When did your child go off-lead and how?

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MagicMelon

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My sons still a small 4yo so I'm in absolutely no hurry and know its a long way off which is absolutely fine, but at the same time I'd like a plan as to what I should be teaching him now to help him later when I finally unclip the lead (terrifying thought!). He's been on a pony regularly since he could sit upright and is now confidently doing lead-rein 50cm show jumping and fun classes like handy pony etc. and is cantering on lead (if my OH runs fast enough. He's your typical boy so things have to be kept fun). At home, I have attached reins onto each side of a headcollar to give him the idea of turning and stopping without touching her mouth. Im also trying to not hold on so tightly and beginning to back off a little. The pony is only a 5yo so not experienced although good as gold (was ridden off lead prior to us buying her). I plan to lunge her more regularly to get voice commands ingrained into her and start long reining. Then I guess once these things come together, I clip on a lunge rein and slowly start letting them go out further? Does this all sound right? How old was your child when they were finally unclipped (and what were they on)? I will be bribing a small child to hopefully ride her at the odd event off-lead so she gets more experience under her belt meantime (sadly I am not gifted with being small enough to fit on her). Does anyone have any tips or things to avoid with regards to this sort of progression? This is my first child so despite owning horses for many years, I've never had a lead-rein before so its a whole new world!
 
Your child sounds amazing to be doing all that at 4. My 6 year old can only walk and trot on the lead rein - no big deal as he has a nice secure seat and a good rising trot, and doesn't really ride often enough to progress quickly (his choice). We also have a young pony who isn't brilliant on the aids but willing to obey on the lead, so I need to find a child to bring this pony on as well.

But I do put him on the lunge on our older pony where he has to keep the pony out on the circle and can independently change pace, halt, trot etc without me doing anything. I think this is a good first step to going off lead. He is also hacking out as a ride and lead, which I hope is just giving him the hours in the saddle that he needs.
 
Just start off in a safe situation. Depending on the pony that could be out hacking (I rode and led my daughter) and her pony would just follow on.

Or it could be in an enclosed area. He's well old enough to be on sole control at least in walk so you should just cut the apron strings if you ask me!

Things which help are regularly long reining (I have done this with and without my daughter on, I'm not saying you should do it with him on but it certainly for us made the transition safer in my opinion!) and having them very well schooled on the lunge. Then you can lunge him without reins and build up his stamina without being marathon fit yourself lol.

We had a mini Shetland which did make it easier as falling off wasn't too big a deal and he wasn't strong with her. He was unbroken when we got him so she was the crash test dummy at about 3yrs old. We did have some issues with him as he apparently hadn't noticed she was there til she went off the lead rein but once we cracked that she was able to canter and jump him really rather well when I think back!

Riding and leading definitely good if you have a horse that is sensible enough to do it from.
 
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Abacus said:
But I do put him on the lunge on our older pony where he has to keep the pony out on the circle and can independently change pace, halt, trot etc without me doing anything. I think this is a good first step to going off lead. He is also hacking out as a ride and lead, which I hope is just giving him the hours in the saddle that he needs.
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Ride and lead does sound like such a good idea but I just cant bring myself to do it. My horse is perfectly behaved but I'd just have that worry that if she spooked/took off then I wouldnt see my son for dust! Maybe it gets easier the older/bigger they get. I guess because he's still so small I worry more? Change of pace is a good one to work on although his legs literally go nowhere near the bottom of the saddle yet so we'll have to work more on the voice aids rather than leg ones! Thanks :)
 
I've seen a three year old have a brief moment or two with the lead rein over the ponies neck practising walk and half with adult walking near by during the first little lesson. BUT that was on a pony who was probably twenty years older and in a RS environment.

It might be an idea to get your son a few lessons as well as getting the pony ridden elsewhere because then they'll both come to it with a little more confidence.

Does he have the idea of being in control of pace, direction etc from leading pony on the ground? If he had the idea of communication and setting the agenda that is also very valuable. The three year old above has copied from adult handlers rather than seeing kids having fun (not that that is a bad thing, it just offers a different set of learning opportunities!)
 
I'd just like to thank all you people for making me feel better about using my daughter (who's just 3) to back my 4yo pony this year!

