit as well.

From my experience I'd definitely recommend having someone on the ground for the first few times, just in case.

I did practice in the arena first but, in all honesty, the arena is so different to what is required on the roads it was kind of pointless for my two.

What has been worth its weight in gold for me is teaching solid voice cues to both horses.

They know walk, trot, whoa and "get in" (easily the most valuable, as I can say this and both will tuck neatly into whatever verge space is available).

Jack, the one I ride, is unphased by any of Apollo's silliness. So if Apollo thinks about trying something to amuse himself I can trust Jack to watch after us whilst I gently remind Pol that self-entertainment is not acceptable in such circumstances. It is really important that the horse you are riding won't get wound up by the one you are leading.

Admittedly, I don't follow any of the guidance from other posters above about not letting the horse being lead go in front and I take Apollo out in his normal headcollar. I do know my two like the back of my hand though and it is my choice to handle them in this way. (They also live out together year round and are very close friends.)

Apollo also knows the "wait up" cue which means, if he is ahead, he slows up until he is back alongside Jack.

There are times where it is safer for me to let Pol go up front (woodland bridle paths) as Jack prefers being behind and Pol hates not being able to see where he is going. That said, I do evaluate every situation at the time and determine what is safest for all of us in each particular circumstance.

I've also taught Apollo decent recall and he knows that if I ever drop his rope (for whatever reason) he needs to either stand and wait for me or come back when I call him. Thankfully this has only happened to me once, but it is always worth having something like this trained, in my opinion at least.




He is on a lead rope here - you just can't see it as it runs under Jack's face. This is exactly the sort of situation where voice cues are so useful though as I can tell Apollo what I'd like him to do and Jack is much happier following his lead. (Jack is not a brave hacking horse and would always much rather be behind, having Pol alongside or up front, helps him feel much more at ease.)

 

[Polos Mum]

Lots of good advice, I found myself in a race with myself across a stubble field when I let a canter get a bit out of control (no harm done but keeping one by my knee would have been better !)

I have a very particular lead rope I use, it's slightly thinner than most of mine (effectively you're riding with 2 reins - and I'm not super used to that). I hold them as if riding with 2 reins so the leading rope is in both hands firmly.

It's also longer than usual so if the leading one has a wobble - there's some distance for him to go before I run out of rope, it also has a big knot in the end so it can't be whipped through my hands too easily.

Mine go perfectly if I ride the dominant one, i tried the other way around and all three of us agreed it was a bad idea !

 

[Maesfen]

Just a word of warning for those that lead in a headcollar on the roads.
If anything happens and your horse causes damage; one, the Police won't be amused because you haven't taken all due care to prevent trouble and two; if you are insured, then again, your company might deny any claim for the same reason.
Believe me, I know someone this happened to and it caused them a lot of hassle and an empty pocket.

 

[claracanter]

Lots of good advice, I found myself in a race with myself across a stubble field when I let a canter get a bit out of control (no harm done but keeping one by my knee would have been better !)

I have a very particular lead rope I use, it's slightly thinner than most of mine (effectively you're riding with 2 reins - and I'm not super used to that). I hold them as if riding with 2 reins so the leading rope is in both hands firmly.

It's also longer than usual so if the leading one has a wobble - there's some distance for him to go before I run out of rope, it also has a big knot in the end so it can't be whipped through my hands too easily.

Mine go perfectly if I ride the dominant one, i tried the other way around and all three of us agreed it was a bad idea !

Love the image of you racing yourself but must have been quite scary

 

[claracanter]

I absolutely love ride and lead. My boys really enjoy going out in our little family unit as well.

From my experience I'd definitely recommend having someone on the ground for the first few times, just in case.

I did practice in the arena first but, in all honesty, the arena is so different to what is required on the roads it was kind of pointless for my two.

What has been worth its weight in gold for me is teaching solid voice cues to both horses.

They know walk, trot, whoa and "get in" (easily the most valuable, as I can say this and both will tuck neatly into whatever verge space is available).

Jack, the one I ride, is unphased by any of Apollo's silliness. So if Apollo thinks about trying something to amuse himself I can trust Jack to watch after us whilst I gently remind Pol that self-entertainment is not acceptable in such circumstances. It is really important that the horse you are riding won't get wound up by the one you are leading.

Admittedly, I don't follow any of the guidance from other posters above about not letting the horse being lead go in front and I take Apollo out in his normal headcollar. I do know my two like the back of my hand though and it is my choice to handle them in this way. (They also live out together year round and are very close friends.)

Apollo also knows the "wait up" cue which means, if he is ahead, he slows up until he is back alongside Jack.

There are times where it is safer for me to let Pol go up front (woodland bridle paths) as Jack prefers being behind and Pol hates not being able to see where he is going. That said, I do evaluate every situation at the time and determine what is safest for all of us in each particular circumstance.

I've also taught Apollo decent recall and he knows that if I ever drop his rope (for whatever reason) he needs to either stand and wait for me or come back when I call him. Thankfully this has only happened to me once, but it is always worth having something like this trained, in my opinion at least.

View attachment 122795

View attachment 122796
He is on a lead rope here - you just can't see it as it runs under Jack's face. This is exactly the sort of situation where voice cues are so useful though as I can tell Apollo what I'd like him to do and Jack is much happier following his lead. (Jack is not a brave hacking horse and would always much rather be behind, having Pol alongside or up front, helps him feel much more at ease.)

Riding and leading and tacking photos. Might be a few years before I get to that skill level

 

[maya2008]

Have a lead rein of longline length so you can let it out if one stops and one spooks a bit, or one decides to reverse, or…

I lead from a bridle - you can get a bit attachment that clips to both bit rings then hangs underneath for your lead rein to attach to. Or go through one side of the bit to the other ring. Don’t go over the head if horse has small ears - if they pull back, the whole bridle can come off that way!

Ride the young one, lead the older one. At least until they know the routes and are less likely to take off with you attached at the sight of an unfamiliar rock/deer/opening in the hedge.

 

[J&S]

I have done and and still do lead and ride. I used to take two out on the forest when I was living there, i once met some one who said "what a shame you don't have a rider for the spare one" and my thoughts were, actually I like it this way, my family, my two ponies and the dog!! Now in Devon I still do it, I ride the younger pony and lead the old mare to save her back but give her an outing. Otherwise I agree with Millitiger, ride the slow one and lead the sparkier one. Our lanes are very narrow so we go single file in passing places, turn on a sixpence to go back into a gap if necessary. It makes them very handy. I used to canter but not now, too weak and feeble in old age!!

 

[Rowreach]

Hi viz on both horses, horsewalker hi viz rugs are useful for this. And hi viz on you of course.

I use old fashioned cotton plaited reins to lead with and I keep them buckled, passed through the right bit ring from the lhs, because if something goes awry you are more likely to be able to hang on than to a rope, and there's less to get muddled with - you really really don't want to be leading with anything you can get stuck round your foot, which is very possible with a long rope.

 

[Time for Tea]

Lots of good advice here. I have done a lot of ride and lead, usually on a pony leading my horse. People always want to stop me and ask why not ride the big one and lead the small one. Including my vet. Because the small one is naughty! He is very good at being lead horse, but quite capable of jamming the brakes on and eating something, usually when you have had to go in single file through a gap so he is behind, nearly pulling you off. The mare was marvellous to lead, though, you didn’t know you had her there at all. Just holding the rope with nothing in your hands. Like a puff of thistledown following you. Trotting is great, cantering can get a bit hairy. I have tried with one of my youngsters and my older lead pony. This young one has no sense of personal space and likes to go along pressing on your lower leg and foot all the time. He is most put out when you shove him off.
It’s a very good way of exercising two at once. My daughter used to ride one polo pony and lead two on each side years ago in Australia. I think I would have got in a frightful tangle.

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

Great fan of ponying youngsters off sensible, established older horses. The young ones take their cues of how the older horse reacts to traffic, spooky things, pigs (!), ditches, crossing water etc. and it can really build their confidence for when they go out under saddle in due course as they've already experienced the challenges they might be exposed to as ridden horses.
They should be at an appropriate place in their starting process before this is attempted as they really need to be comfortable being led in a bridle as this is a requirement to conform to Highways regs as your insurance may be invalidated otherwise.

 

[Landcruiser]

I regularly lead my young (unbitted unbacked) mare out in a rope halter with a 12 ft rope. On the road I keep her at my knee, but we also ride forest paths and tracks when she has to drop behind and be single file, so long rope particularly useful.
Top tips - wear a grippy glove on your "leading" (left) hand. Carry a hi viz schooling whip in your right for keeping traffic away but also tapping youngster on the backside when she decides to nap (improving). Whip can be tucked down your boot when not in use.
Make sure lead horse in manoeuvrable in all directions, back up can be very handy if led horse stops for any reason. Beware being hauled backwards!
Practice in enclosed space first, including turns in both directions, swapping sides (contingency, for example passing pigs, my mare wanted to hide behind older horse and would not pass the pigs unless on my right).
Make very sure BOTH horses know how to stop and stand (eg at a junction) without titting about.

 

[Stenners]

I used to exercise polo ponies so often I'd go out with with 4/5 at a time (ride 1 and lead 3/4) and we used to go around the lanes and the grounds of the polo yard. I love riding and leading. Definitely more tricky with more than one and takes some getting used too! You'll soon get into the swing of it.