ride and lead - rope or reins??

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connieD

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Aug 9, 2006
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having spent i year with 2 sick horses and being told they would not be able to be ridden again i brought another.

i now have ended up with 3 rideable horses for exercise, muck out etc so have decided to go back to riding and leading again to get some extra exersize in.

used to do it years ago all the time but havent dont it for ages. i usually use reins on the horse being leds bridele but worry of i drop them they will get their leg caught, however if i use a lead rope attached to bit worried it will slip through my hand.

how do you do it - any tips??
 
OOh your brave if you ride and lead. I dont trust any of mine to ride and lead. For one Flint is so unpredictable generally (bucking and shying) and also when he feels like it he kicks out at other horses. I wouldnt trust the horse I would lead cos half of ours would leg it at the first opportunity! Your so brave!!
 
im lucky - the 2 i will be riding and leading i have had for 10 and 15 years so know then inside out as they do each other. have done it before so they are used to it just a bit rusty!!

just wondered if anyone had any good ideas that would make things easier:D
 
It depends on the horse. If it is strong, I prefer leading with reins. If not, then it is better to do it with a leadrope, as like you said it is safer for the horse.

Are you planning on taking all three at one go, or just ride with one and lead one?

This is how we do it at the Polo yard where I work.

If you are taking out just two, keep the lead horse on your the side of your stronger arm (I assume you won't be going to any roads while leading? If you do, then the lead horse has to be in the side of the ditch). If the horse that you are leading is strong but you are not using a bridle, I would consider putting the lead rope under your leg and then holding it. This way you can easily use the reins for the horse you are riding and little pulls from the lead horse won't interfere with it. (Obviously if the lead horse is wearing a bridle you won't put the reins under your leg!)

Same thing if you are taking out all three, just place one horse to each side and put the lead ropes under your legs and then to the hand. Put the horse you deem to be the one more likely to cause problems to your strong side. If the horse you are riding is taught to neck reining, you don't have to put the lead rope under your leg on the side which of your hands is not holding the reins.

Might be an idea to start slow and only take one on lead first and see how it goes. And slowly build from walk to trot, and then finally when they start going well from trot to canter.

Good luck with it! Don't take any unnecessary risks and do start slowly!

Nina x

Edit: Take a phone with you when you are out, just in case. If you are stuck with one horse and the other takes off, you need to be able to call for help. But I hope that won't be necessary! :)
 
Cant offer much advise, but a friend on the yard often takes her ponies out by riding bareback on one with just a bridle, and leading the other with a bridle on...she certainly trusted her horses! Another girl did the same but rode in a saddle, yet both her horses were 16hh active eventers!

Where do they get the confidence from? :p.
 
thanks nina - will only be taking the 2 oldie that i trust - not brave/ stupid enough to take the baby yet:D

some good ideas thre though - will be leading the lead horse in a bride, always do, like the idea of the rope under the leg - stupid question but if they pull does it lift your leg and pull you off??:eek:
 
Well, it can if you hold on to the rope too tightly and tense your leg as well. But..

Usually the horse will stop the pull as soon as it feels the pressure. The main function of putting it under your leg is that the tiny little yanks caused by head movement etc. of the lead horse won't cause you to yank from the horse's reins of the one you are riding.

If the horse you are leading has for example a panic attack, then you have to let go with your hand and let the lead rope slide underneath your leg. Sometimes if the lead rope is long enough just a little bit pressure release will stop them from taking off, sometimes you have to let it slide off completely. It depends on how far the lead rope horse wants to go and how quickly you can stop the one you are riding.

You get the hang of it pretty quickly if you practice at a walk first! :) You might also have to test what place is the best to keep the lead rope, if it is too high under your thigh it is going to hurt and if it is below your knee it will not be effective and will cause your leg to lift off.

