Riding in company???

[skye06]

If any of you have been following any of my threads on Lucy(my 4 yr old ISH) you'll know things have been going up and down since I backed her. Well Today for the first time ever we rode in company.

She didn't try to follow other horse, she just walked troted and cantered round like she'd been doing it for ever. We jumped our first set of barrels on our own with out a lead, and out first ever double although the second time she did it she jumped the top of wing instead of cross pole and I had one second where I thought Oh NO I'm acctually going to die. But she just Jumped the wing and landed and stopped, looked at me(i was hanging off her neck) as if to say MUM what are you doing there???? I am soo Impressed with her.

Anyway to my question, should I have ridden in company from start? Do any of you out there back horses in company. I always back horses on their own then introduce them to riding with others. Obviously if I go hacking I take an experienced horse and rider with me as a help but in the school, company or no company???? What do you think???

[Sparkie]

I wouldn't back in company personally. Most horses I've helped with have been backed and broken on their own, but hacked in company, and have all been fine. Other horses can be a distraction, especially if its a gelding and a mare together!!

[Afellpony]

I've never ridden Falcon in company. The times I go to the farm to see him, there's never anyone to ride with anyway. He doesn't seem to mind going on his own. I've never had any problems with napping or anything like that. So, I haven't a clue what he'd be like riding with another horse.

[KateWooten]

Both mine I started on their own, and then gradually introduced company. It's so much harder to focus on your own youngster with other people about jibber-jabbering .. and just occasionally you get into one of those situations where you realise you're on a ride with other people and other horses in whose company you would prefer not to be (like jerks who can't / won't get any manners from their horse) then it all gets ugly fast. Its very important to know exactly who is going to be there when you take your young horse out - it really only takes one friend's jerk cousin to turn up with 6 inch shanks and spurs and you can watch your last month's training disappear over your shoulder at about 30 mph. :eek: