Leading your pony in hand

From the stable to the grooming area, then on to the school: at every lesson, you lead your pony on foot. In the right place, calm and purposeful, you stay in charge without ever pulling.

In the exam programme

Stand in the right place beside your horse or pony.Common module A
Lead in hand at the walk on a simple, familiar track mixing straight lines and curves on both reins.Common module A
Halt.Common module A
Move your horse or pony away from you.Common module A
Lead your mount in its bridle to the arena.Specific part

Where to stand

Stand on your pony’s left, between his head and his shoulder, facing the same way as he is. Hold the lead rope in your right hand, about 15 cm below the headcollar; your left hand holds the rest of the rope folded in loops, never wrapped round your hand. The rope stays slightly slack: it only comes into play when you need to act.

Look where you are going, walk with purpose
Left hand: the rest of the rope folded, never wrapped round the hand
The leader, on the left, between head and shoulder
Right hand on the rope, about twenty centimetres from the chin

Fig. 1.8The right place to lead from

Move offLook where you are going, say “walk on” or click your tongue, and walk forward yourself: your body gives the signal, and your right hand shows the way forward. Never get in front of him to pull.
WalkKeep your place at his shoulder and an even pace. Look ahead, not at your pony.
Turn rightThe turn takes him away from you: ease his head gently to the right with your right hand and lengthen your stride a little, since you are walking on the outside of the curve.
Turn leftThe turn comes towards you: slow down slightly, bring the end of his nose to the left without pulling and turn yourself, keeping your distance so that he does not tread on your feet.
HaltSay “whoa”, slow down, then stop yourself. If need be, resist for a moment with your right hand, without jerking. Release as soon as he stops, and praise him.

Tip

Your body speaks before your hand. If you speed up, he speeds up; if you stop dead, he stops. The rope only confirms it.

Moving him away from you

If he comes too close and crowds you, move him away: raise your right elbow or hand towards his neck, push his shoulder with little presses and say “over”. Release as soon as he goes back to his place. A pony who barges into his handler isn’t being nasty: he simply hasn’t understood where the line is.

Leading your pony in his bridle to the school

To go to the school, your pony wears his bridle: the headgear with a bit and reins. Unless you are told otherwise, bring the reins over his head and hold them in your right hand, about 15 cm from the bit, your index finger between the two reins; your left hand holds the end of the reins so that they don’t trail on the ground. Never pull on the bit: the mouth is delicate.

Keep one horse’s length behind the pony in front.
To go through a door or a narrow gap, open it wide and go through first, without stopping in the doorway.
Before going into the school or arena, ask permission and check that nobody is coming past at trot or canter; shut the gate behind you.
Line up where the instructor tells you, usually side by side and all facing the same way — never head to tail.
Once you have halted, put the reins back over his neck: you are ready to mount.

A word from the instructor

If your pony is walking ahead of you, you are no longer leading him. He is taking you for a walk.

Ekidemy

The Galops^®, from the first step to Galop 7