What age to stop lead rain

FlyingCircus said:
It shouldn't be that he's bomb-proof for his age, it should be that he's bombproof full stop. The greatest ponies to learn on in your first few years are those that are simply going through the motions they've done hundreds of times before. You can trust them to tootle around the arena with your kid on without question and you know that even a tractor back-firing, a kite coming close, a dragon jumping out of the bushes would not phase pony one bit and they'd just keep ambling on.

There's a reason people go for older ponies as their first.

When children are abit older with more experience and confidence under their belt is when they can go for more forward going, cheeky ponies that will really improve their riding ten-fold. But until then, a steady plod is usually best for them in terms of them learning the basics and improving in confidence.

I guess what i'm trying to say is...I don't think he's all that bombproof. It's your choice to put your kids on him, but a one eyed six year old is not what i'd choose as my kid's first pony. You says he's bombproof for his age, yet you've only known him 3 months and your asking for advice on a forum where we know nothing of your daughter's ability nor the pony. Why not ask the instructor what she thinks? She will have a better idea - it is her pony and she is teaching your daughter.
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I trust him, you don't know him so you can't judge him. He's a darling, he really is.
 
FlyingCircus said:
It shouldn't be that he's bomb-proof for his age, it should be that he's bombproof full stop. The greatest ponies to learn on in your first few years are those that are simply going through the motions they've done hundreds of times before. You can trust them to tootle around the arena with your kid on without question and you know that even a tractor back-firing, a kite coming close, a dragon jumping out of the bushes would not phase pony one bit and they'd just keep ambling on.

There's a reason people go for older ponies as their first.

When children are abit older with more experience and confidence under their belt is when they can go for more forward going, cheeky ponies that will really improve their riding ten-fold. But until then, a steady plod is usually best for them in terms of them learning the basics and improving in confidence.

I guess what i'm trying to say is...I don't think he's all that bombproof. It's your choice to put your kids on him, but a one eyed six year old is not what i'd choose as my kid's first pony. You says he's bombproof for his age, yet you've only known him 3 months and your asking for advice on a forum where we know nothing of your daughter's ability nor the pony. Why not ask the instructor what she thinks? She will have a better idea - it is her pony and she is teaching your daughter.
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At the riding school this morning my daughter was just been lead across the lane to get on the trail for her hack when this car just came screaming down the lane and slammed brakes on at last minute it stopped just a couple of feet away from my daughter, i was so pleased that the pony never flinched and my daughter didnt seem phased. The pony she rides their is just amazing my worry obviously was that the car would hit them but at no point did i worry the horse would spook.

on the way back an ambulance came screaming past again pony didnt flinch.

I was however so happy my daughter was on lead rope with a experienced instructor handling her as my nerves would have been shot.
 
taylorsxmummy said:
Yeah maybe I'm rushing :( she's just doing sooooo well, and I'm soooo proud of her!
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Be careful not to rush her. It's very exciting watching someone progress, but especially with children, one small hiccup can be enough to throw a major spanner in the works. A child I know who was having lessons got frightened one day by a pony being particularly strong, making her feel as if she'd got little control and it took her 3 years (yes, years) to want to get back on a pony again after she'd felt that panicky feeling associated with not being in full control.

Take it easy, let her enjoy it :) Just because someone else is off the lead rein doesn't mean she's ready to be. Everyone progresses at different rates and it doesn't matter if she comes off the lead rein tomorrow or in two years - just needs to be whenever she's in control and confident enough.
 
Joolz75 said:
At the riding school this morning my daughter was just been lead across the lane to get on the trail for her hack when this car just came screaming down the lane and slammed brakes on at last minute it stopped just a couple of feet away from my daughter, i was so pleased that the pony never flinched and my daughter didnt seem phased. The pony she rides their is just amazing my worry obviously was that the car would hit them but at no point did i worry the horse would spook.

on the way back an ambulance came screaming past again pony didnt flinch.

I was however so happy my daughter was on lead rope with a experienced instructor handling her as my nerves would have been shot.
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See, these kinds of ponies are awesome little ponies for riders to learn on. They can learn the basics without having to deal with the pony misbehaving or over-reacting.
 
FlyingCircus said:
See, these kinds of ponies are awesome little ponies for riders to learn on. They can learn the basics without having to deal with the pony misbehaving or over-reacting.
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Agreed, shes only 5 as well this pony shes a little star!

The riding school are really listening to what we want, her to learn but more importantly to enjoy so im pleased theyve offered to split her lessons into schooling and a hack as its not too intense.

My friend where we look after the ponys will give her practice inbetween her proper lessons too which is fab and weve arranged to watch another girl having her lessons so my daughter can listen to the instructions and watch what to do so hoping it might sink in.
 
taylorsxmummy said:
I trust him, you don't know him so you can't judge him. He's a darling, he really is.
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I said myself in the post you quoted that none of us know the pony. It just sounds like you are unsure, seeing as you're asking for advice. I do not see why you're not asking advice from the owner/instructor - seeing as they know the pony and the child.
 
FlyingCircus said:
I said myself in the post you quoted that none of us know the pony. It just sounds like you are unsure, seeing as you're asking for advice. I do not see why you're not asking advice from the owner/instructor - seeing as they know the pony and the child.
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I ask her a lot advice, but I thought this was a friendly forum.. How wrong.

Iv said before I have no confidence, and always second guessing myself.
 
taylorsxmummy said:
I ask her a lot advice, but I thought this was a friendly forum.. How wrong.

Iv said before I have no confidence, and always second guessing myself.
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This forum really isn't all that bad. It really depends on your attitude to people's replies as to what you'll gain from it. If you're defensive, you're more likely to find your time here frustrating. If you're accepting that some people think different things and lots of people have different ideas about what is right, then you might even learn a thing or two and make some friends along the way.

From what i've seen since being here (not very long being a member, but long time lurker) those that are open to suggestions tend to get along with people and enjoy themselves much more.

:) It's meant to be fun - just because you disagree with what some people think does not mean that the forum still can't be fun and a good source of info.
 
It isnt the age of the rider that counts really it is the age and experience of the pony
I have owned my highland for 16 years since she was 18 months old I know her inside out and would trust her off lead with any age/experience child my 10 year old granddaughter had her first few strides of canter on her today she is a 13.2 highland pony who carefully arranges her feet to keep the child in the saddle no matter where the child overbalances to. This is the type of pony that is needed before you let them loose. Absolutely bombproof in any situation and calm and preferably slow and again preferably in an enclosed space as even the most trust worthy of ponies can get a fright
 
My kids spent ages on lead rein at pony club, and it is not age based either, it depends a lot on the pony (how good it is), and the child (confident/capable).

I started my kids off the lead rein in small yard about 20 x 40 - I told them to not worry about steering (where they went) or speed (what gait) but just to stay on/with the pony, keep the pony going whether that was walk/trot/canter. This did a lot for their seat, and also their hands, as they mostly rode with a loose rein, and stayed with the pony instead of hanging on with their hands.

This gave them confidence and a good position, then took the lead rein off and walked with them for a bit.
 
If I remember correctly there was a previous unsuitable pony and your daughter hasn't been riding Bentley long at all

With even only that in mind I would keep up with the leading for a bit longer then progress to a lunge as someone has suggested

It will all come in time, better that than a knock on the confidence
 
Based on your previous posts would keep on the lead rein for a bit longer as if pony has spooked and then figures out there is no one there to hold him back he may react differently. Suggest you get a really long lunge line and gradually reduce the length when you have full confidence to let go:)
 
I'm really sorry OP but when asking for advise one has to be accepting of any opinion that comes along be it what you want to hear or not. Nobody has been particularly bitchy against yourself but said their piece and stated their reasons why. I know it's difficult but if you don't want the honest response, don't post the question.

There's no sugar coating here as an instructor or friend may do, it's straight, upfront and at times blunt.

:)
 
I'd leave her on longer. How can you miss the joys of running around cross country and show jumping courses leading them. Get those trainers out it will be a long haul yet! We went through stages of off and on lead rein which was not only dependent on what we were doing with the pony but also on daughters confidence which when that young and be up and down.
 
Agree with everything windand rain said. I think if you have that old schoolmaster complete dobbin its a bit easier than a young one. Once a child is able to halt, steer, manage her reins herself whilst mum is dangling on the very end of the rope then its time to try off the lead rein. I was very lucky in that when my daughter started to ride at 5yrs she never went on the lead rein as she had a very dobbin pony to learn on. It is hard but I also think its important not to have them on the lead for many years. I see so many children at PC stay on the lead until they are 8yrs, because they can until that age, but then they really struggle to ride independently as all they've done for 3/4yrs is get dragged along by mum & dad to win those LR classes but they haven't learned to actually ride themselves. It's getting that balance of having the safety of the lead rein but still learning to be in control themselves xx
 
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