Riding and leading...Opinions/experiences?

SophieLouBee

SophieLouBee

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I went on a hack on the big lad today, whilst leading the mare. This is the first time I have done this, all went well and both were very happy and well behaved (even if the big boy did tow poor mare along towards the end...).

Darcey seems to know where she is supposed to walk, and Murphy seems to just ignore her being there anyway, but is super responsive to the leg and moves over when I ask anyway.

I experimented with various ways, as in, riding with one hand and leading with the other, holding the reins and the lunge line at the same time, having Darcey right up beside us, or letting her go along behind.

I only hacked around the fields/quiet dead end lanes today, but i think I'd quite like to attempt different routes (obviously not busy roads) as all went swimmingly!

What do you guys think about it? Do any of you do it? Is it considered safe?

Hmmmm....


I've got some wierd chocolate pringle things from Aldi if anyone wants those!
 
If i didn't ride and lead with my 2, then my 12hh boy wouldn't get worked half as much as he needed! As long as the 2 of them are happy next to each other and they can be controlled it's not a problem. I take my 2 out on the main roads round our area and they are good as gold. People at my yard are jealous that I can exercise them both in one go! If I go out off the yard, my lead pony has his bridle on with his reins twisted and secured through his throatlash and then i just attach a leadrope through his bit rings onto the opposite side. Just remember you have to put yourself and your horse in between the traffic and lead rein pony so it keeps them boxed in and prevents them from suddenly moving when a car starts to pass! My little one starts off being the faster of the two and then gets tugged home as he wears himself out but is happy enough to trot to catch up!
 
I did a ride and lead minor qualification with my college course. Lots of people do it, the riding school I know often ride and lead two on each side, and I know polo ponies are used to being ridden and led up to six on each side!!

I always ride the bigger one / slower one / calmer one, and have the other on my right hand side.
 
I'm glad to here positive responses to be honest!

My mare actually seemed to enjoy it more than being ridden out on a hack, and I really enjoyed myself too! Plus the fact that I am usually short of time, so don't often get to ride both in a day, it seems a logical and fun answer!

I could only lead the mare though, Murphy is far to dumb to lead off another, he needs a rider to reassure him, where as Darcey listens to your voice and will follow Murphy.

I can't imagine leading six, let alone six on each side!!! I knew a lady who lead one on each side, she used to hammer around the lanes with them, they were as good as gold though, bless.
 
I used to ride and lead a lot, my coloured is a bit difficult so I don't bother with him.
A lot of the polo bods used to ride 1 and lead six, if the horses know what they are doing it is a wonderful time saver!!
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That was how we exercised the l.iveriesat the yard I worked in - and when I looked after 4 hunters on my own I'd sometimes ride one and lead 2.

We were always told to keep the led horse at knee level so that we could keep better control. Allowing the horse to get behind could result in being swept of the horse if the led horse decided to change sides.
 
I double up all the time but use a longer rope and not the lunge line.
It is important that the horse being led keeps up but, also needs to know how to drop behind when necessary.

I grew up riding and leading ponies to and from the fields, the norm was to ride and lead four. Thought nothing of it bit wouldn't do it today with the traffic on the roads.
 
SophieLouBee said:
I experimented with various ways, as in, riding with one hand and leading with the other, holding the reins and the lunge line at the same time, having Darcey right up beside us, or letting her go along behind.

What do you guys think about it? Do any of you do it? Is it considered safe?

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I ride with one hand and lead with the other, unless I have two and then I hold my reins and one rope in one hand, and another rope in the other hand. Like many others I used to exercise the ponies this way, I had very fit ponies from canters over the mountain!

I always keep their head just infront of my knee, that works for me. Letting them get back much further sometimes means that they can swing behind and then that's when things get a bit tricky. I always lead in a bridle with couplings and a 10' soft cotton rope (easier to keep hold of, and long enough to flick the lead horse on the bum if he's being lazy) I could see me getting into all kinds of a pickle with a lunge line!

Leading is safe if you are confident and your horses know what they are meant to be doing, it's the same as everything, a bit of practice in an enclosed area is worth a lot.
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horseless jorge! said:
I did a ride and lead minor qualification with my college course. Lots of people do it, the riding school I know often ride and lead two on each side, and I know polo ponies are used to being ridden and led up to six on each side!!

[\QUOTE]

Definitely not 6 on each side, for starters, you wouldn't be able to get through gateways!The most i've done on sets is 3 on each side, and that was only a walk set as you cant keep control with too many.

But, yes, ride and lead is a god send and I couldnt do my job (polo groom) if i did not do this.
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Ride and lead all the time as worked 4 seasons as a hunt groom and it's the norm. A lot of the horses weren't previously hunt horses, had a few ex-racehorses last season but they soon pick it up. I would never lead with with a lunge-line though, too much in your hand.
 
horseless jorge! said:
I always ride the bigger one / slower one / calmer one, and have the other on my right hand side.
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I can see why this may seem preferential, but I was taught that one should ride the trickiest one & have the led horse on the inside, ie the left. Thus protecting it from traffic etc, & the traffic from it.
 
I went for the lungeline today, as it was our first time, and if for some unknown reason she had an eppy, I'd have a bit more length to get her back with, without being yanked off Murph. I do agree though, if it comes unravelled, then it's a bugger to get back.

I have long leadropes, so will use them the next time.
 
Sorry to butt in on the thread....but I was wondering where you stand with insurance on leading and riding?

I lead our little welsh from my mare the other week, in the arena, and then went down the bridlepath and back, all went quite well apart from my girl was marching towards home and little 'un couldnt keep up! Had quite a bit of the pony on the lead swapping sides in the arena but was the first time I had attempted it so bound to get a few teething issues.

But if anyone knows anything about where we would stand with insurance, that would be great!!
 
I do it a lot with ours.

I have to ride my mare, who is fizzier, and lead the gelding, who is quite happy to bumble along at her shoulder. I swopped them round once, and she was forever trying to overtake, I had to keep sticking my foot out to physically stop her going past. Also she is much better at leg yield etc, so moves around better too.

The gelding is great for leading beginners on the leadrein.

I thread the reins through the bit. I found that attaching a leadrein to the bit was good with youngsters, and I put a few knots on the rope so that if they pulled back, the rope stopped at the next knot. I also found that leading the 3-4yr olds worked better with them being led in a plain headcollar, as they didn't get a clunk from the bit if they pulled back. We are on lovely quiet lanes and bridleways though.
 
Used to ride one/lead one when I did hunt horses. Led horse was in a bridle with lead rein through the bit.Led horse was always on the inside.
 
I have done plenty of riding my gelding whilst leading my mare when she came back into work after illness. It kept her nice and calm as she was with the boy and she seemed to know exactly what to do. In fact she is better behaved being led than what she is being ridden!
 
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