what bit for first ridden, mountain and moorland classes etc for lead rein classes.

[lisa_lou]

Seen loads of little ponies in Wilkie bits at shows , starting my youngster out under saddle this yr for lead rein classes and wondered if I should put him in a snaffle or a Wilkie, what would judges prefer to see?

 

[WelshD]

A snaffle

The Wilkie isn't really a lead rein bit but they are very in vogue.

A judge would prefer to see a snaffle

That wouldn't stop them picking a pony in a Wilkie if everything else was spot on though

There is a great pleasure in saying your pony is always well behaved in a snaffle and while I'm not against Wilkies I don't think they really fall in to the snaffle category personally

 

[ozpoz]

A snaffle is best for a child's pony, but the lead rein should be attached to the noseband.

 

[Littlelegs]

Agree with Welsh d, wilkie snaffle is a misnomer imo. And as a parent I wouldn't call a pony that can't go nicely & safely in a simple snaffle a fr or lr pony, regardless of what a judge says.

 

[windand rain]

If you are just starting it I would use the simplest bit available

 

[Bobbly]

A lead rein or f/r pony IMO should be capable of self carriage in a simple snaffle, do as much as is asked and NOTHING more bearing in mind that some tiny tots are incapable of being of any use as a jockey other than completing the picture in a lot of cases, I like to judge the pony as being suitable to carry such a precious cargo safely, steadily and must listen to the handler above all especially if the jockey has no real bearing in it's control. This takes a long time to teach the pony it's job as the handler needs to be able to have a light hand on the lead rein and be able to control the speed and direction and the halting by voice commands. Said pony should be seen be able to encourage the child to 'take up the reins' and begin to learn to ride it properly and then move on to first ridden classes. Lead rein ponies must not canter and I'd be reluctant to teach a new or younger pony to do so until it was firmly established with it's lead rein role.