We are a long way off doing anything without a lead rein, and I'm not convinced of his saddle fit yet, but I do mostly lunging and long reining with him, and want to start ride and lead with my horse (without a rider on him) but need to do this with my sister's horse as nanny just in case the first few times! We haven't really met any proper traffic yet as mostly I get chance to do things on a sunday morning when the roads are always quiet. I'm just hoping my horse will remember he's 16 and won't be an idiot too...

Your plan sounds quite good though, just do as much as they're both happy with. Mini SF does get the occasional ride on a friends shettie (who's only 5 lol) and we did a handy pony earlier in the year, so she's more steady, I just don't know of my pony's reaction to someone on him in trot, he's 12.3 so quite large but very sensible it seems. I need to get my skinny friend on him first to properly back him!
 
Leading from the ground is a good idea, I hadnt really thought about it. Because pony is 5, Im always a bit wary of son being jumped on but pony has proven that she isn't a spooky type up until now so I will start to get him to bring his own pony in etc. Good idea.
 
I think as long as he has a hat on for leading, you'll minimise the risk. Mini sf led the other day, although I was really leading!
 
Depends on the pony, and the confidence of mum and child. With the luxury of a safe pony, there's no reason why you can't hack out off the lead from the start - perhaps with grass reins, so that the pony can't just plant and eat :)

I wouldn't lead a child on a pony which I wouldn't trust loose, TBH ... that lead rope isn't much control (even through the bit) if the pony is prone to being strong or silly. That said, some ponies are totally different on a lead rein. We have a saint of a lead-rein Shetland, who is nobody's idea of a safe 1st pony. He tanks off in front, then cuts across and bucks at anything which tries to overtake!

Ours all learned loose on a Dartmoor who would happily follow the rest of the ride anywhere.
 
My son went off the lead with me walking alongside from about 3 but we have owned our pony since he was 18 months old and I was never more than a grab away. He progressed to further and further away from me but not until he could stop and start in walk and I think I first led him off my mare when he was 5. He first went off the lead 'properly' i.e at a pony club rally when he was six and it was fairly terrifying. Not quite as much as when he cantered up the field side with one hand in the air shouting Yee Ha about 10 minutes ago mind. He is 7 now.

The answer is to trust the pony. And to be in a nice enclosed space with a few cones or buckets on the ground to steer round. My son has been doing that on his own since he was about 4. Got to keep it interesting for small children. Don't think we ever did more than 20 mins when he was tiny.
 
I rode and led for a long time and then started by unclipping the rope once we were well into the ride. Clipping back on if necessary.

The pony was fab though, would follow my horse anywhere, and never go in front - even out hunting. It was quite a while after being off the lead rein out hacking that we attempted going solo in a school or field.

Its all about how good the pony is - I admit that I bought a short, stout cob when I had children specifically to lead from, this also helps :)
 
If your son is already jumping and cantering on the lead I'm assuming his balance is already pretty good and he's well on the way to coming off the lead, I'm in a similar situation with a green pony who's amazing on the lead but my daughter is no where near ready to go off the lead yet so with our pony I've had a friends 10yr old daughter getting pony going off the lead in paddock and hacking out in groups and pony is already established on the lunge so when my daughter is more balanced she will start off the lead with me still walking along side then on the lunge, I'm going to try leading pony from my horse over the next few weeks without a rider to see how he takes to that. Lots of ground work really helps pony and rider build a strong bond, my daughter (3yr old) brings pony in from field without help (obviously someone there to supervise) grooms him, and takes him out for walks like a dog more often than she rides and as a result they have very strong bond and pony really looks out for her, he's super carefull not to stand on her feet and stands patiently while she's getting the lead rope untangled from his legs, gently nuzzles her when shes thrown herself on the floor having a tantrum etc he really is a saint but only because we've put the time into building the bond between them
 
It depends very much on the pony and rider. My son always had young ponies and just had to learn how to deal with them. Start off with putting the lead rein over the neck and walk beside him gradually moving slightly further away. Lunging could also be an option. Inevitably he will fall off at some point just remember when it does happen not to panic and fuss, if he's not hurt seriously have a quick hug, laugh about it and pop him back on - parents panicking and making a big deal of it make children think it's terrifying. My son still recalls how my first words after he hit the ground any time were "You're fine"!
 
