Training of lead-rein ponies

[MagicMelon]

I have a nice native lead-rein pony who I think could probably do quite well in showing classes if I trained her appropriately. Without a small experienced rider on hand to school her properly (my son is just turning 4), how do most people work their lead-rein ponies, is it simply a case of lungeing with side reins / Pessoa on all the time?

 

[FfionWinnie]

I don't know how the show people do it but I would do it on long reins. You can work them as if you are on their back, with practice.

 

[Orson Cart]

Long lining, lunging, breaking to drive and all of the groundwork that you would do with a larger horse ie moving off voice cues as well as the usual moving away from pressure, lateral work from the ground etc. Standing square and true very valuable if you are looking to show. We also do Inhand jumping for fun at home

 

[Nappy Croc]

Lots of side reins For the ring you'll see they all trot perfectly beside the handlers and keep their heads down with tots holding on. So consistently working in side reins and bombproofing seem to be most important! You can get the reins with the side rein buckles for ridden practice too.

 

[Walrus]

Some producers I used to stable with used to "hack" their lead reins in-hand, tacked up with either side reins or the reins tucked behind the stirrups, they would walk them round some of our shorter off road hacking loops. They also used to be ridden by either lightweight adults or competent older children, but they never got them too fit.

 

[minesadouble]

I would always hack a lead rein pony out in hand tacked up, in side reins, mainly for bombproofing reasons. Also work in the school tacked up with no jockey, training to voice commands is also very useful for a LR pony.