Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Please Reply to: Elaine Parker elainep@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Thanks for the original post about ponying.  It was both fun and informative.  
I've done some of this (my first efforts were highly similar <G>) and I can 
make one additional suggestion that I haven't seen so far.  When you begin to 
start the ponied horse off, always turn your pony horse into the youngster and 
start off circling.  That way your ridden horse "unsticks" the youngster's feet 
and gets them moving and you're basically using the lead rope to guide them.  
It really doesn't take very long before the youngster understands what's being 
asked of them.  Do this both directions in a secure environment.  If the 
youngster pulls back, I just back my horse a little and push the kid around 
again.  All of this is at a slow speed.  Gradually work up to a trot and get a 
practised response before going out in the open.

An argentine polo player taught me this method of teaching a horse to pony.  
Course, he could do this in about 5 minutes and it takes me several days.  
Amazing horseman.  I've seen him ponying eight, yes eight, horses at one time.  
Four on either side and of course his mount.  That meant he was exercising 9 
horses.

Hope this helps.

Elaine


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