Teaching a horse to ride and lead

J

Jesstickle

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Do you have to teach them or do they just follow along? Was thinking of taking Nitty for a wander from the back of BH (not on the roads!) and wondered if it was as easy as that. I pony her up to the field occasionally and she just tags along, does that mean she already knows how?
 
I rode round the field bareback pulling her along behind yesterday. She seemed mildly confused that I expected her to walk round where her grass was but was quiet enough. Maybe I'll have a few more goes at home and then approach the great outdoors. OH will just have to walk behind in case of emergency!
 
Hi, I do it with my 2 regularly and have always done it with youngsters to get them used to the big wide world.

I just get on & do it, starting with short easy rides where you won't bump into too much and they soon get to learn how it works. I can now canter on the moors with my 2 and they think it's a great game :D

If you search posts on here there is conflicting advice, but I always put the horse being led in a secure headcollar although others state the correct way is a bridle. I have had situations in the past where one of mine has pulled away so I wouldn't want to chance loose reins in that situation.

Always keep the horse being led on your left hand side & keep them up close - don't let them drag behind at all. The only time I let them go directly behind me is on narrow lanes when we stop to let traffic through.

My top tip is ALWAYS to wear gloves, and it's also easier to dismount if the ridden horse can do a turn on the forehand to give you a bit more space to land.

Have fun :)
 
I did it with my two last year for the first time - was very nervous about it but it went like a dream, even ended up being able to canter together.

I put the led horse in a bridle and put the lead-rope through the bit rings to the far side as you would when lungeing.

Sonjafoers - interesting what you said about having the led horse on your left, I always had the led horse on my right - but I didn't have to go on any roads so that wasn't a consideration for me.
 
I always keep the horse being led to the left JennBags for a number of reasons.

Firstly traffic like you say, it's a must to have the horse you have most control over traffic-side, especially when idiot drivers like to barge on past you! Also for this reason too I can sometimes ride on the road but put the other horse onto grass verges if they are low & flat so I take up less room.

I also find it easier at gates. If I have the horse being led on the right hand side & open a gate I find that it can tempt them to go on through the gap before the gate is open enough to ride through. If they are on the left they can't go until the gate is open fully & you have enough space to allow both through.
 
That's interesting. Traffic I had thought of, but not gates.

We don't do gates at the best of times, so I only went on routes that didn't have any gates.
 
It does depend which way the gate opens of course but I do seem to get on best doing it that way as most of the gates I come across have the catches on the right!

I do enjoy it & do it regularly in wet weather or really hot weather to save me going out twice. I was doing it 3 weeks after breaking my collarbone too because I couldn't mount very easily so I didn't want to ride two. I was very careful for obvious reasons but the air was blue when the one being led slammed on anchors to have a pooh - it was my left collarbone I broke so you can imagine the language :D
 
I can't do gates at the best of times, fortunately I don't come across any just bimbling about the stubble so it'll be ok!

Definitely wouldn't take my two ride and lead on our roads. They aren't very horse friendly at the best of times (see my pictures in PG on the I love my hacking thread if you think I'm exaggerating) and I think people might find it a bit unreasonable if I was two a breast the whole time!

Will probably put Nits on the left purely because I'm better with both my reins in my right hand than both my reins in my left hand!
 
You need to keep your reins in both hands as normal jesstickle, just hold the leadrope with your reins.

Keep the excess lead rope dangling with the loop of the reins if that makes sense and the spare tail of the leadrope down the right hand side.

You will have much more control this way rather than letting one arm get dragged back at times. If your horses are in the correct position you will see how easy it is.
 
I might have a little go tonight. BH will be most peed off as he already jumped this morning but it'll do the fat boy good!
 
He probably won't think of it as work initially, mine love it & think it's a game. I alternate which one I ride each time because the ridden one always thinks they are boss!

Let us know how you get on.
 
Ah ok fair point :D :D

It will be great for her then, she can get out & see the world without too much stress. Good for their education!
 
It's a great way to keep horses fit when you have little time or too many horses! One hunter yard I worked in I had four to work everyday so I'd ride one and lead two. One on each side.

The first time I took one of them out on the lead he was great going down the very long drive but th emoment I hit the road he started to hang back - and an hour later I had an arm twice as long as the other. Next time I took him out I took a schooling whip and when he started to lag I reached around behind me and whopped him on the bum - he was great from that day on!

I generally lead in a bridle though, except with the youngsters who I lead in a lunge cavesson.
 
Always led in a bridle but with a longer lead rein, never a pair of reins a) because I didn't want them broken if I did lose it b) because a lead rein is longer so gives you a bit more leeway c) lead reins are usually a lot softer and more mallable which makes it more comfortable. Always wear gloves too. It helps if you can go out in company the first couple of times so that the one behind can chivvy on your led horse if it drags a bit; they soon get used to it and try to keep their noses by your knee, never in front of that else it's harder if they spook and want to shoot forward; glued by your knee you have far more control but always allow the horse enough lead to move naturally, don't string it up else you might have knocked legs as it's leg would go all over the place.

Interestingly, when I worked in Beaufort country, they always rode and led on the right which I preferred to on the left when traffic get up your backside, don't know if they do that now.
 
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