Oh, and it is an idea to wear gloves when you lead. Rope/rein burns on your hands, not a nice feeling.. ;)

Nina x
 
For me it would depend if I was on the road or not. On the roads your insurance will usually be void if you don't use a bridle with reins and keep the lead horse on your left side (away from the traffic). If it's off road it's up to you, but I prefer leading with reins, since they're easier to keep hold of and you can vary the pressure used on each side of the mouth according to circumstances.
 
Ooh I was going to ask the same question :D I'm not riding Mitzy yet, but plan to once she has some more weight on, so she comes out with me and Frayne. She is a darling to lead - just a headcollar and rope, keeps alongside Frayne whatever the speed, doesn't mind being pushed into gateways etc :) I am looking to get a bridle for her, but would a halter or bitless bridle be ok? We are in a quiet rural area and they are both bombproof. Ali xx
 
just thought id update we went out this morning and they were angels:D

went for bridle and rope and tried the under the leg thing but think it will take more practice!!

the one i ride neck reins so i ride her with reins in one hand (which she is used to) and hold the rope of the other one in the left hand.

went round some very quiet village roads early when everyone was still in bed.

managed to meet a horse box though, large one:eek: i took them on the pavement preparing for shenanagans but .......nothing:D they seem to know.

we even managed to open and shut the yard gates, very pleased with our selves and definatly the way forward for having 3 horses exercised over the summer!!
 
Hi try putting a knot in the end of the leadrope as it will stop it getting pulled though your hand. We do this where I work as they ponies are very good at slamming on the breaks so that you lose the leadrope and they can get some snacking in. Be careful with leading in a bridle I did it with my pony and she took the bridle of and legged it.
 
I have ridden and lead with lead rope and reins and prefer reins any day
1 They will break in emergency so the horse will not get tangled with them.
2 You do not get rope burns. I would NEVER put a knot in the lead rope. too much risk of being pulled of backwards.
Good luck
 
I wouldn't put a knot either, just way too risky, like Mossy mentioned.

And connieD, if your horse works with neck reining, no need to put the leadrope under your leg with just two horses! :)

Glad to hear it went well!

Nina x
 
hi people are not thick when anything pulls back that bad you just let the knot go. At least you have chance to realise the pony has stopped before the rope has gone and it also helps prevent rope burns because the rope can't get pulled so far though your hand.
 
Ummm, yes, people can be that thick. :p It is a reflex not to let go, and it is better to have a rope burn or your hand (which I prevent by using gloves) than fall off the saddle when the knot suddenly yanks you.

Nina x
 
Hello!!! I find this idea very interesting!!! :)
I think I'm going to have to try this one day!!! :) One question though... how long is the lead rope usually? Is it just long enough for the other horse to be more or less along beside you... or long enough to follow behind? I imagine if the other horse is behind... It's easy for them to step on it and get tangled up in it, or no???
 
I lead in either a rope halter or bridle (depending on how much control I think I will need, depending ont he horse) and always with a lead rope, I like a thick one of about 10' long so if they fight you there is room to get control before you have to let go. I ride normally and hold the rope like I have double reins, I leave a little slack in the rope so one horses head action won't effect the other, obviously initially they may stop or march off but I do the initial training in a arena/field just in case.
I wouldn't put the rope under my leg for fear of being pulled off and wouldn't put a knot in the rope just in case.
 
The rope under the leg becomes necessary when you have more than two horses (i.e. you are leading at least two) and you are going at faster paces than just walk and trot. We exercise the Polo ponies at a brisk canter, and unless your horse is really really well trained for it you need to have the lead rope under your leg on the hand that holds the reins to the horse you are actually riding, in order to control your mound.

In a case of emergency, the lead rope slides from under your leg the same way as from your hand. The rope is always put under your leg so that it comes from the behind of the leg towards the front, as usually the lead horse pulls backwards and therefore the rope slides easier that way. Of course, if you are beginner rider it can unbalance you, but in that case it might be an idea to not take several horses out in the first place.

I agree with Jessey, it is a really good idea to practice this in an enclosed area such as an arena or an outdoor school. And not to take risks with the speed until you are certain you and the horses are ready for it. And still be prepared for anything!

Nina x
 
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