My girls are 4 and have been hacking in walk only on their shetland. One day the more confident of the two just said "take the lead rope off now, I can do it myself" so she happily walks stops and turns on our hacks off lead.
They have just started proper lessons as I don't trust my teaching!
So if he wants to do it go for it, if he doesn't, keep him on the lead a little longer. It won't so him any harm ☺
 
I did it very gradually when DS was 4, by putting lead rein over pony's neck and stepping away for a few seconds, then a bit longer, then in trot as well as walk. Jumping I would run beside, ready to grab if necessary. ..This year we have a smaller slightly steadier pony, so he has progressed hugely and is now cantering and jumping by himself. He is 5 and a quarter..

There is a tiny arena about 15 x 30 at pony club which is tremendously useful for this age group, and encouraging instructors if pony is suitable. ..

Fiona
 
I taught my much younger sister most of the basics on my 15.3 Thoroughbred when she was eight. She'd had a few lessons on a lead rein at four, but then had to take a break from six to eight when the local riding school closed down.

We started off on a rope, then gradually started unclipping her for short periods out hacking. We quickly worked out that A was a saint with her, and within a couple of rides she went from being led to being loose with someone walking next to her. We chucked them in the school, taught her walk, trot, and how to pop over a little cross pole, and by the time she got her own pony, she needed no help.

Sometimes, you just have to give it a try, cross your fingers, and see how it goes.
 
My daughter is 4 and has just come off the lead rein. She is happy and able to walk, trot, canter and jump,off the lead in the school and walks and trots out hacking with me. I have been leading her from various horses for about 18 months now. I taught her rising trot by lunging her (saved my legs!) We go cantering in the stubble fields but she is still on the leading rein for that much to her disgust, I only lead her off my old horse for this who I can canter with one hand!
Her pony is a saint, he is 24, has done and seen it all, is endlessly obliging at guessing where she wants to go and I have to trust him. He is the reason she is off the lead rein without a doubt.
The best time is when they are in a lesson with other children and the pony can follow another. Most ponies will happily play follow my leader and so although there is no one leading or running alongside they are still pretty safe.
 
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My daughter is 4, almost 5 and we have recently got her a new pony. She was off lead rein within a couple of weeks for a short time out hacking and in a contained field. Her old pony was a witch and I would never have dared to let her off the lead. The new pony is voice activated and a little bit lazy. She can now trot and canter on her own. The only problem I have, is that the pony can be nappy and will drag her, only in walk, to the routes he knows takes him home quickest. Other than that, she has improved massively and is so confident. I don't have a hose to lead from, but if I did I would garuntee that he wouldn't be so nappy. It all depends on the pony really.
 
Depends on pony - we've a lovely oldie who is 26, a true BTDT pony, so any visiting child wants to groom or to ride they can. Never need to use a lead rope as pony will just follow me around, he will follow instructions from the rider so you can get the child to steer (we sometimes do a course between poles for variety, and to stop and to go. His default if no instruction is slow to a halt. We even had a 3 year old insist on getting on, but when he walked forward decided she wanted to get off so screamed. His only reaction was to flick an ear back and roll his eyes as if to say 'really? what's scary about that?!' For an older child, he will go faster but he has to be told to do this - he used to do mounted games, so not frightened of equipment so you can get the child to do bending, cups, flags etc. Default again is slow to a halt if not told what to do. We've never really put him on the lead rein other than at competitions or out on the road.
 
Reading this with interest as my daughter is coming up for 4 at the end of the year and has been riding her pony on the lead rein a couple of times a week all summer - normally once a week in the school and a couple of walking hacks. She has a really good position and can do a mean sitting trot but not got the hang of rising yet and steering is still hit and miss. He wee legs don't come below the saddle flaps yet either so we are working on voice command at the moment.

We also have a friends little brother aged 7/8 who was a complete beginner up until this summer ride her once a week off the lead rein in the school. I watched them for the first time since their first session together last weekend and our pony was an absolute saint! She stood rock still for round the worlds, scissors and even a somersault off the back - little boys eh! And was fab trotting around with him so I think I might give it until the spring when hopefully our wee one will have a bit more strength in her arms and legs and try her off the lead rein then.
 
my little boy is also 4 and on a mini shettie. he can trot and pop over a little jump but we havent even tried cantering.. i havent run that fast with them yet lol. i dont plan on him coming off the lead rein for a good while yet.

one thing that has helped is him doing some inhand young handler showing classes. he also catches and leads in by himself and we do inhand things like little races with cones to go in and out of and general games where he has to get on and off by himself - easier with a mini , granted lol
 
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