Riding aid for lead rein pony

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BWa

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We have just got a lovely little pony for my daughter, she isn't a competition pony just for wandering round the farm but could do with some muscle in the right place.
I can't lunge once the paddocks get wet so looking for something to use whilst ridden.. my daughter is not yet using the reins just holding on the pommel strap. What would mimic good reins- Harbridge, lungie bungie, training rein over the poll thing?
The obvious one is side reins but not looking to strap her head down.
TIA
 
The best way to build up correct muscle is actively working, going forward from behind and learning to drop their heads as their back lifts up when they really use themselves, any aid will potentially just strap the head in/ down if the pony is not moving properly forward in the first place so I would forget any gadgets and just allow the muscles to build up naturally with plenty of time out in the field and let your daughter enjoy her wandering for now.
If you have time to do some long reining that will help as an alternative to lunging.
 
You might also want to think what you really 'need' the muscle for. I'm not for a moment suggesting you want to encourage working incorrectly or have your pony in poor condition. But, if pony is just for a little sit-up and walk and is happy doing that and fit enough to do so, that might be all you need at this stage - having a very fit pony with muscle and energy your daughter has no use for isn't necessarily what you want at this stage. I mean if pony won't compete and isn't even going to be used as much as a LR pony in a RS it doesn't 'need' to be as fit as one.
 
Thanks, by muscle I meant topline rather than fit pony. Said pony is 22 at just a point where condition/topline will be hard to recover once gone, she mostly tummy and her spine could do with more coverage so to speak, just thought something to mimic a decent contact would help her work properly. She is nicely forward going and just wanting to keep her fit for the job rather than letting get old quick if you see what I mean.
Thanks though.
 
BWa said:
Thanks, by muscle I meant topline rather than fit pony. Said pony is 22 at just a point where condition/topline will be hard to recover once gone, she mostly tummy and her spine could do with more coverage so to speak, just thought something to mimic a decent contact would help her work properly. She is nicely forward going and just wanting to keep her fit for the job rather than letting get old quick if you see what I mean.
Thanks though.
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Rein contact does not create topline. How could it? If the contact is stronger than the impulsion/leg/seat aids if will simply cause neck muscle problems . I doubt that your rider will have strong enough legs to match the effect of the contact. As suggested above long-reining should help to keep her fit, if you have time to do that.

I second the suggestion to have her tested for Cushings if she hasn't been tested recently.
 
Why will long reining be better for her than being ridden by a little passenger? She isn't going to be anymore forward going on the the long reins as she is nice and active anyway so all that will differ is more contact on the reins from me? Which isn't what is required apparently?!
Sorry to be argumentative but seems to contradict advice.
 
I personally wouldnt care much about topline, if the pony is being kept active through just being led out with your daughter and turned out then I'd be happy enough with that. My sons 6yo pony is still on the lead rein, she could do with beginning to work a bit more properly as Ive never bothered so she just goes along strung out with no outline at all - its done its purpose, she jumps and does PC like this but Im only considering getting her to work better now that he's doing the odd ridden class where it would make a difference. I'll just be lunging her come spring to try to work on it, I tried to get a small rider for her but nobody came forward - you could try that? Is there any non-lead rein kid nearby who would enjoy riding your pony to keep her fitter?
 
There is a great FB page for first ridden/lead rein ponies and lots of very experienced people on there who are less willing to judge someone who would like to put top line on a little pony. If you are hoping to do some LR showing next summer then definitely look to build up the pony's topline to promote a natural outline. Just because the pony is older does not mean it has cushings.
 
I agree with testing for cushings-also worth looking at the feed in general. No amount of feed will create a carefully muscled topline but it might be that she could use a general supplement if she is only getting grass. I only say this as my welsh A is 17 now, hasn't been in ridden work for 7 years now due to arthritis and just gets a bit of inhand work every now and again but still has good topline and muscle from going out in a big hilly field most of the day and from feed-he gets fat on thin air but does have cider vinegar, linseed oil and a general supplement with a handful of chaff and he looks good on it without it heating him up (trust me, he does not need to be any sharper!) or making him fat. In addition, I would recommend long reining said pony, up and down fields gently, and over poles in the school to get her to pick up her back end, and work into a bit more of a contact. I don't think side reins are the devils work personally as long as they are loose enough that they only come into play when the pony is going forwards properly and starts to seek the contact down. I have used them on said sharp Welsh when working him inhand in the school, and actually find them quite useful to encourage him to seek a steady contact that I just can't mimic from the ground, and fix them so they don't come into play if he isn't going forwards into the contact. I've managed to keep my non-ridden pony in show condition for several years this way, and he's never looked out of place in some pretty big county classes. Just some food for thought.
 
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