Transition from Leadrein pony to hacking by herself. Will it work?

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Scot123

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Hello, just looking to see others experiences here please :) I am considering buying a 15 year old, 12.2hh, welsh x who has only ever been used as a leadrein pony. However, I (as an adult) am looking to ride the pony myself, hacking out alone. I was wondering how others would handle the transition from leadrein to going out by herself? Anything in particular that I should be aware of or looking to do from a training point of view? I'm not a hugely experienced rider but will have experienced back-up if needed! Thanks.
 
you could attempt long reining to see if she can listen to your aids but having to go forward without someone by her head?
hopefully somebody with more experience might have some useful tips!
kate
 
Thank you. So basically just really the same as you'd do with any new pony? Lots of groundwork, leading out and gaining trust? Nothing specific to the leadrein issue, just a lot of general groundwork?
 
If its a proper lead rein pony it should be used to voice aids and will have been lunged a long reined when it was broken. If its a pony that just had a child plonked on its back and trailed around I would start from scratch. Also lead rein ponies tend to have no idea about leg aids as either the child is too small or too uncoordinated to use them properly.
When you come to canter you may have problems as generally they don't canter or if they do not very much.
If I was you I would find a hacking buddy to start with, just so if you do have any problems there is someone to take the lead.
 
My lead rein pony is completely bombproof and will hack, through or past anything without blinking a eye.

I do however, long rein and lunge him to give him extra exercise so he knows voice commands. I have seen ponies that just plant their feet and refuse to move if they don't have a leader though or buck constantly. Not always the ponies fault, if that's all they've known for many years!

Good luck :-)
 
Have you tried hacking him out alone and see what happens? You'll soon see how much work you have to do (if any) and get an idea if you can sort it or not!!
 
It very much depends on the pony. If its a proper lr pony, it will be used to being led from the shoulder & lunged, longlined etc. Or if its the other type, that is just used to trundling along behind an adult, it could be more work, because the pony won't be used to listening to a rider, just following the person on the ground. How you deal with it depends which the pony is.
 
Thanks - that all makes sense. Well, whichever sort of pony he is, I know he's fairly bombproof and seems to have a lovely nature so that's a good start! Lots of groundwork isn't a problem so we can take it from there and see what happens/how long it takes. Many thanks.
 
I'd start in the school or an enclosed space and just check the pony has leg aids installed and basic steering and stopping without a leader. Then start in company and work your way from there, see if pony will go infront and incresase the time in front until the pony can lead all the way then venture round a familiar route alone.
 
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